CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
THIS IS A TEST OF THE CLOSED
CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
THIS IS A TEST OF THE CLOSED
CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
THIS IS A TEST OF THE CLOSED
CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
IN THIS WEEK RED FLAG WARNINGS
FOR EXTREME FIRE DANGER WERE
ISSUED IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AS
TEMPERATURES SOAR.
HERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE
CONVERGENCE OF THESE EXTREME S
IS THE CO DIRECTOR ON THE
INITIATIVE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS STEVE, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> MOST PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND
CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL ALSO
REALIZE THAT WEATHER PATTERNS
WILL CONTINUE EXTREME XREERMEXTREME
EXTREME CLIMATE CLIMATOLOGIST
CLIEMTHMATE CHANGE
THIS IS A TEST OF THE CLOSED
CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
THIS IS A TEST.
THIS IS A TEST OF THE CLOSED
CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
IN DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS.
>> I THINK IT FALLS ALONG THE
LINES OF BOTH MITIGATION AND
ADAPTATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MITIGATION,
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO
REDUCE THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST
PLACE; HOW DO WE REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF HEAT-TRAPPING
POLLUTION WE CREATE, ANY WAYS TO
DRAW SOME OF THE HEAT-TRAPPING
POLLUTION DOWN OUT OF THE
ATMOSPHERE?
THE OTHER WAY IS THROUGH
ADAPTATION, ACCEPTING THAT
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING AND
IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IMPACT
US, WHAT ARE THE WAYS WE CAN
CHANGE OUR STRATEGIES, OUR
OPERATIONS, OUR WAY OF LIFE TO
ADAPT AND COPE THIS IS A TEST OF
THE CLOSED CAPTIONING SYSTEM.
THIS IS A TEST.
COURT HOUSE COURT HOUSE
COURTHOUSE COURTHOUSE.
.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION .
>> THE STATE'S NEWEST HIGH COURT
CONVENES AS A FULL BODY THE
FIRST TIME.
EXTREME WEATHER IF WISCONSIN
ACCELERATES.
LAYOFFS LOOM FOR SMALLER STATE
CAMPUSES.
GOOD EVENING, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ
FILLING IN FOR FREDERICA
FREYBERG, TONIGHT ON "HERE &
NOW".
THE CLIMATOLOGIST ON THE
EXTREMES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, A
LIBRARIAN ON COMMUNITY CALLS TO
REMOVE LGBTQ+ BOOKS, UW-OSHKOSH
PREPARES FOR LAYOFFS.
WE SPEAK WITH THE FACULTY SENATE
PRESIDENT.
STATE JOB NUMBERS ARE STRONG BUT
A NEW REPORT SHOWS WOMEN'S
WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION
SLIPPING.
IT IS "HERE & NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 8TH.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
?
>> NORTHERN BAYFIELD AND DOUGLAS
COUNTIES REACHED THE HIGHEST
DROUGHT RATING POSSIBLE
RECENTLY, MARKING THE FIRST TIME
ANY PART OF WISCONSIN HAS BEEN
DESIGNATED WITH EXCEPTIONAL
DROUGHTED SINCE THE MONITORING
PROGRAM BEGAN MORE THAN 20 YEARS
AGO.
THIS WHILE FLOOD WARNINGS SPAN
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE
STATE.
THIS WEEK RED FLAG WARNINGS FOR
EXTREME FIRE DANGER WERE ISSUED
IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN AS
TEMPERATURES SOAR.
HERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE
CONVERGENCE OF EXTREME S IS THE
CO -DIRECTOR OF WISCONSIN
INITIATIVE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACT, STEVE VAVRUS, THANKS FOR
JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW MOST PEOPLE THAT
UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE IS
REAL ALSO REALIZE WEATHER
PATTERNS WILL CONTINUE TO GET
MORE EXTREME BUT DO WE NEED TO
REDEFINE EXTREME?
I MEAN, WHAT IS EXTREME?
IS IT 100 DEGREES THE BEGINNING
OF SEPTEMBER START OF SCHOOL
ANYMORE OR GET A LOT WORSE AND
THIS WILL LOOK LIKE THE GOOD OLD
DAYS IN A FEW YEARS?
