Your Turn Letters to the Editor

People with disabilities

Thank you for calling attention to the challenges that VCU students with disabilities confront in getting around our university. As VCU becomes larger and increasingly diverse, we must do a better job of making both campuses inviting, accessible and safe.
I hope you will continue to examine this topic. In doing so, I also hope you will consistently use terminology that is more respectful and broadly accepted. The phrase “people with disabilities” is correct, whereas “handicapped students” is not.

– Fred Orelove

Your recent article on accessibility at VCU caught my attention. In the fall of 1982 I spent five weeks in a wheelchair following knee surgery. Ironically, I was able to continue working during that time due to recent modifications made to my place of work, which I had overseen.
When looking at accessibility, I find that many problems are due to not thinking. One day I noticed the Verizon men at work sign placed on top of the curb cut at Main and Harrison. I find paper dispensers that are empty in men’s rooms with towels placed on top of the dispenser. I see trashcans pushed in front of towel dispensers. My biggest complaint is about people who park on the striped areas next to handicapped parking places. (The striped areas are to allow people to exit accessible vans, not for run-in-and-out service for the able-bodied.)
These are not the acts of mean people, just people who are not aware. We all make mistakes, but sometimes our acts can create problems for others. All we really need to do is be aware. And remember, there are two types of people in the world – the disabled and the not yet disabled.

– Larry J. McCarty

Broad categories

Let’s scrap the misogyny and consider all the beautiful categories that the men of this world fall into, shall we? I look forward to seeing that article.

– Joan Kovatch

After reading the editorial comment written by Alex Jones I really can’t understand why he doesn’t see himself labeled in the dog category. His first assumption about women opting for “large breasts” instead of “common decency” gives a prime example of why some women are the way they are. Men stereotype women to the point where they actually believe in these stupid clich