With the coming of a new academic year for the Associated Students of Madison, we pause to consider its past and try to remain optimistic for our future.

State budget cuts to UW have been deep, forcing the Board of Regents to raise tuition and cut back on staff. The primary appeal of UW is its value: a world-class education at a reasonable price. Continuous decreases in state funding now threaten this very allure.

Last year, ASM fought hard for an innovative program reflecting a dedication to this very goal: a 24-hour library. This cheap, effective measure will serve as a tool for students to improve their academic performance, a matter doubly important given widespread cuts in class availability. We applaud this innovative idea and encourage ASM to push for more of the same, like the peer advising program discussed last year.

But we remain cautiously optimistic for ASM’s future. Seg-fee proponents won an overwhelming victory in last spring’s elections. With it, they have nearly complete control over funding decisions. While we remain hopeful that creative solutions like the 24-hour library will receive support, we are very concerned that a one-sided debate will result in potentially devastating increases in seg fees for students. Real, vigorous debate is difficult without a loyal opposition, and ASM is no different. We encourage students, student organizations and ASM representatives to seriously consider the financial impact that seg-fee hikes will have on students.

Most of all, we ask ASM to remember the primary appeal of this world-class university: value. The state has done enough to damage it. We hope ASM will not.