A student government committee hosted state legislators to review three bills focused on tuition and accessibility, safety on campus and positive student representation on Monday.
The Associated Students of Madison’s Legislative Affairs Committee hosted a question and answer session on the status of the State Biennial Budget, the Responsible Action Bill and the Student Regent Campaign with Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, and Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison.
The questions on the budget focused on the tuition cap for University of Wisconsin students. The committee asked both Sargent and Risser about where legislators stand on the issue and how students should work with legislators about the subject.
“We haven’t solved that problem yet, but we’re doing our best,” Risser said. “This is a serious issue, and we should try to keep the burden away from students as much as possible.”
He added everyone who has the desire and ability to get a higher education has the right to do so.
Sargent then said the most effective way to get the message out is to make sure it is delivered to the people who are relevant and in the local district.
“When it comes to lobbying legislatures, the thing to do is to get the people you know to vote and talk to your own district’s legislator here in Madison,” Risser said.
Sargent stressed the importance of remaining patient, polite and persistent in advocating these important issues.
Daniel Statter, Legislative Affairs Committee chair, said until the budget is passed, tuition protection will be the primary focus of his committee.
“We want to continue to focus on ensuring that UW receives the funding it needs in order to maintain a quality education for us and students to come,” Statter, said. “We want to ensure it is accessible and that tuition increases are increased at a minimal, sustainable level.”
The Responsible Action Bill, drafted by Risser, focuses on taking the current campus policy on reporting emergency situations to the state level. As of now, if a student on campus is intoxicated and underage, he or she can call the campus police to report an emergency without getting an underage ticket.
This bill will make it possible for students to contact any police officer, at either the city or campus level, to report an emergency with no penalty. This will help students feel safe and comfortable to inform authorities about possible threats to the UW campus and its students.
“I have great hopes on that bill because I am a Democrat and have support from Republican cosponsor [Rep.] Joan Ballweg, [R-Markesan],” Risser said. “It is currently being circulated right now.”
Risser also spoke about the progress on the Student Regent Bill, which focuses on the student government’s ability to propose student regent candidates. According to the bill, the governor currently “may” select from a list of possible students formed by the student government but he does not have to choose from that list.
The Student Regent Campaign would change the word “may” to “shall,” ensuring the governor does look at the list proposed by students and that UW has a say in who represents its students on the Board of Regents, Risser said.
“The Student Regent Bill was just sent out last week for cosponsorship,” Statter said. “People across the state have been engaged and interested in this bill.”
