It has become perhaps too easy for members of the University of Wisconsin community, the state Legislature and public at large to view the recent tribulations of this school as isolated incidents, each to be handled as its own private public-relations nightmare. But the grim reality, following an autumn semester riddled with scandal, a list of provost finalists that cries of inadequacy, a $1 million direct hit from the Legislature and panoply of dorm-related incidents, is that the school's larger image has been tarnished and is in need of sweeping repair.
Though each unfortunate incident may present its own Band-Aid remedy — whether it be adjusting the termination policy for felonious faculty or lifting restrictive dorm speech codes — the larger soiling of UW's general reputation is not so easily mended. Thus the school — and, to a degree, System — must look to take bolder, unmistakable, corrective action. The long-celebrated State Street relationship has hit an all-time low. UW must send a message of serious top-down change — and the ideal opportunity may soon present itself.
Chancellor John Wiley has ably served the UW campus for more than five years now, almost always with a proud brand of dignity and intellectual prowess. Mr. Wiley continues in this capacity and the Madison community is fortunate to have a man of his ability doing so. But the office atop Bascom Hill is rarely filled by the same person for more than half a decade and, accordingly, it seems inevitable that this school will soon find itself searching for a suitable replacement when the chancellor announces his retirement.
Too often, these processes are given the public appearance of open-mindedness and yet the private reality of cronyism. So before an heir-apparent to Mr. Wiley emerges, we would like to make a rather unorthodox suggestion.
The candidate we propose is a current UW outsider, a figure who can immediately send the signal that a new era has dawned in Madison. His reputation is of the highest caliber and would go further than that of anyone else toward mending a now-rocky relationship with a Republican-led state Legislature. He is generally admired by the vast majority of Wisconsinites and his presence at UW would surely help the image of this campus throughout the state. The candidate has a national profile and national network, both tools that would go a long way toward enhancing Madison's reputation at large. He has institutional knowledge and appreciation, having twice graduated from UW, once with a bachelor's degree and once with a law degree. And he finds himself underemployed at the moment.
When Mr. Wiley chooses to step down — a decision that should be on his own timetable and of his own volition — the next chancellor of UW should be none other than Tommy Thompson.
While the former governor and Cabinet secretary has made no indication that he is interested in the gig, it seems such would be the perfect job for a man who has proved a capable administrator with a penchant for public service and deep-rooted love for all things Wisconsin.
Moreover, as the Board of Regents debates a round of salary hikes for System chancellors, one would hope that Mr. Thompson might be interested in taking this post regardless of pay relative to that of other schools. He is not an academic in a multi-university bidding war; he is a man who has proudly dedicated himself to the betterment of a state, and we feel he will do the same were he to take the reins of this institution. When John Wiley inevitably exits the stage, we want to hear a Hog roaring up Observatory Drive to a parking space on Bascom Hill.
UW: where eagles soar, Harleys roar and Badgers score.
