Ironically, Columbia has more ramps in Lerner Hall than it does on the rest of its campus. So while handicapped students have no trouble getting around Lerner, getting around campus is another story altogether. While the University meets the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act, it does so minimally, often forcing people in wheelchairs to find alternative, roundabout routes. It is imperative that the Office of Disability Services focus more of its resources on improving wheelchair accessibility.

New York City itself is difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. Many of the old buildings cannot be easily modified for the handicapped, and there is a lack of space to build ramps and elevators. Columbia faces similar problems in its architecture and established an office with the passing of ADA in 1990 in order to properly address such concerns. The office's services include providing proper housing arrangements for students, either on- or off-campus (depending on need), and ensuring that all University events are in accessible locations. In these areas, the ODS has been very successful-it is responsible for the increased number of ramps during big events such as graduation and modified handicapped-accessible entrances to dorms and academic buildings.

Nevertheless, Columbia's campus remains inadequately accessible, especially when compared to Barnard's. Columbia students who register with ODS are given swipe access to handicapped elevators, which provide access to Low Library, Hamilton Hall, and Broadway. But if a handicapped parent or other non-Columbian comes to campus, he or she must contact the office and fill out a similar application to gain access, a process that often takes several days. In contrast, all Barnard buildings are accessible by open-access ramps or tunnels.

Admittedly, Barnard has the advantage of being smaller than Columbia, but the Barnard Office of Disabilities Services has created a coalition of 16 members-from such diverse groups as the Office of Admissions and Well Woman-to directly address accessibility. The organization has been instrumental in ensuring that Barnard is accessible and that ramps are maintained; Columbia ODS would do well to follow in Barnard's footsteps and create a committee whose sole purpose is identifying and fixing problem areas.

Unfortunately, there are too many inaccessible areas on Columbia's campus that need improvement-immediately. Modifying one building entrance per year cannot be considered success. There is no reason why the extra ramps placed on campus during big events cannot be up all year. It is up to University administrators and ODS to ensure that campus does not merely meet the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act but provides complete and convenient access to all.