SOC-STD 98PV: The Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School

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A student tells us, "The university, with all of its wonderful resources and incredible community, is severely lacking in its mental health support execution." This thought is echoed by other Harvard students in The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University's student-run newspaper, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/2/27/vinny-harvard-mental-health-failure/">which reports that</a>, "For the past 10 years, students have called for [Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS)] to reform its care timeline, which provides only short-term counseling with sessions spaced out every two to three weeks." Wait times for appointments at CAMHS can be <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/3/1/camhs-appointments-wait-time/">a month or longer</a>, though in 2022, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/10/harvard-moves-to-implement-recommendations-for-student-mental-health/">Harvard partnered with an outside vendor</a>, TimelyCare, to offer a telehealth counseling option for Harvard students in an attempt to reduce wait times.Harvard does not have a Student of Concern reporting page. However, this does not make its approach to "handling" students in distress any less draconian. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/4/20/schneider-involuntary-leaves/">As The Harvard Crimson reports</a>, Harvard's leave policy places a heavy burden on students to "prove" they are stable when the administration should instead be reaching out to offer support. For example, during their time away, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/3/2/putting-harvard-on-hold/">students must work</a> a "full-time, paid, non-academic job in a non-family owned or run business for at least six consecutive months before petitioning for readmission to the College." When they return, some students are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/3/2/putting-harvard-on-hold/">required to sign a contract</a> mandating psychiatric treatment and attendance at University Health Services workshops.One positive development we're seeing at Harvard is the new emphasis on providing training and resources <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/10/harvard-moves-to-implement-recommendations-for-student-mental-health/">to help Harvard students support each other</a>, though one can't help but wonder if the weight of the student mental health crisis has simply crushed most university health services to their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health-campus-care">breaking point</a>. One such resource is peer support, which is actually not a new thing. Harvard students have been running a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://camhs.huhs.harvard.edu/links/room-13">peer support group</a> since 1971.Still, a student tells us, "Though there are lots of active resources to support students at my university, I oftentimes feel burdened to ask my professors for help. Even with the resources available at my school, it's at my professor's discretion to decide how to apply my accommodations." Another student tells us that it's not just the ableism on campus. "Unfortunately, when I think of my personal, adverse experiences with Harvard University, racism comes to mind before ableism, although the organization has its fair share of both."

Harvard offers several <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://admissions.hks.harvard.edu/www/documents/Disability_Courses.pdf">disability-related courses</a>, but no formal program in Disability Studies.

A student says, "My advisor [redacted] looked me in the eyes as a sophomore and told me that I was a bad student."He didn't know that I had multiple mental illnesses; he never asked. He never made any attempt to get to know me as an individual or refer me to the resources that I desperately needed. He didn't know that I had been raped right before college or that I had seen my mom attempt suicide in high school. He didn't know how deeply I grappled with suicidal ideation and how I struggled with visions of my trauma. All he knew was that I was a B/C student, and he didn't care about anything else."I cried all the way back to my dorm, and then I changed my concentration because of him."

Harvard University

HCCYDSA Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://opencollective.com/hccydsa">https://opencollective.com/hccydsa</a>Peer Support: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://camhs.huhs.harvard.edu/links/room-13">https://camhs.huhs.harvard.edu/links/room-13</a>&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/1/27/huit-accessibility-protest/">The Harvard Crimson reports that</a> "[a former Harvard University Information Technology employee] said he chose to resign from his job with HUIT because the University has 'no plans' to make the building wheelchair accessible. He said he met with the property manager and building manager multiple times, but they would not add a ramp or elevator to the building."<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/10/21/accessibility-on-campus/">The Harvard Crimson also reports</a> that Harvard Yard is "really physically inaccessible" and "a key example of the campus’s hostility to those with disabilities."

A student says, "While I have never personally experienced police intervention for my mental health (I have for racist reasons!), I cannot confidently say that this does not happen."Also see: https://camhs.huhs.harvard.edu/find-help-now

NAGPRA: Harvard still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/harvard-university/">6,200 Native Americans</a>.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nocklab.fas.harvard.edu/research">The Nock Lab at Harvard</a> conducts research to detect people who may be suicidal using algorithms to analyze people's social media posts.

Harvard uses <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://reportinghotline.harvard.edu/">NAVEX's EthicsPoint® system</a> "to report a variety of ethical, integrity, safety, security, and compliance concerns." Although members of the community can use the online form to report "Students of Concern," the website's guidance indicates that this is not the primary purpose of the reporting tool.Harvard does have a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/careteam/process/">Student of Concern</a> page, but no online report form. Members of the community can refer students by emailing the Care Team.

On June 10, 2020, Harvard University President, Lawrence Bacow, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2020/hupd-statement-from-president-bacow/">issued a statement</a> in which he said, "Black lives matter, and we must use this moment to confront and remedy racial injustice." Bacow's first official statement after the murder of George Floyd, issued on May 30, 2020, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/06/08/searching-meaningful-response-college-leaders-killing-george-floyd">was widely criticized</a> for not centering the Black community.A student says, "This is lip service, mind you - As a black student, my teachers, advisors, and residential tutors made it abundantly clear that I did not matter to them."

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~sflores/310sp2012.html">ENGL 310</a> Critical Theory

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University of Idaho scores higher than its peers on many of our metrics, and this is reflected in the comments we received from students at U of I. One students tells us, "I have Crohn’s disease, arthritis, asthma, and ADHD/anxiety. So far, U of I’s been alright. It can be better in places, but every multi-level building has an elevator and a ramp for access by wheelchair or cane and I’ve been accepted by those around me." Another student tells us, "They're slowly improving how accessible they are," though digital accessibility can be improved. In addition, the campus' hilly terrain might be difficult for disabled students to navigate. "I do believe they offer some mobility vans, however," another student says.Wait times for appointments at the Counseling &amp; Testing Center (CTC) can be several months for ADHD testing, and several weeks for psychological counseling. One student told us that at the start of the fall semester in 2021, CTC was not taking in any new patients.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.uidaho.edu/current-students/cdar/raven-scholars">The Raven Scholars Program</a>, "an individualized, supported-transition program for University of Idaho students on the Autism Spectrum," was also recommended. "They do not require formal diagnosis, just that you self-identify as having ASD."

A student says, "Recordings are available if you go through the Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR)." However, another student clarifies that it's audio recordings only. "No Panopto or Kaltura."Another student tells us, "I have taken several classes that were in-person exclusively, and that made it very difficult when experiencing days where I couldn't make it onto campus due to mental health issues, weather or other conflicts. Some offered zoom sessions, but not recordings."

