ASUA demands child care funding increase

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Secondary education junior Lissa Watts with her two year old son Draedon speaks to ASUA senators about the childcare resolution during last night's meeting in the Memorial Student Union. The Senators approved the resolution, which asks the UA administration to increase childcare subsidies for student parents.

The resolution, written by Associated Students Sen. Josue Limon, asks the University of Arizona administration to increase the child care subsidy for student parents to $150,000 - a marked increase from the current figure of $12,000.

Limon is pushing for the additional $138,000 in funding to kick in this semester.

A waiting list of parents seeking a piece of the subsidy has been formed, since the $12,000 allocated this year is being split between 12-14 people. There are more than 2,500 student parents at the UA, according to the resolution.

Limon introduced the document at last week's Senate meeting, but delayed a vote until last night so senators could make up their minds and student support could be rallied.

"This country has rationalized the idea of public education," Limon said. "What we are coming across is that the responsibility does not end with public education. The responsibility begins with the children who are here."

Lissa Watts, who brought her two-year-old son Draedon, said she is 68th on the list, adding that she probably won't receive any aid before she graduates.

Watts, a secondary education junior, said she was fired from her job in December because she needed time to study for finals. She pays $3,600 for nine months of child care for Draedon.

"We should be commended for trying to go to school and make something of ourselves," Watts said.

Mimi Gray, the UA's child care coordinator, said ASUA should be commended for its concern about child care.

"It's going to raise awareness and show the student body that the student government is supporting this issue," she said.

But Gray said she doesn't expect the $150,000 to be delivered on a silver platter tomorrow morning.

"Are we going to get the $150,000?" she said. "That's a way down the road."

During the two-hour meeting, Limon told the student parents in the audience that he will stay in contact with UA President Peter Likins.

At a Senate meeting last semester, Likins said he would make child care a priority at the UA.

"I guarantee if this is not answered this month, I will question what he (Likins) meant last semester," Limon said. "This is a follow-up, not an ending."