>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE
AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
SEXUALIZATION
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," A
DUST-UP OVER SEX ED CURRICULUM,
WITH ONE PERSON WARNING
COURSEWORK IS BREAKING THE LAW.
ALSO TONIGHT THE UW WANTS MORE
STUDENTS TO ENROLL.
PRESIDENT KEVIN RILEY IS HERE TO
EXPLAIN WHY.
AND A FAMILIAR NAME COULD BE
JUMPING INTO THE RACE FOR
FEINGOLD'S SEAT.
WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING TOMMY
THOMPSON.
MORDECAI LEE WORKS OUT THE
TWISTS AND TURNS.
BUT FIRST THE JUNEAU COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SENT OUT THIS
LETTER TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
HIS COUNTY, WARNING THEM THAT
NEW COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED
CURRICULUM THAT WENT INTO EFFECT
STATEWIDE LAST MONTH PROMOTES
SEX WITH MINORS.
THAT'S ILLEGAL IN WISCONSIN.
SO THE DA SAYS TEACHERS ARE
EXPOSED TO CRIMINAL LIABILITY BY
CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY
OF A CHILD.
NOW, BETWEEN THEIR NETWORK NEWS
SHOW APPEARANCES LAST NIGHT, WE
SAT DOWN WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEY
SCOTT SOUTHWORTH AND ONE OF THE
AUTHORS OF THE NEW LAW, KEL DA
ROYS.
THANKS VERY MUCH TO BOTH OF YOU
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FIRST TO YOU, SCOTT
SOUTHWORTH.
YOU SAY THE NEW LAW, QUOTE,
PROMOTES THE SEXUALIZATION OF
OUR CHILDREN.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE LAW REQUIRES
INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO PROPERLY
USE CONTRACEPTIVES.
HOW DOES THIS PROMOTE SEXUAL
ASSAULT?
>> CORRECT.
IT'S ONE THING TO INSTRUCT
CHILDREN ON THE BASICS OF HUMAN
PHYSIOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION,
WHAT WE TRADITIONALLY CALL SEX
*EDZ.
I SUPPORT THAT.
IT'S THING ANOTHER THING WHEN WE CROSS
THE LINE AND REQUIRE OUR
TEACHERS TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW
TO USE CONTRACEPTION.
WHEN YOU START ENGAGING IN THAT
TYPE OF INSTRUCTION, YOU ARE
EXPLICITLY ENCOURAGES THOSE
CHILDREN TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL
INTERCOURSE BY ENCOURAGING THAT
TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, WE'RE
ENCOURAGING THEM TO ENGAGE IN
WHAT IS IN WISCONSIN ILLEGAL
ACTIVITY.
I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.
I THINK IT IS IMPROPER.
I THINK IT PROMOTES THE SEXUAL
ASSAULT OF OUR CHILDREN,
SOMETHING I HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON
A DAILY BASIS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROYS, WHY
INCLUDE SPECIFICS ON HUE TO HOW TO USE
CONTRACEPTION?
>> OVERWHELMING RESEARCH FROM
WISCONSIN AND NATIONWIDE AND SHOWS
WHEN YOU GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE
INFORMATION ABOUT ABSTINENCE AND
CONTRACEPTION, NOT ONLY DOES IT
REDUCE UNWANTED TEEN PREGNANCY
AND SEXUAL DISEASE IN WISCONSIN,
BUT IT DELAYS THE ONSET OF
SEXUAL ACTIVITY, MAKES THEM LESS
LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY SEXUAL
BEHAVIOR, LIKE HAVING SEX TOO
YOUNG.
>> YOU ALSO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE
LAW'S REQUIREMENT TO INSTRUCT ON
GENDER STEREOTYPES.
IT SAYS THE CLASS MUST USE
METHODS AND MATERIALS THAT MUST
NOT PROMOTE BIAS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH NOT PROMOTING
BIAS?
>> WHAT HAPPENS UNDER THE LAW --
AND WHETHER IT WAS THE INTENTION
OF THE LEGISLATURE OR NOT, IT
CREATES A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE
HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT ALL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENDER
STEREOTYPES, INCLUDING THINGS
LIKE HOMOSEXUALITY, TRANSGENDER,
TRANSSEXUAL HREUFPL.
LISTEN, WE WANT EVERY STUDENT TO
FEEL WELCOME IN CLASS.
