University of Wisconsin Eau Claire - Periscope Yearbook (Eau Claire, WI)

Page 25 text:

I Some of the 80 children enrolled in the Children's Day Care Center kept themselves occupied while parents were away at work or school. DELIGHTFUL CHAOS

Page 24 text:

m I I □AY CARE - The crying of children arriving for the first time, the laughter of playtime, an easel, a piano, an old wooden rockinghorse and rooms littered with toys are some of the many sights and sounds one might encounter on a visit to the Children's Day Care Center on Chippewa Street. The center, owned by the UWEC, is a service to students, according to Marie Evans, center director. Care which is inexpensive and convenient to the campus is provided for students' children. Although the time children spend at the center may be considered somewhat of a “supervised playtime,” it is also an educational opportunity. It promotes vocabulary development, social skills, concept drives, motor skills and also tries to deal with the child's emotional needs. The center is more or less a nursery school’ within a day care center, Evans said, with nursery school teachers on duty from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Evans, who has a masters degree in early childhood development, said the center’s basic goal is to supplement the family and free student parents to attend classes. The center also hopes to provide an enriching experience for the child, she said. This is achieved through a good program, an abundance of equipment and the continual contribution of ideas. The program includes everything from art to scientific experiments. Connections with the university offer continual sources of ideas; art students visit to work with children, trips to the planetarium are possible and music students help the center with percussion. Field trips are also possibilities. “The center, however, cannot supply the one-to-one relationship that is present between a child and a babysitter. We think that we need more professional staff. We’re new and growing and didn’t realize that we would need so many teachers. The staff includes 15 paid students (some on work-study), who work an average of 10 to 15 hours a week, and student volunteers. The volunteers are usually education, psychology or music majors, she said. The director or assistant director is in charge at all times. There are also a number of parent volunteers. As a rule, each parent must serve two hours a week. The center is supported mainly through student activity fees and user fees, although the state has donated $2,000 so far. A registration fee of $5 is used to pay for liability and medical insurance for the child and parent while at the center. The center, which has been in operation since January 1974, already has a long waiting list, indicating student surveys expressing a need for such a program were correct. Total enrollment at the center is about 80. but there are never more than 33 children at one time. Children range in age from two to six years. Although they are separated into age groups, they are occasionally together. Offering service to students, faculty, staff and the community, the center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday each semester through final exams week and during the summer session. A full-day rate ranges from $2.50 for students with one child to $5 for faculty, staff and community residents. Discounts are available if the center cares for more than one child per family. The center aims for a ratio of 75 percent students’ children and 25 percent children of faculty, staff and towTis people. n

Page 26 text:

. The duties of the campus security officers are not limited just to the campus. We can go to California if we have to. according to Wallace O’Neill, director of safety and security- The campus policemen have all of the duties of city police. They are responsible for enforcing all state, city and campus laws and regulations. All campus police are sworn in as special city police, so they are allowed to enforce laws anywhere in the city. Some are also deputy sheriffs so they have county-wide authority. Campus police investigate crimes, enforce traffic laws, conduct safety inspections of all campus buildings and perform fireman duties, such as conducting fire drills in all buildings. There is at least one campus policeman at all basketball games and other arena events. Security is responsible for giving a defensive driving course which is open to everyone but is primarily for students and faculty. According to O’Neill, about 400 people have gone through this course since it was established a few years ago. One of the best known services offered to students is the transporting of injured students to classes, or the hospital. Last year 2,736 students were transported by security. The police also help students and faculty jump their cars in cold weather. But.’’ O’Neill said, “a car battery is only good for a few boosts and then it wears out. So. about the only thing left for the police to do is to assist in calling a tow truck. There are seven full-time police officers for day and evening duty. The night duty is carried by one police officer and two security officers. The security officers. 50 and 63 years old. are retired police officers who have all the duties of campus police officers. They work the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Their primary- function is security of grounds and people and checking for trouble spots. They are responsible for checking buildings for water leaks or fire. Besides police officers, O’Neill has between seven and ten work-study students working for him at any one time. I can get the funds for as many as I need. But we don't go overboard.” Usually the students only-work a few hour shifts a day; they 34