JFK University in California stuns campus by digging up garden that was at the center of disability discrimination lawsuit

From the Contra Costa Times in Calif.:

John F. Kennedy University this week removed a garden that had been at issue in a disabled-access lawsuit, stunning students and instructors who had raised thousands of dollars to fix the problem.

The garden (pictured) at the Pleasant Hill campus was eradicated without warning Tuesday, about two months after the school settled the federal lawsuit brought by Michai Freeman, of Berkeley, a wheelchair-bound graduate student. The garden's loss disappointed and surprised Freeman, who had donated money to the renovation.

"It was never my intention for the garden to be taken away," said Freeman, who argued that she was unable to use the garden for her classes on holistic health. She has since graduated with a master's degree. "It was a beautiful garden. It was a real asset to the university."

JFK President Steven Stargardter and a university spokeswoman did not respond to phone messages this week, and other administrators declined to comment.

Paula Szloboda, chairwoman of the holistic health education department, said she was shocked to find workers tearing out the garden when she arrived Tuesday.

Employees and students had nearly raised the $56,000 or so needed to make the garden wheelchair-accessible, she said.

"We were very close to raising the funds necessary, so I was quite surprised," Szloboda said. "Now we'll be looking for someone else's garden to use."

On Monday, the Pleasant Hill City Council rejected the university's request for $10,000 for the garden path.Council member Michael Harris said he didn't think it is Pleasant Hill's responsibility to ensure that disabled people can reach the garden.

The small garden, built adjacent to a university parking lot in 2008, was used by about 65 holistic-health students per year, as well as those from other departments. It also was the site of community classes on composting and urban gardening.

Students and teachers had planted butternut squash, tomatoes, medicinal herbs and other crops there, Szloboda said. The plants are being moved to a Martinez garden, she said.

The garden's destruction is the latest unpopular decision by JFK administrators. Earlier this year, the school announced it was shutting its Elder Law Clinic, which provided free legal services to seniors.