Current plans to expand the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints campus student center could mean the end of ASU's Child Study Lab according to the lab's director Nancy Hoth.
The expansion of the Mormon student center, primarily the construction of a parking structure, would affect not only the lab, but also three other areas of the psychology department's research and training programs said Darwyn Linder, head of the department.
"If the project is built [following the current proposal] it will have a negative impact on several of our research and training programs," Linder said.
Hyrum Wright, the LDS Institute Director, was unable to speak to the problems with the expansion.
"That's an ASU decision," Wright said. "I don't know what to say. I wish I did. We're working on it. We just want to be hand in hand with ASU. We want to be part of ASU's new look."
Eva Humbeck, a former faculty member and mother of one of the program's current students, said she understands the need for expansion but is confused as to why the program was not consulted in the expansion process. She said she has also organized a parent meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in the lab to discuss the situation.
"Our concerns are that the administration is not involving all of the parties involved with this, and we feel we had absolutely no way of presenting our point," Humbeck said. "This is the only program I would want my children to go to and to put that casually in jeopardy is not very responsible."
Lindsey Cantelme, assistant director of the program, said she feels similarly and was quick to add that the program officials understand the LDS center's need for expansion.
"Our anger is not directed at LDS," Cantelme said. "From my impression, they have no intention of smashing us down. We are frustrated with the [ASU] administration. It's such a good program, you have to feel passionate about it."
ASU spokeswoman Nancy Neff said the University is aware of the psychology department and lab's needs.
"Prior to moving forward with the project [we] will address those needs," Neff said.
"The University only received a draft of the proposed plan for the expansion of the LDS Institute in the past few days and will be meeting with the department to discuss possible options."
If the proposed plan is accepted, animal research programs could be hindered, as the current plans would cut off access to the building's south entrance, the only entrance that can receive large delivery trucks.
In addition, the trucking entrance is the only entrance that may receive animals and animal care supplies, as they may not be brought into the building through common areas due to regulations, Linder said.
Operation of clinical research would also suffer, he said, as parking space would be limited by the expansion. According to Linder, 130 Alzheimer's patients are tested there yearly and to have patients who are older coming from another parking location on campus also would be a barrier for many.
Lastly, those studies, which include both children and adult subjects, would be affected along with the lab, said Linder.
Included in the current proposal are plans that would cut back the lab's playground facility, allowing it to extend 20 feet from the building, a dramatic loss of space, said Hoth.
This loss of playground area would jeopardize the accreditation of the lab's program, Hoth said, putting into question its future. The Arizona Department of Health Services Office of Child Care Licensing requires 75 square feet per child of outdoor space, a requirement that the CSL would not meet if the playground were reduced, she said.
Along with meeting the State's licensing requirements, the program is also accredited with the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. Hoth said it would also be an accreditation the program would stand to lose.
"Without the playground, we can't get our accreditation, which means we will have to close," Hoth said.
According to Hoth, the lab, which currently has 93 children enrolled, is no simple day care, but rather a pre-school program that is "absolutely singular in the Valley."
The program is developmentally play-based, she said, meaning that the children direct all activities, and any planned activities are left open-ended, allowing children to guide themselves.
Linder said he hopes that a compromise can be made that works for both parties.
"It's my hope that the University can reach some sort of compromise," Linder said. "So that they can [have] a satisfactory expansion for themselves and so that we can continue with our research and clinical studies."
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
