Penn State prides itself on being a top-notch university that provides excellent opportunities to its students both in and out of the classroom.

The gym facilities on campus are spacious, extensive and fairly abundant. The football stadium is an imposing figure seen from miles away by those traveling into town. We have great forms of technology, expensive buildings and a gorgeous new baseball stadium. So why can't Penn State find the funding it needs to continue graduate-student child care through the summer?

According to Stephanie Zezzo, director of the subsidy program, if the Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Program does not receive additional funds from UPAC to cover costs for the summer, the support to graduate-student parents will stop as of June 30.

For many student-parents, on-campus daycare provides an affordable, convenient way for them to continue their education and raise a family at the same time.

In the summer, parents can't rely on schools to act as babysitters. Child care doesn't come cheap, and for parents trying to provide for their children while paying Penn State tuition, money can be tight.

Program directors requested $12,500 from UPAC for the summer and $81,000 from the Funding Allocation Board (FAB) for the rest of the year. Because FAB applies from fall 2007, the requests have to be made separately.

It's estimated that about 300 families use the child care service. Without that funding, up to 300 student-parents may not be able to afford the expense of attending school and providing adequate care for their children at the same time.

Parents shouldn't have to make that decision.

Losing this program, even for the summer months, would be a huge blow to the student-families who rely on it.

Penn State says it listens to its students. UPAC says it is represents the students. If these things are true, then listen to what the students need.

Find the money to continue the graduate-student child care subsidies. Student-parents have enough to worry about. Child care cuts at Penn State should not be added to the list.