According to one student, accommodations can be provided for two semesters without documentation. We corroborated this information with a staff member at CDAR, who said that the primary reason for the grace period is because the wait time to get an Autism/ADHD evaluation can be several months. However, the CTC also offers in-house assessments, which have reduced the wait times. For psych disabilities, there is still a grace period, but "students have to demonstrate that they are in treatment and require accommodation."

A student says, "Yes, there is required diversity training and it does include disability and neurodivergence (source: I completed it myself as a student employee)."Another student says, "For students no, for staff yes, I worked as an SI-PASS leader and we did have mandatory diversity training, but there was little emphasis on disability, it was more so about culture and lgbtq issues. I do believe there was a slide or two, but nothing extensive."

University of Idaho

One student reports, "Building accessibility spotty. Library / Idaho Student Union Building / Renfrew (main classroom area) are great."Another student says, "Their residence hall accommodations aren’t great. I live on the fifth floor as per my single room accommodation and the elevator goes out regularly."

NAGPRA: The University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/university-idaho-alfred-w-bowers-laboratory-anthropology/">8 Native Americans</a>.

https://www.uidaho.edu/student-affairs/dean-of-students/vandalcare

The Dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, issued a clear <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.uidaho.edu/class/about/blm">statement in support of BLM</a>: "As dean, I join President Green in affirming that black lives matter."

CMLT 50101 Contemporary Critical Theory: Aesthetics, Ethics, Politics

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Reporting in The Chicago Maroon, the student newspaper of the University of Chicago, describes how Student Disability Services (SDS) places undue burden on disabled students applying for accommodations while the excessive wait times often cause students to just give up. “Every department has their own dean…so at the end of the day, it’s never any one person’s problem. It’s on purpose. The decentralization makes it so that no individual person needs to feel bad about saying no. The University as a whole says no until the student leaves or graduates,” <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagomaroon.com/39160/news/students-for-disability-justice-sdj-host-discussion-on-accessibility-challenges-facing-uchicago-students/">said a graduate student to the reporter</a>.Reporting in The Chicago Maroon also underscores how the transition back to in-person learning has negatively impacted some neurodivergent students on campus. One UChicago student, whose GPA jumped from 2.2 to 3.8 in 2021, because of Zoom accommodations, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagomaroon.com/28481/news/disability-rights-student-group-advocates-continued-zoom/">told the reporter that</a>, “We would just like to see that the University of Chicago prioritizes the learning of neurodivergent students just as much as it does for students that are neurotypical,&nbsp;because we really have thrived in this format change.”

A student says, "It is up to the instructor if they want to provide class session recordings, so if a student needs this, they need to separately ask the instructor to record the class."

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagomaroon.com/39160/news/students-for-disability-justice-sdj-host-discussion-on-accessibility-challenges-facing-uchicago-students/">The Chicago Maroon reports</a> that students "described their experiences attempting to get accommodations through Student Disability Services (SDS) as expensive in terms of both time and money. Students must meet with their doctors to acquire the appropriate documentation for their disability and then wait for the application to be approved by SDS. [A student] noted that applying for accommodations through SDS can take up to six weeks, which is followed by the time it takes for professors to implement those accommodations."

A student says, "There is required diversity training for students at the beginning of the quarter in the form of a 3 hour online course, and there is a separate training for faculty and staff. In the student training at least, there is recognition of disability and neurodivergence, and it is more or less accurate."

See Negative Experiences section.

The University of Chicago

Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.uchicagounited.org/mutual-aid-project">https://www.uchicagounited.org/mutual-aid-project</a>&nbsp;Note: There are a few peer support/advocacy groups on campus, but they don't seem to be run independently of UChicago Student Wellness.

A student says, "All campus buildings typically are accessible - they have an automatic door opening option, as well as ramps leading up to at least one of the doors." However, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagomaroon.com/39160/news/students-for-disability-justice-sdj-host-discussion-on-accessibility-challenges-facing-uchicago-students/">The Chicago Maroon reports</a> that not all buildings with accessible outside entrances are necessarily accessible throughout the inside. For example, the "Biological Sciences Learning Center, where the central lecture hall on the first floor is accessible to enter but not to get to the front of the room, which excludes a person with a disability from presenting, teaching, or lecturing."

https://help.uchicago.edu/well-being-checks/

A student says, "Statements appear to be only department-specific; not released by the university as a whole."

ED POL 500 Critical Theory in EducationGEOG 511 Critical Social Theory

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Remote learning can be requested as part of one's accommodations, though a student tells us that lectures are not normally recorded. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://badgerherald.com/features/2022/02/28/equity-not-equality-uw-disability-community-mobilizes-for-more-equitable-accommodation-access-campus-climate/">The Badger Herald reports,</a> "[The Director of the McBurney Disability Resource Center] said remote learning has been a popular accommodation request for both students and faculty since the start of the pandemic. The process for students requesting remote learning is the same as other accommodations, but it does require more documentation to fully understand the barriers presented by in-person instruction."

UW-Madison offers many <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://disabilitystudies.wisc.edu/courses/">courses in Disability Studies</a>, but no formal curriculum.

UW-Madison launched a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://accessible.wisc.edu/training/">Disability and Ableism Awareness Training</a> for faculty and staff in 2021, but it is not mandatory.

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Disability Cultural Center: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://badgerherald.com/news/2023/02/10/disability-cultural-center-unveils-new-community-space-in-mcburney-center/">https://badgerherald.com/news/2023/02/10/disability-cultural-center-unveils-new-community-space-in-mcburney-center/</a>TAA Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://taa-madison.org/mac/">https://taa-madison.org/mac/</a>Peer Support: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://win.wisc.edu/organization/badgersupportnetwork">https://win.wisc.edu/organization/badgersupportnetwork</a>&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2023/03/uw-housing-plans-renovation-of-kronshage-humphrey-jorns-residence-halls">The Daily Cardinal reports</a>, "One of many updates to Kronshage, Humphrey and Jorns residence halls includes increased elevator access. It will be added to the Gilman, Mack and Chamberlin Houses in Kronshage, making more than half of Kronshage dorms 'ADA accessible' — a goal set by UW Housing."When we're thinking about campus infrastructure, which is very much the bare minimum of accessibility on a campus, we have all these infrastructure problems, and we don't have a great way of working around them,' said Emmett Lockwood, a university house fellow and former resident of Phillips Residence Hall."

