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Show ,~ - - OPINION THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2.0, 1994 - PAUL HARVEY m'<.LADIES! ... FIRc;T, LET5 SUCK IN COMMENTARY THOSE TUMMIES! .In my world at the Ozarks farm Reveille is an Ozarks farm that overlooks the Mississippi River from a hilltop that's closer to yesterday than to tomorrow. We get our water mostly from the city now. Access roads have been graded and topped. The corral fence is heavy-gauge PVC. But reminders of yesteryear are everywhere. The jeep is so old, you start it with your foot. The dinner bell on the porch is from a schoolhouse long since consolidated. The silo dates form days when grain was hand-shoveled. From a God' s-eye view, our rocky-top farm is surrounded now by the encroachment of your world - by subdivisions of cookiecutter houses. But there are still enough fields and forests on the perimeter of Reveille to keep your world out of sight. Yonder beyond the fenced lawn, the hay is rolled and curin' in the sun. Your world was making a big to-do in Cairo, Egypt, trying to figure out some way to keep the population under control. In my world, cured stallions are gelded and barn cats spayed. Your world sends food, money and stuff to the world's least pronounceable places, and they fight over what you send. In the Ozarks, we figure to mind our own business so well that the neighbors will do the same. And they usually do. Three days made a small dent in farm chores, but the farm folks know that there is no end to painting, fence-mending, renovation and repair. Your world expects to corral, restrain or reform all the world's malcontents--once and for all. In my world, we know we have but to put aside the hoe and the weeds take over. And we sure enough don't feed Miracle Gro to the poison ivy! In September at Reveille, few nights tum to a day without the raucous sound of southbound geese on the Mississippi flyway. The flock of wild turkeys will stay with us. I peeked at a newspaper. Sure enough, your world's diplomats are chasing over the world, fanning moonbeams with their hats. At Reveille, being a good neighbor starts with the guy right next door. That reminds me: Thank you, Mrs. Dowler, for the fresh strawberry preserves. And thanks, Mrs. Eshbaugh, for sharing the home-made bread. It's time to reap what we've sowed at Reveille. Catalpa beans are long and strong. Soft night-long rain has ensured late September splendor. Yonder, the milo and soy are turning, and the canola is 14-carat gold, awaiting its reincarnation. In your world, President Clinton promised to make your country great. Promising to "make our country great"? Out here, where the grass roots are still fertilized with footprints and watered with sweat, we cant remember when it wasn't . Paul Harvey is a syndicated columnist now living in Illinois. UNIVERSITY J~~11 PROFESSIONAL STAPF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Editor Larry Baker 586·7750 Campus Editor Jim Robinson 586-1997 Cotuultiq Spon, Editon Neil Gardner 586-7753 Brett Jewkes 586-7752 Business Manager Lynn Dennett 586-7748 Aloistaat to the Editor Jennifer Morley 586-7759 STUDENT STAPF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Aa.ciatt Editor, Carma Niemann 586-7750, Kasie Salmon 865-8225 Opinion Director Heather Green 586-7757 Advertising Manager Jackilyn Cluistiamen 586-7758 Off-Campat News Editor Joanne Lay 865-8226 Ad Repraentatins Sonya Miles 586-7758 Copy Editor Miclti Sellen 586-7757 Photo Editor Lonnie Behunin 586 -7757 Sporta Editor John McCloolr.ey 586-5488 Am Editor Michelle Clegg 586-5488 All't Opinion Director Cuny Edwards 586-7757 Atsiataat Plooro l'Alitor Eric Rodericlr. 586-7757 Lesa Rindliabacher 586-7758 Institutional Ad Rep Jason White 586-7758 Clanilied Ad All't Harmony Curtis 586-7759 Cittulation Manager Dave Mcanca 865-8226 Ad PnNluction FIICilitators Jeff Martin 586-7757 Stacey Bcny 586-7757 11te Uninulty foamol ls published Cft.TJ Momby, Wcdnc,day and Friday of the 1udcmic year H a publication of Southem Uuh UniY<ftiry, Its dq,omncnt of communication and the SUU Student Atoocutlon. The ric,n and opinions e,q,,aoed In the foumoJ ... thooe ol individual writcn and clo not nccaurily rdlect the opinion ol the foumoJ ot any entity of the uniY<ftiry. Lcmn to the edit<>< muot be rypod and inc:lud< the name and phone number. Only the nome will