Opinion: Guest column
University governance must permit conservative values
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The University of Wisconsin System is a vitally important component of state government. The mission of this higher education institution is documented in many places including the state’s historical development, the statutes and its traditional role as positive irritant in the political and social debate of the people.
There has always been friction between the UW System, particularly UW-Madison, and the elected leadership of Wisconsin. The political battles of recent years are nothing new in the long history of UW-Madison as positive irritant. However, the new kink in the thorny relationship between the two ends of State Street is the lack of viewpoint diversity that has corrupted the basic principles of “sifting and winnowing” within UW-Madison.
At one time, the UW System was clearly more diverse in its viewpoints than the rest of Wisconsin. However, those days of balance on campus have now been replaced by a liberal theology that has no room for independent or conservative ideas. This liberal theology has begun to transform the educational process — particularly at UW-Madison. The use of political correctness as an official tool to stifle independent or conservative debate and speech at UW-Madison is well documented.
Unfortunately, liberal leaders in the Capitol and the UW System have intentionally redirected the system away from its historical role in developing public policy proposals and instead now view the UW System (particularly UW-Madison) as a state-funded tool to be used in partisan political fights. This improper role for the UW System and the well-documented mismanagement of the system in recent years has combined to create a terrible storm in terms of the governance relationship between the two ends of State Street.
Recently, it was uncovered by the Associated Press that Gov. Jim Doyle conducted somewhat secretive interviews with the four finalists for the chancellor position at UW-Madison. Doyle’s appointees on the UW System Board of Regents have defended his direct participation in the hiring process, but neither the governor’s office nor officials within the UW System ever made his interviews public on their own accord. Why?
Let’s reverse this episode. If former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson had done the same, what would have been the response on campus? The detonation of liberals at UW-Madison would have been greater than a nuclear explosion. If it is OK for the governor to participate in UW System hiring decisions, why has it been labeled improper when Republican legislators have called for the dismissal of UW officials involved in scandal or serious mismanagement?
Again, the UW System’s imbalance in viewpoint acceptance means it’s proper for a Democratic governor to help hire UW employees but improper for Republicans to publicly register their views on the scandalous behavior of some UW employees. Even worse is the open hostility towards citizens who might register opinions in opposition to the UW.
Far too often, we have been treated to the condescending ivory tower elitism that has questioned the general intelligence of the taxpayers of this state. One only needs to review the open hostility from UW folks when the people of Wisconsin voted to adopt the Marriage Amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution. Even though 60 percent voted to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage, some in the UW System continue to view this ratification as an act of premeditated discrimination. Why are they so incensed with the people making the final decision?
In the last couple of days, the people of Wisconsin were treated to a tantrum from outgoing Chancellor John Wiley alleging that the people’s desire to pay less in taxes was starving the public sector, especially UW-Madison. Starving the public sector?
This is somewhat amusing because Wiley benefited from public housing during his tenure and now departs to his luxurious downtown Madison condo valued at more than $890,000. How many starved public sector employees do you know who can so hypocritically chastise taxpayers and still make payments on a condo worth nearly $1 million?
Believe it or not, I believe the governance relationship between the UW and the Legislature can improve if there is a real commitment to return the system to its role as a nonpartisan agency of state government with the primary duty of higher education. The people of Wisconsin want the UW System to educate, not indoctrinate. The ability for change in the relationship rests in the hands of those leading the UW System.
Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, is the chairman of the Committee on Colleges and Universities in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
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Nass hasn’t thought some of his criticisms through, apparently.
Someone should dig back and look at the records. I would bet a lot of money that Governor Thompson spoke to the Chancellor finalists when Donna Shalala and David Ward were hired, and that the leadership of the Board of Regents asked him to do so at the time. Why? Because it demonstrates to the candidates that the Governor — whoever he or she is — recognizes the value of the University to the state. This is nothing more than common sense!
With regard to Chancellor Wiley’s downtown condo, Nass further demonstrates apparent ignorance of the circumstances. I guess he isn’t aware that Chancellor Wiley won a multi-million dollar settlement when he proved that one of the computer companies had infringed on one of his patents!
If Chancellor Wiley’s comments constitute a “tantrum” what would be the proper term for Rep. Nass’s drivel?
Nass is an idiot. Someone should dig back and look at the records. I would bet a lot of money that Governor Thompson spoke to the Chancellor finalists when Donna Shalala and David Ward were hired, and that the leadership of the Board of Regents did so at the time. Why? Because it demonstrates to the candidates that the Governor — whoever he or she is — recognizes the value of the University to the state. This is nothing more than common sense!
With regard to Chancellor Wiley’s downtown condo, Nass further demonstrates his ignorance. I guess he isn’t aware that Chancellor Wiley won a multi-million dollar settlement when he demonstrated that one of the computer companies had infringed on one of his patents!
Nass is nothing more than a spoiled little brat.
