The Associated Students of Madison and the Student Services Finance Committee met with Chancellor John Wiley Wednesdayto propose their 2002-2003 budget.
Jessica Miller, ASM chair, said the meeting went well and there were no disagreements over ASM’s proposal.
“It was your basic budget meeting,” Miller said. “Chancellor Wiley and his committee seem very supportive of the student efforts to allocate money.”
Miller said the proposed budget covers full funding of all ASM services. In the past, budgets have generally been approved. While Wiley accepted ASM’s proposal, he is under no time constriction to approve it.
“The earliest we would hear of his approval would be after spring break,” Miller said. “And he doesn’t have to say anything until the end of the school year.”
In addition to Wiley’s approval, the budget needs to be approved by the UW System Board of Regents, overseer of all of the UW schools’ finances.
ASM application deadline approaches
Monday is another important date for UW’s student body because it is the deadline for candidates’ applications to ASM.
Clara Janis, Student Elections Commission chair, said ASM is trying to encourage student interest in pressing university issues rather than simply recruiting candidates to run “blindfolded.”
“We are trying to focus on a few major campus concerns to increase voter turnout,” Janis said. “Our goal is to raise our current 11-12 percent turnout to 15 percent in this spring’s election.”
SEC’s current goal is twofold. It is pushing for many candidate applications as well as increased student voting. Also, Janis said SEC is promoting awareness with its aims to move University Health Services to a more centralized campus location, to increase diversity and to link the financial aid and tuition.
“By promoting a few main concerns, both potential candidates and students can know more about what they are involved in,” Janis said.
Janis said it is easy to get involved in student government. “Anyone can run for anything and can campaign however they want, within campaign regulations,” she said.
Applying to be a candidate requires one’s name, desired position and a few opinions and stances on important campus issues, Janis said.
“It is a painless and easy process,” she said.
During election week, April 8-11, SEC will be chalking all over campus, running radio announcements and polling in Memorial Union. Janis also said students will be able to vote via the Internet.
“The real goal of the spring elections is to make the voting process easier for non-involved students,” Janis said.