WE WANT THEM NEVER TO FEEL
INTIMIDATED.
ONE OF THE FEARS THAT I HAVE AS
A DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO'S
PROSECUTED A HATE CRIME
TKPWEPBGS A YOUNGAGAINSTA YOUNG MAN WHO WAS HOMOSEXUAL
IS IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE
FORCED TO TEACH ABOUT
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, WE'RE
GOING TO GET STUDENTS IN THE
CLASSROOM LAUGHING AND MOCKING
AND MAKING FUN OF THAT TAOEUFP TYPE OF A
THING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHILDREN IN
THOSE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THEIR SEXUALITY
THAT ARE NOW GOING TO FEEL EVEN
MORE INTIMIDATED, MORE BAD ABOUT
THEMSELVES AND THAT CAN ALSO
LEAD TO BULLYING IN THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
SO WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS FOR SEX
EDUCATION CLASSES TO STICK WITH
THE BASICS.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION, PHYSIOLOGY.
AND I'VE EVEN PUT IN MY LETTER
IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO TAKE
THE NEXT STEP AND DISCUSS WHAT
CONTRACEPTIVES ARE, NO DIFFERENT
THAN IF WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DRUGS
ARE, WHETHER IT'S METH OR
MARIJUANA, ET CETERA, JUST
SPECIFIC INFORMATION,
FACT-BASED, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
AT LEAST THE LAW IS OKAY WITH
THAT.
BUT WHEN WE CROSS THAT LINE AND
WE ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO ENGAGE
IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY IMPLICITLY BY
SHOWING THEM HOW TO DO IT, I
THINK WE'VE CROSSED THE LINE
THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK TO.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROYS, BACK TO
THE QUESTION, WHICH WAS NOT
PROMOTING BIAS, WHAT WAS THE
POINT OF THAT LANGUAGE IN THE
LAW?
>> WELL, VERY SIMPLY THE STATE
HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE FOR
THE FREE QUALITY PUBLIC
EDUCATION FOR ALL TKHEURPB.
ALL -- CHILDREN.
NO CHILD SHOULD BE BULLIED OR
HARASSED OR MADE TO FEEL UNWELL
UNWELL -- UNWELCOME IN THE
SCHOOL.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT
FOR GAY TEENAGERS THEY HAVE AN
ASTRONOMICAL SUICIDE RATE, MUCH
HIGHER THAN NON-GAY TEENAGERS,
THAT'S OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME.
>> HIS POINT, THOUGH, IS THESE
PEOPLE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE CALLED
OUT IN CLASS AS OPPOSED TO BEING
RESPECTED.
>> WELL, I DON'T FIND THAT A
VERY POWERFUL OR COMPELLING
ARGUMENT.
I THINK THAT IN FACT THE
OPPOSITE IS TRUE.
WHEN WE -- AGAIN, WHEN WE
WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM YOUNG
PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT HELP THEM
RESIST PEER PRESSURE.
IT DOES NOT TEACH THEM TO BE
RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER.
>> SCOTT SOUTHWORTH CALLS THIS
PART OF THE LAW INJECTING AND
INTENSE AMOUNT OF UNNECESSARY
POLITICS INTO THE CLASSROOM.
>> WELL, THAT'S IRONIC, BECAUSE
WHAT THE LAW IS IS BASED ON WHAT
WE KNOW WORKS, WHAT
PEDIATRICIANS HAVE TOLD US, WHAT
DECADES OF RESEARCH ON SEXUALITY
EDUCATION HAVE TOLD US ABOUT
WHAT'S EFFECTIVE AT CHANGING
TEEN BEHAVIOR.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO US
FOR GUIDANCE.
PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO
BE LEARNING COMPREHENSIVE SEX
EDUCATION.
OVER 90% OF THEM IN WISCONSIN
AND NATIONWIDE WANTS KIDS TO BE
RECEIVING INFORMATION NOT JUST
ABOUT ABSTINENCE, ALTHOUGH THAT
IS A KEY PART, BUT ALSO ABOUT
CONTRACEPTION, ALSO ABOUT
STOPPING SEXUAL ASSAULT, ALSO
ABOUT DATING VIOLENCE.
ALL THESE COMPONENTS WORK TO
CHANGE TEEN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S THE GOAL, KEEPING KIDS
SAFE.
