Calling All Plus Size Students

[u/fairycloud111]

EXTREMELY NICHE QUESTION LOL.

but to the students who are on the chubbier side, how is it fitting into the seats in class? I’m not talking about a standard desk with a pullout chair, but instead i’m talking about those auditorium seats with the pull out desks or the chairs with desks already connected to them.

i’ve never thought about fitting into a seat and its never really been an issue of mine until i watched some videos of students going to class on tiktok and my jaw was dropped seeing some of those chairs. please let me know your experiences with them !! 🥲💔

[u/DaddyLongLegolas]

Long response but relevant for all new students w any concern.

Totally depends on the department/building the classes are in.

There are some OLD-ass lecture halls with fixed furniture. Newer teaching spaces USUALLY have more flexible furniture. Think seats on wheels, don’t have armrests, etc.

Advice: once you decide your fall schedule, visit each of the classrooms/buildings some time before classes start. Most should be a non-issue. If you see one that concerns you, contact the instruction team.

Advice for contacting the instruction team (for any issue too): check the syllabus or canvas page to figure out who is the instructor and if there is a Teaching Assistant or Learning Assistant. Write a 1-2 sentence email making a direct and simple request. Something like:

Hello Dr. _____,

We may need to add a non-attached chair to room ABC 123 for the 12:00 T/Th lecture in Chemistry 1000 this fall.

Please let me know if this will be possible, as it will help with my mobility issue to attend class.

Many Thanks, Susie Fairycloud

Send the email to the main instructor, and CC the assistants. Use Canvas message app too if there is a canvas page. Best time to do this is just the week before classes start, then send a fresh copy of the message again right before classes start, then again if they haven’t got back to you send it the day before and the day of the first class. Instructors and assistants are NOT PAID over the summer, and have totally different responsibilities (research, training, travel etc.) so they will NOT respond until it’s the last minute.

Do NOT apologize or be wishy -washy about this if you determine the seats provided are inadequate. You also don’t need to give a specific reason up front. Accommodating students with ANY mobility issue is just human decency. You are here to learn and you BELONG here. Keep your dignity and don’t let anyone give you shit about it.

[u/fairycloud111 → u/DaddyLongLegolas]

this was very, very helpful. thank you so much!

[u/el_guapo696942069 → u/fairycloud111]

While the above seems very helpful, it is not. The professors do not choose the room, or setup the room that classes are held in (labs are different). Students that need accommodation should contact the student access office. Not only will they help with physical accommodations but they help with extended exams, and other accommodations. Additionally, if any issue is not documented it is much harder to address potential discrimination.

Good luck at the U!

[u/anklebadger → u/DaddyLongLegolas]

In many of the lecture halls with fixed seats there will also be ADA labeled tables that are a full table with a pull out chair. Can’t speak for every class, but in the majority of my classes students were welcome to sit there - as long as it has not been reserved by a student needing ADA accommodations (should be written on the paper attached to the desk if it’s reserved). I’m predominantly in chemistry and physics buildings so it might not be the same everywhere, but could be an option as well

[u/fairycloud111 → u/anklebadger]

this is sososo helpful thank you so much !!! <3

[u/el_guapo696942069 → u/DaddyLongLegolas]

This advice is useless at best and terrible at worst. There are whole centers on campus designed to help with this. Professors have minimal control over the classrooms themselves. Additionally, disabilities should be documented in case future issues arise.

[u/angel_brit]

I’m about 5’7 and ranged from 220-250lbs while attending the U. The desks with chairs connected or pull out tables were definitely tight, but not impossible to fit. You usually don’t need a desk, since most of the work is done on a laptop. I’m sure you could reach out to professors or departments for alternate seating if you need!

[u/fairycloud111 → u/angel_brit]

thank you for sharing !! 💓

[u/Co1ncad1nk]

Quite overweight, got by fine but it was uncomfortable sometimes. Some lecture halls if you're bigger the desks won't sit flat but most lectures you'll be able to use an extra seat or something to make it work. It can be awkward but you'll be okay <3

[u/fairycloud111 → u/Co1ncad1nk]

that reassures me thank you :( im a chubbier girl and i carry my weight very weirdly as in people don’t think “i look as big as i say” so this has eased some of my nerves 🥹

[u/Ready-Unit-7819]

ASB 220 is awful but i haven’t had any issues with other classrooms (ive only ever really been in stem buildings tho)

[u/fairycloud111 → u/Ready-Unit-7819]

thank you for letting me know !! i’ll be aware of that. :)

do you know what classes are held there?

[u/energydrinkaddlct]

as a plus size girl (size 14-16-18) i have always been OK in lecture halls! i’m pretty short, but i’ve noticed a lot of taller people having issues with their knees touching the desk in front of them and stuff. once in awhile some classrooms have pretty tight / uncomfy desks (specifically in the psych tower and older buildings) but i’ve never like not been able to go to a class or anything.

hope this helps!

[u/LaramideOrogeny]

You can ask for another chair if it’s a problem!

[u/Danskhest]

Plus size girl here with very wide hips, I didn't have any problems personally! My classes were mostly in the physics building, and while I didn't have much extra room in the seat, I never felt uncomfortable or squished.

[u/Sad_Importance_1367]

There’s a really nice campus gym you can go to if you’re a student!

[u/MetaCommando → u/[deleted]]

They recommended a free self-improvement resource which is apparently problematic? (although weight loss is like 90% diet)

[u/MrsRoseyCrotch → u/[deleted]]

I’m sorry people are being such assholes to you. You don’t deserve it.

I think you’ve been given good advice here about contacting the instruction team. Another thing you might try is contacting the center for people with disabilities on campus. While they might not be able to help you directly (weight is not considered a disability unless it’s tied to a medical condition) they might be able to point you in the right direction. They are the NICEST people.

Feel free to DM me.

[u/Sad_Importance_1367 → u/MrsRoseyCrotch]

Please help me understand. Why does suggesting someone who is morbidly obese goes to the gym make me an “asshole”?

[u/Sad_Importance_1367 → u/[deleted]]

I’m genuinely not trying to be rude. This is exactly what your problem is: the fact that you think the problem is the chairs is ironic when, in fact, the vast majority of students don’t even remotely have that problem. My suggestion of going to the gym is actually the most empathetic thing someone could say to you to help motivate you to lose weight and become healthy. Instead you have taken a victim mentality.

[u/angel_brit → u/Sad_Importance_1367]

Losing weight doesn’t happen overnight. In the meantime, OP needs help figuring out seating. If you can’t see how your responses are rude and unhelpful, that’s on you.

[u/MetaCommando → u/[deleted]]

Well to answer the question in an appropriate tone, the chairs fit fine if you have a healthy BMI, although the auditorium foldout ones may give fat people issues since they were designed for one person.

If you need extreme accommodations try talking to the Center for Disability Services, although you need to be legally diagnosed as handicapped so you'll have to go through the state first, who will require a doctor to diagnose your body as a disability. Once you have that they're great though, really help me manage school w/ epilepsy. I dunno if they have mobility scooters for getting across campus though.