Students wishing to receive a refund of $2 allocated in segregated fees to the United Council can do so by writing a letter to the UC enclosed with their tuition bill, UW-Madison College Republicans announced Sept. 13.
The $2 is a mandatory refundable fee and College Republicans encouraged students to examine the issues UC lobbies and determine if their money is being well-spent, according to UW-Madison junior and College Republicans member LaVonne Derksen.
\They oppose the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights, they oppose property tax limits, they oppose the photo identification requirements at the polls,"" Derksen said of the UC. ""These are all issues that are very important to students, not just conservatives or Republicans.""
Although the money is part of students' lump-sum segregated fees, the Associated Students of Madison and the Student Services Finance Committee did not advocate the letter-writing movement, according to ASM Chair and UW-Madison senior Eric Varney.
""I don't endorse it, although I don't oppose it,"" Varney said. ""It's each student's choice.""
""A lot of College Republicans, or at least the leadership, believe that the lobbying efforts of UC don't represent every student on campus,"" he said.
In spring 2003, ASM held a referendum to decide whether students could opt out of certain segregated fees that failed by a 2-to-1 margin.
UW-Madison alumnus Austin Evans was the ASM Chair for the 10th Session. He noted it is possible to refund that particular fee, because its allocation differs from other segregated fees.
UC's $2 dollars is the only money out of segregated fees allocated that goes directly to an organization.
""Students can request to have their money returned, although it seems kind of ridiculous,"" Evans said. ""It sounds like the College Republicans are trying to do another publicity ploy.""
However, Derksen stressed that the goal is to provide students with comprehensive information regarding the expenditure of their money.
""If [students] don't agree with what UC is doing with their money, they deserve to get that money back,"" Derksen said.
