by Stephanie Guerrero
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

T he sign holders placed in the halls of UH-Clear Lake are being removed for safety reasons.

Students are bumping into signs or falling over them because they are not properly secured and placed in the middle of walkways. Complaints and concerns surfaced about the safety of students with disabilities and children visiting the campus.

The Safety and Health Subcommittee, an on-campus shared governance committee, is responsible for correcting safety issues at the university. The subcommittee voted to remove the sign holders. The administrative decision complies with the American Disabilities Act.

Pamela Groves, environmental, health and safety officer and chair of the health and safety subcommittee, believes the sign holders are a danger to students with disabilities.

"Not everyone is going to be happy, but it is for the good of all students. These signs can be a hazard for children and students. It's a decision we feel we are making for the right reasons," Groves said.

The Student Life Office also supports the decision to remove the sign holders. Student organizations reserve the signs from Student Life and use them to inform students about news and upcoming events.

"It's our goal to support student organizations in the best possible way, while at the same time creating a safe environment for all," said David Rachita, assistant dean of student life.

The Student Life owns 12 sign holders, but the sign holders that belong to other organizations will also be removed. With this change, student organizations are losing one of the most effective ways to advertise on campus.

The Safety and Health Subcommittee and Student Life are exploring other options for student organizations. Although the alternatives are in the planning stages, Rachita is confident that student organizations will still be able to get information to the students.

Building new oak cases above the pencil sharpeners in the restroom area is one option. Display cabinets and tackboards are also being considered. Ceiling hangers and expanding kiosks are other possible alternatives.

In the future, Rachita hopes to have an electronic kiosk at the student entrance of the Bayou Building for student organizations to advertise and display information.

"In the long run we may come out with more posting areas than before. It's a win-win situation," Rachita said.

The sign holders have to be removed by the end of the summer session. By then, alternative display options should be available.

"People are asking why we are not removing the signs this semester," Groves said. "We have to find some other way to display this information, and need time to put something in place."

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