DE Assistant Politics Editor

The postal services in the Student Center will undergo renovations to comply with Americans with Disabilities Acts standards, University and post office officials say.

Dan Finnegan, supervisor of customer services at the U.S. Post Office, 1301 E. Main, said the older stamp machines will be taken out and replaced with new stamp machines. He said a new letter drop will be installed and the machines will be lowered for accessibility to people with disabilities. The postal services are located south of the Hall of Fame in the Student Center.

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We want to make every effort to lower the machines as far as we can to make them accessible to everyone, Finnegan said. We want to be in compliance with ADA when we’re done.

Finnegan said along with replacing and lowering machines, some structural work to the area will be done as well. New paneling will be put up and a new door to the services will be installed, he said.

Finnegan said the renovations should provide a better range of services, more reliable machines and make the area more attractive.

Greg Tatham, director of the Student Center, said the University had not been required by ADA to meet these standards. However, he said the ADA could set guidelines for the Student Center post office in the future, and these changes would satisfy those guidelines.

We are trying to take care of the needs before it becomes an issue, Tatham said. Sooner or later the facility will have to be in compliance with ADA.

Tatham said he hopes the renovations will benefit students, especially those with disabilities.

We’re hoping it makes it more convenient for students and addresses the special populations to the ADA compliance issue, he said.

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Finnegan said the renovations will take place during spring break. The current machines will shut down March 8, and the new machines will be in operation by the time students return to class March 18.

Ken Jaros, chief building operating engineer in the Student Center, said no cost for the project has been set. He said it is too early to determine the cost of the changes.