ASM Passes Legislation Calling for Shared Governance Restoration, Approves Funding for Campus Co-Responder Pilot
Posted: 2021-09-30 08:19:46 Expiration: 2031-10-07 18:19:46
Associated Students of Madison
333 East Campus Mall, 4301 Student Activity Center, Madison, WI
Website: asm.wisc.edu Phone: 608/265-4ASM
E-mail: press@asm.wisc.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 September 2021
CONTACT:
Tyler Katzenberger, Press Office Director
press@asm.wisc.edu | 715-465-0289
ASM Passes Legislation Calling for Shared Governance Restoration, Approves Funding for Campus Co-Responder Pilot
MADISON, WI — On Wednesday, the ASM Student Council overwhelmingly passed legislation supporting Assembly Bill 362, and its counterpart Senate Bill 359, in its efforts to restore Shared Governance rights for University of Wisconsin students.
The legislation calls on the Wisconsin State Legislature to hold a hearing as soon as possible for AB 362 and SB 359, offering students the opportunity to testify on the proposed language changes. Additionally, ASM calls for the Board of Regents to work together with student governments across the UW-System to effectively modify Shared Governance policies.
Legislative Affairs Chair and Shared Governance legislation sponsor MGR Govindarajan addressed the importance of strong student involvement Shared Governance. “Shared Governance is something that is fundamental to the UW System,” said Govindarajan. “There has been a lack of meaningful student representation since 2015, when a lot of our powers were stripped away. It’s crucial for the legislature to hold a hearing on and pass AB 362, so I encourage students across campus to reach out to their representatives — specifically the representatives on the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee — to hold this hearing soon.”
If passed, AB 362 and SB 359 would revise language in Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5) to restore ASM and other University of Wisconsin student governments from an advisory role to active participants in the formulation and review of student life policies. The statute, which originally recognized student rights to be equal participants in Shared Governance, was revised in 2015 by then-Governor Scott Walker in Act 55. The act relegated ASM to an advisory role subordinate to the Chancellor, greatly diminishing ASM’s ability to cooperate with UW-Madison Administration on key student policies.
Also on Wednesday, ASM overwhelmingly approved $3,284 in funding for a pilot crisis response program in which mental health professionals will co-respond to calls for service with UW Police Department officers. The funds will cover co-responder vehicle leasing and parking costs for the duration of the pilot program, which will run from October 2021 to May 2022.
Student Services Finance Committee Chair Maxwell Laubenstein had the following to say about the co-responder funding approval: “I’m glad to be supporting a small portion of funding to what I hope to be a beneficial program for individuals on campus.”
ASM Chair Adrian Lampron similarly expressed the importance of funding the co-responder pilot. “I am excited that ASM is continuing to prioritize public safety, violence prevention, and mental health this year,” Lampron said.
Finally, on Wednesday, the ASM Student Council appointed Foram Gathia and Kunal Sanwalkato to fill two open Graduate School seats on the Student Council. ASM also approved appointments for the Grant Allocation Committee, the Student Activity Center Governing Board, the Student Services Finance Committee, the Student Judiciary, and multiple Shared Governance committees.
The next Student Council meeting will be on Wednesday, October 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the Hearing Room on the 4th Floor of the Student Activity Center at 333 East Campus Mall.
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-- Associated Students of Madison: Tyler Katzenberger