The Associated Students of Madison held a press conference Wednesday in support of two bills that would increase student representation on the UW System Board of Regents. Several democrat legislators spoke to the mostly-ASM audience, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala, Senate Education Committee Chair Richard Grobschmidt of Milwaukee and Madison Rep. Mark Pocan.

The bills, SB 175 and AB 371, seek to add a second university student to the Board of Regents.

Under the proposed legislation, the student would represent the interests of nontraditional students such as parents and those holding full-time jobs. Another provision in the bills would force the governor to select the student representatives from a list compiled by UW System students, instead of the current way in which the position is governor-appointed.

ASM members who spoke expressed obvious enthusiasm for the legislation.

“I know how truly lucky the students of the UW are,” ASM member Eric Bott said. “We have been blessed by a legislature with an idea wholly unique to our state. Two bills sitting respectively before the state Senate and Assembly seek to continue our university’s tradition of student activism and to strengthen the spirit behind shared governance.”

Chvala said he thinks the bill is important for all Wisconsinites.

“It’s important not only for you but for the entire state of Wisconsin. Students are directly and significantly by decisions of the Board of Regents,” he said. “You need and deserve to have a strong voice in their decision making process. [This bill] will help you get that voice.”

However, speakers expressed concern over the current lack of student representation.

“In the past, students have expressed concerns that their recommendations were not being acknowledged. Rather, the governor has, on occasion, selected an appointee of his own,” Sen. Groschmidt said. “The governor totally disregarded the students. This is an important step forward, to have students participate in the governance of their own education.”

Speakers also emphasized the lack of democratic process heretofore.

“I thought that was part of the democratic process, that you elect representatives to elect you,” said Groschmidt.

Although UW senior and former student regent Joe Alexander said he supports the concept of adding student representation to the Board, he said recent legislation requiring students to appoint the position would serve ulterior motives.

“The governor’s appointing power is being infringed upon,” Alexander said. “United Council does not represent anybody except a small group of students who might be called a social club.”

Pocan furthered this statement.

“Those affected by decisions should have a say in those decisions,” he said. “It is [currently] a flawed system.”

ASM weighed in on the issue as well.

“Wisconsin is only one step above ? draconian policies,” claimed ASM member David Pressberry. “The UW [currently] ranks toward the bottom of having students represented with the executive decision makers.”

Although Alexander said UW’s non-traditional student population is increasing, he said undergraduates would be better served by having more representation.

“The university is seeing huge growth in non-traditional students, but to single out that group as the one that deserves extra rep is wrong and will not serve the whole system,” he said.

According to the ASM, “students contribute about 16 percent of the UW System’s income and should not be expected to be a silent shareholder in their education.”

The bills passed in the State Senate Wednesday, and may soon go before the Assembly.

“It is time for the Assembly to take up the Senate bill. They have more than adequate time in order to be able to get the job done in the Assembly,” Chvala said.

Speakers expressed optimism over the future of the bills. They cited “deep seated bi-partisan support” in both the Senate and Assembly.