When students arrive to Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary’s College, many are burdened with homework or an upcoming exam. But others carry an additional burden: children.
To accommodate this, the library has changed the layout of an old room, removing old printers and adding a changing table. It is one of many recent initiatives at Saint Mary’s aimed at garnering support for pregnant and parenting students on campus.
Liz Baumann, director for harassment, education and response at Saint Mary’s College and a Title IX Officer, is working to improve resources for pregnant and parenting students on campus. Her mission, along with other student and campus groups working to build better infrastructure for these students, is to combat the prejudice surrounding student pregnancy and ensure the welcoming atmosphere of the College.
“I think it’s important to note that pregnant and parenting students are, of course, welcome at Saint Mary’s,” Baumann said. “We’ve been working really hard, especially in the past year, to expand a lot of those resources for not only our students, but also our employees and then anyone who visits campus.”
Baumann works with a faculty committee across various departments to implement support systems for pregnant and parenting students on campus. One of these committee members, Nicole Labadie, director of the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry, shared that the space in the library is far from finished, but she hopes it will support those who need it by providing a location where young children can play while they study.
“The new spaces in the library were designed with the dream of students being able to study or work and also have a space for a baby or a small child to play, as well as have adequate spaces for pumping or nursing if mothers and babies need those spaces on campus,” Labadie said.
Baumann said future plans for the parenting space include a door for privacy and eventually a full lactation space.
“That being said, even parents who are not feeding their baby, and anyone who’s feeding their baby in any way, is well implemented in a lactation space,” she said.
The committee hopes to provide Saint Mary’s pregnant and parenting students with the resources they need to successfully care for children. While the Mother Pauline pantry keeps diapers and formula for students, there aren’t enough. The Baby Belles drive is one way the committee hopes will supplement what the college lacks.
The drive is accessible to students and faculty, so everyone can contribute to providing students with what they need.
“Even a dollar or two can fund a number of diapers for a baby. And there’s some other sort of higher-priced items on those, but they’re aimed at being able to support our students who are mothers on campus,” she said.
Students also play a role in developing resources for pregnant and parenting students. Senior Lydia Poe serves as the pregnancy and parenting students outreach commissioner for Belles for Life. The group has worked over the last few years to create more equitable circumstances for pregnant and parenting students.
Another initiative created a list of resources for the students on the Saint Mary’s website and the Avenues programming. The freshman resources provided during Welcome Weekend. Additionally, Belles for Life co-organized an annual Mother Mary baby shower that raises money and collects items to help students and worked with Baumann to install highchairs in the dining hall and changing tables in bathrooms.
“It’s been really rewarding to see the amount of committee support. I think it’s been something that's been needed for a long time and the overwhelming impact has been just very overwhelmingly positive,” Poe said.
Poe shared her desire to support parenting students and make it easier for them to balance an education with parenting.
“I think that’s such a cool opportunity that we have to be in an all-women’s college and be able to support pregnant parenting students.” Poe said. “Add a baby, and it's even harder, but it is still possible if you have the right support.”
Additional lactation spaces are planned around campus. A partnership with Eli Williams in the LGBTQ+ center will also add map accessibility features in bathrooms across campus, including bathrooms that align with gender or have changing tables and period products.
“We know that it’s difficult to be a parent and a student, and so we want to be able to help people with that journey as much as we can.” Baumann said.
