Southern Accent
The student voice for 90 years!
Collegedale, Tennessee
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Vol. 72, Issue 2
The laws on paws Therapy dogs aid students Kaitlin Jeanette Colon Staff Writer
Disability Support Services allowed students to bring emotional support animals on campus, this semester. An important distinction needs to be made regarding service animals and emotional support animals, said Mariella Pechero, disability support services coordinator. “Service animals provide a service, like picking up an object
for someone in a wheelchair,” said Pechero. “An emotional support animal does not provide a service. It helps soothe the emotions.” Service animals are allowed to accompany their owners in public places, like churches and restaurants. Emotional support animals, however, are not allowed in buildings, except for the owner’s living quarters. The use of service and
Photo by Tierra Hayes
See PAWS, page 2
Sophomore nursing major Carla Peters, left, and Catherine Smolinski spend time with Quinn, a therapy dog that visits McKee Library once a month to interact with students.
Electric vehicles available for students to rent HannaH Wambolt Staff Writer
Southern Adventist University has teamed up with Prova Group to create an electric vehicle renting station on campus. The project started two years ago and has developed into a way of providing transportation to students who do not have a vehicle of their own. Students will be able to sign up for the rental car on their phones and pay by swiping their credit card.
The companies, Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Electric Power Board of Chattanooga (EPB), have connected with Southern through Prova Group to fund, power, and provide station locations for this new, green transportation. TVA funded the majority of this project, including the white, solar panel structure being built in the middle of the Talge and Wood Hall parking lots.
“Since most of the funding came from the outside businesses, Southern only pays $15,000,” said Marty Hamilton, associate vice president of financial administration. More than 50 percent of Southern’s student population are without an independent mode of transportation, Hamilton said. These students have the option to use company-insured Nissan Leaf cars. “Not having a car really limits my independence,” said
Marselinny Mawuntu, senior biology and allied health major. “With the new electric charging stations, I feel that students will gain the opportunity to have more freedom at their own leisure and convenience.” To rent a car, drivers must be 18 years or older and signed up with CARTA. The cars are available to rent for a fee. The charging stations are also available for electric car owners to use for free, said Stephanie DeOlloqui, associate director of
active living and transportation network at Prova Group. CARTA’s grand opening for 19 locations near Chattanooga was held Tuesday at Hamilton Place mall. Southern’s sharing station will be open for business soon with two available cars. “We are excited about the program and are hoping students will use it and benefit from it,” Hamilton said. “We’re involved with the community and anxious to see green technology in use.”