The conservative ideas that I find most problematic tend to be the ones that infringe on the rights of others.
Essentially, I am not as concerned about your views on economics as much as your views of how much funding we in biomedical science should get, whether gay people should have the same rights as straight people, whether we should be aggressively killing, whether we atheists have the right to not be religious, et cetera.
I agree what political correctness has to be fought at every turn with free speech and honesty.
When it comes to second-guessing the UW, here is the problem, Steve:
You and Scott Suder and other conservatives tried and convicted Paul Barrows based on newspaper reports. He was the victim of Wiley’s poor judgment, political correctness (a minority woman made wild, anonymous allegations against him) and a one-sided investigation from an appointed investigator with an agenda. When he had his day before an appeals board, he won 5-0.
You and your conservative buddies tried to get Kevin Barrett fired because he believes the twin towers collapse was a controlled explosion instead of a product of airplanes flying into them. He offered to debate you and you refused. He has offered evidence to back up his claims. I don’t believe he is correct but he is apparently a great teacher who cannot get re-hired because of the heat you have put on the UW-Madison.
You and your chief of staff Mike seem to rarely know what you are talking about when you stick your nose in the UW’s business. Legitimate criticism is proper and necessary to this process. You are the one not holding up his end.
“Nass is nothing more than a spoiled little brat.”
Are you sure you aren’t thinking of the whiny liberals who virtually ran the campus back when Shalala was here?
Well, it’s like this: you liberals had your fun forcing your ideologies down everyone’s throats back in the day. Now it’s the conservatives’ turn to take things over and tell you to %#&* off!
FREE AT LAST!!! FREE AT LAST!!!
Where exactly is political correctness supposedly strangling free speech? In classrooms where people aren’t allowed to be homophobes or racists? As far as I’m concerned that’s a good thing. When I’ve witnessed conservatives playing the PC card hasn’t been when their “free speech” has been threatened, but rather when they say something offensive and someone tells them so. For intellectual lightweights like Nass and his ilk, free speech means never having to listen to someone tell you you’re wrong. The supposed PC totalitarianism is a typical empty conservative talking point.
“Even though 60 percent voted to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage, some in the UW System continue to view this ratification as an act of premeditated discrimination.”
It IS discrimination, regardless of the percentage.
So get off the cross—we need the wood!
“Even though 60 percent voted to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage, some in the UW System continue to view this ratification as an act of premeditated discrimination.”
It IS discrimination, regardless of the percentage.
So get off the cross—we need the wood!
Don’t be fooled. Nass didn’t write this. His aid, Mike Mikalsen wrote this. Mikalsen does all his talking, thinking, writing. If I were a constituent from his district, I would be upset that I didn’t get what I voted for. Nass is Mikalsen’s puppet—see this from the Isthmus
For someone who generates headlines by vigorously attacking the UW every chance he gets, state Rep. Steve Nass is a remarkably quiet man. During long conversations about the UW, the Republican lawmaker from Whitewater sits mostly silent, hands folded, nodding his head as his research assistant, Mike Mikalsen, does the talking. (http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=8991)
Nass didn’t write this, his ‘research assistant’, Mike Mikalsen did. He does all of Nass’ writing, thinking, policy development. If I were a constituent from Nass’ district, I’d be upset that I wasn’t getting what I voted for. See this Isthmus article from last year for more about this:
http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=8991
“For someone who generates headlines by vigorously attacking the UW every chance he gets, state Rep. Steve Nass is a remarkably quiet man. During long conversations about the UW, the Republican lawmaker from Whitewater sits mostly silent, hands folded, nodding his head as his research assistant, Mike Mikalsen, does the talking.”
“Conservative” values? Nass and the rest of his partisan hacks won’t be satisfied until UW offers a degree program in creationism.
Normally, I would sign in and comment. However, in this case it’s most likely in my best interests to comment this way.
You see, I work at the UW and I am a Conservative. I’ve experienced first hand the liberal atmosphere surrounding me.
Even though the people that I work with are very fair most of the time, I have been “put in my place” more than once over the years. I also know to be very careful not to confront the political correctness that surrounds me.
With this new administration coming in, I must be even more careful. The new chancellor has a long history of liberal activism.
It does bother me greatly, though, that UW System has had an ongoing effort to surpress or eliminate conservative student groups. So far, they have been mostly unsuccessful; but, that does not deter the effort.
Yet radical, subversive, groups like Mecha don’t bother the administration a bit.
Anonymous so I can still work.
“It does bother me greatly, though, that UW System has had an ongoing effort to surpress or eliminate conservative student groups. So far, they have been mostly unsuccessful; but, that does not deter the effort.”
Name one.
Nass’ column is a good one, and I hope it is taken seriously on campus. However, the top priority for Chancellor Martin must be to clean up the grade fraud nightmare that has rocked the Political Science department.
Nass is a joke, if he would spend more time studying the facts and less time in small claims court his district and the state as a whole would be a much better place….