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ASM informs student of future goals

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Also by Kelsey Willems:

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by Kelsey Willems

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Members of the Associated Students of Madison held a town-hall-style meeting Wednesday night in Gordon Commons to inform University of Wisconsin students about ASM and its various programs and campaigns for the academic year.

A variety of topics was presented at the meeting, ranging from ASM’s role in Halloween celebrations to rising tuition. Members and chairs of various ASM and Student Council committees were present to answer questions from students.

Legislative Affairs Committee chair Kelly Egan, a UW sophomore, kicked off the meeting with a discussion on rising tuition costs at UW. Egan said ASM is working to represent the student body at the state level in opposition of the proposed tuition hikes.

ASM plans to meet with the Joint Committee of Finance to tell the members that students do not support the tuition increases.

“The budget has been balanced on the back of students for long enough,” Egan said.

The committee also addressed the problem UW students faced earlier this semester when police officers arrested some students for “camping” at the Kohl Center while waiting in line for sports tickets.

Sophomore Eyal Halamish, Shared Governance committee chair, said the problem has been resolved. Madison police will no longer handle the problem and it is now in the hands of Chancellor John Wiley, he said.

“[UWPD] no longer will be doing that (citing students for camping) next year,” Halamish said.

Representatives also discussed ASM’s involvement in the Halloween celebrations last month. ASM sponsored a costume contest and sold food with the intention of curbing riots and creating a safer Halloween atmosphere for UW students.

Freshman Caroline Simon, an intern for ASM’s Halloween 2004 campaign, said ASM feels its involvement in Halloween events was a success. The group is still looking for ways to make next year’s Halloween even safer than this year’s, Simon added.

“We’re still talking with police to see what they think we should be doing next year,” Simon said.

ASM members also said they will launch a campaign to make sure an amendment opposing same-sex marriages does not pass in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Council secretary Adam Schlicht, a UW junior, and ASM chair Emily McWilliams addressed this issue, stating ASM will become involved to ensure that potential UW faculty and staff members with same-sex partners are not discouraged to come work in Wisconsin.

“Basically, if the amendment goes to the state and passes, then all people employed by the state, including UW faculty and staff, will not get benefits for same-sex partners,” Schlicht said.

Members also addressed the media portrayal of an excessive amount of “in-fighting” within ASM. Many members denied the claims, saying they may disagree, but it is part of what makes a good student government run.

“The unique part about this council is we’re really diverse — really different people willing to discuss and defend our viewpoints,” Schlicht said.

Many ASM council members said there is a need for more student feedback and participation for the group’s campaigns to be more effective. A variety of members mentioned several times that student involvement and feedback is essential to make sure ASM accurately represents UW students.

UW sophomore Steven Thunander attended the meeting and said he was surprised that more students do not become involved in the student government.

“It was a very informational meeting; however, I am very disappointed [to hear about] the student apathy towards general involvement on campus,” Thunander said.

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Anonymous (November 11, 2004 @ 6:17am):

Wow, we're for lower tuition. Who would have thought? Thank god we have a multi-million dollar student government to inform everyone of this revelation.

Anonymous (November 11, 2004 @ 7:58am):

Yeah, why does ASM rail against tuition increases while jacking up our segregated fees at the same time?

Anonymous (November 11, 2004 @ 8:36am):

if you would have attended the meeting you would know. That issue was discussed.

Anonymous (November 11, 2004 @ 8:53am):

ASM thinks it can affect the State Legislature?

How cute...

Anonymous (November 11, 2004 @ 9:27am):

It doesn't matter if ASM discussed its way out of its hypocritical stance on tuition increases - in the end, it's still creating a burden for students.

Adam Schlicht (November 11, 2004 @ 9:45am):

I am really sick and tired of people making judgments about ASM without knowing what is really going on and being done. Last night was held as a way to inform students about what we are doing -- and how we are doing it. I highly doubt that any of you anonymous authors attended. Is ASM a multi-million dollar government? No... we have a budget of $640,000/year. One third of that money goes directly to serving all student organizations on campus. Are segregated fees getting jacked up? No, but enrollment is down at UW, so per pupil it seems like more. And can ASM actually make a difference lobbying the State Legislature? Absolutely. We've already begun doing it and we explained how at last night's Town Hall. You all need to stop making judgments about ASM, invest a little time and energy in something other than complaining, and you will quickly find out ASM does more than "raise student fees." Don't hesitate to contact me or any other member of the Student Council if you ever have any questions or complaints... but don't hide behind an anonymous comment.

-Adam Schlicht
ASM Secretarty & Nominations Board Chair
Elected L&S Representative

Anonymous (November 11, 2004 @ 11:33am):

Adam,

I know one of the posts is informed, mine. First off $640,000 dollars is nothing to hang your hat on. Especially when ASM uses the propaganda that shows how every extra dollar in tuition prices students out.

Your challenge to the posters to come and see what its all about is a crock. One would think for $640,000 a year it would be self-evident what you guys do or the actions you take would be more visible. That we as your constituency would have to go to some random meeting where you assuage our doubts about your competency is absurd.

Enrollment is down but the total seg-fee balance is hire. Last year, the student org budgets alone went up approximately $400,000 not to mention costs of CCTAP, Sports-Rec, and UHS. Oh and I beleive the cost of the bus pass went up quite a bit too and will for the next 3 years, if I heard right about the negotiations. But I won't quote a number because I'm sure you covered how that all went down in the town hall meeting.

My last point is to those posters from before, don't be ashamed to be anonymous. If this is the only way you feel comfortable giving your honest opinion than good for you. You clearly know your ASM history. People who tend to speak out against the excess and stupid trivialities of the ASM tend to be faced with some sort of zealot-like response of "How dare you presume to question the fact that we are a beacon that lights the students way? Are you a racist? Are you a priveleged person? Are you simply stupid?" In the face of that how can you expect someone to walk up to your average student gov. member and complain. Also, if for example I thought Adam's righteous indignation was stupid and petty, how could I make that clear to him without jeopardizing my chances of getting a position in front of the Nominations Board.

Anyhow I have a student org meeting to go to, I just wanted to pipe in and make sure anonymous posters were defended in the face of Adam's disdain. And feel free to respond to my post with a name or without, I don't mind either way.

Proudly Anonymous
Member of the ASM