The Hunter Parent Union, chartered in the fall of 2007, is a recent addition to the College’s more than 100 student clubs. Tucked away in Room 207 of the Hunter North building, HPU wants to help students who are parents to know about The Children’s Learning Center, an educational and childcare service available to Hunter student-parents. HPU also considers itself an parent advocacy organization.
“I believe people should organize to advocate for their needs and defend their rights” said Luz Schreiber, the acting President of HPU. Her interview was conducted via e-mail. Schreiber, 28, is a creative writing major who started organizing HPU in the summer of ’07. “Forming HPU has been a very intense project. There was an immediate interest among parents to organize around rights and needs,” she said. It was a challenging task.
“Parents are so busy and it’s hard to ask them to add another item to their agenda. Some parents have multiple children and also work, but we are at a very good place right now,” she said, “We have a consistent membership and are developing new leadership.”
Schreiber, a junior, said she has great aspirations for the future of CLC and HPU, starting with more visibility for CLC and raising awareness of CUNY childcare. “Childcare on CUNY campuses allows parents to access higher education. Without childcare on campus, parents would be locked out of school,” she said.
Schreiber, like most parents attending CUNY schools, relies on the services provided by CLC “I could not afford any other child care. I would not be able to be in school,” she said. “CUNY childcare provides affordable and quality education for the children.”
The CLC prepares kids for kindergarten and grammar school, while their parents are continuing their education. “Parents get an education and set an example for their children. The children are getting a quality and accredited education and setting them on the right track,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber, who is enrolled in five classes this semester, said that child care should be a parental right and is an important women’s issue. “Most of the parents at the Center are mothers. We are facing the consequences of a male dominated society. Our institutions must change to accommodate the growing reality of women entering the workforce and schools,” she said.
Schreiber’s daughter, Sofia, 4, has been apart of the CLC since she was 2½, and knows her letters and is starting to read; she also knows simple mathematics. “She loves to draw and paint,” Schreiber said, crediting the Center for nurturing her daughters appreciation of art.
Funding for CLC is limited as CUNY child care has not had a fund increase in 9 years. “With inflation and the addition of a new center, there is actually less money overall for CUNY child care.” Schreiber said. This imposed a significant burden on some parents who cannot attend school unless affordable childcare is available to them. “We want the state and the city to acknowledge the importance of CUNY child care in allowing parents to have access to higher education,” she said.
Less funding means fewer students can benefit from the program. The facilities at the CLC do not currently offer infant care, and are only open to undergraduate and graduate students. Some professors and faculty members could benefit from the Center as well. “Child care should be expanded so that the Hunter community can benefit from the services,” Schreiber said.
Kim Lewis, 34, the acting vice president of HPU, said CLC caters to non-traditional students. Lewis’ 4-year-old son, Ari, has been enrolled in CLC since age 2½. Lewis, an English language arts major, has two courses to complete before she can graduate. “I always knew I wanted to go back to finish my degree,” she said.
Lewis, of Brooklyn, is enrolled in three classes this semester and likes the services provided to her family. “It’s not a drop-off service. It’s a pre-school, and they really learn things,” she said.
Lewis, who was wearing a pink shirt and jeans at the time of the interview held in the Hunter West lobby said, “It gives us a chance to spend time together on the commute and gives me a chance to get most of my work finished at school.”
Lewis is involved in several projects at the center. One involves completing a DVD promoting the center. The DVD is to feature two families in a typical day, and will highlight the importance of CLC. Plans call for the DVD to help launch the 25th anniversary of the center in September, 2008.
Leslie Rodgers, 23 a HPU member, wants more focus on financial support for CLC faculty. “There is an under-value of our teachers that we are so blessed to have,” she said. Rodgers, a theater major, was wearing army green pants and a navy blue shirt at the time of the interview.“ It is not a babysitter, it is an education,” she said. Her son Tristan, 3, asks to come to school “on days we have off,” she said about his enthusiasm.
“They are consistently making mounds and mounds of artwork, the Center really keeps all interests around the child,” she said. She also said, “I am blessed to have a husband who supports me and my education.”
Zully Colon Papa, the director and founder of the CLC, said “Children are not enjoying their childhoods because of too much scheduling, let children be children. We can learn a lot from them especially when it comes to conflict solution. A lot of adults don’t know how to play,” she said.
The HPU was very busy with several events on April 14 in celebration of The National Week Of The Young Child. An art exhibit was held in the lobby of the Hunter West building and an open house was held at the CLC in Hunter North, Room 207.
HPU is making its voice heard by holding fundraisers and events that raise awareness of the need for CUNY to provide childcare. HPU circulates petitions to be sent to the governor and politicians asking for more funding and support.
The WORD’s Meredith Judge can be reached at Meredin_05@hotmail.com.