Three University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students advocated for reformed student government by delivering over 1,300 student petition signatures to UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell’s office Friday, according to a Tuesday release from a student group.
Approximately 5 percent of the student body signed the petition supporting “true shared governance” and a new, student-written UW-Milwaukee Student Association Constitution, available for student comment until April 12.
The constitution would replace the Board of Trustees’ Student Association Constitution, which is supported by only 242 students and is scheduled to take effect May 1.
“I … have no confidence in, declare that I am not represented by, and do not recognize the Board of Trustees,” the students said in the petition.
The petition also states these students do not approve segregated fees being used by or paid to the Board of Trustees and assert their rights under a Wisconsin statute that gives students responsibility for formulating and reviewing student-life policies.
Students Taylor Scott and Samir Siddique filed a complaint against the administration Jan. 14 for “affirmative action to not recognize the 2013-2014 UWM Student Association Elections,” according to another release.
Lovell announced his retirement March 26 as UW-Milwaukee chancellor to become the first lay president of Marquette University Aug. 1.
“My decision ... has been the most difficult one of my professional career,” Lovell said in an email to students. “But in recent weeks, as several people asked me to keep an open mind, I began to hear a calling to serve at an institution where I could more openly share my Catholic faith.”