>> A GREAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE SHIFTING BASELINES WHEN
COMES TO CLIMATE.
WHAT SEEMS ORDINARY OR WHAT MAY
BE SEEMING MORE ORDINARY IN THE
FUTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED EXTREME YEARS AGO.
WE SAW THAT FOR SURE IN THE
SOUTH THIS SUMMER, PHOENIX
HAVING ITS HOTTEST SUMMER ON
RECORD, BREAKING ALL SORTS OF
EXTREME 100-PLUS DEGREE DAYS.
THAT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE THE
FUTURE WE ARE HEADING TOWARD.
SO THE DEFINITION OF AN EXTREME
MAY WELL CHANGE.
I'M AFRAID PEOPLE ARE BECOMING A
BIT NUMB TO RECORDS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
WE SEEM TO HAVE RECORD AFTER
RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHER
AND CLIMATE THESE DAYS.
IT IS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO START
TO THINK, WOW, THIS IS JUST THE
NEW NORMAL.
>> A LOT OF WISCONSIN'S
INFRASTRUCTURES, HOMES,
BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, ROADS, WERE
DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR A
DIFFERENT ERA.
HOW PREPARED ARE WE FOR THIS NEW
REALITY?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
FACE AND LOOK AT HARD.
AS YOU SAY, WE BUILT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CLIMATE
THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.
IT IS NOT GOING TO EXIST IN THE
FUTURE, MOST LIKELY.
SO DECISIONS ON LONG-TERM
BUILDING ROAD CONDITIONS THAT
CAN WITHSTAND HEAT, CULVERTS
THAT CAN WITHSTAND LARGE STORM
RUN-OFF EVENTS, BUILDING HOMES
THAT ARE MORE ABLE TO COPE WITH
HOT DAYS AND EVEN PUBLIC HEALTH
DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO
DURING HEAT WAVES.
THOSE ARE ALL SORTS OF DECISIONS
WE NEED TO BE FACING.
WE NEED TO FACE THEM QUICKLY.
FORTUNATELY SOME OF THEM HAVE
WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITIES.
FOR INSTANCE, IF WE CLEAN UP OUR
AIR BY REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS
WE ALSO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY
WHICH IMPROVES THINGS LIKE
ASTHMA AND CAN EXTEND LIFE
SPANS.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLICY
MAKERS, MOST REPUBLICANS EITHER
DENY THE EXISTENCE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE OR AT THE VERY LEAST
DON'T WANT TO SEE THE STATE
INVOLVED.
WHAT ROLE DO THEY HAVE IN
DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS?
>> I THINK IT FALLS ALONG THE
LINES OF BOTH MITIGATION AND
ADAPTATION.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MITIGATION WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO REDUCE
THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE;
HOW DO WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
HEAT-TRAPPING POLLUTION WE
CREATE, WAYS TO DRAW SOME OF
THAT POLLUTION DOWN OUT OF THE
ATMOSPHERE.
THE OTHER WAY IS THROUGH
ADAPTATION.
ACCEPTING THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS
HAPPENING AND IS GOING TO HAPPEN
AND IS GOING TO IMPACT US, WHAT
ARE THE WAYS WE CAN CHANGE OUR
STAT GIS, OUR OPERATIONS, OUR
WAY OF LIFE TO ADAPT AND COPE
WITH THIS NEW REALITY.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
ASSUMPTIONS IN RECENT YEARS
ABILITY WISCONSIN AS A POSSIBLE
CLIMATE REFUGE IN YEARS TO COME.
IS THAT STILL TRUE?
>> AS WE HAVE SEEN, WE ARE NOT
IMMUNE TO WEATHER VARIATIONS AND
CLIMATE CHANGE .
THE WILDFIRE SMOKE CAUGHT
EVERYONE OFF-GUARD.
ALL THE CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMB
CLIMATE CHANGE, WILDFIRE SMOKE
WAS NOT ONE THAT ROSE TO THE
LEVEL WE SAW IN THE PAST FEW
MONTHS.
YET THERE WE WERE IN LATE JUNE
EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE WORST
AIR QUALITY IN THE WORLD.
