Higher education is becoming less and less of a priority for legislators across the country, and the students at the University of Wisconsin need a close ally to defend it at the state and national level. While UW students have been presented with two lobbying groups to represent them, neither option provides the necessary voice and scope.

Members of the Student Services Finance Committee eliminated all funding for the United States Student Association membership last week. SSFC members compared USSA to United Council, which currently represents UW, saying while USSA has more resources available to it, UW’s connections to USSA could tarnish the campus’ reputation. Committee members grappled with who should represent and lobby for the UW campus – United Council, USSA or both?

We say neither.

Historically, UW has had strong ties to UC, which represents schools in the UW System that vote to be a member. Each semester, UW uses student dollars to pay for UC membership. At three dollars per student every semester, this totals approximately $246,000 per year from UW alone, according to SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart. Their efforts at providing a unifying and effective voice for student issues have been lackluster.

While UC’s mediocrity is not worth the cost, USSA’s devotion to non-student issues is also cause for concern. UW would spend $10,000 for USSA membership per year and $15,000 for travelling to conferences, according to Neibart. Their mission is too broad to have lasting effects on the specific issues facing UW and their stance is too politically charged.

To effectively fight for student issues for the UW campus, there must be organizations that will exert more muscle than UC and have a narrowly tailored mission, unlike USSA.

Money that would be appropriated to USSA and UC should be diverted to dedicated UW-centric lobbyists at the federal and state levels.

Unfortunately, the value placed on higher education is getting lower and lower. As the UW System sustains more cuts and class sizes get tighter, it is apparent a clearer, stronger voice for students is vital.