NAGPRA: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Department of Anthropology still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/university-wisconsin-madison-department-anthropology/">7 Native Americans</a>.Face recognition: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://facerec.ece.wisc.edu/">https://facerec.ece.wisc.edu/</a>&nbsp;

https://doso.students.wisc.edu/report-an-issue/report-a-student-of-concern/

On May 31, 2020, the Office of the Chancellor <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chancellor.wisc.edu/blog/a-message-to-our-community-3/">released a statement</a>, which said, "To our Black and Brown students, staff and faculty, I want to say unambiguously: You belong here, you are important to this campus, your lives matter and I am committed to your safety."

ENGL 48 Critical Issues in Postcolonial Studies

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The years 2018-2019 seemed to be pivotal in Dartmouth's evolution towards a more accessible, disability-friendly campus.In 2019, Dartmouth settled a lawsuit brought by a disabled student against the university, who claimed that Dartmouth violated her rights under the ADA by failing to provide classroom accommodations and accessible course materials. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2019/02/mannella-students-with-disabilities-policies">As part of the settlement</a>, Dartmouth agreed to numerous changes, including streamlining the accommodations process with Student Accessibility Services and professors, while also mandating training for faculty and staff on working with students with accommodations.That same year, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2019/08/changes-to-sas-office-and-new-student-group-reflect-trend">Access Dartmouth</a> was formed by a group of students on campus "to address systematic issues at the College and help Dartmouth move toward a model of universal design."In 2022, in an effort to reduce wait times and to satisfy students' demands for longer term counseling services, Dartmouth partnered with the third-party <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2022/10/dartmouth-student-government-brings-free-and-unlimited-mental-health-counseling-access-to-campus">teletherapy provider, Uwill</a>, to offer free, unlimited counseling sessions for students. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2023/02/uwill-counseling-services-draw-800-student-registrations-since-november">According to The Dartmouth</a>, between November, 2022 and February, 2023, over 800 students at Dartmouth have registered with the service provider. Although teletherapy comes with its own set of problems, it was impressive that students were actively involved in the process of researching and choosing the teletherapy provider that they wanted at Dartmouth.Despite these positive changes, however, Dartmouth still has a punitive and regressive medical leave policy that lags behind its Ivy League peers, such as Harvard and Yale, which recently reformed some of the worst aspects of their medical leave policies. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2021/07/dartmouth-mental-health-resources-prove-insufficient-to-manage-rise-in-mental-health-struggles">According to The Dartmouth</a>, when a student takes a medical leave, they "are prohibited from returning to campus or participating in any campus activities, and they are no longer able to access the College’s counseling services." As one student who has navigated Dartmouth's "draconian" system observes, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2021/05/khan-for-the-love-of-god-do-anything">these policies are self-defeating</a>, since "If communicating with a counselor honestly about suicidal ideations or plans results in forcible committal or removal, any student concerned about their education and ability to utilize campus resources will feel pressure to simply lie or avoid counseling in the first place."Note: Because we did not receive any survey responses from Dartmouth, the information on this page was sourced from The Dartmouth, the student newspaper at Dartmouth.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2021/02/pandemic-prompts-college-to-reexamine-accessibility-learning-accommodations">According to The Dartmouth</a>, students report that many professors are recording their lectures. However, to have recordings guaranteed for a course requires accommodations through Student Accessibility Services.

As part of the Mannella Protocol at Dartmouth, faculty and staff are required to complete training on how to work with students with accommodations. This is not the same as DEI training, however. At Dartmouth, only "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sites.dartmouth.edu/teaaa/accountability/">faculty, staff and administrative leaders</a>" are required to undergo DEI training.

Dartmouth College

Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dartmouthradical.org/mutual-aid">https://www.dartmouthradical.org/mutual-aid</a>Peer Support: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/mentalhealthunion/peer-support/">https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/mentalhealthunion/peer-support/</a>&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2021/02/pandemic-prompts-college-to-reexamine-accessibility-learning-accommodations">A student tells The Dartmouth that</a> "many buildings, like Dartmouth Hall (which is undergoing renovations), remain inaccessible to students with physical disabilities." Also, most of the multistory residence halls do not have elevators, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2019/11/geisel-zamora-navigating-campus-with-a-physical-disability">restricting disabled students to the ground floors</a> of those buildings, and some dorms are completely inaccessible by wheelchair from the outside.

https://students.dartmouth.edu/health-service/about/get-help-now

NAGPRA: Dartmouth College still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/dartmouth-college-hood-museum-art/">15 Native Americans</a>.

https://students.dartmouth.edu/community-standards/report-concern

https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2020/07/dartmouth-black-lives-matter-and-racial-injustice-must-end

No courses on Critical Theory, but they offer SOC 1872O Critical Race Theory.

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As one of the first institutions of higher education established in the United States, Brown University's storied campus dates back to 1764. This also creates accessibility problems, however, as many of the historical buildings on its campus have yet to be renovated or retrofitted with elevators and ramps, which "requires a long-term commitment and significant investments in capital projects,” <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2021/12/students-face-campus-accessibility-challenges">reports The Daily Herald</a>, Brown University's student newspaper.A faculty member at Brown <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2021/12/students-face-campus-accessibility-challenges">observed to a reporter</a> that campus-wide inaccessibility sends a clear message about "who Brown wants coming to this University — because right now, it is not physically disabled people." Providence, Rhode Island, was also "recently ranked as one of the worst cities for people with disabilities," <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2021/03/students-faculty-with-disabilities-face-accessibility-challenges-on-campus">according to reporting in The Daily Herald</a>.In 2021, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2021/09/i-just-felt-like-i-had-to-sign-the-papers-brown-community-reflects-on-u-mental-health-leave-taking-settlement-after-doj-settlement">Brown University reached a settlement</a> with the U.S. Department of Justice for "denying readmission to certain students who had taken medical leaves of absence for mental health reasons from fall 2012 to spring 2017," which violated the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.Although Brown, like many other universities, has experienced a surge in student demand for counseling services along with wait times of several weeks for initial appointments, in the past few years, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has been able to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-08-12/caps">reduce wait times to 3 days</a>. CAPS also lifted an annual limit on the number of sessions that students could schedule, allowing students to settle into long-term care without having to seek an off-campus provider.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projectlets.org/">Project LETS</a>, which was started at Brown, has helped to transform Brown University's campus into a model of student mental health support. Priorities moving forward should be improving campus accessibility for physically disabled students, increasing disability-related cultural and educational programming, creating disabled community spaces at Brown, and reducing or eliminating police presence on campus.In 2021, then PhD student, John Wrenn, conducted an informal <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2021/03/wrenn-gs-the-surveillance-school">count of surveillance cameras</a> on the Brown campus, and found that "Brown University has deployed one surveillance camera for approximately every 18 community members, placing it just shy of London, but ahead of every Chinese city except Taiyuan and Wuxi."

https://dld.brown.edu/remote-accessible-teaching

The Cogut Institute for the Humanities at Brown includes a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://humanities.brown.edu/events/disabilitystudies">Disability Studies Working Group</a> that hosts events, including lectures, but there is no formal Disability Studies curriculum at Brown.