THAT WAS ONE OF THESE
UNKNOWN-UNKNOWNS WHEN COMES TO
WEATHER AND CLIMATE VARIATIONS,
BUT WE DO NEED TO RETHINK -- I
THINK THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
ADVOCATING WISCONSIN AS A
CLIMATE HAVEN DO NEED TO
RE-THINK THAT.
WE ARE NOT IMMUNE BY ANY
STRETCH.
WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE DROUGHT,
ROUGHLIES AND RECENTLY EXTREME
HEAT.
>> IS THERE A SILVER LINING,
HOPEFUL NEWS ABOUT OUR ABILITY
TO ADAPT AND SURVIVE AS A
SOCIETY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE NEED TO STOP THINKING
DOOM-AND-GLOOM ABOUT CLIMATE
CHANGE.
IF WE DO IT BECOMES A
SELF-REINFORCING CYCLE AND MAKES
PEOPLE THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND
SAY, IT IS ALL BAD NEWS AND
NOTHING WE CAN DO.
BUT THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO
ABOUT IT.
WE NEED TO POINT OUT SUCCESS
STORIES.
ONE REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A
SUCCESS STORY IS HOW WE ARE
COPING BETTER WITH EXTREME HEAT.
PEOPLE MAY BE AWARE.
REMEMBER THE CHICAGO HEAT WAVE
OF 1995 WHICH KILLED HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE?
AFTER THAT CHICAGO AND OTHER
CITIES STARTED TAKING HEAT WAVES
MORE SERIOUSLY AS A PUBLIC
HEALTH THREAT AND ADOPTED HEAT
WAVE ADOPTION PLANS, IMPLEMENTED
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THOSE HAVE BEEN REMARKABLY
SUCCESSFUL.
>> ALL RIGHT STEVE VAVRUS, THE
CLIMATOLOGIST AND CO -DIRECTOR
ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT, THANKS
FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, ZAC.
>> A MASSIVE 18 MILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT AT UW-OSHKOSH IS LEADING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROJECT
LAYING OFF 20%, OR 1,100
EMPLOYEES.
THE THIRD LARGEST UW SYSTEM
CAMPUS ANNOUNCED SOME LAYOFFS
AND FURLOUGHS WILL BEGIN THIS
FALL.
TO HEAR FROM THE EMPLOYEE
PERSPECTIVE WE ARE JOINED NOW BY
THE FACULTY SENATE PRESIDENT,
PASCAL MANNING, AND ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AT
UW-OSHKOSH, THANKS FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>>
>> WHAT IMPACTS WILL THIS HAVE
ON THE UNIVERSITY BOTH IN TERMS
OF SERVICE AND GENERAL MORALE?
>> I THINK THAT THE IMPACTS HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO BE CATASTROPHIC
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
REVERBERATIONS ACROSS THE ENTIRE
CAMPUS.
FROM THE CLASSROOM TO EVERY
OTHER CORNER OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
HUGELY DIVERSE ORGANISM THAT IS
OUR UNIVERSITY.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE FELT IN THE
WIDER COMMUNITY.
YOU MENTIONED 20% OF OUR
WORKFORCE.
BUT THAT JUST ACCOUNTS FOR THE
LAYOFFS.
WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PROJECTED
APPROXIMATELY 100 VOLUNTARY
RETIREMENTS THAT ARE PART OF
THIS LOSS THAT WE ARE ESTIMATING
IN THE COMING MONTHS.
SO TAKEN TOGETHER, IF WE ARE
LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 300 PEOPLE
LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IS
30% OF OUR WORKFORCE.
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT THE
UNIVERSITY WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT
IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.
F >>HOW MUCH HAS TO DO WITH
SPECIFICS OF ENROLLMENT VERSUS
THE BIGGER PICTURE OF STATE
FUNDING FOR THE UW SYSTEM?
>> YEAH, THAT IS A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE TO APPRECIATE IS OF COURSE
ENROLLMENT HAS GONE DOWN.
BUT ENROLLMENT CAN'T BE
DISENTANGLED FROM STATE FUNDING.
SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
BEAR IN MIND THAT THE UW SYSTEM
IS UNDERFUNDED IN COMPARISON TO
OTHER STATE SYSTEMS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
SYSTEM RANKED 43 RD NATIONALLY
IN PER-STUDENT FUNDING IN 2021.
