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DAYCARE
Official excuses aren’t good enough

From a university that prides itself on equality of education, it is surprising that a penalty is imposed upon those members of the student body, faculty and staff that happen to have children.

Many prospective members of the TCU body are unable to pay daycare in order to work or study at our university. It is a sad reflection on today’s society that those who have chosen to have children must also be impeded by that very fact. Other private institutions provide some form of daycare for their faculty, staff and students, even if the cost is subsidized.

We know this is a time of economic recession, but by putting daycare on the second tier of our core academic mission is to lose out on the potential of students and employees with children who are unable to afford daycare for their children.

It is easy to put new facilities, stadiums and recreation centers at the forefront of TCU’s impending needs. But the sacrifice of a shiny new facility is well worth the added benefits of students and faculty who hitherto have been unable to attend TCU.

If more than 150 children could be served daily by a daycare, it is apparent that a facility is much needed. It is time that TCU finalized a proposal that has been put on the backburner for 25 years because of what the university deemed as more pressing matters. Liability and fund-raising excuses seem insignificant when the greater good is concerned.

“Proposals have never been denied, they have been ignored,” said Linda Moore, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences on the topic of TCU daycare. This is an example of the lackluster attitude with which daycare proposals have been met.

A proposal for a daycare center has a lot to compete with, but if the TCU mission strives to provide the best education and employment opportunities for its members, is such a proposal asking too much?

With sponsors or subsidized cost, the feasibility of a daycare center seems more rational than in previous years. Regardless, after 25 years of discussion, it can be certain that advocates for daycare will “keep on trucking.”