from The Daily Cardinal 2/7/05
Student protesters demand lower tuition
By Jessica Marinelli
In an effort to preempt Tuesday's state biennial budget disclosure, a group of 10 UW-Madison students unraveled 3,000 petitions in Gov. Jim Doyle's office Friday calling for lower tuition costs and an increase the quality of education.
Headed by Josh Healey, a UW-Madison junior involved in the Student Labor Action Coalition and the Multicultural Student Coalition, these determined students are fighting for campus diversity and access to education.
The group grew progressively "unhappy with tuition increases every two years" and targeted Gov. Doyle "for state spending," said Ruth Castel-Branco, another UW-Madison junior involved with the campaign.
Castel-Branco explained the protesters have four specific demands regarding "tuition, admissions, quality of student life, access to classes, teachers, workers' benefits and 'good TAs.'"
The group would like Doyle to lower tuition back to 2003 levels and include or increase benefits for state workers. They also requested more classes so people can graduate in four years, Castel-Branco said.
The students are particularly concerned with funding for Plan 2008, a 10-year plan started in 1998 which was "designed to transition the UW System into the 21st century ... as it builds upon the experience gained in the past decade," according to UW-Madison's Academic Diversity and Development website.
Several of the plan's eight theoretical goals for 2008 include retaining students from diverse or ethnic backgrounds and controlling the extent to which budget cuts are allowed to impact UW classes and programs.
Compiled last semester, the estimated 1,250-foot scroll of petitions was comprised of hand-written and e-mailed statements from students and parents who are concerned about the issue, Castel-Branco said.
"We spent a lot of time talking to freshmen," she said. "They're the most affected because they're going to be here the longest time."
In hopes of raising awareness and bolstering their campaign, the group plans to send the scroll of 3,000 stapled petitions to other campuses within the UW System.
In addition to various advantages for students, faculty and staff regarding tuition and other benefits, Castel-Branco is particularly excited that the campaign will "unite students and workers together."
The Governor's office has already received 2,500 other petitions from students at UW-Milwaukee, UW-Stevens Point and other UW System campuses, according to a press release the coalition issued Thursday.
see also: Petition to save higher education from Madison IndyMedia