The end of collective bargaining rights for public employee unions. Cuts to public education from kindergarten to college. The passage of a voter ID law that is one of the most restrictive in the country.
These are just a few examples of ways Scott Walker has failed Wisconsin during his brief tenure as governor-reasons why today, Wisconsinites will begin the process of collecting more than 500,000 signatures to force a recall election. Governor Walker's policies have hurt workers, minorities, the elderly, the young, low-income families, the unemployed and women. He has catered to the wealthy and to big business over the individual citizen. In particular, he has shown no inclination to protect some of the most valuable and vulnerable resources of Wisconsin-its students.
Make no mistake, students of all ages have been hard-hit under the Walker administration. Children, teachers and parents have been forced to face the results of over $1.5 billion in cuts-the largest cuts to education in the history of Wisconsin. "The biggest cuts were to special education programs, followed by library and media center staff, reading coordinators, programs for at-risk youth and drug and alcohol abuse programs," found a recent report released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Across the board, more than half of Wisconsin's public school students will learn in larger classes, with fewer teachers and fewer courses offered. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca called Walker's cuts to education "simply not a choice Wisconsin's future can afford."
College students at University of Wisconsin schools, who have long benefitted from a world-class education, keenly feel the effects of a state administration which refuses to put education among its priorities. The Walker administration has cut over $300 million from the system-and at least $125 million will come out of UW-Madison. UW System spokesman David Giroux responded with the reality of the situation: "We do not know how we can take these cuts without negatively affecting the education of our students and the expectations of their families for a quality experience." Students will be forced to bear the brunt of these costs in higher tuition bills, less financial aid, more student debt, and fewer course offerings with larger class sizes.
This morning, as papers are filed to formally recall Scott Walker, such issues should be foremost in our minds. The reasons to recall Governor Walker are many. They include moral and ethical failures as well as a refusal to listen to the people of Wisconsin. But Walker's refusal to stand up for the rights of students-particularly, those too young to stand up for themselves at the ballot box-flies in the face of the proud history of Wisconsin's public education system.
We cannot and will not stand for this sheer disregard for Wisconsin's future, whether it comes in the form of cuts to our education system, laws like Voter ID that unfairly suppress the votes of students and minorities or attempts to end the collective bargaining power of Wisconsin's workers.
The Young Progressives are proud to be among those organizations working on the ground to aid in this effort. You will see us around campus, as well as in our office on the third floor of the SAC, collecting signatures to recall Scott Walker and his lieutenant, Rebecca Kleefisch. Add your name to the thousands across the state who will begin signing recall petitions today. Then meet us on Saturday, November 19 on State Street Mall at 11:00 AM to march to Capitol Square, where we will join forces with thousands from around Wisconsin to take back our state. This is not a time for sitting on the sidelines. This is a time to stand up and make your voice heard.
Fiona Cahill is the Issues and Candidates Director for The Young Progressives. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
