Do you want to know why tuition has gone up? Because state funding has declined. â?? Chancellor Carlos Santiago

Two dozen students gathered in the basement of Cunningham Hall to ask University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago questions ranging from campus safety to the schools budget on Friday, April 20.

Most of the questions raised by students were about the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech and how UWM would respond in a similar situation. Santiago assured the students present that UWMs police force and on-campus security are a very important first line of defense against any threat while also stressing the need for students and staff to stay vigilant.

We are a community, Santiago said. And we are our own best line of defense.

Aside from the issue of campus safety, Santiago also fielded questions on sweatshop-manufactured goods, the universitys mission and tuition. The chancellor said he believes that more funding from the state government is needed before UWM can significantly lower tuition.

Tuition at public institutions has historically gone up because of a decline in state support, said Santiago. Do you want to know why tuition has gone up? Because state funding has declined.

The chancellor was also asked about the UWM Student Associations Senate Finance Committee denying funding to organizations like the Womens Resource Center and the LGBT Center. Santiago said while he was not thrilled with some of the things SA has done, he nevertheless respects the process of governance. He also spoke up in support of the organizations that have had to take other directions for their funding.

These centers play an important role on campus, Santiago said.

Santiago stressed the need for UWM to expand beyond the current campus footprint. Santiago said UWM has the highest density of students per acre of any UW System school, with 300 students per acre.

He hopes that a combination of increased fundraising efforts and a proposed $12 million from Gov. Jim Doyles budget will lead to UWM being able to open a downtown public health center and a new engineering campus in Wauwatosa by the end of the decade.

We need to begin imagining a university in multiple locations, he said.

The session was part of the Broadcast Club at UWMs Ask The Chancellor series, which is held once a semester. Provost Rita Cheng filled in for Santiago in the previous edition held last semester while he was recovering from surgery for prostate cancer.

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