Carleton, a Division III school in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competes in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). At this point, none of the college’s 20 sports teams include options for Para athlete participation.

Jay Coleman ’29, a Para athlete in wheelchair track, is seeking to change this. So far, however, Coleman’s attempts to participate in athletics at Carleton have been denied.

“I’m only asking to practice with the team,” said Coleman. “I would go to separate wheelchair meets that are already instituted. I have all my own equipment, and I just want to be on the track with the other girls doing a workout. I wouldn’t compete with the team, at least not at this point.”

According to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, six universities, all large Division I schools, offer designated wheelchair track programs. However, smaller schools do offer Para athletes who are runners the chance to work with their able-bodied athletes. For example, at Wisconsin’s Ripon College, a DIII school, double amputee Lily Rosenthal runs in their able-bodied meets in the Midwest Conference. Coleman noted that Para athletes like Rosenthal are runners rather than wheelchair athletes, which might make them easier to integrate into the team and meets.

“It’s really important to be practicing with others to push you and help you,” said Coleman. “And when you do workouts, you’ve got pace groups with other people to push the pace and stay with.”

Lauren Tittel ’29, a member of Carleton’s varsity track team, echoed Coleman’s sentiment that being part of a team is an important part of being a college athlete. 

“I love the coaches and coaching staff. It’s like the team is my family, the community is very supportive,” Tittel said. “It’s very special to be a part of athletics at Carleton just because you get so much more out of the [college] experience. You learn a lot about time management [and] about teamwork.”

Coleman has a progressive connective tissue disorder and got involved in wheelchair track during their senior year of high school. They hope to practice with the track team for the community and to support their athletic ambitions.

“It’s a dream to wear a Carleton jersey to nationals,” said Coleman.

However, Coleman has already faced changes on their path to achieving that goal.

“DIII track & field does not contest events for wheelchair athletes; there is not a roster spot that can be provided, as this doesn’t exist. I realize that many high schools offer this, [but] on the NCAA level, DI, DII and DIII do not,” said Carleton track coach Donna Ricks in an email to Coleman that was shared with The Carletonian.

With no spot on the team, Carleton rules stipulate that Coleman can not practice with the team or otherwise participate in team activities. Coleman’s request to practice with the team was denied by Carleton’s Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation (PEAR) department.

“While we cannot provide information on a specific student situation, we can share the following facts. First, participation in Carleton varsity athletics teams is governed by NCAA Division III rules. A student who is not a member of a varsity team is not permitted to have a roster spot or to participate in varsity team activities,” said Carleton Athletic Director Heidi Jaynes in an email to The Carletonian. “Second, para-track is not a varsity sport at the NCAA Division III level, therefore the College does not currently have a varsity para-track program.”

Disappointed, but still hopeful, Coleman has sought to involve themself with the team in other ways.

“I showed up for a time trial [this term],” said Coleman. “Some friends asked if I could come and help as moral support. I know, from when I was a runner myself, that it can be very encouraging to have someone yelling splits and cheering you on from the sideline. So I was sitting off the track, encouraging people, and I got asked to help time the runners. I felt like I was integrated as part of the team.”

Members of the team reacted positively to Coleman’s presence at the time trial event.

 “Jay is one of our good friends… Our coach, Donna, asked Jay to time [runners], and Jay was really helpful,” said Claire Vukovics ’29, who is a member of Carleton’s varsity track team.

“I know [Jay] as a friend, and I know that they do train by themselves, and so it was cool to see that intersection [with the track team] happening. And I know that Jay was taking splits for us during our time trial,” said Tittel. “They felt super involved in the whole process and were super supportive. Everyone seemed super happy to have them there.”

Following the time trial, Coleman received an email indicating their presence was not welcome.

“Afterward, I received an email that said, ‘Non-varsity athletes are not permitted at our practices, and you made both the coaches and athletes uncomfortable,’” said Coleman. “[This] was kind of frustrating, because in my mind, I was on the side, not really bothering anyone, and then I was asked to help by a coach.”

Tittel clarified that the time trial did not seem to be a closed event.

“[The time trial] happened during practice, but the men’s team was watching and cheering us on. People walking by were cheering us on,” said Tittel.

After receiving the email, Coleman said they replied to Jaynes, stating that they wanted to support their friends and asking questions about the standards for being an NCAA athlete. Following this, Coleman said they were notified that the director and coaches would no longer correspond with them and that Dean of Students Carolyn Livingston would be in charge of their case.

“[Dean Livingston and I] were able to briefly meet during Week 6, in which she was pretty firm about there being regulations that would not allow me to practice with our track team. She was not able to cite or explain any of said rules or regulations, and said she would look into what they might be,” Coleman said.

“The Dean of Students Office is committed to working with any student to address concerns regarding student life and their Carleton experience, but we do not comment or provide information on individual situations,” said Livingston.

Carleton is no stranger to accessibility accommodations outside of its athletic department. Mathematics Professor Deanna Haunsperger, a Carleton professor who uses a wheelchair, has firsthand experience navigating Carleton with a disability.

“The college has been wonderfully supportive when I’ve had medical issues related to my disability.  My department accommodates me by assigning me to teach in classrooms that work the best for access,” said Haunsperger. “When I arrived at Carleton, the Center for Math and Computing (CMC) was just one year old. This was very fortunate for me because before the CMC, mathematics was taught in Goodsell, which was ridiculously inaccessible.”

Haunsperger reflected on how she feels wheelchair accessibility has changed for the better, but she still believes there is room for improvement.

“When I first started at Carleton, and until somewhat recently, Laird Hall was inaccessible. This meant that if I needed a conversation with the Dean/Provost or President, I needed to ask them to come to my office: a very uncomfortable situation, especially for a junior faculty member.  Now, Laird is accessible as are most other academic buildings on campus,” she said.

“Willis Hall is not accessible. There’s no wheelchair accessible bathroom in Sayles. Walking from the CMC to the Rec Center across the lakes is too steep for me,” she said. “Some things are easier to adapt than others.”

Haunsperger expressed hope that Coleman could achieve their goal and compete as a Carleton athlete.

“I certainly hope there is a way to accommodate Jay’s desires to participate as a Para athlete; that would be a win-win for both Jay and Carleton,” said Haunsperger. “I think anyone who navigates Carleton’s campus using a wheelchair throughout our winter can do anything!”

For now, the future of Coleman’s goal to be a wheelchair athlete at Carleton remains uncertain.

“The NCAA sponsors para-track programs at approximately ten [sic] Division I institutions. Finally, in every case in which a student expresses interest in an athletic activity, Carleton staff work collaboratively to identify and explore options, but we cannot honor the wishes of every student,” said Jaynes.

According to the NCAA website, there are currently para-track programs at six DI institutions, including the University of Alabama and the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. The NCAA has recently pushed for the inclusion of Para athletes with the rollout of its Para-College Inclusion Project, which seeks to support students and raise awareness. Currently, no DIII schools offer wheelchair track programs, but non-NCAA programs offer athletes opportunities to compete. Coleman and their supporters hope that Carleton can be a part of this larger shift towards inclusion.

“Me being a wheelchair athlete on the track team is a win for everyone. It’s a win for me, for the team, for Carleton, for MIAC, and for other disabled athletes around the country,” Coleman said. “Nobody is worse off by allowing me to practice with our athletes.”

“I think Jay would be a great addition to our team, especially being in a wheelchair. And I think it would actually give our team diversity, something that Carleton, our coach, Donna and my teammates value,” said Vukovics.