The Honorable Janet Reno 24 January 1994 United States Attorney General Dear General Reno: (b)(7)(c) My name is XX I am a 100% disabled person and I live in a wheelchair. I attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and I have a question regarding the new requirements that places be accessible to disabled persons like myself. It is and has been for the five years I've attend SIUC, the policy of my institution, not to properly and timely clear the sidewalks and access ways after a snow storm. The school receives ever year, un-total'd complaints from students about how the school takes its time about clearing away the snow from the walk ways. Most of the time, they just don't bother to clear the snow at all. When they do, they fail to lay down salt or sand, and even when they do make some effort the work quality is always unusually poor. Often these complaints wind up in the newspaper. I'm sure that you are aware of the usually bad weather we've had here in the Midwest. Despite the dangerous conditions, the closing of almost every public institution in the county, Southern Illinois University was open. Even if one is a fully functional human, the conditions here were as bad as I've ever seen them. But again, like every other year, I and the rest of the people who get around in wheelchairs,[and there are quite a few of us at SIUC] were denied access to classrooms. The reason being, that even if a normal human can navigate through the uncleared snow and ice, those of us in wheelchairs cannot. I've missed a weeks worth of school. As an educated person I'm sure you understand the difficult situation one is in when one fails to show up at the opening class. I'm quite sure that like in years gone by, the administration will fail to change anything to make a permanent difference as to how bad weather is dealt with here at SIUC. The administration really doesn't care one little bit, and if they do, I (b)(7)(c) XX 01-03112 certainly haven't notice any significant changes in the last five years. My question to you is if the new law requiring access to the schools for disabled persons applies. Clearly, I believe that the school has a lawfully duty to completely clear away all the snow and ice from around the living halls, school buildings, and the pathways between. This is the only way people with disabilities can access the campus. Most institutions that can't adequately clear away snow and ice close. Most schools and public buildings that can't do this in this county close. With good reasons too, the conditions are very dangerous, and people can get hurt. Most that is, except SIUC. Here at SIUC we are willfully denied access. I believe the clearing, should be timely. Maybe 24 hours after the end of a storm. If you agree, that the failure of the university to timely remove ice and snow does willfully denied access to disabled persons, then please accept this letter as my complaint to you that the disabilities act is being violated here at SIUC. I will be most grateful for any assistance that you can provide those of us with disabilities here at SIUC. Like every other year since I've been here the university is ignoring the problem. They are waiting for it to melt away while I am trapped in my room for days. It is not right and it is exactly what Congress wanted to bring to an end when they required access for those of us who are disabled. I hope you will investigate. It is not unlikely that you will receive letters denying these charges from members of the SIUC Administration. If you send someone to investigate I will be happy to prove my statements and provide witnesses as to the truthfulness of my statements. In that many of my friends here at the university are also engineers, I would be happy to provide your investigators with truly expert witnesses if it becomes required. Sincerely Yours, (b)(7)(c) XX XX XX SIUC Carbondale, Illinois 62901 XX 01-03113