A student tells us, "Our DIAP (diversity and inclusivity action plan) explicitly mentions people with disabilities as being included in the umbrella of underrepresented groups, but it doesn't go beyond that."

An op-ed this year in The Brown Daily Herald cited a U.S. Secret Service and DOE report <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2023/04/aizenberg-26-the-most-overlooked-part-of-the-gun-control-debate">to suggest that suicidal people are likely to be mass shooters</a>, when in fact the vast majority of suicidal people are nonviolent. This kind of rhetoric is dangerous, as it not only discourages suicidal people from seeking help, but also justifies law enforcement viewing all suicidal people as threats and using deadly force against people in crisis.

Brown University

Peer Support: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.letsatbrown.org/">https://www.letsatbrown.org/</a>&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2021/12/students-face-campus-accessibility-challenges">The Brown Daily Herald reports</a>, "The residential experience is a central part of life for undergraduates who are required to live on campus for six semesters due to the University’s belief that the 'residential experience is integral to undergraduate students’ academic, social, intellectual and personal growth.' ...But despite the requirement for students to live on campus, not all University dorms are fully accessible to students with disabilities. For example, according to the campus accessibility map, multiple residential buildings adjacent to the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle — which house sophomores and juniors — contain barriers that “would prevent a wheelchair user from entering the facility."

https://caps.brown.edu/our-services/crisis-services

NAGPRA: Brown University still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/brown-university-haffenreffer-museum-anthropology/">99 Native Americans</a>.

SOC 1446 - CONSUMPTION &amp; EVERYDAY LIFE

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During the past several years, in an effort to reduce wait times for counseling appointments, Pitt has partnered with third-party online services including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/179102/news/new-online-platform-togetherall-provides-peer-support-for-mental-health/">Togetherall</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/150622/featured/counseling-center-adds-staff-puts-counselors-in-residence-halls/">TAO Connect</a> (Therapy Assistance Online), and ThrivingCampus. However, in light of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/03/ftc-says-online-counseling-service-betterhelp-pushed-people-handing-over-health-information-broke">abuse of data and violations of user privacy by online service providers recently</a>, we feel that this may not be the best solution to the growing demand for mental health services on campus. In 2019, the Pitt Counseling Center <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/150622/featured/counseling-center-adds-staff-puts-counselors-in-residence-halls/">added more counselors to its staff</a>, and also placed counselors in some of the residence halls on campus, which successfully reduced wait lists for appointments.The Pitt News, University of Pittsburgh's student newspaper, has had good and consistent coverage of disability over the years. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/181040/featured/tired-and-frustrated-students-with-disabilities-express-concerns-with-pitts-accessibility-disability-resources-office/">From that coverage</a>, it's clear that many students are not satisfied with the support provided by Disability Resources and Services (DRS), although the office appears to be making genuine efforts to improve, and several <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/181040/featured/tired-and-frustrated-students-with-disabilities-express-concerns-with-pitts-accessibility-disability-resources-office/">disability-related groups</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/178974/news/sgb-discusses-new-disability-resources-committee-boil-water-advisory/">and committees</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/164805/news/new-pitt-disability-community-creates-a-group-for-faculty-and-staff-with-disabilities/">have sprung up</a> in recent years, pushing for changes on Pitt's campus. One of the things we didn't like about DRS is how they allow accommodations to be contingent on how well students communicate with their professors, and tout this as "learning self-advocacy." <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/181040/featured/tired-and-frustrated-students-with-disabilities-express-concerns-with-pitts-accessibility-disability-resources-office/">As other students have pointed out</a>, constantly having to justify their accommodations and deal with the questioning, skepticism, and antagonism often directed at them, can quickly lead to burnout and giving up.In 2020, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/159354/news/pitt-offers-new-mandatory-anti-racism-class-for-first-year-students/">in response to student demand</a>, Pitt started requiring all incoming students to take a one-credit course on anti-Black racism, (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.provost.pitt.edu/anti-black-racism-history-ideology-and-resistance-final-course-syllabus">PITT 0210</a>) Anti-Black Racism: History, Ideology, and Resistance.

The College of General Studies offers a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cgs.pitt.edu/disability-studies-certificate">Disability Studies certificate</a>.

The Office for Equity, Diversity, &amp; Inclusion <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/education">offers workshops and online trainings</a>, but these are not mandatory.&nbsp;

A student says, "I felt gender discriminated in my computer science program."

University of Pittsburgh

Note: There were mutual aid groups active during 2020, but they are now defunct.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/181040/featured/tired-and-frustrated-students-with-disabilities-express-concerns-with-pitts-accessibility-disability-resources-office/">The Pitt News reports</a>, "[A student] described how difficult it is for her to access campus fully. For example, she could not attend a club meeting held in the lecture hall on the third floor of the Cathedral of Learning, leading her to break down in frustration.“I already had a shitty day, and when I got there I couldn’t get into the classroom because of the stairs,” Wolff said. “I started crying, I was just so tired and frustrated. It was like, why do I have to fight so hard? Just to access classes, student life, the ability to do anything on campus?”Other inaccessible areas on campus include the walkway connecting David Lawrence Hall to Litchfield Tower.

In 2022, the University Counseling Center, in collaboration with Pitt Police, created the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pittnews.com/article/170900/top-stories/university-counseling-center-pitt-police-collaborate-to-de-escalate-crisis-calls/">Pittsburgh Higher Education Assessment and Response Team (HEART)</a>, to “de-escalate crisis situations." However, the program merely seems to formalize coordination between mental health providers and the police, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/cc/heart/">the police are still the primary response for welfare checks</a> on campus.

Pitt does have an online report tool powered by the third-party app, Convercent, through the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.compliance.pitt.edu/make-report">Pitt Concern Connection</a> website that allows community members to report a dizzying array of concerns, including "violations of academic protocols or policies," "bullying," and "violated university policy, codes, or guidelines." However, the reporting tool does not specifically target "distressed students," or "students of concern."However, Pitt does have a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/dean/distressedstudents/">Care and Resource Support (CARS) Team</a>, which encourages community members to report distressed students by email.

Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, Ann E. Cudd, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://officeoftheprovost.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/j/889A07E189989D9E2540EF23F30FEDED">issued a statement that</a> "The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, like so many before them, send the false and racist message that Black lives do not matter. We must work to right that wrong."

