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“Ask the Chancellor” program highlights student concerns
Santiago questioned on economy, campus safety
By David Acker
“This is the worst recession I’ve experienced in my life. Tuition will rise when the economy is weakened” – UWM Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students had the opportunity to ask Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago probing questions about campus issues on Friday Nov. 7 during a program appropriately titled “Ask the Chancellor”.
The question and answer session, which was produced by the Broadcast Club, ran in a town hall format, allowing students to ask direct questions.
Some of the many issues that were touched upon included a potential school slogan change, budgeting and fundraising, campus safety, parking costs and problems, and higher fees for online courses.
One assurance that the Chancellor made was that tuition would increase because of tightening budgets brought on by the current economic crisis.
“This is the worst recession I’ve experienced in my life,” said Santiago. “Tuition will rise when the economy is weakened.”
Money was clearly an issue on the minds of the students.
One area where UWM will spend money is on changing the existing school slogan “Something great in mind.”
UWM utilizes Chicago-based marketing firm Lipman Hearne to do most of the groundwork, surveying, and testing in order to create a new slogan. Some students wonder if the school could save money by conducting the slogan making in-house.
“Why not make a slogan for our students, by our students,” asked show host Nicole Stewart. “I don’t think it makes sense to pay a company in Chicago,”
Students also inquired as to why online courses cost more than regular courses that are held in the classroom. Santiago said that much of the costs come from having to train professors on how to use the online systems.
UWM freshman Jason Kauffin was surprised by the Chancellor’s response.
“Why are we paying to bring the teachers up to the times?” asked Kauffin. “We have an online system already in place. Couldn’t we use that system?”
Commuter students voiced their concerns with the high cost of on-campus parking. Chancellor Santiago assured students that the school was working on the issue now as they enter the second phase of the UWM Master Plan. Still, no promises are being made.
“When it comes to parking I don’t know if there is a solution,” said Santiago. “We have at least another year to go until we have any solutions.”
Campus safety was also brought up by some students who were wondering what UWM plans to do to improve student safety.
Chancellor Santiago made it clear that the school has taken several steps to ensure student safety by pointing out the addition of campus patrols and S.A.F.E. Alert text messaging. The Chancellor also noted that UWM pays overtime to the Milwaukee Police Department for extra assistance.
“The campus itself is a safe campus, but areas around it might not be as safe,” said Santiago. “There is never going to be a complete solution because it is an urban area.”
Another proposal that Santiago made was the potential expansion of the Klotsche Center so that it could be used as a home court arena for UWM athletics.
“It would really help us to get students involved if we had an arena on campus,” he said.
Santiago said that the current Klotsche Center has seating for 3,000. He would like to expand that number to somewhere around 8,000.
The Broadcast Club’s program “Ask the Chancellor” will be shown on PawsTV3 daily. The program will also be available on Time Warner Cable’s “Wisconsin on Demand” channel.
> Comments
Poser Poster on Nov 12, 2008 at 07:45 AM:
So the UW Board of Regents gives Santiago a raise AND he okays the squandering of funds on reinventing a slogan that will neither make nor break whether someone invests in UWM. No wonder some investors are reluctant to give UWM their money! They know their money will be piddled down the drain just like in the above two scenarios. UWM needs new management, and fast!