More than 400 girls expected for Daughters on Campus Day

Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Winona Ettrick, UA President Peter Likins' administrative secretary, works with her 11-year-old grandniece, Azia White, during last year's Daughters on Campus Day. 566 girls came last year and more than 418 are expected for Thursday's sixth annual event.

"It's not just a career day. It's about aiding the special needs of girls," said Lauren McElroy, coordinator of the University of Arizona's version of "Take Your Daughter to Work Day."

McElroy said this year's event should be the biggest ever, with 418 girls already scheduled to take part in the activities. UA's Commission on the Status of Women is sponsoring the event, which will include more than 60 activities for the young visitors.

Kari McBride, commissioner for the university's CSW, said she plans to bring her two granddaughters.

"It is a fun day, but I think it's important that we stress that careers are for them too," McBride said.

For the first time, Daughters on Campus Day offers participants a chance to pre-register for the activities they want to attend. The pre-registration will save visitors from having to trek across campus only to find out that an event is filled, McElroy said.

But many departments are hosting activities that allow more than 200 participants at a time.

"People who haven't pre-registered will still have many interesting events they can attend," she said, adding that each of the day's activities are different.

Some, like CCIT's Web page workshop, are more technical encounters with future career possibilities. But others, like decorating cookies and cupcakes with a pastry chef, involve a hands-on approach, McElroy said.

One event, billed as "Focus to the future: career of your dreams," includes a discussion session for daughters to speak about their thoughts and feelings, she said.

"It's important they (the girls) feel heard so they know what they say is valuable," she added.

The UA's Center for Computing and Information Technology is giving the girls a chance to create their own homepage on the World Wide Web, and the Theater Arts Department is hosting an activity called "Backstage!"

"I try to show all the kids what happens behind the scenes," said Jeff Warburton, a theater arts associate professor.

Warburton said he shows visitors all the different elements that go on backstage - from costumes to make-up and scene changes.

"I'm bringing my two daughters," he said.

Part of Daughters on Campus Day is for the girls to see what their parent or chaperone does on campus, McElroy said.

Some employees plan to have the girls work with them, answering phones and doing other chores in their offices, she said. Other employees will have visitors work half the day with them and participate in some of the organized activities.

"It's up to each person to design their own day," McElroy said. "It's a balance of different kinds of activities."

McBride said Daughters on Campus Day is a great way to unveil the various opportunities for young women.

"By taking our daughters to campus, we get them to start dreaming," she said.