*2021 dataUpdated on February 2, 2021.

PHIL-UA 39; Twentieth-Century Continental Philosophy

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By our metrics, NYU is one of the more accessible and disability-friendly campuses in the US although there is much room for improvement. A student at NYU School of Law tells us, "NYU Law is very accommodating to requests for common neurodivergence diagnoses like ADHD, but is minimally and sometimes not at all accommodating to requests that stem from less common neurodivergence diagnoses. If they haven't heard of it, they don't believe it exists."It was surprising to learn that NYU does not have a football team, which is unusual for a school of its size and prestige, but makes sense given the limited space in Lower Manhattan. We consider this positive, given the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/03/sports/football/nfl-says-saints-had-bounty-program-to-injure-opponents.html">violence</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/population-health/divisions-sections-centers/medical-ethics/education/high-school-bioethics-project/learning-scenarios/the-nfl-brain-injury">ethical problems</a> associated with football.NYU's Student Health Center (SHC) issues pretty solid <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nyu.edu/students/health-and-wellness/wellness-exchange/helping-someone-in-trouble.html">guidance on helping students in distress</a>, without resorting to the ableist, fearmongering language often seen on so many other university websites. That said, because New York City is one of the most heavily policed cities in the country, marginalized students thinking of living here should be aware of potentially frequent interactions with police and how that might negatively impact their safety and well-being. NYU is also home to the controversial Policing Project program, which has been heavily criticized by community groups <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qHWVP2gPqirTFQDXhd4schKiJU9EAYiKsQqOkmC1Vns/edit">as well as NYU School of Law students</a> for being funded by police agencies and for promoting technological solutions that "sanitize police violence and surveillance."A student also tells people to check out <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nyu.edu/students/communities-and-groups/student-accessibility/nyu-connections-asd-program.html">NYU Connections ASD</a>, which is "a free and optional program for autistic NYU students dedicated to promoting student success by promoting a culture of acceptance and belonging. The program focuses on recognizing and building on each student's unique strengths and providing opportunities to connect with other neurodiverse NYU students&nbsp;through group meetings and projects."

A student writes, "Unless the professor happens to be nice, you often have to work with [Moses Center for Student Accessibility] to get videos."

The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers a Minor in Disability Studies. A Center for Disability Studies was established at NYU in 2017.

A student tells us, "At a position I previously held on campus (I will not identify the department or supervisor), due to my different methods of processing information, I was blamed for not doing my job correctly and told, 'don't make me regret hiring you.'"

New York University

Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://opencollective.com/gsocnyu#category-ABOUT">https://opencollective.com/gsocnyu#category-ABOUT</a>&nbsp;

In 2022, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nyunews.com/news/2022/11/30/nyu-to-expand-housing-accessibility/">the Washington Square News reported that</a>, "NYU will begin a five-year effort to make its housing facilities more accessible after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Some of the university’s housing facilities had previously been found to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

NAGPRA: NYU still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/new-york-university-college-dentistry/">113 Native Americans</a>.NYU's Policing Project program has been criticized by community groups as well as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qHWVP2gPqirTFQDXhd4schKiJU9EAYiKsQqOkmC1Vns/edit">NYU School of Law students</a> for being funded by police agencies and for promoting technological solutions that "sanitize police violence and surveillance."

The University does have an online form to submit a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nyu-advocate.symplicity.com/public_report/">Student Misconduct Report</a> (Public Incident Report) that uses the Symplicity database, but it is mainly for reporting violations of the University Student Conduct Policy.

NYU's president, Andrew Hamilton, issued statements after the murders of George Floyd in 2020 and Tyre Nichols in 2023, but he didn't explicitly support Black Lives Matter.

MDES UN1001 CRITICAL THEORY: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

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There is very little coverage of disability in The Spectator, Columbia University's student newspaper, which evinces how invisible the disabled community is on campus. Of the few disabled students' voices that have been published over the years, one has to go all the way back to 2015 just to find something besides <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2022/04/26/columbia-must-provide-more-support-for-its-disabled-students/">an op-ed written in 2022</a>. One of the pieces written in 2015 was a letter to the editor titled, "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2015/10/07/dont-call-me-disabled/">Don't call me disabled</a>," in which the author uses the term "wheelchair-bound" to describe those other students who "deserve accommodations."On top of that rampant ableism at Columbia (this is a school where writing an op-ed that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2017/09/27/i-ate-alone-and-the-world-didnt-end/">it's ok to sit by oneself in the dining hall</a> was considered radical) stairways are the dominant motif in the design of the physical campus and literal gates surround the entire main campus to separate the elites from the plebs <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2020/07/12/students-have-been-just-as-good-as-the-police-at-enforcing-the-legacy-of-enslavement-that-would-finance-and-expand-columbias-prestige/">who actually live in the Morningside neighborhood</a>. This is a campus that is besotted with the ideologies of meritocracy and gatekeeping.In 2022, a disabled Columbia student <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2022/04/26/columbia-must-provide-more-support-for-its-disabled-students/">wrote an op-ed</a> in The Spectator, stating that "since I stepped through those iron-wrought gates, the University has made it clear that they don’t believe it is their job to offer that support—for me or other students with disabilities... My pleasantly unhelpful [Disability Services] coordinator said I could receive extra help when my condition “flared up,” demonstrating a clear misunderstanding of what I was going through."Columbia's Department of Public Safety employs many former senior members of NYPD, including Timothy Malin, Deidre Fuchs, and James McShane, former VP of Public Safety. Members of Columbia’s Mobilized African Diaspora have pointed out the hypocrisy in some of the progressive scholarship that comes out of Columbia and the institution's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2020/08/31/student-group-mobilized-african-diaspora-calls-on-university-to-stop-supporting-nypd-confront-anti-black-history/">heavy-handed policing of the community</a> and its surroundings. They ask, “How can you have Mariame Kaba in your faculty and then also have James McShane as your [vice president for] public safety? These are people who had their careers under Ray Kelly, under peak stop and frisk, during Guiliani, clean up the streets, tough on crime, broken windows—and then you have the Center for Justice that’s talking about restorative justice.”In recent years, two Columbia students were stabbed to death just steps away from campus despite Public Safety officers being stationed nearby.Abigail B. Elbaum, Vice Chair of the Columbia Board of Trustees, sits on the Board of the New York City Police Foundation. Alan R. Batkin, who sits on the Board of Advisors at the School of Public Health, is a Trustee of the New York City Police Foundation.In 2022, Columbia University was removed from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/2022/07/columbias-fall-from-u-s-newss-ranking-casts-doubt-on-other-universities-at-the-top/">U.S. News and World Report’s ranking</a> of top universities <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.math.columbia.edu/~thaddeus/ranking/investigation.html">for falsifying data</a> that led to it rising to the 2nd spot in the rankings.