IN THE LAST BUDGET TONY EVERS
PROPOSED A $305 MILLION INCREASE
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
SYSTEM, BUT THE LEGISLATURE
OPTED INSTEAD TO CUT THE
SYSTEM'S BUDGET BY $32 MILLION.
SO THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IN
THIS MOMENT, THESE CRISIS THAT
ARE NOT ONLY GOING ON AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN,
OSHKOSH, BUT ELSE WHERE IN THE
SYSTEM, THESE ARE PART OF A
LONG-TERM TREND WHERE WE CAN SEE
THE STATE SYSTEM -- OR THE STATE
ITSELF DIVESTING IN THE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
>> NOW YOU MENTIONED THE FUNDING
BATTLE OVER THE UW SYSTEM'S
BUDGET WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION TO THE UW
SYSTEMS STARTED WITH THE
SYSTEM'S COMMITMENT TO
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
PROGRAMMING.
WOULD YOU SACRIFICE DEI IN
EXCHANGE FOR MORE STATE FUNDING?
WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT AS AN
ALTERNATIVE WORTH EXPLORING?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT IS
POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE
PANDEMIC HAS LAID BARE IS THAT
OUR STUDENTS NEED MORE SUPPORT,
NOT LESS SUPPORT.
THEY NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES
REFLECTED IN THE PEOPLE AROUND
THEM IN THEIR UNIVERSITIES.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE
RELEVANCY OF A UNIVERSITY
EDUCATION TO THEIR LIFE.
AND PART OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT
GOES INTO THAT LARGE BUCKET OF
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
IS -- ARE PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES THAT FACE THOSE VERY
REAL NEEDS.
THEY'RE NATIONAL NEEDS, THEY ARE
INTERNATIONAL NEEDS.
DEI GETS SORT OF BRANDED IN THIS
SORT OF SIMPLIFIED WAY BY THE
LEGISLATURE AND ELSE WHERE.
THAT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR WHAT
STUDENTS REALLY NEED A
UNIVERSITY TO BE ABLE TO PROJECT
TO THEM.
>> HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE
NEGATIVE SPIRAL OF LACK OF
FUNDING, LOWER QUALITY, THE
UNIVERSITY CAN'T RECRUIT GOOD
TALENT, ENROLLMENT DROPS
FURTHER, LEADING TO LESS FUNDING
AND JUST REPEATING OVER AND
OVER?
>> WELL, YEAH.
THE PRINCIPAL ISSUE IS ONE OF
INVESTMENT.
WE NEED TO SEE INVESTMENT IN
UNIVERSITY LEVEL EDUCATION, THE
UW SYSTEM AND YOU KNOW, ANY
OTHER UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN ORDER
TO SEE INNOVATION THAT ENABLES
RISES IN ENROLLMENT.
INNOVATION IN PROGRAMMING.
RECONCEPTIONS AND REIMAGININGS
OF EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES.
SO THESE TRENDS WE HAVE BEEN
SEEIN IN THE LAST 20-ODD YEARS
ARE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TO
WISCONSIN BUT THEY ARE ACROSS
THE BOARD.
WE ARE SEEING IN THE U.S. THESE
KINDS OF SYSTEMATIC
DIS-INVESTMENT.
IN WISCONSIN ALONE WE HAVE GONE
FROM A SITUATION IN THE YEAR
2000 WHERE STATE AND LOCAL
FUNDING WAS 6.4% ABOVE THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THEN IF WE DIAL OVER TO 2019 WE
FIND THAT STATE AND LOCAL
FUNDING HAS FALLEN BY 16.5%
BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
PER-STUDENT FUNDING IS
CONTINUING TO FALL RAPIDLY.
SO THIS HAMPERS UNIVERSITY'S
ABILITIES TO DIVERSIFY AND
RESPOND TO THE PROBLEM.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS UNTIL
MARCH OF LAST YEAR.
WE WERE TEN YEARS IN TO A
TUITION FREEZE.
