THE PUBLIC MIND: CHILD CARE CONTINUES TO BE A STUDENT CONCERN AT UNIVERSITY

To the Editor:

The issue of child care on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University has been overlooked for too long. The issue has arisen several times, and child care will continue to be a student demand until it is addressed.

Until recently, Southeast's Student Government has been unable to address this issue for two reasons.

First, it would be inappropriate for Student Government to use tax dollars to compete against the local day care industry.

Second, until recently, at least one area day care center kept its doors open late enough into the evening that students with children would be able to attend evening classes.

The first factor no longer exists. The passage of the activity fee in late March now provides Student Government with a budget that is generated by the student body, rather than by the state.

The second factor has been changed also. There is no longer an area day care center that stays open late enough to cater to those students who have children and who would like to attend evening classes.

Thus, Student Government has decided to tackle the issue of child care on campus.

An open forum was held in the University Center in late April. At that time students and members of the local day care industry were called upon to express their ideas, opinions, and concerns. While a member of the university's administration continually emphasized that Southeast did not want to "get into the day care business," the overall results of that forum seemed to be that the needs of the students weren't being met by the area day care centers and that these centers could not meet those needs without losing money.

A child care task force was established by Student Government and began meeting at the beginning of June. The task force is currently sending out approximately 2,500 surveys to non-traditional students in hopes of discovering what the needs of students with children are.

The task force is hoping to receive a large enough return on the survey to justify implementing some type of night-time child care on campus.

Tentative plans are to provide a cooperative child care service for students at night.

Though the child care center would be partially subsidized by Student Government, students would be charged a nominal fee in order for the center to operate at a break-even point.

Ultimately, Student Government would like to present a successful night-time child care service to the administration as proof that there is indeed a student need that is not being met by anyone else.

Furthermore, Student Government hopes that successful night-time child care would be proof enough that the university, either itself or in cooperation with the area child care industry, might be prompted into assuming the responsibility of campus child care and to expand upon the idea.

Student Government, not unlike the university, does not want to get into the child care business. However, according to its constitution, Student Government has an obligation to operate in the best interests of its constituency the students.

K.C. Martin

Student Government President

Southeast Missouri

State University