On April 12th through 14th, a referendum election will be held among students.  As students, we vote on proposed increases in segregated as part of our role in shared governance of the University.  On April 12-14, we want you to vote, and to vote “No” on a proposed seg fee increase.

Segregated fees and student democracy in the University through shared governance are part of the progressive tradition in Wisconsin, but this has eroded of late.

While segregated fees ostensibly can be — and have been — raised only through student action in referenda, the track record of student democracy has been underwhelming.  Voter turnouts in these elections ranges between 5% and 15% of the student body population — not exactly a mandate.

This is why it is so critical that you turn out to vote “No” on the proposed seg fee increase April 12-14.

Our seg fees already have risen 80% since 2003 because too few students have participated in the discussion, debate, and decision-making — and the voting — on previous seg fee increases.  We must turn out and vote, not only to stop this referendum from increasing our seg fees, but also to send the message that students no longer will sit by passively and allow seg fee hikes.

So when you receive an email from ASM with a link to vote in student governance elections, click the link, participate in your University democracy, and vote “No” on increasing seg fees.