SO NOT ONLY WERE WE SEEING
SYSTEMATIC DISINVESTMENT, BUT WE
WERE PREVENTED FROM SETTING OUR
OWN COSTS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THERE IS MORE TO TALK ABOUT AS
THIS KEEPS GOING ON.
PASCAL MANNING, UW-OSHKOSH,
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AN ANONYMOUS GROUP IS ASKING
THE IRON RIVER LIBRARY TO REMOVE
NEARLY 500 LGBTQ+ RELATED
MATERIALS FROM THE PUBLIC
LIBRARY AND CALLING FOR THE
RESIGNATION OF LIBRARY BOARD
MEMBERS.
THE TOWN IS LOCATED IN BAYFIELD
COUNTY IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND
HAS JUST A THOUSAND RESIDENTS.
THE REQUEST CAME IN THE FORM OF
A LETTER FROM, QUOTE, CONCERNED
CITIZENS.
WE WERE SCHEDULED TO SPEAK WITH
THE DIRECTOR OF THE IRON RIVER
LIBRARY ABOUT THIS ATTEMPTED
BOOK BANNING BUT THE PRESIDENT
OF THE LIBRARY BOARD CANCELLED
OUR INTERVIEW AT THE LAST
MINUTE.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD TOLD
ME OVER THE PHONE THEY ARE
TRYING TO GATHER MORE FACTS
ABOUT WHO IS BEHIND THE LETTER,
BUT THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR SAYS
THEY ARE NOT PULLING THE BOOKS.
THIS FOLLOWS A TREND OF
CONSERVATIVE GROUPS AROUND THE
COUNTRY ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE
BOOKS RELATED TO LGBTQ ISSUES.
JOINING US IS LOUISE ROBINS, A
UW MEDICINE PROFESSOR EMERITUS
OF LIBRARY INFORMATION SCIENCES
AND STUDIES.
THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO ARE THERE PARALLELS IN HIS
TROY THIS CURRENT MOVEMENT TO
BAN BOOKS, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO
MARGINALIZED GROUPS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG
TIME.
I THINK SOME OF THE MOST
PROMINENT EXAMPLES ARE DURING
THE MCCARTHY PERIOD DURING THE
50s, THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP OF
ATTEMPTS TO SENSOR BOOKS RELATED
TO COMMUNIST BUT ALSO TO PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
AS IT WENT ALONG THE -- LET ME
BACK UP THERE A MINUTE.
THEY WANTED TO BAN CHEAP
PAPERBACKS AND COMIC BOOKS.
ONE PERSON TESTIFIED BEFORE A
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, SAID
COMIC
COMICBOOKS WOULD BLOW YOUR BOY'S
BRAINS OUT SO THEY WERE RATHER
ALARMIST.
THE TARGETS WERE PEOPLE OF
COLOR, JEWISH AND NON-BUYBINARY
THEN.
THEN A BOOK WITH A BLACK BUNNY
AND WHITE BUNNY NEARLY CAUSED
THE FIRING OF THE LIBRARIAN OF
ALABAMA, EMILY REED, BECAUSE THE
STATE SAID IT PROMOTED
INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE AND THE
FAMILY CRITICS OF LIBRARIES WHO
ATTACKED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME
TOPICS, LIKE TODAY'S MOMS FOR
LIBERTY.
>> THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN PRETTY
REGULARLY.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN A
REQUEST LIKE THIS HAVE ON A
SMALL COMMUNITY?
>> WELL, IN MY EXPERIENCE IT CAN
DRIVE AWAY WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T
AGREE WITH PROTESTERS.
THAT MEANS IN A COMMUNITY -- A
SMALL COMMUNITY THEY MIGHT HAVE
A SIGNIFICANT BRAIN DRAIN AND
SPLIT UP THE COMMUNITY SO PEOPLE
WHO HISTORICALLY WORKED WELL
TOGETHER NOW DON'T.
SO IT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT.
THE GROUP I STUDY ED IN OKLAHOMA
IN THE 50s, A LARGE NUMBER OF
RESEARCHERS, WITH PHILLIPS
PETROLEUM FLED AND WENT ELSE
WHERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT
THEIR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN
SUCH A PLACE.
THE SAME KIND OF THING COULD
HAPPEN.
