Whether you love or hate the Associated Students of Madison, or you don’t even know what it is, the organization will again take center stage on many of the issues that will be discussed on campus. As the new leadership of ASM begins planning out the issues to work on this year, it will need to learn from the mistakes of the past.
One of the most important issues is the student segregated fee lawsuit that is now in the Federal Appeals Court. The UW System Board of Regents is protecting an essential part of university life for students – the self-determined funding of organizations that provide a service for students (like student radio, the Union and the Multicultural Student Center).
Right now, the student segregated fee issue is out of the hands of the ASM leadership, and in the hands of the Attorney General and the Board of Regents. Both of these agencies will develop the legal strategy in the next round. It is important that ASM continue to work with these agencies. The relationship that existed last year gave students control of how the changes in the student fee system would look.
ASM will need to keep a close eye on the proceedings to make sure those arguing the case understand the changes ASM has implemented. The main reason the Supreme Court remanded the case back was that the Attorney General’s office was not completely sure of the referendum process. ASM needs to make sure this mistake is not repeated.
The real difficulty with the student fee case is implementing the changes that were adopted last year. This year will be the first real test of the changes and there will potentially be some problems. How the Student Council and committees are able to adapt to these changes will define the future success of student fees. They will have to show that the fees can be distributed in a fair manner with any bias being checked by the student judiciary.
The ASM leadership needs to show that they, rather than the groups that are receiving the money, are in control of the student fee case. Some of the groups have tried to take control of the case to ensure that they are protected under any future changes. This is like special interests groups writing new laws that will govern campaign finance reform in the US Congress. It obviously cannot work and should not be accepted. It will be important to bring all the groups together and evaluate future changes in a coalition. But in the end it must be ASM leaders running the show because they are the ones elected to do that job.
One of the other major issues will undoubtedly be diversity and dealing with a state budget that did not do much to support diversity programs. ASM has had a tumultuous past regarding work on diversity issues, but it is important to remember that each year ASM has a very different group of people. This year’s leadership should not be judged for the faults of leadership in past years.
The debate has changed to one that talks about why diversity is important for every student on the campus. The only way that we can move forward is by uniting. But it will also be important to challenge the campus and administration with ideas that may be unpopular. We, as a campus, cannot move forward if our way of thinking is not challenged. With the improvements in diversity within the Council this will be a centerpiece of the campus debate.
There are a variety of other projects that were started by last year’s leadership that will need to be continued. These projects can help provide real services for students if they are completed, and work to dismiss the myth that ASM does nothing but talk. Through the work on the Worst House in Madison Contest ASM was able to call attention to the horrible conditions that many students live in and educate them regarding the power they have as tenants. ASM can run the contest again but should also work harder to provide avenues for students to learn how to report housing violations.
Alcohol will remain an issue with both the city and campus, and it will be important to develop alternative activities for students. Following up on the campus safety proposal that was introduced at the end of last year will also be important.
But if people want ASM working on issues that they care about, they should stop sitting on the sidelines. It is easy to complain, but it is much more difficult to change an organization. If you want something done right, sometimes you just need to do it yourself. That is my challenge to you; stop complaining about your landlord, advisor, or the police and stand up to make some positive changes on campus.
Who knows, you might just learn something.
