Student Association and Local News

May 6th, 2009
*The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Student Association selected Rusty Cunningham, publisher of the La Crosse Tribune and Winona Daily News, as its first Higher Education Advocate of the Year.

April 30th, 2009
*UW-L Student Association held a referendum on the Student Association Constitution and it passed. The new Constitution will take effect on May 6th, 2009 when the 2009-2010 Student Senate convenes. Membership changes will take effect during the 2010-2011 Student Senate session.

Apr. 1st, 2009
*UW-L Student Senate voted 25-0 to approve a Medical Amnesty Protocol. This protocol would encourage students on-campus to call for help if a fellow peer is in danger due to drug or alcohol use. In emergency situations when a UW-L student calls for help, he/she may be exempt from a ticket if a true emergency does exist. The protocol would only affect the UW-L campus.

Feb. 25th, 2009
*UW-L Student Senate approved the proposed 2009-2010 Allocable Segregated Fees budget submitted by the Apportionment Committee by a unanimous decision. Some highlights from the approved budget include a 0% fee rate increase for students despite the overall budget cuts and strained funding currently effecting UW-L. Segregated Fees help fund a number of university programs including theater, band, art, cultural awareness, the Racquet, the REC, intramurals, and athletics. The actual 2009-2010 Allocable Segregated Fees budget along with other Apportionment Committee materials will be posted on the UW-L Student Association website in the near future.

Feb. 18th, 2009
*UW-L Student Association welcomed seven new senate members for the Spring 2009 semester: Andi Turtenwald (Arts and Communications), Laura Lauderdale (School of Education), Palmer Hall (Native American Student Association), Micah Brown (Black Student Unity), Missy Ruplinger (At-Large), Jake Gietman (Science and Health), and Ryan Shervey (College of Liberal Studies). The new senators were selected following a campus-wide application pool and interview process to fill the vacancies left by out-going first semester senators.

Jan. 26th, 2009
*UW-L Student Association will be sending a group of students to Washington DC March 20th through 24th for the United States Student Association’s Legislative Conference. USSA is America’s oldest and largest national student association, and for the past 40 years, student associations from across the country have sent delegations to Leg Con. Not only is Leg Con a great networking opportunity, but attendees will also participate in varied workshops and meet with our members of Congress to lobby for higher education. Students chosen to attend will have travel, lodging and registration costs covered. Applications are available on the Student Association webpage ( http://www.uwlax.edu/studentassoc/) or in 212 Cartwright, and are due by 12 pm, Friday, February 6th to the Student Association office. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Jenn O’Neill, oneill.jenn@students.uwlax.edu.

Dec. 10th, 2008
*The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Student Senate voted 30-1 in favor of passing a resolution which reauthorized the Academic Initiatives Program. The Academic Initiatives Program funds campus programs including Campus Climate, Violence Prevention Center, Undergraduate and Graduate Research, Murphy Library, Advising Center, Career Services, International Education, and Disability Resource Services. With the passing of the resolution, differential tuition increases to $120 per academic year with a 5% inflationary increase allowed for subsequent years in order to enhance the Academic Initiative Program. The resolution was authored by Erik Kahl and Karly Wallace and sponsored by the Academic Initiatives Oversight Committee.

Dec. 3rd, 2008
*The University of Wisconsin- La Crosse Student Senate voted in favor of adding vending machines to Murphy Library after a number of students voiced their desire to have food and beverage options for late night study times. The vending machines will not be funded with student money and should be installed and operational by the start of Spring 2009 semester.
http://media.www.theracquet.net/media/storage/paper978/news/2008/12/03/News/Senate.Approves.Gift.To.Students-3566060.shtml

Nov. 29th, 2008
*The University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Student Association announced there will be a vacancy within their Board of Directors. The Legislative Affairs Director position will be vacant as of Dec. 31st, 2008. The UWLSA is now accepting applications for this position. All students at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse enrolled with at least 6 credits are eligible for this position. You can download the application here. The application will be due on December 5th, 2008.

Nov. 12th, 2008
*The University of Wisconsin- La Crosse Student Senate voted against a resolution endorsing the Amethyst Initiative during Wednesday night's Student Association meeting at held at Cartwright Center on the UW-L campus.

The resolution intended to have UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow sign the Amethyst Initiative, a national statement endorsed by over 100 university presidents and chancellors that supports informed and unimpeded debate on the 21 year-old drinking age. After an hour and a half of deliberation, the resolution was defeated in the Student Senate by a vote of 19-14 with one abstention. "I'm disappointed because the Student Senate didn't give this resolution enough time and consideration," remarked Jake Cox, Science and Health Senator and author of the resolution. "I feel they missed an opportunity to make the right decision about something as important as the Amethyst Initiative."

The resolution was initially presented in September, only to be postponed in favor of attaining more information and getting the UW-L student body better educated on the purpose of Amethyst Initiative.
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/11/13/news/z09drinking.txt

Nov. 5th, 2008
*UW-L Student Association tabled a resolution regarding UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow signing on to the Amethyst Initiative. The resolution will be discussed at the next meeting, Wed. Nov. 12th at 6:00pm in Port O' Call
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/11/06/news/z01gow06.txt

Oct. 29th, 2008
*UW-L Student Association announced that they will be opening up applications for a Senate Seat for the College of Science and Health. One position has been opened because of a vacancy. You can download the application here or pick up a hard copy of the application in 212 Cartwright enter. Applications will be due in 212 Cartwright Center by 4:00 PM on Friday, November 7th.