NOT ON THAT SCALE, OF COURSE.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
SO THE BOOKS IN QUESTION HAVE TO
DO WITH GENDER AND SEXUALITY.
HOW DO LIBRARIES ASSESS WHAT
BOOKS ON THESE TOPICS GO WHERE
IN THE INTEREST OF, YOU KNOW,
ALL FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE AVAILABLE BUT
NOT OUT IN FRONT IF NOT
APPROPRIATE?
>> WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THING
THAT IS DO.
THEY CONSULT REVIEWS.
THEY LOOK AT -- WHICH ARE
AWARD-WINNING BOOKS.
THEY HAVE A COMMITTEE OFTEN THAT
DECIDES ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING
TO INCLUDE AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT
-- NUMBER THE CONCERNED CITIZENS
CITE IS A NUMBER HELD IN AWE IN
NORTHERN WATERS LIBRARY SERVICE
LIBRARIES APPARENTLY.
ALSO ON STATE E-BOOK
COLLECTIONS.
SO IT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT -- IF
ONE LIBRARY HAD 450 TITLES LIKE
THAT, IT WOULD BE VERY LOPSIDED.
SO WHAT THEY TRY TO DO IS
PROVIDE FOR THE READING INTEREST
OF A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND
BE SURE THEY HAVE THINGS ON
VARIOUS SIDES OF AN ISSUE
THROUGH CONSULTING REVIEWERS,
QUALITY LISTS AND SO ON.
JUST THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD TRY
TO SELECT A PRODUCT FOR YOUR
HOME.
YOU CONSULT THOSE REVIEWS.
>> SO IF THERE ARE PARENTS OR
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT SOME BOOKS IN A LIBRARI,
WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO
DO IT, TO TALK TO A LIBRARIAN
ABOUT THAT?
>> THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A
RECONSIDERATION FORM USUALLY IN
MOST LIBRARIES ARE PROCESSED.
I DO BELIEVE ALL THE LIBRARIES
IN THE NORTHERN WATERS AREA HAVE
SUCH A PROCESS.
BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO HAVE READ
THE BOOK.
THEN YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE
SPECIFIC AREAS THAT ARE
PROBLEMATIC.
SO THAT YOU DON'T JUST GO IN
WITH A LIST OF 150 BOOKS AND SAY
ALL OF THESE ARE BAD.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT AND MAKE A LOGICAL
COMPLAINT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO DO
THAT.
SOMETIMES THEY RESULT IN A
CHANGE IN LOCATION FOR THE -- IN
SHELVING FOR THE BOOK.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, NOT REMOVAL
UNLESS THE BOOK IS CLEARLY
BEYOND THE MARGINS.
>> SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS BOOK
BANNING EVER WORKED?
ARE THERE EXAMPLES SMALL GROUPS
HAVE TARGETED AND ACTUALLY
REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC
DISCOURSE?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'VE EVER
BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THEM
COMPLETELY.
I KNOW OF ONE IN THE HISTORY
THAT'S HAD THE PLATES BROKEN.
THAT WAS LIKE IN THE 40s OR 50s.
IT HAS SINCE BEEN REISSUED.
I DON'T KNOW OF OTHERS.
SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, AN AUTHOR
CAN BE HURT BY HAVING SOMEONE
PRE-JUDGE THEIR BOOKS BEFORE
THEY EVER GET OUT THERE, WHICH
MEANS THEIR SALES DROP AND THEY
DON'T HAVE MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO
PUBLISH AGAIN.
IT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR VOICES
THAT AREN'T MOST FREQUENTLY
HEARD BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T
HAVE -- UNTIL RECENTLY, THERE
HAVEN'T BEEN THAT MANY BOOKS
PUBLISHED BY MINORITY VOICES.
NOW THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
LIBRARIES ARE SUPPOSED TO
PROVIDE CHOICES.
BE IN A PLACE WHERE IDEAS CAN
DUEL IT OUT.
NOT PEOPLE BUT IDEAS TO
CHALLENGE THROUGH READING.
IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE, NOT
INDOCTRINATION.
>> WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE,
LOUISE ROBINS, PROFESSOR AM MER
TUS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUSTICE JANET PROTASIEWICZ
MADE HER FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE
BENCH AS A MEMBER OF THE
MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT.
