The Living Wage Initiative, supported by the UW Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC), is another referendum this board opposes, and we urge students to vote against it. If it passes, this initiative would mandate that all student employees who work at the Wisconsin Union, University Health Services, Recreational Sports and other campus locations earn a living wage of $10.23 per hour.

Such a drastic increase in earnings is both unnecessary and disproportionate to the pay of other student jobs on campus and around Madison. It also does not correspond to the often mindless tasks these positions entail. Additionally, it is inappropriate to increase already bloated segregated fees to support a raise for student employees.

The city of Madison living wage figure is not calculated with a student in mind, but rather a family of four; paying students $10.23 an hour at this point in their lives seems inappropriate considering the nature of their employment.

Furthermore, jobs such as refilling printer paper at college libraries and passing out parking permits at UHS surely do not deserve such a high income. Many student employees themselves have voiced dissent to the referendum, admitting that the tasks they are responsible for are not worthy of such exorbitant pay.

Although we agree with Chancellor John Wiley's Oct. 3 decision to approve a Limited Term Employee policy that converted the majority of temporary positions into full-time employment (and therefore guaranteed these workers a living wage), the thought of requiring student workers earn this wage is preposterous.

With tuition hikes on the horizon, and students paying hundreds from their own already drained wallets for textbooks and other expenses, increasing segregated fees to pay students over ten dollars an hour is outlandish.

As you cast your ballots for the latest debacle from SLAC, keep your money on your mind and vote "No."