This week, Winter Storm Mars battered Massachusetts. While Boston escaped the worst of it, we were still hit with snow, wind, and general unpleasantness.
Many of us hoped for a snow day. The likelihood seemed to grow with every minute — Boston Public Schools canceled, Berkeley cancelled, Northeastern cancelled…we had to be next, right?
Wrong. Not only did BU issue a (rather passive aggressive) tweet telling students to expect school in the morning, Dean Elmore took it a step further:
A little snow might not stop you, Dean Elmore. And great for you — being abled bodied in this society makes your life much easier. A little snow and wind and icy conditions might not be that big a deal. But for those with mobility impairments? A little snow might stop them in their tracks.
Yesterday’s weather, on top of the refrozen icy snow from last week’s storm, made BU’s Charles River Campus inaccessible for those with mobility issues. The sidewalks were not kept clear, especially in West Campus and in front of Marsh Plaza (which is a BU Shuttle stop). Those of us without mobility issues were slipping and sliding in the adverse conditions. Those with mobility issues suffered as well.
A BU student recounted the following story on Facebook on Monday evening:
Saw a student in a wheelchair today on Comm Ave struggling a lot to get around in the snow. Luckily, several students went to help her, but it took 4 other students to help lift her over the snow by the curb to cross the street. BU: it’s simple. either cancel class or make campus accessible for students with disabilities in the snow. [Source]
The story has since been shared 15 times and liked by over 80 students.
And this student is exactly right. It’s simple. Cancel class or bear your responsibility of providing constant accessibility to buildings and services (like the shuttle) to all students, regardless of bodily ability.
Ableism is just as noxious as other -isms that get more attention on our campus, like racism and sexism. Those with abled bodies should not be privileged higher or given greater access to this campus. Assuming that “a little snow can’t stop [u]s” assumes we all inhabit the same kinds of bodies with the same types of abilities. A little snow can stop us if Boston University does not maintain safe sidewalks and points of accessibility for all students.
Students calling for a snow day weren’t doing so out of laziness or disengagement from learning. The school, roads, and transportation systems on our campus were inaccessible for those with mobility issues. The decision put forth by Boston University to stay open in this conditions without working to maintain accessibility was unsafe, irresponsible, and dismissive of students, faculty, and staff with mobility issues or other disabilities.
I implore Boston University to keep this in mind next time a winter storm is bearing down on us. Remember that ableism is just as harmful as every other -ism and prejudice we fight against. Remember that all students, faculty, and staff members have the right to safe access to your facilities. And please, do not be so short-sighted as to publicly express your ableist attitudes over social media.
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