Olympic Gold

"Your mayor’s in a wheelchair!" The voice was cracking with excitement. It was the end of the Olympic Games and Sabine Scheurholz-Lehr (UVic Office of International Affairs) was talking to friends in Germany. Calling to congratulate them on Germany’s success in the Winter Games, she found it wasn’t the record breaking 29 medals won by their athletes that had the Germans breathless. It was Sam Sullivan accepting the Olympic flag for Vancouver.

The German friends were not disabled themselves, (nor is Sabine) or interested in disability issues. They were happy that their athletes had done well. But it was the door flung open for people with disabilities that was sensational. The friends were excited and congratulatory. UVic professor Dr. Micaela Serra, an Italian herself, tells me that for Italians Sam’s participation was a miracle. If you are in a wheelchair in Italy, your role in the Olympic Games, or anything else, including politics, is clear cut and simple. You stay home.

Yet the Italians, too, were cheering just that little bit louder to see a person with a disability in a position of leadership and responsibility. It is this reservoir of goodwill in the hearts of ordinary people that will make the difference as disabled people knock on more and more doors at university, in society, and around the world.

Scott Antaya is a student leader with a disability who hopes to serve on the University of Victoria Student Society. Scott is running for Director of Services in the UVSS elections. He is the only candidate who mentions disability, a reminder that our colleagues and friends may cheer us on, but our issues won’t be on the agenda unless we put them their ourselves.

Here is where this year’s candidates stand: Current UVSS Chair Penny Beames says nothing in her platform that could be interpreted as support for disabled students or any other Advocacy Group. Chadi Akouri, also running for Chair, promises to improve relations with Advocacy Groups and also makes a strong commitment to democratic process and equality. Mike Waters points out that the Advocacy Groups provide important services to students and promises to strengthen the groups and make it easier for them to do their work.

Jeremy Peters, running for Director of Academics, states a commitment to strengthening the role of Advocacy Groups. Five other candidates refer to advocacy groups. Andrew Bateman supports autonomy for campus Constituency Groups and Rakhi Bhatnagar and Alex Chang both want to strengthen or support the role of Advocacy groups. Joe Kruger will liaise with Constituency Groups and the Native Student Union and Kienan Hamm stresses the need to accept diversity and work in respectful alliances with all representative organizations within the UVSS.

Scott Antaya, as Director of Services, would work with the university to integrate the full range of ability/disability into the planning and design of all facilities and services. Remember to vote.

Next week Access UVic will also be celebrating the anniversary of our successful referendum. We’ll be serving cake to students, and providing them with a Referendum Report outlining our first year. Our introduction to sign language series begins next week too. Wednesdays in march, 2pm – 3pm in the Access UVic Office.

Rose Mariana Robb is the Director of Access UVic!, the Disabiltiy Advocacy Centre located in the SUB, B102. Phone 472-4389.