As we ring in the New Year, the Working Class Student Union is looking ahead to the rapidly approaching spring semester. We are excited to have an office in the new Student Activity Center (SAC), which will allow us to hold more office hours and offer a wider range of services to UW-Madison students. Below is a list of the services and programs that will be available from WCSU beginning Tuesday, January 20.
1) ADVOCACY
Are you nervous about talking to a difficult TA? Need to meet with a financial aid officer about paying for tuition, but don’t know what to expect? Have a professor who makes offensive remarks or promotes stereotypes that make you uncomfortable? Having trouble talking to your parents about changing your academic plan? WCSU is here for you!
The Working Class Student Union has an Advocacy Program that is here to help prepare you for difficult conversations. We can also have a WCSU advocate accompany you to your actual meeting, if it would be helpful. Visit the Advocacy page on our website (http://uwwcsu.org/advocacy/) to fill out a brief intake form that helps us know more about your situation and what services would be most helpful to you. Once your form is submitted, it will be sent to WCSU’s president, who will then schedule your meeting with one of our trained advocates. This service is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL! Only the WCSU president and your advocate will see the information you provide on the form.
2) LIBRARY
The Working Class Student Union has a growing resource library available for students to use! Our library not only contains books about class issues, but you can also find books to assist with writing at college and textbooks for a handful of introductory courses!
3) “Does Class Matter at College?” WORKSHOP
Schedule this new Working Class Student Union workshop devoted to discussing class issues in higher education. This 80-minute workshop will allow participants to explore how they define class and believe it plays out in America, while discussing leading researchers’ definitions of key terms relevant to this topic. Utilizing the extensive research of a New York Times correspondent, participants will then delve into how class differences play out in higher education through looking at the increasing college dropout rates, universities that are exploring new tuition increases and financial aid distribution, and class-based affirmative action. Finally participants will be able to engage in discussions with their peers about hot-button topics facing our nation regarding class differences and issues of affordability and accessibility. Participants will leave this workshop with the language and comfort to discuss class on a whole new level!
Like all WCSU services, this workshop is free! We would love the opportunity to facilitate this program with your organization, department, residence hall, or any other group at UW-Madison. Simply e-mail wcsu.president@gmail.com with all pertinent information about your organization and days/times that are convenient for your group.
4) RESOURCES
With our new office comes the opportunity to provide in-house resources and brochures to the UW campus! Our list of available resources is growing every day! Regardless of the topic, we will help you find the appropriate and necessary information to help you. The Working Class Student Union office is friendly to all identities—regardless of your class, race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, immigration status, family structure, age, health, political affiliation, or any other aspect of your identity, WCSU is a safe place for you to access resources, services, and support!
Be sure to visit our website (http://uwwcsu.org/) for our current office hours. If you are unable to make it to our office hours, please e-mail wcsu.vicepresident@gmail.com with your question and our Vice President send pertinent information!
5) DEMANDING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY
Obviously the economic downturn and the predicted $5.4 billion state debt have many students worried about the looming tuition increase that is sure to hit University of Wisconsin students, but many working class students will take the tuition increase even harder than their peers. For this reason, the Working Class Student Union is committed to advocating for all UW students against any tuition increases. WCSU’s Activism Committee will be doing extensive work around this issue in the spring semester, including lobbying the state legislature, contacting UW’s Board of Regents, and working collaboratively with fellow student organizations on this issue. If you are interested in participating in this campaign, please e-mail WCSU’s president at wcsu.president@gmail.com.
6) FUNDRAISER: “This is what home tastes like!” Cookbook
The Working Class Student Union has created our very own cookbook called “This is what home tastes like!” It is full of recipes collected from our families—everything from meatloaf to refrigerator pickles to raspberry cherry pie! We will be selling our cookbooks for around $10 ($10-$15, depending on printing costs) and the profits from the cookbooks will help WCSU bring its services to the UW-Madison campus and greater Madison community. Visit our website (http://uwwcsu.org/fundraiser/) to fill out a pre-order form or e-mail wcsu.vicepresident@gmail.com with your order.
As I said before, these are the opportunities that are currently available for the spring semester, but we will be adding more as the semester progresses! If you have any questions, be sure to e-mail me at wcsu.president@gmail.com or stop by our new office (#3153) in the Student Activity Center.
I wish you all a joyful new year that is filled with exciting opportunities! I also encourage you to get involved with the Working Class Student Union!
In solidarity,
Chynna Haas
WCSU President
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