In this week's elections, there is a ballot question about whether UW-Madison should continue its membership in the United Council of UW Students. I encourage you to vote yes. As the state's sole student-led, student-driven lobby and advocacy group, U.C. works with students on 24 campuses to guarantee that students' voices are heard at the Capitol and by the UW System administration and Board of Regents.
U.C. is working for you at the Capitol, striving to maintain an affordable, accessible and high quality education. In the midst of a $3.2 billion state budget deficit, it is imperative that the budget is not balanced on the backs of students. Tuition is slated to go up 36 percent over the next two years, while you will receive fewer, but larger, classes and fewer student services.
Working for you at the Capitol isn't new to U.C. During the last budget cycle, we worked with the Legislature to produce real victories for students. We recently won our campaign linking financial aid and tuition increases. We were successfully able to work with members of the Joint Finance Committee to cap tuition increases at eight percent, eliminate a 10 percent surcharge on non-resident tuition, and restore funding for study abroad scholarships, and gain a veto from the governor on an extra-credit surcharge. In 2000-01, U.C. secured a tuition freeze.
U.C. does not limit its advocacy work to tuition and financial aid. We are working to increase the number of students Regents, were able to end the use of social security numbers as ID numbers and streamline the credit-transfer process for students. We believe in shared governance, giving students the right to have a say on campus issues that directly affect students' life, services and interests.
United Council has spent over 40 years ensuring that students enjoy the maximum benefit from their education. UW-Madison students have played a large role in securing the victories that U.C. has won over the years. Please help ensure that UW-Madison students play an active role in winning future victories for students by expanding student power. This Monday through Thursday, remember to support students and VOTE YES on the United Council referendum.
