The Associated Students of the University of Utah will host the first annual married student and family conference this Saturday, Jan. 31, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Union.
The free event is for married students, spouses, single parents, those in relationships and those wishing to be in relationships-in other words, everybody.
April Heiselt of ASUU came up with the idea for the conference. As a mother of three children herself, she said she felt that married students needed to be recognized so they can feel like they are an important part of the U community.
Supposedly, the percentage of married students at the U is “quite high” compared to other universities, according to Vice President of Auxiliary Services Norm Chambers. Uncertainty about those numbers exists because the U does not require students to indicate whether they are married or not when they apply for admission.
The U did conduct a survey in 1995 that showed about 37 percent of the U’s students were married, according to Chambers.
“If that was the case in 1995, just imagine how it would be now,” said Heiselt. “Nontraditional students are coming back and bringing their families with them.”
This Saturday, ASUU Vice President Anthony White hopes those students will be bringing their families with them to the conference.
“It’s our student fees at work. Hopefully everyone will take advantage of it,” he said.
The conference begins with a light breakfast and ends with a raffle drawing for a number of prizes. In between, there will be informational workshops to attend and a vendor fair with participants from places such as Smith’s, Student Health Services, Salt Lake City Housing and Development and Campus Recreation.
If you need a baby sitter for your children ages 2-6, the staff at the Early Childhood Education Center will be baby sitting during the conference for free. Those interested in receiving the service must register by calling 585-5897.