ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Jesse Sena Jamar Ikpi sits a in a very small chair .. too small for a man his size.

Small desks and inadequate learning conditions are among the reasons why the six students of the Gender Advocacy Strategies class are requesting new desk and seating arrangements in ISU classrooms.

In the past, the proposal and request for new desks in various older buildings on campus has been an issue. Rick Taylor, one of the students pushing the request, said they are taking a different approach by not necessarily asking for new desks all at once, but they are requesting a "slow replacement" throughout the classrooms starting with the Business Arts building. Eventually, Taylor hopes this process will lead to a more "ideal classroom and environment" by setting a seating standard throughout campus giving students a better opportunity to learn.

"You spend a lot of time in those desks," Taylor said. "You spend a lot of time in those desks," Taylor said.

Taylor also mentioned the disadvantage the current seating situation creates for disabled students who are "thrust to the back of the classroom." He also related to the non-traditional students, athletes and others who may not feel comfortable in the "tiny" desks provided. Taylor hopes to more greatly accommodate the needs of these students by providing new desks and tables. Taylor says they are looking at the new seating plans for the Rendevous building as an example for their idea.

Taylor and the other student advocates will be proposing their idea to the ASISU student senate on May 2. At this point, the students of the strategies class have been creating a petition to promote and illustrate the desire among students for new desks. Their goal that Taylor hopes they will exceed is a total of 400 names on the petition. The desk promoting team wants specifically to influence the senator-elects for the Fall 2005 school year for help in their request. As far as administration involvement, Taylor says although President Bowen's announcement of retirement is an obstacle, they are still looking to the other capable administrators and student senators for support.

The Gender Advocacy Strategies class is made up of six students, one faculty member, Mary Jane Burns, and a graduate student, Seven Gardner.

In striving to build continued student support, Taylor asks students to contact their student representatives and the Bengal to voice their agreement or disagreement with their proposal

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools