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H 23°, L 9°What if you grew up in Wisconsin, graduated from a Wisconsin high school, got into a UW System school and were then forced to pay out-of-state tuition? This is the situation faced by many undocumented students in our state. These students are refugees, choosing to make Wisconsin their home. Assembly Bill 95 would give undocumented students the opportunity to feasibly pursue higher education.
The bill would grant in-state tuition to Wisconsin high school graduates who resided in the state at least one year prior to graduation. Additionally, these students would be required to apply for residence in the state if they have not already done so. Gaining full citizenship takes time — students should not be penalized with out-of-state tuition for slow bureaucratic processes.
Assembly Bill 95 would allow many students to attend UW schools, and these are students who might not otherwise be financially able to matriculate here due to cost of out-of-state tuition. This bill would grant Wisconsin tuition to Wisconsin students. It would aid in the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, contributing to the actualization of UW’s diversity initiative, Plan 2008. Assembly Bill 95 would provide for a more diverse campus, benefiting the entire community.
It is legislation like this that can serve as an excellent catalyst for active citizenship. However, legislation, no matter how far it may seem from your own experience, directly affects you as a person living in the United States. If something directly affects you, shouldn’t you have a voice in it?
The easiest thing you can do is register to vote. Nonetheless, your power does not end with elections. Take the time to form educated opinions. Regardless of your citizenship status, you can talk to legislators and the community at large about your opinions. Elected officials are not comprehensively educated on issues — let them know how you feel. They should and will take your opinions into consideration.
Don’t allow important legislation to pass through the capitol without your voice. Contact your legislators and tell them what you think.
Casey Kroma
UW junior
ASM Legislative Affairs Committee
Colette Montoya-Humphrey
UW junior
