This last weekend, my toddler got us kicked out of the Student Recreation Center.
And there isn’t even an exciting story to show for it. I was at the SRC with a group of friends, where we were meeting for some games in the Multi-Activity Court. Because I am a parent who not only doesn’t get to see her child very often, because of my full-time work and school schedule, my husband also needs a break once in awhile. And since I was going with a group of friends to an enclosed area where I could have close supervision … I decided to take my 2-year-old daughter with me.
We played games for about an hour and a half before an SRC employee told me my daughter could not be out on the court where we were all playing. A reasonable request, so I thought we’d sit on the benches outside of the court.
I was then informed that apparently, that was not allowed either, and I was essentially asked to leave the facility altogether. Given that my group of friends didn’t want to break up, they left with me.
It’s the anti-climatic story of how a toddler got a group of grown college students kicked out of the SRC. As a parent, this is really annoying.
I can understand not wanting children to play on elliptical machines and underneath the climbing wall. But I am a responsible adult, who was keeping a close eye on my child, as we played in the MAC.
I can see the SRC not wanting small children on the court. I get it, it’s a liability. But to kick us out entirely? To tell us we weren’t allowed there at all, despite the fact I was willing to move off-court and sit on the sidelines? I found it utterly ridiculous we were asked to leave.
Not all University of Idaho students are childless, and those of us who aren’t, would like an equal opportunity to enjoy some of the amenities I pay for with my student dollars. I wanted to spend some time with my daughter and my friends. Apparently, the SRC isn’t the place to do it.
For the most part, I’m a rule follower. Which is why I searched around for any signs or postings stating children were not allowed. I even looked online to see if there was anything about bringing children. If the warning against bringing your toddler is there … I never saw it. So either they don’t exist or the SRC does a really horrible job of making this
rule known.
My husband attends WSU, where they have family hours every day — 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Children are welcome, provided an adult accompanies them. It would be nice if UI had a similar policy to accommodate the many students who are also parents at this school.
As a student, I’d like the option to hang out with friends and be able to bring my daughter. I love UI, and I love our SRC. Unfortunately, they don’t love kids, which makes it more difficult for me to use their amenities.
Kaitlin Moroney can be reached at arg-opinion@
uidaho.edu