Across Wisconsin, many of us felt the spirit of radicalism in the air during 2011. Gov. Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill spurned an outburst of political protests from educators, students and legislators, throwing Madison into the national spotlight. Although we are two years from the protests, the topic is as relevant as ever.
In many ways, the implication of the 2011 law is still resounding. Recent news angered GOP lawmakers, including Walker, when they learned the University of Wisconsin System had a $650 million surplus. They have called for a tuition freeze, and for the regents to pony up for future students, angered that the university system continued to raise tuition even knowing there would be an overage. And rightly so. Tuition caps have been a long time coming, and the average UW student, who graduates approximately $27,000 in debt, are those who need it most. However, the Walker administration fails to take into account its role—slashing collective bargaining rights for teachers and school funding two years ago. UW System President Kevin Reilly, although nickel-and-diming students, is guarding UW’s own interest in trying to amass a nest egg for those volatile financial times that lie ahead because of Walker’s actions.
Tuesday, April 23 from 7-9 pm in Memorial Union’s Great Hall, The Wisconsin Union Directorate is hosting a lecture by Jason Stein and Patrick Marley, authors of “More Than They Bargained For,” about the Budget Repair Bill and the protests it inspired. The authors will address political writing in the changing media climate. Although the protestors of 2011 have long been ushered away from the capitol and the last “We <3 UW” red balloon has been popped, the controversial decisions made then continue to affect UW students today and in the future. Learn more about how Walker’s Budget Repair Bill has changed the educational, political and journalistic climate of our state from two of the most knowledgeable people on the subject, journalists Stein and Marley, by attending the free lecture tonight.
If you have a question about tonight’s event, please contact WUDPublicationsCommittee@gmail.com. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
