Like many states, Wisconsin needs to make some tough decisions about its budget – there is no denying that. However, taking from those who can least afford it in the midst of the worst economic situation since the Great Depression is not the right way to balance a budget. And that is exactly what Gov. Scott Walker is doing.

The $300 million in cuts with which the University of Wisconsin System is expected to be hit are both massive and incredibly unfair. Despite the fact that the UW System represents a mere 8 percent of the state’s budget, it will absorb 38 percent of the cuts. Walker and the Republican Legislature have yet to produce any clear rationale or precedent for the enormous disproportionality of these cuts. In previous years, cuts to the UW System were much more fair relative to the UW System’s proportion of Wisconsin’s budget. These cuts are more than just inequitable – they are seriously damaging to the state of Wisconsin.

By cutting more than $300 million from the state’s education budget, Walker is not only taking from those who can ill afford it, he is doing grievous and irreparable damage to Wisconsin’s future. Due to imminent increases in tuition resulting from these cuts, attending school in the UW System will simply be too expensive for many. Without a well-educated workforce, the state’s economy will stagnate. Slashing the state’s education budget may save some money in the short term, but the state will be paying the price in its damaged economy for many years to come.

Beyond increasing cost of attendance, these cuts will also negatively impact quality of education. Without adequate resources, the UW System will no longer be able to attract some of the best talent in the world as faculty. Besides this, schools in the UW System will not be able to update their campus facilities and give students a true 21st century environment. A statement released on the UW System’s website reads: “We do not know how we can take these cuts without negatively affecting the education of our students and the expectations of their families for a quality experience. These disproportionately large cuts will hurt every UW institution’s ability to spur regional economic growth and to help all of Wisconsin emerge from a persistent economic recession.” If Wisconsin is to flourish, we need more college students, not fewer.

The dire, long-term consequences of these cuts to education cannot be overstated. Wisconsin is a great state, but without a strong, well-funded education system, it will not remain so forever. It would be a shame for this to happen because of one man’s disregard for the importance of education.

Now is not the time for complacency. Now is the time for action. If you believe in access to a quality education, if you believe in fairness and equality, if you believe in the great state of Wisconsin, join your fellow students on Nov. 19 at State Street Mall to march in solidarity to the Capitol to demand the recall of Governor Walker. On Nov. 19, we will not be silenced. On Nov. 19, we will be heard.

Note: The petition drive to recall Governor Walker begins on Nov. 15. Anyone interested in signing the petition or getting involved with the recall effort can stop by The Young Progressives office at 333 East Campus Mall, Office #3156.

Joe Timmerman

Freshman

Young Progressives Field Organizer

This article originally stated that the Young Progressives office number was 3157. This has been changed to reflect the true office number, 3156.