Who Was Ted Pelatowski?
Memorial Tree Between Music Building and AE Dedicated to Early Campus Advocate
Ted Pelatowski was a disability advocate who attended CSU Hayward in the 1970s. He successfully brought suit to have voting booths made accessible for those in wheel chairs, and he established the first Disabled Student Coalition at our campus. The former "Disabled Student Self Help Group" of CSUH had, at one time, an award in his honor to recognize "outstanding service to handicapped and disabled students." A large tree in front of the Music and Business Building commemorates his courage in bringing the needs of disabled people to the attention of the public.
This tree, situated between the PE, Arts and Education, and Music buildings stands as a lasting campus tribute to Ted Pelatowski and his efforts on behalf of students with disabilities. It is especially fitting, as no campus image of Pelatowski can be found to date (the former Disabled Student Center was damaged in a fire in 2000, and all its scrapbooks, photos, and other images were lost).