We'd essentially become a campus of a few big organizations. Many senators fear that a new system, where students would be forced to choose which organizations they will financially support, would invalidate the entire educational mission of the UW System. Certain groups will lose all their funding and die out. If students are forced to itemize funding from their student fees, there could be negative ramifications, according to Legislative Issues Director Sharaine Smith. This issue has challenged student democracy.
Student governments are state agencies, in that they operate similarly to the state government.
They both distribute fees on a viewpoint neutral basis, according to the United Council of UW System students who point out that the fees create a forum of debate that encourages all students to participate. At a segregated-fees forum in Madison last year, Scott Southworth said there are two acceptable alternatives to the current system that would be more democratic. The most direct democratic alternative, Southworth claimed, was simply to personally write a check to the groups he supports - the second, to write a check to the university and tell them who they should give it to. The student body should not decide where the money should go, according to many student leaders. Any new process of funding will compromise free expression on campus, as student organizations will fear that their funding will be cut if they participate in controversial discussions or debates, according to United Council President John Grabel.