Think life is hard as a student at McGill? Imagine being a student and a parent. Last year, in recognition of the challenges faced by student parents, the Students' Society was mandated by referendum to grant them special status and assistance. In particular, SSMU was to provide "an accessible and flexible daycare system put in place in post-secondary institutions in order to ensure a conciliation between the needs of study and family. " Now they finally have a chance to do something about it.
The Quebec Ministry of Family is creating 18,000 new subsidized daycare spots in the province, and SSMU has been blessed with a windfall. The ministry has approved funding for eight nursery spots as part of SSMU's daycare program. The nursery will care for infants from four to 18 months of age, whereas the current daycare program only accepts children over the age of three.
Unfortunately, everything comes at a cost. To ensure the health and safety of infants, the government strictly regulates where a nursery can be placed. Among other restrictions, only naturally lit locations on the first floor are acceptable-and they're in short supply in the Shatner building. After looking over the floor plan, SSMU decided to relocate the McGill International Students' Network lounge. The MISN lounge is currently located in Suite 1100, near the first floor passageway to the Brown building.
The relocation proposal set off some fireworks at last Thursday's council meeting. SSMU offered MISN a new space on the fourth floor, but the club strongly opposed the move. We sympathize. Although we don't have MISN's foosball table or luxurious couches, the Tribune knows the appeal of a stair-less trip to the office.
That being said, the relocation was a no-brainer. The inconvenience experienced by MISN is clearly outweighed by the benefits provided to student parents. The eight-child nursery will go a long way, and there are already 14 undergraduate parents who have requested spots for their children.
SSMU council voted in favour of the relocation by a wide margin, and our hats are off to them. While the decision may seem simple, SSMU has been mandated to prioritize both student parents and student space on campus. Balancing these conflicting objectives was a challenge, but ultimately SSMU the made the right choice. We hope they continue to pursue students' interests in a practical and even-handed manner.
2008 Woodie Awards
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