SWORN IN LAST MONTH GIVING
LIBERALS A 4-3 MAJORITY AND HAS
BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM
EVER SINCE.
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS ARE
THREATENING TO IMPEACH
PROTASIEWICZ IF SHE DOESN'T
RECUSE FROM CERTAIN CASES.
DEMOCRATS ARE LINING UP BEHIND
HER, PLEDGING A $4 MILLION AD
CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO TARGET
REPUBLICANS WHO MIGHT VOTE TO
IMPEACH.
HOWEVER, THURSDAY, NONE OF THAT
WAS ON DISPLAY.
THE JUSTICES HELD A HEARDING ON
PROPOSED RULE CHANGE THAT WOULD
REQUIRE EVICTION RECORDS REMOVED
FROM THE STATE WEB SITE AFTER
ONE YEAR.
>>> WISCONSIN JOB NUMBERS
REACHED A RECORD HIGH IN JULY,
AT MORE THAN 3 MILLION.
HOWEVER, A NEW REPORT FROM THE
HIGH ROAD STRATEGY CENTER SAYS
BENEATH THE BIGGER PICTURE IS A
TROUBLING DECLINE OF WOMEN
PARTICIPATING, FALLING BELOW 60%
SINCE THE LATE 1980s.
HERE TO DIVE DEEPER IS LAURA
DRESSER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR WITH
THE GROUP.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOUR REPORT SHOWS WISCONSIN'S
ECONOMY IS STRONG, UNEMPLOYMENT
LOW BUT NO NEWS DOESN'T COME
WITH A LITTLE DOUBT AND
INSECURITY THESE DAYS.
>> YEAH, THAT IS CORRECT.
HAVING DONE THIS REPORT FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS NOW AND
RELEASING IT ON LABOR DAY, THIS
HAS GOOD NEWS FOR WORKERS.
WE HAVE DOCUMENTED TRENDS THAT
ARE TROUBLING AND SEE THINGS
HERE.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT WITH WISCONSIN'S
SLOW POPULATION GROWTH AND
PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF WORKERS,
THAT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT SEEMS A
PERMANENT FIXTURE, RIGHT?
>> OUR RATE WILL ALWAYS BE LOWER
THAN THE NATIONAL RATE.
A FINANCIAL COLLAPSE WILL
INCREASE OUR UNEMPLOYMENT
NUMBERS BUT OUR ALSO REMAIN
LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL, MOST
LIKELY, BECAUSE OF THE
DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE.
THAT TIGHTNESS IN THE LABOR
MARKET CREATES A LITTLE
REBALANCING OF POWER BETWEEN
WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
SEEING, IS WORKERS KNOW THEY
HAVE A CREDIBLE EXIT THREAT.
THEY CAN USE THAT IN THE LABOR
MARKET.
SO THAT IS TRUE NOW, ESPECIALLY
WITH THESE VERY HISTORIC LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES BUT WILL BE
TRUE GOING FORWARD BECAUSE OF
DEMOGRAPHICS.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WOMEN'S
PARTICIPATION IN WORKFORCE AND
HOW CLOSELY IS THAT CONNECTED TO
THE LEGISLATIVE FIGHT GOING ON
BETWEEN GOVERNOR EBERS AND
CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES AND
CHILDCARE ISSUE S?
>> IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WE
ARE VERY INTER TEST INTERESTED IN
SEEING WORKERS TO TAKE PLACE,
EMBRACING INSTEAD OF SITTING ON
THE SIDELINES OR TAKING KIDS
INTO THE LABOR MARKET.
WHAT WE SEE FROM THIS HIGH
LEVEL, WISCONSIN HAS ALWAYS HAD
MUCH HIGHER WOMEN'S LABOR FORCE
PARTICIPATION THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN LATE
1980s AND ON THROUGH THE 90s,
BUT THAT GAP KEEPS CLOSING AND
CLOSING AND REALLY OVER THE LAST
THREE, FOUR YEARS, WOMEN'S LABOR
FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE
STATE IS COMING DOWN MORE
QUICKLY THAN THE SLIGHT DRIFT
DOWN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
IT IS CLOSING THAT GAP.