>> IF I CAN RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE, WHAT THIS NEW MANDATE
DOES IS FORCES -- AND THAT'S THE
KEY.
IT FORCES SCHOOL DISTRICTS
AROUND WISCONSIN TO ACCEPT AN
EXPORT OF WHAT IS THE CURRENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MILWAUKEE
POLICY.
IN MILWAUKEE THEY'VE BEEN
TEACHING COMPREHENSIVE SEX
EDUCATION FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
WHAT DO WE FIND?
IT FAILED.
IN FACT, MILWAUKEE HAS THE
HIGHEST TEEN PREGNANCY RATE IN
THE ENTIRE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
WE CAN'T SAY THAT IN JUNEAU
COUNTY.
WE'RE DOING JUST FINE WITH OUR
PROGRAMS.
AND WHAT I FOUND THE MOST
INSULTING AS AN ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF
JUNEAU COUNTY IS THAT BEFORE
THIS LAW, WE HAD FAMILIES,
BOARDS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS,
THAT WERE MAKING THESE DECISIONS
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT WHAT
THIS NEW LAW SAYS IS, LOOK, IF
YOU DON'T FOLLOW OUR GUIDANCE,
IF YOU DON'T TEACH WHAT WE ARE
TELLING YOU TO TEACH, THEN YOU
CAN'T TEACH ANYTHING.
I THINK IT'S INSULTING TO PEOPLE
FROM MY COUNTY BECAUSE I THINK
WE NEED TO HAVE LOCAL CONTROL.
>> WHAT ABOUT THAT ISSUE,
REPRESENTATIVE ROYS, ABOUT THE
TEEN PREGNANCY RATE IN MILWAUKEE
IF IN FACT THIS KIND OF
CURRICULUM HAS BEEN INTRODUCED
IN THAT DISTRICT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE
MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF SEX
EDUCATION CURRICULUM.
AND IT'S NOT EVEN CONSISTENT
WITHIN MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO I THINK THAT'S FALSE.
AND I ALSO THINK YOU SHOULD
CHECK THE STATISTICS IN JUNEAU
COUNTY AND YOU WOULD FIND
THEY'RE ACTUALLY MORE TROUBLING
THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A MILWAUKEE
PROBLEM.
IT IS STATEWIDE.
WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL CONTROL,
IF I MAY, THIS BILL, THE NEW
LAW, DOES PRESERVE LOCAL
CONTROL.
PARENTS CAN STILL OPT OUT, BUT
NOW THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE GIVEN
NOTICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO
KNOW IF THEIR KIDS ARE NOT GOING
TO RECEIVE SEX ED.
SCHOOL BOARDS WILL STILL BE
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT
CURRICULUM THEY WOULD LIKE TO
CHOOSE AND THEY HAVE THE OPTION
OF WHETHER THEY WANT TO TEACH IT
OR NOT.
>> BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LAW
SAYS.
THAT MAY BE WHAT REPRESENTATIVE
ROYS WANTS THE LAW TO SAY, BUT
IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.
WHAT IT SAYS IS YOU MUST TEACH
A, B, C, D AND E, EVERYTHING WE
TALKED ABOUT SO FAR.
IF THEY REFUSE TO TEACH THAT,
THEY MUST OPT OUT.
THAT'S THE DIFFICULTY I HAVE.
>> SO ALL OR NOTHING?
>> IT'S AN ALL OR NOTHING
APPROACH, WHICH I DON'T THINK
RESPECTS THE DESIRES OF THE
PEOPLE OF MY COMMUNITY.
>> NOW, THE LETTER THAT YOU
WROTE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ALSO SAYS THAT A TEACHER COULD
BE CHARGED WITH CONTRIBUTING TO
THE DELINQUENCY OF A CHILD BY
TEACHING THIS CLASS BECAUSE THE
NATURAL CONSEQUENCE IS TO CAUSE
TEENAGERS TO HAVE SEX WITH EACH
OTHER.
NOW, THAT DOES SOUND KIND OF
THREATENING.
>> THAT WASN'T MY INTENT.
IF I HAD WANTED TO CHARGE A
TEACHER IN MY DISTRICT WITH
CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY
OF A MINOR, WHICH GOD FORBID
THAT IS NOT ON MY AGENDA, WHAT I
WOULD HAVE DONE IS JUST WAITED
FOR SOMETHING TO BE REFERRED TO
MY OFFICE AND THEN FILED THAT
CHARGE.
