Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Thursday, May 08, 2008
Partisanship hurts UW System
It is an understatement to say that I have had more than a fair share of curveballs hurled at me while standing at the plate as president of the University of Wisconsin-
La Crosse Student Association. However, never in my wildest dreams did I envision that my work both at UW-L and within the UW System would face such intense resistance from the Wisconsin State Legislature.
We did have area legislators supporting UW-L. I would like to commend our area legislators — namely Sen. Dan Kapanke, Rep. Jennifer Shilling, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, Rep. Lee Nerison, and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch — on their generous support for UW-L.
The biggest surprise I witnessed during my tenure was the support we garnered from Rep. Steve Nass on our Growth, Quality and Access tuition plan. Rep. Nass — along with scores of other Assembly Republicans — had not been particularly supportive of initiatives within the UW System.
However, I must note that Nass’ support for our much- needed tuition plan was a stark contrast with Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker’s shameful maneuver to block a simple reappropriation bill that would have allowed for desperately needed financial aid for low- and middle-income UW-L students. This blatant partisan attack showcases the sickening reality that our Legislature is fundamentally consumed by partisan squabbling.
I leave office worried that the quality of and access to schools like UW-L within the UW System are being held on life support by repugnant partisan politics on both sides of the political spectrum.
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