The problem with seating at colleges like Emporia State is the lack of diversity for students who cannot sit comfortably in their everyday classroom space. Students also have to choose whether to have a laptop or a notebook on their desk, because both will not fit. The desk space is so limited that even bigger laptops do not fit across. In many buildings at Emporia State, the seating available is unaccommodating and outdated. For example, the chairs in Roosevelt Hall have attached desk tops that are small and difficult to comfortably sit into. In many classrooms, the seats are impossible to sit in if you are pregnant, have a disability, or your body size is just too large. In an interview that our group conducted with Ernetta Fox, director of ESU’s Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS), she informed us that while their department offers desks to students, there are only four total desks available. The University has addressed this issue by providing, in some classes, a table off to the side for those who cannot sit in the seats provided. However, sitting off to the side, away from your classmates, is far from inclusive. 

Our group has started taking inventory of all the buildings on campus and recording the desks that are inclusive and those that are not. We plan to take this information to people who have direct access to the problem at hand such as University Facilities, the department in charge of the physical classroom. William McKernan is the Executive Director of this department and we are excited to make contact with him in the future.

This petition will be extremely helpful in providing evidence for our cause. This evidence can be used as data to further highlight the need and want that students have for diverse seating in classrooms.