Opinion
United Council vital to serving students
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United Council of University of Wisconsin Students, the state student government here in Wisconsin, has been fighting on the side of the University of Wisconsin system’s 145,000 students for over 40 years. It is very important that UW-Madison retain membership in an organization that fights on the side of students when very few organizations are doing so these days.
The fight for lower tuition has been a tough battle, and the biennial budget released by Governor Doyle has been made the fight no easier. Unified University of Wisconsin students asked for a tuition increase of no more than 5 percent per year. However, the governor’s proposed budget raised tuition approximately 14 percent over two years; in other words, about 7 percent per year. That translates into an UW-Madison tuition increase of about $200 per semester; an extra $800 over the next two years. Students will continue to drop out simply because they cannot afford an education — both in-state and out-of-state students.
I know a student who has been priced out of education — my friend, Michael. He knew he’d have trouble with finances, but tuition prices are set very late. Financial aid paperwork was slow. By the time it came to pay the second the semester’s tuition, he didn’t have even enough money to pay off the first semester’s tuition. He had no way to pay his tuition. He has everything but the money, and there’s only a month between the spring and fall semester. Time was not on his side. United Council fights for students like my friend, Michael. United Council helps makes school affordable for students who cannot pay. They pressure legislators when students cannot.
United Council recently pressured the UW Board of Regents (the UW system governing board) into limiting tuition to a five percent increase. Furthermore, United Council pressured the governor into using state dollars for financial aid as well. These are concrete victories that will translate into more education access and more students who can afford to go to UW-Madison.
Many students cannot take the time out to lobby their legislators, write letters to members of the State Joint Finance Committee and attend all the budget hearings. This is where United Council works on our behalf. There is a full staff and many involved students (including those in ASM) who work with United Council to keep students unified. When we cannot lobby, United Council lobbies. When students cannot write letters or testify, United Council finds ways to get us to where we need to be. ASM and United Council works together to make all our voices heard.
One can only imagine what the University of Wisconsin system would be like without United Council. There’s a damn good reason why UW-Madison has one of the lowest tuitions in the Big Ten. There is a reason why the University of Wisconsin system is one of the best higher education systems in the world. It’s because students are unified and organized, pressuring our legislators to give us the best education for the best dollar. It’s because we have a voice when we’re not able to personally be at the table. It’s because of United Council.
United Council, needless to say, is a good investment for students all across the state of Wisconsin. Twenty-four out of the 26 University of Wisconsin system schools are members of United Council. The overwhelming support should speak for itself. UW-Madison has been members of United Council for longer than any of us can remember. We owe it to ourselves as students to remain members of this organization.
And there is an easy way to make that happen: vote YES to United Council membership April 5-7. Vote at vote.asm.wisc.edu to keep you voice alive and keep advocates for higher education working for us.
Cedric Lawson
cjlawson@wisc.edu
ASM Vice Chair
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I agree! Vote yes, and keep this important tool for students to have a voice inside the Capitol.
I disagree. The UC is a huge waste of money. Get rid of it now. What has United Council Accomplished in the last couple of years? Tuition is still going up, even with a Democrat in the highest office WITH a Line Veto Pen that could solve all of our problems. But, they can't even convince him to cross out provisions to keep tuiton down. I want my money back!
Vote NO to United Council!
Right - UC is a tool. A tool for screwing students. Where have you been while tuition has skyrocketed? This just goes to show how out of touch and irrelevant UC has become, and why we should not continue funding it.
Myself and several others requested refunds from United Council during the first couple of weeks of the semester. When can I expect to get that?
VOTE YES so those of us that actually give a shit and care get a voice at the capitol. I'm too busy with my 4 jobs to do it and I truly appreciate them for doing so. Collect your huge $2.00 refund if you don't care about having a voice at the capitol and at the board of regents, but I do so don't take my voice away.