It is important for all students to feel accommodated especially when they are at school to learn. Elevators are necessary for handicapped students and they must have access to them to make it to class on time.
Users of elevators have said they have long wait times and malfunction occasionally, but the most frustrating thing comes from students who don’t feel their needs are being cared for.
James Cruz, who is in his second year at Delta, has multiple sclerosis (MS), which causes him to use a cane.
Cruz says he has dealt with people rushing elevators because of their slowness
“I have three classes on campus and two of them are on the second and third floors of various buildings. I find that the Science and Math Building has the best working elevators, but specifically in Holt or Shima the elevators are so slow that people usually rush past me to get in first, which you aren’t supposed to do.”
He mentions that the Science and Math Building being the newest one on campus can factor in for how fast the elevators are.
According to the 2025 Facilities Plan Update, Delta College plans to “upgrade elevators to comply with current building codes” in older buildings.
Cruz questioned if they were even up to code now.
The plan notes that the Locke elevator isn’t big enough for the nursing department’s beds. They hold classes on all three floors of Locke, so this is a big issue for the students and staff.
The plan also notes attempts to fix Delta’s Legacy buildings “aged outdated design, which includes problems of flooding and ADA noncompliant elevators.
Legacy buildings are buildings that were built in the 1970s and are over 50 years old. These buildings include Shima, Budd, Danner, Locke, and Holt.
Cruz also says he feels a lot more comfortable being with someone on the elevator and not alone.
“I’ve had some students and staff stand up for me when kids aren’t being the most respectful but for the most part as long as the elevators are working well I’m a happy camper,” Cruz said.
The blue phones located around the elevators aren’t only for emergencies — if something isn’t working correctly, they can be used to contact campus police or staff according to Delta College’s website.
Linda Conyers is a business major who frequently takes the elevators because she just finds it easier than the stairs.
“They definitely need an upgrade because I feel the ones I ride in Locke are just too small to accommodate our handicapped students,” Conyers said “They are very slow and although I haven’t heard of any this semester, previous semesters they have had a lot of breakdowns so hopefully they are updated now, but due to how they work I doubt it.”
She also describes how she has had to tell people to let handicapped students go first on elevators because they have priority. She says maybe Delta should put up signs about etiquette in the elevators and push students to be helpful instead of disrespectful.
Both students questioned what to do if the elevator breaks down and they are on one of the top floors and there are solutions to that problem.
You must notify either staff or police or they can contact someone by using the blue phone. Once mobility experts and campus police are contacted they can assist and use special wheelchairs or mobility machines to bring them down.
