When Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) was growing up, his older siblings and mother were available to teach him how to read.
"There is just no substitute for that," Levin said.
But Levin is concerned that many children growing up now do not have that advantage.
Levin said this is one reason he is proposing that universities and colleges nationwide meet the America Reads Challenge, a program proposed by President Clinton. The program requests the institutions to use half their work-study students as literacy tutors for elementary school students.
Levin said it is a large step in fighting illiteracy early on in life.
"There's been a literacy effort in the past," Levin said. "But there's never been anything this dramatic."
Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) is proposing similar legislation in the House of Representatives today. She said literacy should be a high priority in the nation.
"This is a wonderful program," Stabenow said. "It is incredibly important that we meet the literacy goal."
Stabenow said it also will also benefit the university students who provide the tutoring.
"It's also good for college students to serve as role models," Stabenow said.
Michigan Student Assembly President Fiona Rose said she agreed that the program will be beneficial to University students.
"I have long thought that the work-study students have to be doing something meaningful," Rose said. "We must guard work-study from becoming like slave labor."
Some work-study students at the University said they would prefer to tutor children.
"It would be cool," said Engineering first-year student Cherita Hunter, who currently does work-study at the Department of Public Safety. "I wouldn't mind doing that."
In his State of the Union address, President Clinton called for one million tutors nationwide to help fight the 40-percent third grade illiteracy rate.
Officials said the University is preparing to participate in the America Reads Challenge.
"We're clearly going to be involved," said Walter Harrision, vice president for University relations.
The University recently posted a new job position for the program's coordinator, said Margaret Rodriguez, the associate director of the Office of Financial Aid. Rodriguez said the coordinator is responsible for matching University students with local elementary schools.
"We're probably as far or ahead of most schools at this point," Rodriguez said.
But some said the University, which has about 3,000 students in work-study programs, may not be able to meet the goal of employing half of its work-study participants as tutors.
"It's a very important program and something students would like to take part in, but we also have other work-study programs," said Thomas Butts, the University's associate vice president for government relations. "There's a difference between a mandate and a goal."
Rodriguez said she "would be surprised if the schools needed 1,500 students."
But Stabenow said there will be a great need for literacy tutors. "There will be substantial demand," Stabenow said. "And if the demand is there, the University should meet it."
Levin said it is important that the University takes part in the challenge.
"The U of M is a great role model," Levin said. "If it carries through here, it will set a wonderful example."
The America Reads Challenge is part of the Education for the 21st Century Act, which Levin co-sponsored. In addition to funding literacy programs, it provides resources for college students to decrease their financial aid debt and increases technology awareness.