December 1, 2005

On a blustery Wednesday, Cascade Paving Co. of Salem laid the wider portion of Daniel’s Way.

Daniel’s Way is an asphalt loop to the second floor of the Student Center, made possible by a donation earlier this month from Karen and Jim Carlson and named in honor of their son.

Freshman Charlie Cheney couldn’t wait. When wheelchair-bound Cheney rolled out of his Bible survey class in the Academic Center Wednesday, he saw the paving company workers and newly-pressed hard-packed gravel, and took his chances.

“I got a little ways up it today,” Cheney said. “It was exciting! I’m thrilled to think that I’m going to be able to go up to the coffee shop, just to participate in one more piece of campus life.”

By the time seven workers – including owner Troy Lange – spent about four hours on Daniel’s Way, three-quarters of the job was done. The narrower, lower part of the loop – now in grass –would have to wait for better weather, Lange said.

The 12-foot-wide, higher portion of Daniel’s Way is vehicle-accessible; the five-foot-wide lower portion is designed specifically for foot/wheelchair access.

After Cheney’s aborted attempt at traversing the uncompleted Daniel’s Way, the paving company workers finished preliminary tasks and poured 65 tons of C-Mix – a slushy mixture of pea-gravel, tar and diesel byproducts – which came out of the mixer at 365 degrees, and which dried in about an hour.

“C-Mix is a good, sturdy, all-purpose asphalt that gives a nice tight finish for walking,” Lange said. “It’s got finer aggregate in it; doesn’t create potholes.”

The job was not without its challenges.

“Because of the terrain, we had to start on one end and work toward the middle, and then go to the other end, and work toward the middle,” Lange said. “For the lower part, we’re going to have to wait until it’s not going to get muddy when we start working.”

One of the next projects is to light Daniel’s Way, Samek said.

Cheney said he’s looking forward to game nights in the Student Center. “I don’t drink coffee usually, but I have a couple free coupons for coffee so I’ll be trying it,” he said. “This is just great. I’m really excited!”

Daniel’s Way donors, the Carlsons, met Cheney when they were on campus earlier in the month, and that made them ask how difficult it was to traverse Corban in a wheelchair. The question came to them because their son is in a wheelchair, Karen Carlson said.

“While Daniel’s legs are not strong enough or coordinated enough to hold him, he has a bright mind and a sensitive spirit,” she said. “He accepted Christ when he was 4 and is growing in his knowledge and ‘walk’ every day. While we don’t know if college will be an option for him, I felt a real burden that access not ever be a problem should someone with like circumstances felt led to attend Corban.”

The walkway was named “Daniel’s Way” in honor of the 12-year-old boy. A plaque displaying the name will be placed near the path.

--By Karen L. Willoughby