A former student writes, "Of course there is a security camera in every classroom, but they cannot deign to allow recording of lectures." Note: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/most-surveilled-colleges/">According to one independent study</a>, Columbia is the most surveilled campus in the nation, with the highest ratio of cameras to students.

A student says, "I have a really hard time focusing and an even harder time getting disability services to believe me. They require so much documentation much of which I just don't have."

A student says, "I get told a lot how lucky I must be to receive accommodations and how much they wish they had extra time for tests too. People make fun of those who have visible disabilities all the time. Or call themselves ADHD when they’re busy or excited."

Columbia University in the City of New York

Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://linktr.ee/helpingstudentscu">https://linktr.ee/helpingstudentscu</a>&nbsp;Peer Support: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projectlets.org/columbia-grad">Project LETS Chapter at Columbia</a>

A former student writes, "I believe that most buildings on campus are technically accessible. But whether they are practically accessible is another matter. For example, one of the main academic buildings, Hamilton Hall, has just a single elevator for 6-8 floors (I can't remember how many). In between classes, there is always a long line in front of the elevator, and I can't imagine a wheelchair user having an easy time getting through that. Also, all the steps around campus are a nightmare, and College Walk has so many loose bricks that even able-bodied people are always tripping or getting their heels stuck."

https://universitylife.columbia.edu/bluefolder

Surveillance: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/12/24/colleges-are-turning-students-phones-into-surveillance-machines-tracking-locations-hundreds-thousands/">According to The Washington Post</a>, Columbia is one of a handful of universities that has partnered with the startup, SpotterEDU, founded by Rick Carter, a former basketball coach at DePaul University who had a protective order put against him by the athletics department. SpotterEDU tracks students' movements by connecting their smartphones to the campus WiFi.Facial recognition: Although Columbia University has publicly denied that its Department of Public Safety uses facial recognition, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/clearview-ai-fbi-ice-global-law-enforcement">documents obtained by BuzzFeed News</a> indicate that Columbia had an account with Clearview AI and performed over 30 searches on Clearview's database. Similarly, BuzzFeed News' documents show that the NYPD, which frequently works with Public Safety, and which "previously denied it had any formal relationship with Clearview," has "run more than 11,000 searches, the most of any entity on the document. More than 30 officers have Clearview accounts, according to the logs."

There is no online report mechanism, but members of the community are encouraged to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://universitylife.columbia.edu/bluefolder">contact the Dean of Students</a> about any student they are concerned about.

GRS EN 792 Introduction to Recent Critical Theory and Method

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A student says, "After a few weeks into my first semester of undergrad, my suite mates rejected me wholesale. There was an active practice of shunning that went on the entire year, in which they refused to acknowledge my existence or communicate with me verbally."

Boston University

A graduate student <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dailyfreepress.com/2021/10/07/students-detail-inadequate-accessibility-on-campus-difficulty-getting-to-classes/">tells The Daily Free Press</a>, "The College of Arts and Sciences building’s accessibility entrance is located in the back with elevators on the far left side. 'If your class is not close to that side of the building you basically walk all that way [to the elevator] and then you walk all the way back to get to the class.'" Another student added, "I would say the three [older] buildings are the School of Theology, Marsh Chapel and CAS and they all share that [accessibility issue]. It kind of communicates to the disabled community ‘you’re kind of an afterthought.’"Additionally, "students with disabilities are unable to participate in some events held in the basement of Marsh Chapel as the elevator does not reach the basement. 'They don’t think it’s an issue because they don’t see a lot of people with disabilities but people with disabilities don’t come because there’s not accessibility,'" <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dailyfreepress.com/2021/10/07/students-detail-inadequate-accessibility-on-campus-difficulty-getting-to-classes/">the student told the reporter</a>.See also: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dailyfreepress.com/2019/11/15/student-demonstrates-lack-of-accessibility-for-disabled-people-at-bu/">https://dailyfreepress.com/2019/11/15/student-demonstrates-lack-of-accessibility-for-disabled-people-at-bu/</a>&nbsp;

https://www.bu.edu/cas/faculty-staff/instructors-guide/helping-students-resources-referrals/

BU has one of the better pages that we've seen for helping students in distress. Instead of reporting, they encourage students to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bu.edu/shs/behavioral-medicine/helping-someone-in-distress/helping-someone-in-distress-faculty-and-staff/">help other students get help</a>. "If necessary, you can help the student make an appointment. Call while the student is with you. Write down the appointment details, including time, provider’s name, and location."

After issuing a statement following the murder of George Floyd that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/03/metro/bu-president-apologizes-initial-letter-racism-sends-second/">was heavily criticized by the community</a>, President Robert A. Brown <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bu.edu/president/following-up-on-mondays-letter-to-the-community/">issued a second statement</a> on June 3, 2020, in which he said, "The lives of our Black students, faculty, and staff, and all Black lives, matter. The deaths of Black men and women at the hands of racists should shake every other soul in this nation and make us understand and share your anger."

The Department of Germanic &amp; Slavic Languages &amp; Literatures offers a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.colorado.edu/gsll/graduate-certificate-program-critical-theory">Graduate Certificate in Critical Theory</a>.

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Based on the responses we received, it's evident that students feel unsupported by CU Boulder Disability Services and on campus generally.&nbsp;A student shares their experience, writing, "It's annoying as all hell. I had to go through on campus services to get a 'rule-out diagnosis' for autism accommodations, because I am not diagnosed officially, and getting proper documentation from doctors for other disabilities is a huge pain... They refused to do it actually for autism solely, because I communicated well and did well in school as a kid, because I'm low-support-needs/high-masking. They ended up giving me one for anxiety, which I don't have, but it at least gave me the accommodation I asked for." Another autistic student writes that, the "Office of Disability Services is honestly more trouble than it's worth to me."Another student tells us, "Students are required to submit documentation to get accommodations for any type of disability. That includes temporary disabilities, like if you end up bedridden from COVID. If you are too sick to see a doctor independently and you don't have anyone to ask for help, you can't get accommodations and students are frequently forced to drop classes as a result. Personally, that's happened to me for about a dozen classes."Counseling staff told us that it can take 1-3 weeks to see a counselor after the initial intake appointment. Getting an appointment with one of the psychiatric staff usually takes longer.

