By
Relocating the student health center won’t keep the doctor away, however, it’ll only keep students away.
The current health services center is located between the Student Activities Center and the Houchens building. It is, however, in need of more space; space that the current building cannot provide.
The university has purchased a building for this purpose, but its remote location has drawn the criticism of many, including the Student Government Association.
The proposed location is a mile away from the dorms on campus, by Patterson Field, meaning that a sick or injured student would need to travel all this way to visit the doctor. Forcing a student to walk (let alone drive) the distance to the health services center is an unreasonable demand from U of L.
Alternatively, a student may ride the Cardinal Shuttle to the center, but nobody wants to be sitting next to a contagiously ill student on his way to the doctor. One would imagine that TARC would have trouble finding a driver for a “sick shuttle” as well. Which is why you couldn’t really ask your friend to drive you there either. A resident without a car would be forced to choose between two unappealing options: forego treatment or endanger the well-being of his fellow classmates.
Alternatively, the university could do something much less drastic and go with the other proposal. They have also considered renovating part of the Houchens building and using that instead, placing it right next to the current location. SGA has appropriately endorsed this plan, noting its central location to all students.
Something as important as medical care should not be outsourced to an off-campus location. Every student is forced to pay the health services fee; the treatment should be equally convenient for all.
U of L should listen to SGA on this one and take the students into consideration – not only the sick ones, but all who may come into contact with them.
