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Tuition hike sparks debate
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by Nick Penzenstadler
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Representatives from dozens of engineering student organizations could not come to an agreement Wednesday night on the hotly contested differential tuition plan proposed earlier this year.
Polygon, the student government body for engineering students, held a general meeting to discuss a proposal calling for a $700 per semester differential tuition for engineering students to offset budget shortfalls. Representatives were thrown into confusion Wednesday when a group of students brought up a counter-resolution in opposition to the proposal.
Since representatives from the student organizations were only informed of a resolution in favor of the tuition plan to discuss with their constituents, the majority voted to postpone further discussion on the details to the next meeting in two weeks.
"I think it is good that students are voicing their opinions," said Craig MacKenzie of the College of Engineering Tuition Student Committee. "As far as that other proposal, I felt like it does attack a little bit my committee and the work we've been doing."
MacKenzie added he plans to work with the dissenting members to organize the various opinions.
Danny Holzen, a civil engineering student representing the Construction Club, said part of the need for the differential is falling state support.
"Over the last 30 years, there's hard data showing we've been getting less and less money from the state," Holzen said. "We have less buying power at the university."
After some debate, the meeting did generate a statement recognizing the need for additional funding for its programs.
"The general council of Polygon supports the concept and need for an engineering-specific tuition for undergraduate students in the College of Engineering," the statement said.
Andy Severance of the Triangle fraternity weighed in with his concern with the tuition plan and circulated the contentious resolution, and he formed a committee to explore oversight options for the plan.
"In my opinion, I think this has been presented in a fast-paced way, and still, it's not that specific," Severance said. "If we're going to be spending $3 million in fellow students' money, there need to be accountability measures in place."
Once Polygon decides on their stance, their opinion will be delivered to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents at a spring meeting.
Since the details are the components of the proposal delaying an agreement, MacKenzie said students should not be debating the inner details of the plan.
"In order for the regents to make a decision, they need to have student input," MacKenzie said. "That's part of my concern with making such a detailed plan — we can say all the things we want, but students aren't in the right position to make these decisions."
American Founders Society representative Rachel Dressler presented arguments in favor of the differential tuition plan, citing the value of the degree as a main concern.
"We're here for a reason — you have to look 10 years down the road," Dressler said. "What do you want your engineering degree to be worth?"
Anonymous (April 12, 2007 @ 6:58am):
Well, it is a degree you can actually get a job with. And an internship that pays you instead of vice versa.
Anonymous (April 12, 2007 @ 4:12pm):
Hahahaha..it's the American Foundryman's Society!
Anonymous (April 12, 2007 @ 6:10pm):
What a freakin mess. This goes through, two years from now administrators will be shutting down Social Work, languages, etc, because they can't bring in the tuition and grant dough that Engineering and Biz bring in. Goodbye public education, hello elite, in debt, sold out.
Anonymous (April 12, 2007 @ 9:54pm):
"shutting down Social Work, languages, etc, because they can't bring in the tuition"
Nope, those areas will just be filled with rich kids who don't need jobs to pay off huge college debts.
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