To avoid a repeat of last semester's weekend school (I'm an off-campus student and that means that I have to attend one weekend school per unit, per semester), I posted in the units' online discussion board about the possibility of organising a comfy room to express in, preferably with a sink (but happy to use staff kitchen to clean up, if need be). I said that I didn't want to have to use my car or the toilets again.
The lecturer posted back saying that yes, something could be arranged, but could I email someone about specific requests like this.
I thought, fair enough, if I knew who to email about it, I would have. I envisaged a huge email run around to get to an appropriate person and the idea put me off, so I considered the board a one-stop shop where I could be referred to exactly the right person. In the end I've just emailed him and that will likely involve more double handling.
I posted also that the reason I posted there was because maybe other students had a similar need and not had it occur to them that they could ask for these things. I said that he would be surprised how many women put up with substandard facilities and say nothing about it.
Yep, I realise that by posting it there, loud and proud, I have come across as a bit of an activist. But, seriously, after the way I felt last semester having to end up expressing in my car and also in the toilets, I couldn't give a stuff. I was upset for the rest of the day and I don't think I got much out of what was being taught!
I figured that by posting in a matter of fact way, with no hint of being embarrassed (it's not like I said I'd need some time out to deal with AF!), that it would normalise the need for expressing facilities to those students who haven't had kids yet (most of them), and that if they want to come back to study when they do have kids, they'll remember that it's ok to ask.
Still, I can't help but feel like a sore thumb now! I hope I don't have my work marked in a prejudicial way now, especially as my assignments are on breastfeeding issues (they are self-selected topics, along the lines of a general theme)!
Good on you mate! i remember your boohoo thread and was wondering if you'd ever received a positive outcome from that. Hopefully your feedback will send the ball rolling in the way of creating some better alternatives than a toilet or your car! I haven't personally had to express out of the home yet but i imagine that to be a pretty depressing way to do such a special thing. Hopefully theres some good news to come
No, I think in an academic environment you're more likely to receive kudos for speaking up and trying to get something done. Most academics are aware of the level of facilities available to students (generally fairly low) but are well educated enough to understand the importance of breastfeeding to good health outcomes.
The ppl I would be speaking to about setting the facility up at the Uni would be the Student Union, and especially if they have a women's advocacy group, as well as their equal opportunity office. Good luck!
I will be really interested to hear how you get on as I'll need to attend a residential school with a small bub next year. The plan at this point is to bring DH who will look after bub and come in when s/he needs a feed, but it would be good to know there are clean, secure & comfortable facilities if and when needed.
Also, if there is a child care centre on the Uni, speak to them as they may have parent-room type facilities nearby. (Just a thought)
I say good on you for raising it publicly. It IS an issue that needs to be addressed - I was shocked when I read what you went through last time. I have had a similar issue since returning to work this time around. The only suitable place at my office is someone's office which has had the windows frosted for this purpose - but the office is used by a male (who is very understanding), but his colleagues have walked in on me while I have been in there with the door shut. TBH, this didn't phase me as much as them, but it has put me right off. Luckily I am mostly working from home atm so I don't have to worry about it often. But you have reminded me that I have been meaning to write an email to work to ask them to address the problem. So thank you for that.
I hope you get a great result from your efforts - a custom set up room would be a fantastic result, then maybe they could name it after you LOL!! At the very least I hope they find somewhere suitable for you.
This topic made me think about my uni - and I realised... there aren't even any parents rooms / change rooms on campus...
Subtle hinting I suppose...
But I agree with the idea of approaching the Student Union/Guild. ESPECIALLY the womans advocacy group, as they'll FEAST on an issue like this (lol, i would know, I have been on many uni activist groups ).
At the bare minimum, they'll provide a nice area with cleanup facilities, and definately not a toilet! Actually - does your union/guild have its own rooms/building? Because I know a lot do, and they generally also have nice rooms with comfy lounges and usually a small kitchen area with sink and microwave. They aren't widely known, but definately handy!!!!!
The 'problem' is that I will be attending on a weekend, when the campus centre (where the one and only parenting room on campus, Monash Uni at Clayton, biggest campus ever, is situated) - so it's an easy one to ignore because my problem happens when there's hardly anyone around! Still, my reason for going to off-campus mode (as is for many people) is parenthood. What do they think mothers do when they come to weekend schools????
OK, so one on of the days I got to use the tutors' office and it was locked from the outside, and I washed up in the staff kitchen (which was open for us to use anyway). On the second one, last Sunday, I used the sleep lab. Which is great because it's a room set up like a little house with a lounge area, bathroom, kitchen and bedroom. Only problem is that it's under constant video surveillance. The whole floor of offices is! The guard asked me how long I would be after I mentioned that the cameras were a concern, so I don't know if he was going to use that as an indicator of how long to turn those cameras off, or if he just wanted to know how long I would be. Hmph! I will have this addressed, because the whole building is fitted with cameras everywhere except toilets...and I'm not using them!!
This will come up again because I have another year of off-campus study, requiring weekend school attendance...I need to knock this on its head before next semester. It is ridiculous that it must be a personal struggle for each individual to have to do this - if they just set something up, then all one has to do is ask and the process is already set up...instead of asking for it and holding their hands as to how to do it each time.
Iz are there still such things as student unions? Surely they could help out? What about the Womens' Room (or am I being old-fashioned? did they go out when Jeff Kennet came in?)
Women's room is in the 'Campus Centre' (old union building), which is closed on weekends. The student union is a p!ssweak voice now that VSU is a reality. I will send off another email to the postgrad people and also to the women's advocacy people to see what they think. Otherwise I might have to get creative about who to contact next to get something done to justify Monash's 'Breastfeeding Friendly' accreditation...
I would find out who gives out this "Breastfeeding Friendly" accreditation, and go to them. Ask them how they can say that they are breastfeeding friendly when you can't even get into th proper facilities without getting special permission...
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Expressing at uni - secret women's business?
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