I SINCERELY AND HONORABLY WANTED
OUR DISTRICTS TO KNOW, HERE'S MY
CONCERN.
AND OF NOTE, IN THE WISCONSIN
STATUTES, AS IT RELATES TO
CHILDREN, THERE'S CURRENTLY A
PROVISION ON THE DISPLAY OF
NUDITY AND SEXUALLY ORIENTED
MATERIALS TO CHILDREN.
THERE'S A SPECIFIC PROVISION IN
THERE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WROTE
IN THAT EXEMPTS SCHOOL TEACHERS
FROM BEING SUBJECT TO ANY
CRIMINAL LIABILITY.
SHOCKINGLY, THERE'S NO SUCH
EXEMPTION IN THIS NEW MANDATE.
NOW, IT MAY BE THAT THEY
DISCUSSED IT AND DECIDED NOT TO
PUT IT IN.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN INADVERTENT.
HOWEVER, I HAVE AN ETHICAL
RESPONSIBILITY WHEN I LOOK AT
NEW LAWS, NEW MANDATES, TO SAY
DOES THIS CONFLICT AND IT DOES.
THERE IS THE CONTRIBUTING TO THE
DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR STATUTE.
IT FORBIDS ANYONE TO ENCOURAGE
OR TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHILD'S
DELINQUENCY.
THAT IS A REAL ISSUE.
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL
MY TEACHERS THAT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROYS, WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF THAT?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S
LAUGHABLE FROM A LEGAL
STANDPOINT EXCEPT THAT WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SO
SERIOUS AND THAT'S THE HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
THERE ARE 72 COUNTIES.
THERE ARE NO OTHER DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS THAT ARE MAKING THIS
CLAIM.
AND IT SIMPLY IS NOT SUPPORTED
BY THE FACTS.
I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS MANY
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ALSO
HAVE SEX ED, WHICH IS
COMPREHENSIVE AND WHICH INCLUDES
SOME OF THE SAME ELEMENTS THAT
ARE INCLUDED IN THE NEW LAW.
PARENTS ARE OFTEN GIVING THEIR
CHILDREN THIS INFORMATION.
ARE THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO
THE DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR AND
WOULD YOU PROSECUTE THEM AS
WELL?
>> LOOK, WE NEED TO STICK TO THE
LAW.
THE LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T
CONTRIBUTE TO THE DELINQUENCY OF
A MINOR BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO
ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR.
BY LOOKING AT A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY
AND SAYING, LOOK, I UNDERSTAND
YOU WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR
14-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND AND
HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT.
THERE'S PROCREATION AND
RECREATION.
IT'S ILLEGAL TO HAVE SEX WITH
CHILDREN AT ANY AGE.
IT'S ILLEGAL FOR CHILDREN TO
HAVE SEX WITH CHILDREN AT ANY
AGE.
FOR US TO THEN CROSS THAT LINE
AND SAY WE HAVE TO INSTRUCT THEM
ON HOW TO DO IT ENCOURAGES TIR
DELINQUENCY BECAUSE IF THAT
16-YEAR-OLD GOES OUT AND HAS SEX
WITH HIS 14-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND
AND THAT GIRL REPORTS THAT
SEXUAL ASSAULT, I NOW HAVE A
VICTIM, I HAVE A YOUNG MAN
CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OFFENSE
THAT COULD LAND HIM ON THE SEX
OFFENDER REGISTRY FOR THE REST
OF HIS LIFE AND NOW I'VE GOT A
BOY AND POSSIBLY THIS GIRL
LOOKING AT THE TEACHER SAYING
SHE OR HE TAUGHT US HOW TO DO
THIS.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS I DON'T
WANT TO CHARGE ANY TEACHER.
I DON'T WANT THAT CASE COMING
ACROSS MY DESK.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS LEGISLATION
IN CONCERT WITH OTHER STATUTES
DOES.
THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO ADDRESS
THIS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROYS, WHY DID
YOU CHANGE THE LAW AS TO HOW SEX
ED IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS?
>> WE DID IT FOR ONE SIMPLE
REASON AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOUNG
PEOPLE DESERVE THE VERY BEST
EDUCATION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
WHEN WE HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION
THAT'S SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE AS
TO HOW TO HELP TEENS BE HEALTHY
AND MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS,
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO
THAT.
PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND IN FACT EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE
IS TRUE.
IF YOU GIVE TEENS THE
INFORMATION, IF YOU TELL THEM
ABOUT ABSTINENCE, IF YOU TELL
THEM ABOUT CONTRACEPTION, YOU'RE
NOT TEACHING THEM HOW TO HAVE
SEX.
YOU'RE TEACHING THEM HOW TO MAKE
RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS AND BEING
REALISTIC.
TELLING KIDS ABOUT SEX NO MORE
CAUSES THEM TO HAVE IT THAN
TELLING KIDS AN UMBRELLA CAUSES
RAIN.
>> LET'S BE CLEAR.
IT'S ILLEGAL FOR CHILDREN TO
HAVE SEX.
THEY CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN
THE JUVENILE EQUIVALENT OF
CRIMINAL ACTION BY ENGAGING IN
THIS.
IT'S AKIN TO SAYING, LOOK,
STUDENTS, YOU CANNOT ENGAGE IN
ILLEGAL DRUG USE, BUT BECAUSE WE
KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE
GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO INJECT
WITH CLEAN NEEDLES DRUGS INTO
YOUR SYSTEM.
THAT'S ABHOR RENT.
WE SHOULD
NEVER BE ENGAGING IN THAT TYPE
OF ADVOCACY.
>> LET ME ASK YOU, SCOTT, YOU
ARE AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN.
IF YOU WERE NOT, WOULD YOU HAVE
WRITTEN THIS LETTER?
>> I CANNOT SAY ANYBODY COMES
INTO PUBLIC OFFICE AND
DISREGARDS THEIR MORAL BELIEFS.
BUT WHEN I WROTE THIS LETTER, IT
WAS A -- IF I ASKED THEM TO
TEACH WHAT I BELIEVE AS AN
EVANGELICAL.
I WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED NO
INSTRUCTION ON CONTRACEPTION,
WHICH IS NOT IN MY LETTER.
SECONDLY, I WOULD HAVE
RECOMMENDED THAT THEY TEACH THAT
SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE IS IMMORAL
AND SHOULD NOT OCCUR.
I DIDN'T PUT THAT IN MY LETTER.
WHY?
BECAUSE SEX AMONGST ADULTS IS
NOT ILLEGAL.
EVEN IF I AS AN EVANGELICAL
CHRISTIAN FIND THAT SEX OUTSIDE
OF MARRIAGE IS IMMORAL.
SO I DID DO EVERYTHING I COULD
TO MAKE THIS AN OBJECTIVE LEGAL
OPINION.
I ALSO NOTE THAT WE LIVE IN A
VERY CONSERVATIVE AREA.
I REPRESENT THE MORALS AND
BELIEFS OF OUR AREA.
WE WANT LOCAL CONTROL.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE
DECISIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROYS, FINAL
WORD.
>> CHILDREN IN EVERY PART OF THE
STATE DESERVE THE VERY BEST
INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET
THEM.
SINCE WE KNOW HOW TO HELP TEENS
DELAY SEXUAL ACTIVITY, REDUCE
PREGNANCY, SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED
DISEASES, SEXUAL ASSAULT, WE
SHOULD LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND IN
DOING THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I SPOKE WITH THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY AND A REPRESENTATIVE
LAST NIGHT.
GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE CALLS THE
D.A.'S POSITION ON THIS BIZARRE.
NOW THIS.
THE UW SYSTEM WANTS TO SEE A DAY
WHERE 50% OR MORE OF ALL ADULTS
IN WISCONSIN HAVE A COLLEGE
DEGREE.
THERE'S A WAY TO GO TOWARD THAT.
RIGHT NOW ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER
OF OUR POPULATION HAS THAT
DIPLOMA.
KEVIN REILLY IS PUSHING THE
SO-CALLED GROWTH AGENDA FOR
WISCONSIN, WHICH INCLUDES MORE
GRADUATES AND MORE JOBS FOR THEM
THROUGH EXPANDED UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE WELCOME PRESIDENT REILLY NOW
FROM FOND DU LAC.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU FROM A
BEAUTIFUL UW-FOND DU LAC CAMPUS.
>> YOU ARE TAKING ON THE BIGGEST
ISSUE OF OUR TIME, THAT BEING
JOBS.
