E-mail
Print
Regents visit UWM, students voice concerns
United Council addresses education
By Bradley Wooten
Three members of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents visited UWM last week to hear students’ educational concerns following a United Council presentation on the quality of a UW education.
The United Council of UW Students, a grassroots lobby and advocacy group for UW students, was represented by David Glisch-Sanchez, academic affairs director for the United Council.
“The loss of individual faculty to the UW System represents the loss of millions of dollars, especially when you look at the research grants professors hold and take with them when they leave the UW System,” Glisch-Sanchez said.
The UC had requested a minimal $30.6 million pay increase for UW System professors to be paid for by the state, not students. The lacking pay, Sanchez said, is a big reason Wisconsin cannot retain top quality educators.
Glisch-Sanchez cited the lack of domestic partner benefits as another reason quality professors are leaving the UW System.
After the presentation, the regents were introduced. Students were given an open mic to address the Regents with their personal stories and trials in obtaining a quality education at UWM and within the UW System.
Among concerns voiced were racism, diversity and retention issues, tuition increases, accessibility and campus advising.
Regents Charles Pruitt, Michael Spector and Student Regent Christopher Semenas from UW-Parkside were present at the Union Ballroom Wednesday, March 29.
Among the three, Semenas was the only one to vote against an increase in tuition during the last biannual budget.
Alicia Armstrong, a member of the Black Student Union, gave a passionate account of her frustrations at UWM.
“You need to seriously look at the education we receive before we enter college,” Armstrong said. “We aren’t getting what we need to be prepared for when we do come to college.”
Pruitt said the only way to ensure student issues are heard is to contact elected officials and policy makers.
“Write your representatives, have your family write legislators, have your friends write in,” he said.
Other personal student stories included struggles with class identification, neighborhood association and the lack of any financial wherewithal to make a solid effort to gain entry into a higher education institution.
> Comments