In this state of economic turmoil and budget-crunching, the student voice has become more important than ever.

Unfortunately, the UW is on the brink of losing a major group of voices in the student community: the Washington Students Association (WSA).

The WSA is a group that pushes for change on the issues students most care about.

Arguing for lower tuition and better financial aid? Check. The WSA has been a major force behind tuition-related changes in the legislature in the past three years, ensuring that there is a 7-percent cap on tuition raises.

Putting measures in place to help make the UW campus safer? Check. The WSA pushed to install “blue light” alarms and helped “establish campus safety task forces,” as explained on its Web site.

Organizing student rallies? Check. The WSA has provided transportation and helped organize rallies as recent as a visit to Olympia, Wash., last week.

The WSA helps colleges across the state, unifying nine universities and bringing them together to rally for our education.

It’s sad, then, that despite how much the WSA has done for our campus, the UW is hovering on the brink of losing WSA membership.

The same economic issues that the WSA has been trying to prevent from hampering students might be the same issues that end up splitting them and the UW apart.

The funding for the WSA isn’t cheap. They require $24,000 from each school that wants to work with them each academic year.

Right now, the UW is about $17,400 short.

Before you begin to ask why we should be putting an extra $24,000 into a system when that money could be spent on student tuition, consider this: While that $24,000 would put a couple of students through college, it is more productive in the long term of an entire year to fund a system that will help to permanently reduce tuition.

The WSA is just such a system.

If we lose the WSA, then they lose the coordinated support of our students. And if the support of our students goes away, that’s more than 41,000 potential students plucked away who might have been able to help the WSA with its events and rallies.

That’s potentially 41,000 fewer voices telling Olympia how we feel about tuition.

Fortunately, this decision isn’t placed in typical hands. This is not a decision that’s up to the Legislature. not a decision that’s up to the government, and not a decision that’s up to your teachers or parents, presidents or businessmen.

This is a decision that, just as the WSA would want it, is up to you.

When you register for classes, starting this week for seniors, there is an option that allows you to add $3 to your final tuition bill to help finance the WSA. This is the last chance for us to raise the $17,400 necessary to continue the UW’s membership in this important student program.

I know I have skipped past this screen before. I have clicked no without even thinking. Why should I give them my money? I didn’t know what it was about. But now I do. And now you do.

For a measly $3, you can buy the chance to change the future. For the difference it could make, that’s a price I would pay any day.

Reach columnist Gavin Verhey at opinion@dailyuw.com.