A student tells us, "Lecture recordings are never available. Professors are actively discouraged from allowing any digital interaction with courses for disabled students. Rather than permitting zoom attendance for immunocompromised students who are worried about getting COVID or anything else, 'flex plans' are offered which allow students a handful of extra excused absences but they are not given notes, recordings or anything else. At best they can ask a friend for notes, but Disability Services does not help with that at all."

*This information was provided by staff at Disability Services.

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences offers a few Disability Studies courses such as SLHS&nbsp;1010 Disabilities in Contemporary American Society.

A student says, "As far as I'm aware, there is no DEI training for students or staff. Individual departments <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.colorado.edu/cisc/workshops">can request DEI workshops</a> for faculty from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement. None of these workshops include anything related to accessibility, neurodivergent people, or interacting with any sort of disabled person in any way whatsoever. The only time there has been any kind of accessibility related programming at an official CU event was at this year's 'Ignite' conference (small, DEI-focused conference for students and faculty put on by CU) and it was a presentation we created and gave about masking (while 2/3rds of the audience was not masking)."

University of Colorado Boulder

Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ucwcolorado.org/get-involved/#mutual-aid">https://www.ucwcolorado.org/get-involved/#mutual-aid</a>&nbsp;

However, a student writes that, "Accessible entrances can be tricky to get to/find sometimes."

Members of the community can report other students to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofColorado&amp;amp;layout_id=3">Student Support and Case Management</a> as well as employees of the university to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cuboulder.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bO9BTYS8qySOXNb">Behavioral Intervention Team</a>. CU Boulder also participates in Safe2Tell, an anonymous reporting hotline.

A student says, "There were emails about it a year ago, and there’s a big sign on campus supporting BLM."

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Although Northeastern scores above its peer institutions on many metrics, there are systemic issues that are hurting students, such as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://huntnewsnu.com/68265/editorial/op-eds/northeastern-must-address-overcrowding-problem/">overcrowding</a> on campus, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://huntnewsnu.com/67471/campus/nu-community-creates-advocates-for-mental-health-resources/">inadequate staffing and training</a> at University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS). In 2021, a Northeastern student started a petition that currently has over 6,000 signatures on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.change.org/p/improve-mental-health-care-access-at-northeastern-university">change.org</a>. The petition states that "students don't trust the university to provide high-quality care, so they instead suffer in silence."In 2021, Northeastern partnered with the third-party teletherapy platform, BetterHelp, to better meet the demand for counseling services on campus. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://huntnewsnu.com/67456/campus/betterhelp-redefines-teletherapy-raises-issues-among-students/">But as The Huntington News reports</a>, BetterHelp has a poor record on protecting user data, and has "admitted to selling 'limited information' about their users to Facebook for targeted advertising."

In 2021, Northeastern began requiring all faculty, staff, and students to complete "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://diversity.northeastern.edu/learning-development-opportunities/racial-cultural-literacy-trainings/">Racial &amp; Cultural Literacy Trainings</a>" online. However, the modules do not include disability and neurodiversity.

Northeastern University

Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://numutualaid.org/">https://numutualaid.org/</a>Peer Support (text only): <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://leanonmechat.wixsite.com/northeastern/">https://leanonmechat.wixsite.com/northeastern/</a>&nbsp;

Although most of the buildings on campus are wheelchair accessible, some of the multistory residences, such as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.northeastern.edu/housing/light-hall/">Light Hall</a> and Kennedy Hall, lack elevators or ramps.

https://we-care.studentlife.northeastern.edu/faq/friends-classmates-refer-student/

Deficit-focused Autism research:<ul><li>https://regamexr.sites.northeastern.edu/research/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>https://actionlab.sites.northeastern.edu/research/</li></ul>Non-consensual Surveillance research:<ul><li>https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/10/10/northeastern-backs-down-surveillance-privacy-lab&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>https://huntnewsnu.com/69260/campus/nu-administration-removes-occupancy-sensors-in-isec-in-response-to-privacy-ethical-concerns/</li></ul>Facial recognition research:&nbsp;<ul><li>https://coe.northeastern.edu/news/taking-stereotypes-out-of-facial-recognition-software/</li></ul>

There is no online report tool, but members of the Northeastern community are encouraged to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://we-care.studentlife.northeastern.edu/faq/faculty-advisors-administrators-nu-staff/">consult with We Care</a> by calling or emailing. We Care also takes referrals from the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR), which does have an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://osccr.sites.northeastern.edu/report-an-incident/">online report form</a>.

https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/06/08/northeastern-marks-a-day-for-reflection-engagement-and-action-to-remember-black-lives-lost-and-confront-injustice/

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Two critically important resources for disabled students are consistently underfunded and understaffed at UW: the UW Counseling Center and the Disability Resources for Students (DRS) office.One student tells us, "The psychological counseling center is often overwhelmed and cannot see the amount of students who need their services or have to limit sessions. Because of this, it can take a while to get an appointment."<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailyuw.com/opinion/uw-celebrates-diversity-and-inclusion-while-failing-disabled-students/article_7dbe1d16-c10e-11ec-86b8-3b80290b1478.html">According to The Daily</a>, UW's student newspaper, DRS has been staffed at the same level for the past ten years despite an over 300% increase in the number of students registered with DRS during the same time period, resulting in unacceptable wait times for students needing accommodations.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailyuw.com/news/drs-continues-to-struggle-to-accommodate-students-as-leadership-looks-to-revitalize-the-office/article_bcd4b734-ed41-11ed-9ab1-732a4a111435.html">A student tells the reporter</a>, “I scheduled an appointment [with DRS] but it never happened... It’s kinda frustrating because there are important things I need access to and there’s a timeline for everything at school.”

The Student Disability Commission at UW is working towards <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailyuw.com/news/governance/asuw-senate-calls-for-increased-access-to-remote-classes/article_060f55ac-87f0-11ec-892a-bfa1c825cd38.html">implementing hybrid remote/in-person options</a> for all courses.

The College of Arts &amp; Sciences offers a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://disabilitystudies.washington.edu/DS_courses_programs">Disability Studies minor, major, and graduate certificate</a>.

