I find it ironic that in Thomas Jensen's Feb. 1 Viewpoint regarding assistance for pregnant mothers he states that "Marquette University has been well known for its attempts to live the Jesuit motto: cura personalis." Jensen then goes on to insinuate that Marquette should offer students who "find themselves pregnant" assistance because "women should not have to choose between finishing school and having a child." First off, how do you find yourself pregnant? You don't just wake up one morning and be pregnant. Getting pregnant takes a conscious act.

Jensen states "I am sure we do not see many pregnant students on campuses — because many either choose to have abortions due to lack of financial and emotional support or they drop out of school to work and take care of their child."

I was a single mom for four years while I was at Marquette and the support I found within the community was great. Let me list them for you: The Hope Network (for single mothers). The Hope network can supply cribs, clothes and scholarships for childcare and free counseling. W2 is a government funded program that can supply child care assistance, food stamps, medical and rental assistance. WIC is an organization that will provide free formula and food to single moms with children. Many Web sites offer a chance for parental advice as well: Milwaukeemoms.com and Parentcenter.com are great Web sites for resources and networking.

There is no reason for any woman to have to choose "abortion" or "dropping out of school" as a choice. I didn't. I worked my butt off for my degree. And guess what? I didn't expect Marquette to offer me assistance with "special housing" or "grant/scholarship money" to "defray the costs of living."

As a current employee at the child care center on campus, I chuckled when I read that Jensen "heard there are 44 children on the waitlist" and that this "does not meet the current demand now nor will they be available for pregnant students after they give birth." Did Jensen actually call the center to find this information out or was it second hand info? Yes there is a waiting list … but the center could be used by all students, faculty and alumni. With 125 spots available, yes there is a waiting list. There are many other child care centers in the area that also offer assistance.

I recently called Georgetown University to get information regarding the child care they offer since Jensen feels that Georgetown is so much more willing to "help and assist pregnant students." Georgetown currently does not take any children under 18 months in their child care center. Oh and as far as a waiting list, they have one of those too. Georgetown does not offer housing or special financial aid to single mothers.

My advice to single moms who "find" themselves pregnant is this: Look for community resources and use them, work hard and finish school. Don't get pushed into the stigma that Jensen has just pushed on single mothers. We are not all lazy freeloaders. Some of us actually work very hard to get to where we are.

My advice to Jensen is this: Do your research before you write a Viewpoint.

Jennifer Meyer is a Marquette alumna and is an employee at the Marquette Child Care Center.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Feb. 22 2005.