BUT TOWARD THAT WHY THE PUSH TO
PUT OUT MORE GRADUATES?
>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT STATES
THAT HAVE MORE COLLEGE GRADUATES
HAVE HIGHER PER CAPITA INCOME,
LOWER CRIME, LOWER USE OF SOCIAL
SERVICES.
THEY'RE HEALTHIER BY AND LARGE.
HAVING A MORE HIGHLY EDUCATED
POPULATION DOES A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS, NOT ONLY FOR
INDIVIDUALS, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE
STATE.
AND WE WANT TO PUT OUT A
WORKFORCE INTO THOSE NEW JOBS
THAT WE'LL HELP TO CREATE THAT
WILL MAKE THOSE JOBS STAY HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
>> WELL, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO
SUGGEST THAT WE'VE LONG LAMENTED
THE SO-CALLED BRAIN DRAIN OUT OF
WISCONSIN.
HOW DO YOU HOLD ON TO THESE
GRADUATES THAT YOU WANT TO
EDUCATE?
>> YEAH.
IF YOU JUST HAVE MORE GRADUATES
AND THE JOBS AREN'T HERE, THE
GRADUATES LEAVE.
IF YOU JUST CREATE MORE JOBS AND
THERE'S NOT A WORKFORCE FOR
THEM, THE COMPANIES LEAVE.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE LIKE
BUILDING THE BICYCLE AS YOU RIDE
IT.
WE NEED BOTH TO RAMP UP OUR
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND AT
THE SAME TIME TO USE UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH TO HELP CREATE THE JOBS
AND INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE AND
HELP OUR STAPLE INDUSTRIES LIKE
PAPER, AGRICULTURE,
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES TO BE
OUTFITTED WITH THE LATEST
ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY SO THEY ARE
COMPETITIVE NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY.
>> SPEAKING OF COMPETITION, HOW
DOES WISCONSIN COMPARE TO OTHER
STATES IN THE NUMBER OF DEGREES
HELD?
>> WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT 25.5% OF
OUR POPULATION WITH A
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE.
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS ABOUT
27.5%.
MINNESOTA NOW HAS 32% OR 33% OF
THE POPULATION WITH A COLLEGE
DEGREE AND THEIR PER CAPITA
INCOME IS NOW ABOUT $5,000 AHEAD
OF OURS IN MINNESOTA.
>> ARE THERE PARTICULAR CAMPUSES
ACROSS THE STATE THAT YOU'RE
TARGETING FOR INCREASED
ENROLLMENT?
>> WELL, EACH CAMPUS WILL BE
PART OF THIS AND WILL DO ITS
PART.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ENROLLMENT.
IT'S ABOUT HOW DO WE DO BETTER
WITH RETENTION AND GRADUATION.
THE STUDENTS WE HAVE NOW, MOVING
MORE OF THEM ON TO GETTING A
CREDENTIAL.
HOW DO WE DELIVER COURSES IN
VIDEO AND ONLINE AND COMPRESSED
MODE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MOVE
THROUGH THEM MORE EASILY AND
MORE QUICKLY.
SO THIS IS ABOUT ADDING 80,000
NEW STUDENTS.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING A BETTER
YIELD OF 80,000 ADDITIONAL
DEGREES FROM OUR STUDENTS WITH
SOME ADDITIONAL ENROLLMENT, BUT
USING THOSE OTHER METHODS AS
WELL.
>> WHAT'S OUR ISSUE WITH
RETENTION OF STUDENTS AND HOW DO
WE LOOK THERE IN TERMS OF
COMPARING TO OTHER STATES AND
THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO START AND
THEN ULTIMATELY FINISH?
>> WELL, THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS
AND SOME BAD NEWS.
WE DO VERY WELL IN THE
COMPARISONS WITH THE PEER
UNIVERSITIES.
THAT IS, WE GRADUATE MORE OF OUR
STUDENTS THAN OUR COMPETITORS
DO, IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF THEM
THAT WAY.
BUT WE STILL DON'T GRADUATE
NEARLY ENOUGH OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE GRADUATE IN THE LOW 60% OF
STUDENTS IN SIX YEARS.
