I am very proud to be left-handed. We tend to be more creative, more intelligent and earn 10-15 percent more than our right-handed counterparts.
Four of the last seven presidents have been left-handed. Even with all of these advantages, it is hard to be left-landed for numerous reasons, and DU and its students need to be more accommodating of us left-handed writers.
Throughout history we have been ostracized. The word left in the English language derives from the Anglo-Saxon word “lyft,” which means “weak.” Societies have discriminated against us until very recently; my grandmother was punished in school for being left-handed.
There is an entire Wikipedia article titled “Bias against left-handed people.”
There is a precedence of us being discriminated against. It is unacceptable for the university, students or professors to continue this. Society itself is structured against us. In English, we write from the right to the left.
This means I drag my left hand over whatever I’m writing, often leading to smudging. When going to dine with my friends, there are certain places at the table where I have to sit to prevent bumping elbows. It’s hard enough to live in this society. In places where we can be accommodated, we should be. The evidence of “discrimination” doesn’t even start until the next paragraph.
The accommodations of the university help, but not as much as they could. They provide left-handed desks, but I have to arrive to class early to find them. Sometimes there are not enough and fierce competition breaks out.
Sometimes oblivious right-handers take these desks, which is similar to me parking in a handicap space. They often refuse to move if I need them to.
If all the desks are taken, it is nearly impossible to take handwritten notes. Using a laptop computer helps get around this, but laptops have their limitations. The university attempts to accommodate for us left-handers, but fails in certain areas.
DU needs to do more to accommodate us left-handers. They must provide enough left-handed desks in every classroom so that everyone who needs one can get one. If there are not enough desks in the classrooms, they need to provide an easy place to find more.
Right-handed people who read this article need to be willing to move if they take the last left-handed desk available. Professors should be willing to allow laptops for note-taking for the left-handed.
Finally, left-handed school supplies at the school store should be sold for the same price as right-handed supplies. The university is a place for everyone to learn, and it should make it as easy for left-handed people to learn as it is for the righties. Just remember, we tend to win the presidency.
