In total, I spent a little over three months on crutches since tearing my ACL in January, and subsequently getting it surgically repaired in March. Continuing classes and normal life with a serious injury was difficult enough on its own, but UCLA’s vast, undulating campus can make it that much harder to adjust.
Studying with friends on campus had been a routine part of my life at UCLA, but getting to those study spots was suddenly so much harder. I remember holding tears back one day as my friends and I spent an hour searching Anderson School of Management for an elevator. The frustration with my individual situation started to mix with irritation on behalf of all students who struggle with mobility. UCLA claims to be a beacon of accessibility, and yet the most they offer individuals with limited mobility is a confusing, imprecise campus accessibility map. There is also a van service called BruinAccess that you can apply for through CAE, but it only picks up and drops off at street-accessible locations. Even with the service, I still found myself having to traverse much of the campus that is not on the road-side.
I’m fortunate to have recovered and regained my mobility, but no one should be brought to tears on the way to a study session. Look to this guide for a more detailed route to the nearest elevator and save those tears for once you actually start studying.
I’ll clue you into the elevators within the most typical study spots, as well as the elevators that are on the route you’ll take to get there.
Common Study Spots:
Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library – I have to say this spot is already pretty cleared of obstacles, which is honestly a plus from the get-go. There are no stairs needed to enter the building, and if you want to study on the upper levels, there are two elevators willing and waiting to serve their purpose. Walking into the library, just past the check out desk, there is a little hallway on the left that leads to the elevators.
Powell Library – Despite all the elevators I discovered during my time on crutches, I didn’t know that Powell had real elevators until I started writing this story. I had noticed the ramps surrounding the outdoor entrances, as well as the two chair-lift type elevators in the main entryway which help grant access to Night Powell and the CLICC lab. However, further research prompted the discovery of two additional full sized elevators on either side of the building (one on the side facing Kaplan and the other on the side facing Janns). These elevators let into the stacks on the ground and first floors, and also provide access to the upper floors of the library via hallways.
Rosenfeld Library at Anderson School of Management – This path is a little convoluted, so I would suggest looking at this map of Anderson for further clarification. Keep in mind, though, that all of Anderson is connected, despite it not being depicted like that on the map. Approaching from The Hill, take a left once you pass Building A. Keep moving straight until reaching the door to Building B on your right. You will find the first elevator of this journey straight ahead, after entering. Exit the elevator on level 3, and then walk through Building C, taking a left shortly after the water station. Then, head straight to the back of Building D, where you can then enter Rosenfeld Library!
Young Research Library – This spot is another super easy one to navigate, with ramps allowing for access to the main entrance. After you enter, elevators are practically already in sight, straight ahead.
Common routes:
Bruin Walk – If you haven’t discovered this one on your own yet, you’re welcome. Not only do these elevators provide an accessible route to one of the most central parts of campus, but they also give you a chance to avoid all the people flyer-ing! You actually have two options here:
- Enter the UCLA store from the Bruin Walk entrance and head towards the back of the store (right in front of U SEE LA). There are two elevators here that take you upstairs into all the levels of Ackerman. If you’re headed deeper into campus, go to floor 2 where there is a bridge to Kerckhoff Hall that you can take to get past both buildings stair-free.
- If the UCLA store is closed, there is also an elevator just adjacent to the UCLA store entrance. There’s a little doorway through which you’ll see stairs taking you up to Ackerman level 1. If you walk through the doorway, there’s an elevator just to the right of the stairs.
I prefer option one, because it lets you access a few more floors than option two. However option 2 definitely comes through if you’re in a jam!
Getting to and from The Hill – Unfortunately The Hill itself doesn’t have any elevators, but you can avoid the steep part of the hike to De Neve by taking the following route: Find Pauley Pavilion and go to the side of it that’s closest to south campus. From there, just walk straight in the direction of The Hill. You’ll be approaching tennis courts and see some pretty scary looking stairs that go four floors up. Just keep walking towards the stairs, and eventually the elevator will come into view! Congrats! You’ve officially made your trip up The Hill a tiny bit less strenuous!
North Campus – If you’re headed from The Hill to North Campus, all of the twists and turns of Anderson staircases can get very confusing very quickly. This particular elevator can help you avoid some of that confusion. At the intersection between Charles E. Young Drive North and Westwood Plaza, head straight. When you see the concrete stairs, continue to walk past them. In the same structure as the stairs, you’ll find an elevator that takes you straight up to Briskin Family Plaza.
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Featured Image Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife
