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Fees may foot union bill
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Also by Andriy Pazuniak:
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- Cieslewicz, Judge come out on top in spring election (April 9, 2007)
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- UW to RIAA: No way (March 21, 2007)
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- Union petition grabs enough signatures (March 7, 2006)
- Union referendum discussion continues (April 1, 2005)
- ASM grills students over union initiative (October 12, 2006)
by Andriy Pazuniak
Friday, February 3, 2006
Having announced an approximately $153 million plan to rebuild Union South and renovate Memorial Union, Wisconsin Union Directorate representatives now wait to see whether students want to foot part of the bill.
WUD representatives launched a signature drive Feb. 1 to garner support for a referendum to raise student segregated fees by $96 next year. If approved, the additional fees would be earmarked to fund part of the Wisconsin Union renovation project.
The proposed renovation project includes a remodeling of Memorial Union — which currently does not meet many safety codes put in place after the union's original construction — and a completely new, larger Union South to be constructed by 2010.
"It's ridiculous, based on the size and structure of Union South and Memorial Union, to serve 40,000 students and their activities," said Shayna Hetzel, vice president of external relations for the Wisconsin Union Directorate, which is overseeing the union renovation plan. "Union South was built in the '70s to complement Memorial Union … to potentially serve 8,000 students. … We're five times that size now."
Wisconsin Union Directorate representatives hope to pay for the first phase of the project using student segregated fees.
Every year, students pay an additional segregated-fee payment on top of their tuition to fund student organizations, a variety of student services — such as University Health Services — as well as part of the operating costs for the two Wisconsin Unions. This year, student segregated fees cost students over $600 each.
Hetzel, though, believes students will be open to paying the increased fees to help improve the popular campus unions.
"We feel students are going to be very receptive," Hetzel said. "The students understand how big of a factor Memorial Union and Union South play in their lives."
However, Eric Varney, chair of the Associated Students of Madison, is concerned many students do not realize just how much the referendum would raise student payments.
If the referendum is approved, Varney said student-segregated fees could rise to more than $800 per student next year, if not more.
"It's a $90 increase in one year, and in addition to everything else, [students] would not vote on it if they realize how much they'll be paying," Varney said.
Every year, Varney said, the number of student organizations coming to ASM requesting money rises, causing segregated fees to increase, in turn, without additional payments.
Segregated fees are determined by how much funding the Student Services Finance Committee and the ASM Student Council decide to allocate to the many campus organizations requesting them.
Last year, SSFC and Student Council allocated more than $28.3 million, and the total could be even more this year.
Varney questioned whether the Wisconsin Union Directorate is looking for funding from sources besides students.
"There's other resources they're not tapping," Varney said, also noting the construction students would be paying for would be completed after a majority of them already left campus. "Next year's seniors and juniors won't see anything [from it]. Only the sophomores might."
However, Hetzel said the Wisconsin Union Directorate is also requesting funding from University of Wisconsin alumni and trustees as well as from the state and federal levels. She also said the additional revenue generated by the union expansion would help.
Hetzel added the renovations are necessary, since Memorial Union does not comply with many safety codes, such as having a sprinkler system or a sufficient fire alarm system.
The only reason Memorial Union is not in any violation now, according to Hetzel, is because the codes were adopted after the union's construction.
But the deadline to upgrade Memorial Union's facilities is approaching, she added.
"There is the potential for that," Hetzel said, when asked if Memorial Union was in risk of being shut down. "It's not to the point where we feel threatened, but the union was grandfathered in and our deadline is coming up."
The Wisconsin Union Directorate needs 2,500 signatures by March 1 to put the referendum on an ASM ballot.
Hetzel said it would not be the first time UW students paid for Memorial Union construction costs.
"Seventy-six years ago, over 50 percent of the [UW student body] donated the equivalent of $500 to pay for the construction of Memorial Union," Hetzel said. "It is our obligation, 76 years from now, to make sure students can enjoy this building."
Anonymous (February 3, 2006 @ 3:05am):
Nice work, Varney. With this proposal, seg fees would unquestionably be out of control.
Anonymous (February 3, 2006 @ 10:31am):
Eric Varney is wrong. Next year's seniors graduating in '07 won't be seeing the new building...but they also won't be paying the segregated fee. The fee would be collected starting the Fall of 2007.
Then building would commence in 2008 and two years late, VOILA! a new, sustainable 'green' building for everyone to enjoy.
Just because people are tight with money doesn't mean that valid project should be overlooked in the process of being frugal.
Sometimes it's not a question about what can 'I' gain from my $96...it's about preserving things for the future.
Anonymous (February 3, 2006 @ 11:15am):
they can fundraise through grants and alumni -- everyone loves the Union and would contribute towards that. WUD has a full time staff person who's job it is to raise funds. Groups funded by segregated fees don't have that luxury. Please oppose the referendum!
Anonymous (February 3, 2006 @ 2:58pm):
The Union has the potential to fundraise a lot, but 153 million is probably pretty unrealistic
Rocco Rapaldi (February 3, 2006 @ 10:42pm):
The UW just completed a one billion (with a B) fundraising project ahead of schedule. Once it makes something a priority, it gets the $$$.
At $96 per student x 40,000 students, you are talking about fundraising 4-million to replace the money you are asking from students (assuming it is a one year $96 fee -- it's not clear from the article) -- wherever they are getting the rest of the money from, they can get 4-million more from there.
Anonymous (February 3, 2006 @ 10:55pm):
This process is going to require everyone to do their part and I think students need to see this. I'm all for supporting this! It will be great to know I have made the investment to have a Union to come back to as an alum!
Anonymous (February 4, 2006 @ 7:05pm):
The Union isn't funded by the University or by the State at all. The Billion dollars that the University has raised will not go to this project at all.
The only sources that keep the the Unions running is segregated fees, revenue from the delis and retail and alumni support.
The only realistic choice the Union had was to ask for an increase in fees AS WELL AS increases in alumni support and potential state funding to preserve the historic nature of Memorial Union.
Anonymous (February 4, 2006 @ 7:11pm):
If this referendum doesn't get on the ballot, student life on the south side of campus could be stifled.
The UW Administration may go over the students' heads and construct a private development. This private building could include private conference space and commercial hotel space.
This potential building would not serve the students, but rather the private researchers at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. Student organizations could potentially have no room or at least, no free room, to meet or host conference. DO WE REALLY WANT TO ALLOW OUR PROGRESSIVE AND LIBERAL CAMPUS TO BECOME PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT? It's bad enough that the U-square project is half private development that takes away student movie theaters, restaurants and the post office services.
Right now, students sit on the governing board for the Union where there is a student majority~4 Directorate officers, 1 directorate representative, 3 ASM seats and 1 seat for the Chair of ASM. In addition, Wisconsin Union Directorate is only students and hosts programs and events that all of campus can enjoy.
It's our duty as students today to ensure that we are still a progressive, student-driven campus.
Anonymous (February 4, 2006 @ 7:13pm):
I agree. Progressive efforts are being made by planning for a green LEED-rated building. That's awesome!
We were the first college campus that served beer and now we could be the first college campus to have a sustainable union.
This Union is for us the students. If we don't support the Union, why should anyone else?
HooferX (February 5, 2006 @ 10:47am):
They want students to pay $96 more per semester in segregated fees to raise the money.
As Ms. Hetzel points out, 76 years ago the students VOLUNTARILY donated the equivalent of about $500 each to build the Memorial Union. Now in typical bureaucrat fashion, they want to FORCE students to cough up the money. They can't deal with the uncertainty of voluntary donations out of a feeling of generousity.
If we at the UW-Madison don't feel the connectedness and goodwill with the campus and the Union to donate our money willingly, the Wisconsin Union Directorate needs to focus on creating that feeling, to get students involved with their Union, and to feel that connection. A lot was lost in those 76 years.
But no, you could see it in the comments of the bureaucrats when the first referendum failed. They said they'll just keep pushing referendums until one passes. Students are just a source of cash to them, to be squeezed for the funds.
Anonymous (February 5, 2006 @ 11:53pm):
It's $96/year, for 30 years... and we're not talking about just rebuilding Union South... we're paying for a parking garage for WID, but at least they scrapped plans to build a student-funded Marriot hotel. The Union's use of marketing and PR firms, both funded by student fees, clearly shows that they aren't concerned about what we want or need, but what they can manipulate us into giving them.
VOTE NO!
Anonymous (February 6, 2006 @ 10:27am):
Student fees are not being used to fund a parking garage, I've never heard of this hotel you speak of, and, I repeat: STUDENT FEES WERE NOT USED IN ANY WAY TO FUND THE RESEARCH FOR THIS PROJECT. IT HAS BEEN FUNDED BY PRIVATE DOLLARS.
Get your facts right before you destroy the heart and soul of this campus.
Anonymous (February 6, 2006 @ 1:36pm):
Department of Transportation is paying for the parking structure.
WID doesn't have an influence on the Union, but as someone mentioned above, it COULD affect the private development of a NON STUDENT FACILITY.
WUFIP is completely driven by student leaders from Hoofers, WUD, GUTS, Polygon, WISPIRG and Iron Cross. The marketing and PR portion is paid for by private donations and there is, by now means a professional company doing this. Everything you see about WUFIP is created by and ran by students on this campus.
The hotel, that you may or may not be referring to is a private development funded solely by the Union and NO USE OF SEGREGATED FEES. It would include a mere 70 rooms (which we already have currently at Union South and Memorial Union) These rooms are used by visitng professors, faculty, staff and others who are doing residencies at this university.
If you are referring to the possibility of a Marriott or whatever it may be....why don't you go talk to Al Fish and see what his plans are for turning this campus into a corporation ran for profit.
IF THIS REFERENDUM ISN'T ON THE BALLOT OR IF IT FAILS, THE UNION ON THE SOUTH SIDE AS WE KNOW IT WOULD DIE. IT WOULD BE OVERRUN BY THE MARRIOTT, STARBUCKS AND NONSTUDENT SPACE.
If you are so against this, sign your name on the signature drive and vote against the referendum.
At least trust in democracy on this campus and let the student voice have the last word.
Anonymous (February 6, 2006 @ 1:37pm):
What marketing and PR firms did the Union hire?
Anonymous (February 6, 2006 @ 6:35pm):
The Union didn't hire any marketing or pr firms, so the answer is none. ASG, an architectural firm, was hired by the union to help assess the current situations and costs in the planning process lead by students. No seg fees were used.