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Disability Cultural Center: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://depts.washington.edu/dcenter/">https://depts.washington.edu/dcenter/</a>&nbsp;Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://linktr.ee/uwmutualaid">https://linktr.ee/uwmutualaid</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

"There are two campuses, according to UW alumna Lindsey Muszkiewicz. There is the one that brings tourists to UW every spring, with beautiful cherry blossoms and well-maintained walkways. Then, there’s the one with back alleys and winding, broken roads, ignored by UW but used by every student in a wheelchair or with a mobility impairment" (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailyuw.com/opinion/f-stairs-reveals-aesthetic-but-inaccessible-campus/article_e99e4060-c442-11ec-beb2-e771411c9b64.html">The Daily</a>).

https://www.washington.edu/safecampus/after-hours-resources/

https://dsl.uw.edu/staff-development/student-care-report-form/

A full year after the murder of George Floyd, UW President Ana Mari Cauce <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.washington.edu/president/2021/05/24/george-floyd-one-year/">finally released a statement</a>, saying, "Let’s remember to care for each other, always, but especially now, and let us recommit ourselves to a world in which Black opportunities, voices and lives matter."

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://criticaltheory.berkeley.edu/">https://criticaltheory.berkeley.edu/</a>&nbsp;

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UC Berkeley seems to be doing so many things right for its disabled students, on paper at least. Last year, the campus opened its long-awaited Disability Cultural Community Center. UC Berkeley is also one of the few institutions of higher education that offers a true Disability Studies program, albeit a minor. And finally, UC Berkeley's student-run newspaper, the Daily Californian, has had consistently high quality and prolific coverage of disability issues for many years, suggesting that disabled students are not invisible on campus.However, in the one area that perhaps matters most -- the quality of support provided by the Disabled Students' Program (DSP), which is UC Berkeley's accessibility services office -- there is a consensus among students that UC Berkeley is failing. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dailycal.org/2023/01/24/uc-berkeley-is-failing-its-disabled-students">As one student perceptively writes in the Daily Californian</a>, "UC Berkeley seems fully unaware of how ridiculous it looks when it brags about all of its DSP services all while denying its students access to services they need to be healthy and functioning students. I don’t need a speaker series — I need comprehensive care."<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailycal.org/2022/07/26/disabled-students-program-an-illusion">In the Daily Californian</a>, a student writes that "By the time I got a meeting with an advisor from DSP to discuss accommodations — through the advocacy of a College of Letters and Sciences academic advisor — it was February of my second semester. I had navigated my first two rounds of enrollment, my first semester of classes and my first round of finals at UC Berkeley, all sans accommodations."Because of poor communication and followup from DSP staff, and overall lack of support, many students give up on trying to obtain accommodations. The campus organization, Berkeley Disabled Students, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailycal.org/2022/07/26/disabled-students-program-an-illusion">has stated that</a> “DSP has become adversarial to disabled students, rather than a safe source of support. Many students have reported to BDS feelings of being devalued, dehumanized, humiliated, retaliated against, and our disabilities impacted in harmful ways due to discrimination by DSP, faculty, and staff of U.C. Berkeley.”A student tells us, "Throughout my time at UC Berkeley, I had a series of pretty serious medical issues. I had 3 major surgeries and battled new diagnosis, with the addition of things I am still working on getting diagnosed for. The hardest thing for me was I was doing really poorly in my classes as a result of my health… Quite frankly I didn’t know where to turn or get help, which ultimately resulted in me getting a lot of poor grades. Had I known how to work the system better and knew how to get help, I may have done better in college. Unfortunately it isn’t advertised or talked about."Another student lists for us the problems on campus that they have had to deal with as a disabled student at UC Berkeley: "-Issues getting to classes within 10 minutes&nbsp; &nbsp;-Building entrances closed, resulting in having to go around. (Awful with a physical disability.) &nbsp;-Constant switching of DSP advisors&nbsp; &nbsp;-No community center &nbsp;-Poor professor understanding"

This is dependent on each professor.

A student says, "Yes. I had to have a doctor fill out an impact assessment and then worked with a disability counselor to determine appropriate accommodations."

The College of Letters &amp; Science offers a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://disability-studies.ugis.berkeley.edu/">minor in Disability Studies</a>.

In 2022, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailycal.org/2022/01/26/you-dont-look-disabled-uc-berkeley-students-with-disabilities-grapple-with-being-seen-understood">the Daily Californian reported that</a> "Despite the potential lack of awareness surrounding disabilities, academic ableism training for faculty and staff to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities is not mandated across the UC system. Instead, campus instructors are encouraged to take DSP’s online disability training, according to a campuswide email sent Jan. 11. While DSP has discussed adopting mandatory training for faculty with the Academic Senate chair every year, the proposition has not been adopted, according to DSP executive director Karen Nielson."A student says, "I have accommodations but because my disability is a mood disorder it’s hard for teachers to sometimes understand what I go through. Teaching Staff should be trained to better understand what the different disabilities are their students may have."

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailycal.org/2022/01/26/you-dont-look-disabled-uc-berkeley-students-with-disabilities-grapple-with-being-seen-understood">The Daily Californian reports that</a> "Ableism is very pervasive on campus, ASUC Senator and registered DSP student Amanda Hill alleged, so placing the onus on students to advocate for themselves is taxing. They further alleged that some professors refuse to accommodate students with accommodation letters out of disbelief. 'They act like our disabilities are a burden on them.'"

University of California, Berkeley

Disability Cultural Center: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dsp.berkeley.edu/support-services/welcome-disability-cultural-community-dcc-center">https://dsp.berkeley.edu/support-services/welcome-disability-cultural-community-dcc-center</a>Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.berkeleymutualaid.org/">https://www.berkeleymutualaid.org/</a>Mutual Aid: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ga.berkeley.edu/ga-resources/ga-scholarships-and-grants/graduate-assembly-mutual-aid-fund/">https://ga.berkeley.edu/ga-resources/ga-scholarships-and-grants/graduate-assembly-mutual-aid-fund/</a>Peer Support: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sspc.berkeley.edu/">https://sspc.berkeley.edu/</a>&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailycal.org/2022/02/14/uc-berkeley-students-struggle-to-gain-wheelchair-accessibility-in-campus-classrooms">The Daily Californian reports</a>, "'Every time I roll into a classroom, it feels like the university is saying I’m not wanted,' Bailey said. 'When you arrive on the first day of class and realize there isn’t a place for you, you just have to sit in the aisle feeling like all of the eyes in the classroom are on you.'"

NAGPRA: UC Berkeley still holds the remains of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/university-california-berkeley/">9,058 Native Americans</a>.

The Rankings

Harvard University

Harvard University

University of Idaho

University of Idaho

The University of Chicago

The University of Chicago

University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

Brown University

Brown University

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh

New York University

New York University

Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York

Boston University

Boston University

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder

Northeastern University

Northeastern University

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

Duke University

Duke University

University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

University of Oregon

University of Oregon

University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas

University of Arizona

University of Arizona