Bill to call for public debate
Kreibich to hold listening sessions
Karline Koehler
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: Campus News
A bill that would cap UW System tuition and fees at 3 percent for two years will be introduced to the state Legislature despite a governor's budget that was less harsh than anticipated, said Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire.
"I was expecting double-digit tuition hikes," Kreibich said Wednesday. "... I haven't looked at the fine print yet, but at first glance it's a dramatic improvement from the last budget."
The bill is co-authored by Kreibich and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), chairs of the Colleges and Universities Committees in the Assembly and Senate, respectively. Kreibich said one of the bill's goals, in addition to making college more affordable, is to force public debate about state support for higher education.
"As a student, I would say 3 percent is better than 5 percent," Student Senate President Chad Wade at a press conference Wednesday. "But ... I haven't seen realistically how we could have a 3 percent increase without hurting the UW System."
Kreibich plans to hold listening sessions around the state for students who cannot attend a public hearing in Madison this spring. There will be a listening session at UW-Eau Claire or UW-Stout sometime in mid-March, Kreibich said.
"I think a lot of students are feeling the squeeze, having to work two or three jobs to pay tuition," he said. "Now they have something tangible they can push for."
The United Council of UW Students also has been pushing state government for lower tuition. Students from several UW campuses have presented petitions totaling over 5,000 signatures to the governor's office, said Brian Tanner, organizing and communications director for United Council.
In December, the organization submitted video testimonies from students at various UW campuses to the governor's office, Tanner said. The organization also plans to begin a "Three a Day" campaign in which three student representatives from each campus would call one Madison legislator every day, totaling 1,200 calls a month.
"The Capitol rhetoric right now is that students are not vocal," he said. He hopes the campaign will make legislators more aware of student concerns.
As of Tuesday, 20 co-sponsors had signed Kreibich's bill, including Rep. Jeff Wood (R-Chippewa Falls). Kreibich said he was hoping for as many as 40.
"That discussion just isn't taking place because there's always the option of raising tuition," he said. "...The burden of the last budget deficit was put on the backs of students, and we don't want to see
that repeated."
"I was expecting double-digit tuition hikes," Kreibich said Wednesday. "... I haven't looked at the fine print yet, but at first glance it's a dramatic improvement from the last budget."
The bill is co-authored by Kreibich and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), chairs of the Colleges and Universities Committees in the Assembly and Senate, respectively. Kreibich said one of the bill's goals, in addition to making college more affordable, is to force public debate about state support for higher education.
"As a student, I would say 3 percent is better than 5 percent," Student Senate President Chad Wade at a press conference Wednesday. "But ... I haven't seen realistically how we could have a 3 percent increase without hurting the UW System."
| "I think a lot of students are feeling the squeeze." -Rep. Rob Kreibich R-Eau Claire |
Kreibich plans to hold listening sessions around the state for students who cannot attend a public hearing in Madison this spring. There will be a listening session at UW-Eau Claire or UW-Stout sometime in mid-March, Kreibich said.
"I think a lot of students are feeling the squeeze, having to work two or three jobs to pay tuition," he said. "Now they have something tangible they can push for."
The United Council of UW Students also has been pushing state government for lower tuition. Students from several UW campuses have presented petitions totaling over 5,000 signatures to the governor's office, said Brian Tanner, organizing and communications director for United Council.
In December, the organization submitted video testimonies from students at various UW campuses to the governor's office, Tanner said. The organization also plans to begin a "Three a Day" campaign in which three student representatives from each campus would call one Madison legislator every day, totaling 1,200 calls a month.
"The Capitol rhetoric right now is that students are not vocal," he said. He hopes the campaign will make legislators more aware of student concerns.
As of Tuesday, 20 co-sponsors had signed Kreibich's bill, including Rep. Jeff Wood (R-Chippewa Falls). Kreibich said he was hoping for as many as 40.
"That discussion just isn't taking place because there's always the option of raising tuition," he said. "...The burden of the last budget deficit was put on the backs of students, and we don't want to see
that repeated."
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