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2005
Faculty and Staff CONVOCATION |
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THE POLITICAL MILIEU Having already handled $800,000 of that $1M, we have an additional $200,000 reduction that we will make through our normal budgetary processes. But, before turning to much more positive subjects, I feel an obligation to you to speak forthrightly about the atmosphere in Madison during the wind-down of the legislative budget session. I spent 29 years of my career in a state that, through selfish, shortsighted partisan one-up-manship, disinvested in education and its own future. Oregon is a well-documented case of what I came to describe as "policide," a state killing itself and experiencing, not only a decline in the quality of public services but, after two decades of cumulative effects, such notable achievements as having the highest unemployment rates in the nation. This spring, down in Madison, I feared it was deja vu all over again. Instead of focusing on sound public policy for Wisconsin's future, too much time and effort was spent jockeying for the slightest short-term partisan advantage on most every issue. There is leadership being shown in Madison but these leaders are, in private conversations with me, as frustrated with the political environment as we are. They need our help. We need to demand that all our elected officials make the hard choices that steer Wisconsin in the direction of a bright future. I got an earful on Ward Churchill, Michael Moore, chancellor's cars, and backup appointments. But, it is really about the next generation, Wisconsin's kids, and their opportunities to live their lives and to prosper here in Wisconsin. Consequently, it is about the need to look beyond the next newspaper headline and the next election, looking to the future with the vision, passion, and commitment necessary to keep Wisconsin proudly Wisconsin. |
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role is critical. We hear a lot about the UW System being the "engine"
that drives the state's economy. For this to be true, our political leadership
not only must provide adequate resources to "fuel" this engine,
but must envision and understand our public universities' vital role in
an economy in transition. This is a significant political and economic challenge
- a challenge we are seeing people across the state already responding to
in a positive way. In newspaper after newspaper and in community after community, editorial pages and opinion leaders are demanding a reversal in this shortsightedness. Long-time observers of Wisconsin politics tell me they have never seen such a consistent, passionate, and widespread recognition of the link between investing in the UW and the future health of our state. So, too, in our region. Groups such as our UWGB Council of Trustees and our Founders Board are composed of influential community leaders. Amidst the hurricanes, they all demanded to know what they could do to help. Whenever asked, they were there for the University making important phone calls at key moments and to key people. Indeed, I am very proud of this University and its community for, among all the campuses, we were in the forefront, campus and community together, beating back the most devastating of the proposals. I also hope, in your daily conversations, that those you talked to, like the many people throughout the community I talk to, have come to believe, "enough is enough." Let's build this state. Oregon never got this. Wisconsin has time and, if the evidence I have just cited holds, Wisconsin is "getting it." We will be putting that to the test. I will conclude my remarks by presenting a growth agenda focused directly upon building our part of the state and the help of visionary elected officials will be essential. We have challenges. But, to the faculty and staff in attendance today, especially the newcomers, I urge, when you look for the measure of how our efforts here are valued... look not to this summer's events in Madison, but to Green Bay. This community... this region. |
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OF PAGE Office of the Chancellor, David A Cofrin Library, Suite 810, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 Phone: 920-465-2207 E-mail: shepardb@uwgb.edu Comments to: Chancellor's Web Manager Revised: 03/02/2006 |