IT MEANS THAT THERE IS CAPACITY
TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S WORK AND TO
GET MORE ENGAGEMENT OF WOMEN IN
THIS LABOR MARKET.
I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
WHAT CAN HELP WOMEN CONNECT WITH
WORK IT ISCHILD CARE THAT WORKS
AND IS STRONG.
THAT IS GOING ON IN THE
LEGISLATURE, HOW DO WE INVEST IN
CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> CAN WE SAY IT IS A MARKET
SOLUTION, SOMEONE WILL FIGURE IT
OUT BECAUSE THEY NEED PEOPLE TO
WORK?
>> HAVING WATCHED CHILDCARE FOR
SO LONG, I THINK THE SECTOR
REQUIRES PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
WE HAVE MASSIVE PUBLIC
INVESTMENT BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE
A PUBLIC GOOD ONCE THEY GET TO
SCHOOL, RIGHT?
WE ALL AGREE WE ARE BUILDING THE
FUTURE AND ALL INVEST IN
SCHOOLS.
AND THAT IS HOW WE HAVE JOB
QUALITY IN SCHOOLS, TEACHER
QUALITY IN SCHOOLS THAT CAN
REALLY SUSTAIN DECENT JOBS.
BUT AT THE -- IN THE LEVEL OF
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, WAGES
TEND TO BE VERY LOW.
PARENTS, ESPECIALLY IN JOBS THAT
PAY LESS THAN THE MEDIAN WAGE,
HALF WORKERS IN LESS THAN MEDIAN
AGE HAVE HARD TIME SO THAT TAKES
A PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
NOW WE HAVE A LARGELY PRIVATE
SOLUTION AND STATES THAT ARE
TAKING ON MORE AND MORE PUBLIC
INVESTMENT ARE GETTING THAT KIND
OF SYSTEM THAT CAN REALLY
SUPPORT WOMEN'S WORK.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES YOU
TRACK IS UNIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE SEEN PLACES LIKE AMAZON
DOWN TO THE COFFEE SHOP.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION?
>> WELL, UNIONS HAVE BEEN IN A
DECADES DECOMPLAIN
DECADES DECLINE IN THEIR SHARE
OF WORKFORCE.
THIS IS TRUE NATIONALLY AND IN
WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN USED TO BE RELATIVELY
HIGH, ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
2011AC10, THE CHANGE IN PUBLIC
SECTOR UNIONIZATION CHANGED THAT
SO THAT LINE BEGAN TO TIP.
FROM 2011 TO CURRENT WISCONSIN
DECLINING FAR OUTSTRIPS THE
NATIONAL DECLINE AND IS WORST IN
THE REGION.
SO, YES, THERE'S -- YOU KNOW,
WORKERS ARE GOING TO FIND WAYS
TO JOIN TOGETHER AND MAKE JOBS
BETTER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL OVER THE
STATE AND NATION GOING ON.
UNIONS ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR.
SO FAR THE HEAD WINDS AGAINST
ORGANIZING ESPECIALLY IN A RIGHT
TO WORK STATE WITH VERY HARD
PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONIZATION RULES
AS WELL MAKES TURN ING THAT INTO
MEMBERS REALLY HARD.
>> JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT.
TALK ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE OF
$7.25 IN WISCONSIN.
IT IS EVEN RELEVANT TO TODAY'S
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
WORKFORCE?
>> SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
WE ALL KNOW THE FLOOR HAS REALLY
COME UP.
LOW-WAGE WORKERS ARE DOING
BETTER.
THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST OF ANY
GROUP IN THE ECONOMY.
LOW-WAGE WORKERS HAVE MADE MORE
GAINS, SO THE $7.25 IS
TECHNICALLY OUR MINIMUM WAGE,
LIKE 20 STATES IN THE NATION.
BUT IT REALLY MATTERS TO RAISE
THAT WAGE SO THAT ALL WORKERS,
CARE WORKERS AND OTHER WORKERS
KNOW WHAT THE FLOOR IS.
>> LAURA DRESSER FROM CAUS,
THANKS.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
P F FOR MORE VISIT OUR WEB SITE
AT WWSBWISCONSIN.ORG.
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ, HAVE A GREAT
WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.