Administrators speak out about stranding a disabled student

By Lawren Shepard
Campus Life Editor

Resident Advisor Ben Misenheimer said that he and the other Pine Hall staff did what they could to help freshman D’Arcee Neal when the dormitory elevator broke down February 27, stranding the disabled student in his room for several days.

“I promise we tried as hard as we could that weekend to see that his needs were taken care of,” said Misenheimer.

The combination of the snowstorm and other issues added to the trouble. Misenheimer said that he felt it was a bad situation.

“A lot of little things came together to create a problem,” he said. “I understand his being upset, but a lot of the accusations he made are completely untrue.”

Dr. Diane Jones, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, said that she felt confident that assistance was provided and available for Neal.

“I think D’Arcee exaggerated a bit,” said Jones.

She said that when she contacted the cafeteria staff about the incident, no one could determine that they had received a call asking for a food delivery. The cafeteria is required to deliver food to students who are in need of assistance.

According to Misenheimer, he and Resident Director Scott Graniero checked on Neal, who uses a motorized wheelchair, to make sure he was all right.

Graniero carried Neal to his room on the first night that the elevator was broken. Graniero was an RA for a year and has been an RD for two years. Neal could have contacted him for assistance but didn’t, Graniero said.

“I never received a call from him,” he said.

Misenheimer said that he talked to Neal on Friday and Saturday, gave him his phone number and told Neal to contact him if necessary.

“I told him if he needed anything, to let me know,” he said. Misenheimer said that an off duty RA volunteered to bring food to Neal.

Dean of Students Preston Swiney said that the dormitories conform to federal housing standards for handicapped accessibility and that UNCP RAs undergo training sessions to prepare them for their duties.

“We have protocol in place,” said Swiney. “The RA staff knows that they need to check on people.”

Misenheimer said that the staff is trying to find out why the elevator wasn’t fixed on Friday.

“I feel like it probably should have been fixed over the weekend,” he said, adding that he was uncertain why it was not repaired after it broke down the second time.

The elevator was out sporadically that weekend. According to Swiney, when a campus elevator breaks, an emergency work order is put in to have it fixed. The University expects the repair companies to work even on weekends, he said.

According to Jones and Swiney, the University is planning to renovate a suite of rooms on the first floor of Pine Hall to make them handicapped accessible to provide an additional housing option for disabled students.