Cal High is now monitoring student elevator use on campus.
Campus monitors are stationed by the main building’s elevator on each floor, opening it when students with visible injuries or disabilities need it.
The Californian feels this is a violation of student privacy.
Last school year, Cal stopped requiring elevator keys, which used to be given to students who needed to use the elevator. The school stopped this practice because administrators were told by the district they had to for unspecified reasons.
This change ensured that every student was given equal access to the elevator regardless of whether they chose to disclose their injury or disability.
But an overwhelming amount of vandalism to the elevator prompted administrators to lock the elevators again and have campus monitors unlock them for student use.
Not every student has a disability that is visible to the public eye. Some are personal struggles that are not so easily noticeable, but they still affect the students day-to-day life. Students without visible disabilities now need to go through the process to receive a pass allowing them on the elevator.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public institutions, such as schools, ensure equal access to all facilities and provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities.
Small injuries like strains don’t affect students for long, but it makes all the difference when they need to walk up three flights of stairs when they could be taking the elevator. Plus, passing periods are already short enough without students trying to get on the elevator and being questioned about whether they really need to use it.
It is understandable that administrators would want to prevent negligent use of the elevator. But it would be more efficient to reprimand misuse rather than prevent the majority of students from using elevators.
Installing security cameras inside the elevators would make it easier for administrators to identify exactly who is misusing the elevators and respond accordingly.
Without the elevator being monitored, all students, regardless of the severity of their disability, would be able to quickly use it to get to their classes without disclosing private information about themselves.