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MSA Task Force aims to provide free child care

The MSA Child Care Task Force was approved by assembly vote in December. "Our major two areas of concern are accessibility and cost (of child care)," said LSA Rep. Fiona Rose, co-founder and co-chair of the task force.

Rose, a sophomore, said a lack of adequate low-cost child care is problematic. "The Washtenaw County average cost for toddler child care is $10,000 a year. Most students spend $8,000 to $9,000 a year per child," Rose said. "We all know well the cost of a Michigan education. After the cost of books and rent and tuition, there's not an extra $16,000 lying around. What our task force has to do is come up with (effective) methods of caring for children."

The task force, as Rose and her co-chair, Susan Galladay, have planned it, requires a $37,000 budget. Extra funds would come from a proposed extra dollar per student per term in student fees.

The proposal must first be passed by MSA before it is presented to the student body in the form of a ballot question for the upcoming elections, to be held March 27-28.

MSA members passed the ballot question at Tuesday night's meeting. "If we can pay for (University Health Service) and (Ann Arbor Tenants Union) ... we can pay for child care," Rose said before the vote. "It kind of shows where our priorities are."

Several members voiced opposition to the ballot question. "It fails to solve the problem," said Engineering Rep. David Burden, a sophomore.

Burden said among his concerns were whether the number of students benefited by the program were enough to warrant a fee increase. "You can debate the need, but you can't debate that we shouldn't be funneling student money," he said.

Rose said she understands initial skepticism of the program, but feels the need warrants the fee. "At the University of Wisconsin, only 1 percent of the student body has children, and there is a $3.50 per student per term charge for child care," she said. "Out of the Big Ten schools, four already do this. We do need to get with the program."

If the students approve the ballot question in the March election, it will be referred to the University Board of Regents.

"The regents, in particular, are not impressed with this," Rose said, adding that the prevailing attitude on the board seems to be one of, "If you can't come here because you have a child, choose another school."

Regent Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) said she has not heard of the task force, but is familiar with other resources for students with children. "There's a lot of ongoing concern, etc., etc., independent of this MSA task force that I have not been privy to."

The University does not especially hinder or help students with children, McGowan said. "I'm afraid that living that life at the University probably mirrors the difficulty of living that life anywhere in the United States today," she said.

"I think the task force is terrific," said Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor). "Anybody who has children, at the University or anywhere else, can use a little help."