Opinion
Vote no on union referendum
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There are two referenda on this year's Associated Students of Madison ballot. One of them could cost students nearly $200 a year for the next three decades.
In an effort to renovate the Memorial Union and rebuild Union South, the Wisconsin Union Directorate will ask students to sign off on an extravagant payment plan that will increase segregated fees by up to $96 per semester for as many as 30 years. With students already forced to pay more than $650 a year in segregated fees on top of an ever-rising tuition, this tax hike is simply too much for the student body to bear.
Tuition currently stands at $5,618 a year for Wisconsin residents and $19,618 for out-of-state students. Should the Union referendum pass, the total cost of a UW education will rise to $6,476 ($20,476 out-of-state) — and that figure does not take into account the seemingly inevitable annual tuition hike, which could be fairly high thanks to an unfriendly Legislature.
Skyrocketing tuition costs have already threatened to price students out of a UW education, and segregated fees only add to the burden. With students working part-time jobs on top of a full course load only to graduate thousands of dollars in debt, an exorbitant segregated fee hike will further drain bank accounts that have already been stripped bare.
From March 28-30, students will be asked to raise the price of an education for the next three decades of UW students. We urge you to vote "No."
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IP hash: 44abe13b
well put.
no on wufip.
IP hash: 110dd48d
Wisconsin Union Directorate is not just some random body on campus.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate is made up of students who care enough about campus to program for campus. Unlike many student organizations, the Wisconsin Union Directorate creates programs for campus to enjoy rather than things for its own committees. Wisconsin UNion Directorate programs over 1000 events for campus every single year. WUD brings us MU Bash, Terrace music, World Music Festival and more.
The members of Wisconsin Union Directorate [which includes Hoofer members] are students on this campus. Wisconsin Union Directorate is made up of over 3,500 students from this campus. These STUDENTS feel that WUFIP is for the betterment of campus.
It’s fitting. These students who volunteer their time to bring in the bands who play in club 770 and the RAthskellar, who select and run the films in the play circle on and on the terrace, who bring you Illumination and Emmie, who do all of these great things for campus are looking for a way to make campus better yet.
These students are students just like anyone else. They pay their tuition, they work 2 or 3 part time jobs, they go to classes and then go to meetings. They are normal students. They are students who are willing to look ahead to help plan the future. They support WUFIP and so should you.
Please help save legacy. Student Union=Student Power=Student programs. If WUFIP doesn’t pass, there is no guarantee what the UW Administration may do to please corporate or private development.
A VOTE FOR WUFIP IS A VOTE FOR STUDENTS.
A VOTE FOR WUFIP IS A VOTE FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS.
A VOTE FOR WUFIP IS A VOTE FOR CONTRIBUTING MONEY AND TAKING OWNERSHIP IN A LEGACY-BUILDING PROJECT.
A VOTE FOR WUFIP SAVES THE UNION SO THAT FUTURE STUDENTS CAN ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE.
IP hash: 43d5d460
Now that the students have voiced their support for a referendum on the ballot I feel I can appropriately speak out as a classified employee working at The Union. This is my response to the negative letters from a few classified employees that have been in the newspapers. I respect everyone's right to have an opinion on this important referendum. However, I feel compelled to write this article because it saddens me that a few classified people feel they can speak out so strongly for all classified employees at the Union in such a negative fashion, implying they speak for all classified employees or labor union members here.
I strongly believe that all employees at the Wisconsin Union have a vested interest in supporting the referendum. The plans for rebuilding Union South and upgrading the Memorial Union will make all our jobs at the Union safer, more productive and more pleasant on a day to day basis. In addition, we gain the potential to hire more classified positions.
As a University Conference Coordinator I am privileged to work with all tiers of employees and students at the University. For years we have been complaining about the lack of technical equipment, storage space, office space, and the need for an employee lounge to rest and relax in each of our Unions. There are now clearly defined responses to address those issues during the proposed improvements at both union buildings. These include (1) an employee lounge space set aside in each of the unions, (2) office space that will actually be office space. (right now we are using storage closets, meeting rooms and hotel rooms for offices), and (3) space to store furniture and equipment conveniently located near the meeting rooms so that the classified setup , catering and maintenance crews can move things more safely and quickly. (4) Safety concerns addressed through upgraded equipment and space ensuring people do not get injured performing their duties at work.
Thank you to the many students who recognized the needs we as employees have here at the union and voted for the referendum. I am hopeful that support will continue in a positive outcome on the referendum. .
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It is a beutifull thing that both left-leaning and right-leaning groups are uniting to stop the union referendum. It makes colleges less accessable and we can all agree on that.
IP hash: 63465e91
if you are commending SLAC for being aware of college accessibility because of cost….why are they proposing an initiative that would also affect segregated fees?
it’s because SLAC is a tainted, confused group who base their identity by creating false corruption and proposing hypocritical propaganda.
IP hash: 63465e91
speaking of making college accessible…what about ADA accessibility? People of all abilites RIGHT NOW are unable to enjoy our privileged luxury of being able to easily navigate the Union.