This semester all students on this campus have a special opportunity to rejoin United Council of UW Students. If you have been involved with student government in the past seven years, then you have more than likely heard multiple complaints and shortcomings of this organization. It is understandable that some students would have concerns with joining a statewide lobbying organization that has failed in the past, but the reason that we are writing you today is because UC (United Council of UW Students) has completely restructured itself to serve the UW System students once again.

Instead of focusing its time and money on promoting “special interest” agendas on each university, it has reverted to the original mission of the 1960s: Lobbying for affordable and accessible education for all UW System students. We as the student leaders of this university, and the student leaders of nearly all the UW System universities, have worked extensively to help this take place. Now, as the students, the next step rests in your hands.

A referendum to join United Council will be placed on the ballot in the general elections on April 14 and 15. If the referendum passes, then this campus will take its place at the UC table to affect positive outcomes for the students of UW-Platteville. The kicker to joining UC is that every student at UW-P will have to pay a $2 MRF or Mandatory Refundable Fee per semester. When people hear “Mandatory Refundable Fee,” they often times only hear “Mandatory – Fee” and fail to hear the word “Refundable.” What students typically do not know is that they can get their $2 back if they personally do not agree with the statewide student lobbying organization receiving their hard earned money. Next fall, and every semester after that, Student Senate will have a table set up for students to learn how to get their $2 refunded to them. One major point that is not publicized by opponents to UC is that not only will UC send you the $2 back, but they will also pay for the postage to do so.

If we fail to pass the referendum to join United Council of UW Students, then we will continue to lack a voice at the state level. We will continue to have state legislation shoved down our throats that is negative to students without UW-P even have a chance to voice our concerns. If there is anything the reader should take away from this argument it is this: We need a voice at the state level, or we will continue to be ignored. Simply put, United Council of UW Students is the voice we need. Vote ‘YES’ for United Council.

Eli Caywood
Student Senate President
Cody Camacho
Student Senate Vice-President