Editor,
This Labor Day, I took the opportunity to reflect on the struggles that student and employee caregivers face at the University. On Sept. 5, an event will be held in Ballroom A of the SUB from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to organize people around policy issues that affect family-member employees and to celebrate a new state law (N.M. Chapter No. 2007-18) that requires employers to allow for unpaid, flexible breaks and conveniently located, private, clean, nonbathroom areas for breast-feeding mothers to pump milk.
As a Ph.D. student without immediate familial responsibilities, I can quickly forget the challenges of balancing family amidst the pressure of an inflexible academic or workplace environment. However, I remember the struggles of my mother as she raised two sons while balancing work and family after my father died at a young age after five years dealing with leukemia.
To compensate for lost time, she'd take work home, work through her lunch breaks and stay a little later than normal. In the end, she still accomplished her work for the week and provided us with the love and care we needed at a time when it was most needed.
I also know of students on this campus who struggle not because they are not intelligent, hard working or dedicated, but because the University does not have policies and structures in place that allow them to have flexibility with regard to due dates, continued student status during periods of leave or support for the balance of their home and school responsibilities.
For example, the child-care facility as it stands now is inconveniently located off campus, and the two-year waiting period to get a new child enrolled is unacceptable. The time has come for this issue to be made a University and legislative priority.
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When we recruit graduate students, we will be lucky to entice experienced caregivers to further their studies here. Caregivers often have the ability to multi-task like no other human beings, and they consider issues of work-life balance every day. Balanced students, who understand the demands of family and the need to fulfill a commitment to school, are committed human beings - role models - and will represent the University well. Their productivity will be superb - not to mention their sense of academic satisfaction.
It is my job to advocate for the needs and concerns of graduate professional students. It is my duty to make UNM the best, most attractive university in the Southwest so all of us can be proud to be affiliated with it.
I beseech UNM administrators and New Mexico legislators to consider the demands upon students outside of the academic environment. As a son and a community leader, I stand tall in my dedication to the needs of students who have multiple roles.
I invite all who are interested to join Wednesday's event to educate themselves on the challenges faced by student caregivers to determine a flexible and open educational environment, thus resulting in greater student diversity, commitment and contentment. The needs of graduate students are not in conflict with the needs of the University, but a parallel reality that can enhance the University's functionality with proper administrative and legislative support.
Joseph Garcia
GPSA president
