In just five years, the Center for Women Students has developed into an effective organization for meeting the needs of women with a very small staff.

Too small.

Sabrina Chapman, director, Patricia Johnstone, assistant director for sexual assault education and counseling, and one secretary work with an average of 28 students daily who use the center's counseling, referral and research services. In addition, an average of 35 students use the center's lounge for socializing and studying.

The growing demand for the center's facilities and the success of its programs have placed a strain on the three-person staff. The need for additional staff and funding grows as the center grows.

Now is the time for the University to show its dedication to the unique concerns of women by increasing funding and staff size. The center should be a top priority of the student services budget for 1990-1991.

Instead, administration officials have suggested the University's Center for Counseling and Psychological Services will have to share the additional need for counseling services created by the success of the center's programs until funding is available.

But since many women students look to the center as a place to turn to for help, they should not be referred to other departments that are not designed specifically for women's needs.

Delegating additional demands to other departments shows the University is not investing enough in women's concerns.

The center plays a vital role in helping assault victims and preventing future assaults through education. Funds speak louder than idle words in showing the University's commitment to preventing sexual assaults and helping victims.

The center also is instrumental in the push to change the "chilly" classroom environment for women, increase campus safety and inform the community about the importance of women's issue.

Until now, the center has fulfilled all these responsibilities through strong commitment from its small staff. But this dedication could serve women students better if it could be put into creating new programs.

Instead the staff's energy is spent caring for current demands that would be better served by increased funding and staff size.