Accessibility Committee

Chelsea Stone

Personal Statement:
As a student who has had some health issues (fortunately now resolved), I know how important it is that all Lewis and Clark students have access to all of campus and to any necessary materials, such as podcasts, they need to succeed in school. This kind of personal understanding will help me be a zealous advocate,

Goals:
More transparency about podcasts policies, greater student input on what services need to be more accessible

Samuel Diaz

Personal Statement:
My educational background positions me to address issues of accessibility in a democratic and effective manner. Unequal access to the resources available, especially at a school that we each are paying for, should never be an obstacle for a Lewis & Clark student. In my undergraduate career, I made it a priority to be part of philanthropic events to unite various groups to fundraise and raise awareness about national issues. Whether it was fighting cancer, diabetes, or muscular dystrophy, I have always made service a campus headline. These threatening conditions should not be placed on the shoulders of one individual. We are a family here at Lewis & Clark and the projects that I currently work on focus on opening lines of communication to every group on campus, as well as in the Portland area.

Goals:
Following the most traditional approach to the position, I will prioritize the needs and recommendations from students who face obstacles related to accessibility. In order to address this, I plan on asking the incoming first year class (as well as new concerns from upper division students) about obstacles they face in the campus layout, office responsibility transparency, Portland transportation, as well as financial concerns.

Additionally, I would like to expand the position to include aspects about Lewis & Clark that could be improved to help the student body on a more general level. Essentially, “We have enough on our plate and we shouldn’t have to worry about the small things.” These improvements include transportation into and out of SW Portland, variety and nutrition of food options, and hours of operation for the gym, book store, library, Wood Hall, Computer Lab and other campus services. As I see it, access to these amenities can impede our performance and happiness as Lewis & Clark law students. My job will be to listen to these concerns and promptly address them.

Lastly, I would like to encourage communication between upper division students and the incoming 1Ls. The advice and conversations I have received about the first year from upper division students have helped me a tremendous amount. I have spoken with many students about replicating the AEP program on a larger level. This type of communication should help the 1Ls understand how to succeed at Lewis & Clark, primarily focusing on the elements of the first round of law school finals.