The referendum could generate almost $38,000 annually through a 75-cent increase in student fees per semester that would be used to subsidize the costs of child care for UNC students with children.
The referendum will be placed on the Feb. 12 student elections ballot. To be implemented, it must be approved by a majority of student voters, and 10 percent of the student body must vote in the election.
The referendum was approved to be on the ballot with minimal debate and no dissent.
Graduate and Professional Student Federation President Mikisha Brown, who spoke in support of the referendum at the Student Congress meeting, said funds generated by the increase would be distributed on the basis of need to students with children.
Brown estimated that the fund will be able to cover 40 percent of the costs of child care for about 28 students. "This is not giving them free child care," Brown said. "This will only help them."
Mark Bauer, a UNC graduate student and father who said he spends $8,000 of his $12,000 yearly teaching stipend on child care, urged Congress members to approve the referendum for the ballot because he said it will benefit all UNC students.
"The reason (undergraduate students) should care about this is that without child care, good graduate students won't come," he said. "Most undergraduates have to take classes taught by graduate students, so this will affect the quality of your education."
Brown said she would lobby UNC administrators to match the funds generated by the increase in student fees if the referendum passes Feb. 12.
She also said a coalition of student organizations are supporting the referendum and have committed to help publicize it to UNC students and administrators. "We have a lot of manpower behind this," she said. "In the coming weeks, there's going to be a frenzy around this issue."
