[media-credit name=’SUNDEEP MALLADI/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Representing 21 University of Wisconsin System campuses, the United Council of UW Students works to influence lawmakers to include its interests in the state budget. Every two years, when lawmakers revisit the budget, students of the United Council meet to ensure their interests are provided for in the state budget process. The United Council also coordinates one statewide campaign each year. United Council plans to advocate a fully funded tuition freeze this year with its campaign "Wisconsin Needs Higher Education Reinvestment." The campaign has three aspects: access, quality and diversity. To run the campaign, the students participate in two lobby days and a day of action across campuses. The group also holds committee hearings to discuss which issues they want to act upon. "Group members hope to maintain access to higher education without sacrificing quality," Interim Executive Director Lilia Williams said. According to Williams, the organization approves of Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposal to increase financial aid as well as his support for domestic-partner benefits. Specifically, the United Council said it hopes to see the proposed financial aid administered as graduate student and minority grants. Williams added the United Council supports keeping UW competitive in terms of equal work for equal pay. The organization, however, is not pleased with every facet of Doyle's budget, including a provision to increase tuition across the system by 4 percent. United Council said it would not advocate a tuition increase. To work with state legislators, student members plan to attend Joint Finance Committee public hearings this spring. Founded in 1960, the United Council is a non-partisan, non-profit, student-funded and student-directed organization. UW System spokesperson David Giroux said United Council is an important part of the organization because it encourages "any number of students, faculty and business community members to work for higher education and success." In 1971, Wisconsin passed a statute granting students a legal share in the "rights and responsibilities" of institutional governance. In order to fund the United Council, the Board of Regents approved a "mandatory refundable fee" required by all students on member campuses. Past victories include securing a $10 million increase in financial aid for the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant; expanding protections for all students and faculty through the UW non-discrimination policy; and passing a bill strengthening sexual assault statutes by including alcohol as an intoxicant.