NEWS
WAA petitions to limit budget cuts
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by Heather Quitos
Friday, January 20, 2006
The University of Wisconsin Alumni Association wants to take an active stance in the state government by creating a petition against further state budget cuts.
Addressed to Gov. Jim Doyle; Assembly Speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo; and Senate President Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, the petition urges the state to "make the University of Wisconsin a priority in the state budget" by sparing budget cuts to the university.
"We're trying to increase the level of engagement around this issue," WAA President Paula Bonner said. "We know it's a complicated time for the state regarding how to allocate resources for all the things that need assistance."
The petition cites the university's importance in the economy: creating 750,000 jobs, generating nearly $347 million in tax revenue and its $4.7 billion impact on the state's economy.
"There is clear and overwhelming evidence that a strong University of Wisconsin is integral to the economic well-being of the state of Wisconsin," the petition said.
According to the petition, the university tuition increased by one-third in the last two years, and such an increase in cost creates a barrier for Wisconsin residents wanting to attend the institution.
Furthermore, the petition states having less college graduates in the work force drives down gains in the state's per capita income, which is slightly lower than the national average of $31,632.
The petition states that further budget cuts will cripple the university and then the economic welfare of the state.
"We want the alumni to do what we can to keep the high quality of the university," Bonner said. "We need to keep it affordable for students now and students in the future."
Bonner said the petition began in late December, but more than 500 alumni have already signed it.
She added the petition is just one aspect of the "Wisconsin. A state. A school. A stand." campaign, which aims to increase alumni collaboration with the city and the state.
"We hope to involve some more of the alumni that are graduates of the UW System schools as well," she commented, "particularly around the issue of support for public education because that is an issue for all UW schools."
Bonner said alumni relations within the community are important, and alumni can give back through offering scholarships, career mentoring and internships to current students.
"The relationship between the current and former students is what the alumni association's all about," she said. "It's really what helps create a good institution."
State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said while the university is very important to the economy, it does not hold top priority in the state budget.
"In no way can the UW replace the small business and the worker," he said. "The UW is not the driving force behind the state economy."
He added the Wisconsin Alumni Association should not be playing politics unless the organization does a better job of managing its own funds.
"They should spend less money for lavish events for the president for the regents and more time finding money for the student curriculum," he said. "It's kind of hypocritical."
Suder continued saying the petition probably will not make noise in the state Legislature.
"The UW has so many lobbyists, so the petition will fall on deaf ears of legislators until the UW gets its act together," he said.