be pnnted. Names will not be withheld uncle, any clrcumtunces and the edit<>< racnu editin& privil_ _Letten muot be a,bmltted br noon Pddays lor Monday editions, Tu<tclays lor Wedncoclay editions and Thundays lor Friday editions. ~ Anr lndiridual with• piennce 11,1lrut the /ou.m,d shouJd dJrect such problem Hr,t to the editor. If """"'*'<d, that pi<Yance should then be du,,cted to the foamaJ Steaing Committee, which b chaired br Dr. Frain C. Pl:onon, 5'6-7971. The - - , y b Lail llulloch, 5'6-7710. U - - , ,-..I, Ol&ea In SW Todmolacr lluildlng 003. Mail at SUU IIOI: 9384, Cedar Ory, Utah 1-4720. FAX Number (IOI! 586-5481. J. ARTHUR FIELDS COMMENTARY SU must offer child care service Why doesn't SUU offer child care for students, faculty, and staff who have children and need the service? It seems odd that an area like southern Utah, where the prominent culture places the family in such high regard, would not offer a child care service to its university community. A study conducted by the sociology department found 18 percent of students enrolled for the 1994 spring quarter had at least one child under six years of age. For many students, the strain of insufficient child care adversely affects their ability in the classroom, and often makes continuing their education an impossibility. The study found it often took students with children longer to graduate. Fortyeight percent of those surveyed said they were forced to reduce their course load, and 19 percent claimed they had to withdraw completely because of lack child care. Currently, SUU is one of the only colleges in the state that doesn't offer child care for students, faculty, and staff . Still more perplexing, is the administration seems to be adamantly opposed to the idea. One vice president was even quoted as saying of students who decided to have children before completing their education: "They made their bed, now they must lie in it." I am appalled that an individual in such an important position would maintain a "woman's place is in the home" attitude. What is even more mystifying is that this sentiment is tolerated, and possibly shared, by his colleagues. The sociology department study, conducted last year, came up with some interesting facts. • Their survey of 230 SUU students found that 76 percent without children and 88 percent with wanted on-campus child care. Less than 5 percent were opposed. • There are not enough child care facilities available to the university community. The survey found that of the 28 day care centers in the area, 26 were full with waiting lists that ranged from four months to one year. Even a SUU's pre-school has a two year waiting list. Less than 25 percent of those surveyed were able to enroll in any of these facilities . • Seventy-six percent of students surveyed with children missed class during spring quarter. Twenty perce nt missed class twice a week, while over half had to miss class twice a month. • More than 70 percent said that they had at least one class spring quarter where a parent brought their child to class. Over half of these incidents were a weekly occurrence. Thirtyeight percent said children in the classroom was a distraction. The administration claims that there is no need for such a service and that it is not responsible for supplying one. They have stated provisions should be supplied from within the community. An excuse that is commonly used is that the university does not have the funds. How about reallocating our student fees? Now that the Rodeo Club isn't getting 50 cents per student any more, why not set aside a few cents to help fund a service that many more students will benefit from and may help attract others to our school. Research indicates that a campus child care program could conceivably pay for itself within a year or two. Many of those surveyed said that they would be willing to pay as much as $4 an hour if the service were available. SUUSA President Stacee Yardley has supported the idea of on-campus child care. If you are a member of the university community and need on-campus child care contact the office of Vice President of University Affairs Michael Richards with your concern. Even if you don't have children, or don't need the service, please let the administration at this university know how you feel. f. Arthur Fields is a sophomore communication major from Austin, Texas. I |