Leaders from the Associated Students of Madison met with Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, this week in efforts to forge a relationship between the University of Wisconsin and the Legislature.
Nass has been openly critical of the university’s leadership and has expressed concerns over the appointment of Chancellor Biddy Martin.
“Fundamentally, this is a very tenuous time in the university’s history,” said Jeff Wright, ASM constitutional committee chair. “It is important we, as student leaders, begin to foster a relationship with those who are critical of the university.”
ASM Chair Brittany Wiegand said she hopes a better relationship will help the UW System as a whole and allow students to become more involved with decisions in the Capitol.
“One frustrating thing I felt was that there has been some bickering between the Legislature and the UW System,” Wiegand said. “The student voice has not been heard. That is something we would like to develop this year.”
Wiegand said ASM will attempt to build a relationship by sending out more press releases stating the governing body’s stances on pertinent issues and by continuing to meet with individual legislators.
ASM leaders and Nass looked at issues with faculty leaving the university and funding, according to Wiegand.
In an interview, Nass said it is not the responsibility of the Legislature to divvy up the UW System’s allocated funds. The priority for what program, department or professor receives a certain chunk of the budget is determined by the chancellor. However, the Legislature has discretion over the total amount of money each higher education institution will receive.
“The state Legislature continues to spend beyond its means.” Nass said. “We are in the hole; we are in the red. There will be professors that will leave the state of Wisconsin; we cannot afford to save everyone. The Legislature needs to get its fiscal house in order.”
Nass said he discussed the issues of accountability at UW-Madison and other schools throughout the state. He said the state provides funding that ends up being spent incorrectly, such as professors getting paychecks while incarcerated, millions of dollars unspent for a computer program and dozens of cows starving at an agriculture research center.
“[Accountability] is not isolated only to UW-Madison, but the bulk of the problems have been at UW-Madison,” Nass added. “These dollars should be spent wisely. Accountability is critical.”
Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said while the relationship between the Legislature and the UW System is important, it is also “delicate.” Black added Nass has exaggerated the UW System’s accountability issues.
“There is a difference between proper accountability and just looking for every opportunity to run down the university,” Black said. “The representatives that currently control the Legislature have gone too far. The Legislature must be accountable to the public for state universities and tax dollars spent, but the Legislature meddling in academic affairs will threaten the quality of the university.”
Wright said there currently are no plans to meet with additional legislators, but he is hoping to schedule meetings in the future.
“We hope this is the beginning of a more concerted effort to provide a stronger student presence in state politics,” he added.
