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The Pioneer Log news

april 20, 2012

Faculty goes gaga for on-campus childcare

BY DARYA WATNICK
Editor-in-Chief

A group of parent,s now known as Lewis & Clark Kids and Families, is trying to gain the support of administrators to start a childcare on campus. The group, formerly known as Mom and Pop Tea Talk, is looking for campus-wide support for their initiative to bring a childcare center to the campus to serve both faculty and students. Sarah Warren, Assistant Professor of Sociology, has been working on this project throughout the semester, although she said it is part of a larger process that involved individuals across all three campuses. Warren noted that employee-sponsored childcare centers can be profitable if they are done correctly and that they are usually supported by those who dont directly benefit as well. This kind of community benefits everyoneparents and non-parents, faculty, staff and studentsas it facilitates more robust interactions, participation and connections. I see this as a critical issue in hiring and retaining faculty, Warren wrote. The group believes that having a childcare center on campus would help the shortand long-term sustainability of the school because it would signify support for gender equity and the dual responsibilities that many staff have as employees and parents, support that is already prevalent on the campuses. Jessica Kleiss, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, thinks that a child-care facility would send a strong message to the entire LC community of the value that the College has for all employees and students as people with full lives.

ILLUSTRATION BY CAITLIN DEGNON

I think it would be a strong talking point when hiring new faculty, many of whom have young children and are trying to envision the elusive work/family balance in their possible new job. I think LC does a great job of supporting their students as whole people,

through a wide variety of athletics, music, social groups and campus opportunities, Kleiss said. Building a new childcare facility on campus continues to deepen the campus strength in this area. Kleiss has a nine-month old, Dustin, who

currently attends a daycare near the Kleiss home. Kleiss said she would appreciate the added convenience that having a day care on campus would add. I would be able to see my baby during lunch breaks and have more time with him before, during and after my day of work, Kleiss said. Many of LCs peer institutions already have childcare centers on their own campuses. The main characteristic these programs share is that they provide faculty, staff, students and community members with a high quality child care that allows parents to be physically close to their children, Warren said. According to Warren, Portland State Universitys child-care center also doubles as a research center for faculty and students who work in early childhood issues. Faculty from both CAS and the Graduate School would benefit from this opportunity to also study children. As of right now, there are no specific details on the center itself. With the support of the executive council, proposals and information could be solicited so the details can be worked out. The group is aware that the budget is tight and they are prepared to address those concerns with multiple options for the funding of a child-care center. Many employers, not just schools, have childcare centers to support their employees because of the long term profits they provide. We think that this is a long overdue benefit that will bring the school up to the standards of other progressive, communityoriented institutions. Warren said.

Senators visions for changes to constitution ruffling feathers

BY JAKE BARTMAN
Staff Writer

CRIME BEAT
The Pioneer Log reports crimes in the campus community recorded by Campus Safety from the past weeks.

Talking to Lincoln Boyd about the set of amendments to the Associated Students of Lewis & Clark constitution he hopes to pass, its hard to imagine anyone disagreeing too strongly. Whenever I talk to anyone about it, theyre totally hip, said Boyd (15). And yet, Boyds ideas are ruffling the feathers of administrators and students, and he doesnt anticipate unanimous acclaim for his proposed changes. Theres likely to be some controversy from the top down, he said. Boyd, who is a senator for his class, would like to see a reduction of non-student involvement in ASLC. To that end, he is proposing that there be clauses in the constitution stipulating that the staff advisor to the organization be selected by a vote within ASLC rather than by self-nomination or election from within the administration. Students have the right to an independent organization. This isnt high school, said Boyd. Andrew McCarthy (15) also seeks to pass a set of amendments that are likely to fan flames. I want a complete redefinition of the representative process, he said. McCarthys amendments focus not on the issue of staff involve-

ment, but instead on which groups elected officials represent. He seeks to eliminate the practice of electing officials from each class, and instead proposes to base representation on housing. Such a system would allow the members of each hall to select students to represent them, and allows for students living off-campus to elect their own representatives as well.

Students have the right to an independent organization. This isnt high school, said Boyd.

This place isnt about those kinds of barriers, McCarthy said. Theyre not relevant anymore. Though Boyd and McCarthy arent collaborating directly on their amendments, there are marked similarities between the changes they seek to make and the way they intend to make them. Per its constitution, ASLC can pass proposed amendments with a 2/3 vote, but both Boyd and McCarthy are planning to circumvent the current system and appeal di-

rectly to students by means of petition and outreach. Im doing this strictly through students, and not as a senator, Boyd said McCarthy also emphasized the importance of remembering that ASLC is a fairly new organization. Too many people feel like its a fixed thing. Boyd explained that while ASLCs having been relatively recently established is important, his and Andrews first-year statuses allow them to be more willing to make changes than some of those who have been involved for several years. I see fundamental problems that could be fixed, said Boyd. McCarthy agreed that important changes are necessary. We need to keep elections from being just a popularity contest, which is what they are now, he said. Perhaps most importantly, both Boyd and McCarthy agree that their proposed amendments are just a starting point for other changes that they think are necessary for a better ASLC. [Passing the amendments] would really begin the shift, said McCarthy. Right now, ASLC cant really do anything, noted Boyd. But I want to actually fix things. I really want to see this community thrive.

1. On April 5 a backpack was stolen from an unlocked locker in the womens locker room in Gantenbein (law school). 2. On April 7 a visitor was observed urinating in public on the exterior of Ponderosa residence hall. 3. (Late Report) On April 7 a student reported that his laptop was stolen from his unlocked room in Copeland Hall. 4. On April 12 a student reported that his bicycle was stolen while locked to a bike rack outside BoDine. 5. On April 12 a student reported that her bicycle was stolen while locked to a bike rack outside Gantenbein (law school). 6. On April 12 a student reported that her bicycle was stolen while locked to a bike rack outside Pamplin Sports Center. 7. On April 13 a student reported that her bicycle was stolen while locked to a bike rack outside Pamplin Sports Center. 8. On April 14 graffiti was found on a stall wall in a first floor mens room at Watzek Library. 9. On April 14 , Campus Safety investigated the possession and use of prohibited fireworks in the Copeland parking lot. 10. On April 15 a student reported that her iPod and cash were stolen from her purse while it was stored inside Fields Dining Hall.