IF WE COULD RAMP THAT UP CLOSER
TO 100%, YOU CAN GET SOME SENSE
OF THE ADDITIONAL YIELD WE'D
HAVE OF COLLEGE GRADUATES IN
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT'S THE SENSE AS TO WHY WE
HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE RETENTION
IN THAT REGARD?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE SO MUCH AS
STUDENTS THESE DAYS COME IN,
THEY TEND TO TAKE COURSES AT ONE
INSTITUTION, DROP OUT, WORK FOR
A WHILE, COME BACK, TAKE COURSES
AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION.
THEY MAY NEED TO WORK FOR A
YEAR.
THEY MAY HAVE A PERSONAL OR
FAMILY ISSUE THEY HAVE TO DEAL
WITH.
SO PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
MAKE IT EASY FOR STUDENTS TO
COME BACK IN AND MOVE THROUGH A
DEGREE PROGRAM IF THEY HAVE LEFT
FOR A WHILE.
>> NOW, IF WE'RE CHURNING OUT
MORE DIPLOMAS, DO WE SUFFER IN
QUALITY?
>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT
TO DO THAT AND I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL
ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE SAYING WE WILL NEED SOME
NEW STATE INVESTMENT TO HELP US
HIRE ADDITIONAL FACULTY SO WE
KEEP THAT FACULTY-STUDENT RATIO
AT A REASONABLE LEVEL.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO THINK
WHAT QUALITY MEANS IN SOME NEW
WAYS, WHAT A QUALITY DEGREE IS
FOR A 38-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOM
WITH TWO KIDS WHO'S WORKING
FULLTIME AND WANTS TO GO BACK
AND COMPLETE A BACCALAUREATE
DEGREE IF SHE'S GOT TWO OR TWO
AND A HALF YEARS OF CREDIT IS
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT A 17 OR
18-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN WANTS WHO'S
COMING TO STUDY FOR A FOUR-YEAR
DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY.
SO BROADENING OUR THINKING TO
REDEFINE QUALITY FOR DIFFERENT
AUDIENCES IS IMPORTANT.
>> NOW, THE AGENDA CALLS FOR A
30% INCREASE IN UNDERGRADUATE
DEGREES 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
WHAT IS THE PRICE TAG ON THIS?
>> AT THIS POINT WE'RE JUST
PUTTING OUT THE DEGREE GOALS,
WORKING WITH OUR CAMPUSES.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK SLOWLY BUT
STEADILY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE
COST WOULD BE AS WE GRADUALLY
RAMP UP.
SO THE REGENTS WILL HAVE A
BUDGET PROPOSAL OUT FOR THE 1113
BIENNIUM THIS AUGUST.
WE'LL BE BUILDING THAT INITIAL
ASK.
SO THERE IS NO CLEAR NUMBER NOW
FOR WHAT IT WOULD COST.
WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT WE CAN'T
SUSTAIN THE CURRENT COSTS PER
STUDENT IF WE'RE GOING TO ADD
80,000 NEW DEGREES.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOME NEW WAYS
TO HELP PEOPLE COMPLETE DEGREES
AT LOWER COSTS.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, TODAY IS THE
LAST DAY ON THE JOB FOR STATE
COMMERCE SECRETARY DICK
LEINENKUGEL.
HE RESIGNED, IT'S WIDELY HELD,
BUT NOT FORMALLY ANNOUNCED TO
RUN FOR RUSS FEINGOLD'S SEAT,
BUT AS A REPUBLICAN.
SO A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WHO
SERVED FOR A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
AND MIGHT BE FACING OFF AGAINST
THE BIG DADDY OF WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS, TOMMY THOMPSON.
UW-MILWAUKEE PROFESSOR MORDECAI
LEE IS HERE TO HELP US UNTANGLE
THIS.
>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>> ACCORDING TO THE LATEST
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO POLL,
DOYLE'S APPROVAL RATING IS AT
34% RIGHT NOW.
KIND OF A BALL AND CHAIN FOR
LEINENKUGEL TO BRING INTO THE
RACE AS A REPUBLICAN.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?
>> THE ANSWER IS YES AND NO.
IT'S ALWAYS ON THE ONE HAND, ON
THE OTHER HAND.
HERE'S A GUY WHO DOES HAVE
REPUBLICAN CREDENTIALS.
THE FACT THAT HE SERVED IN A
DEMOCRATIC CABINET, BIPARTISAN
CABINETS HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE.
UNDER THOMPSON TIM CULLEN HAD
BEEN THE SECRETARY.
SO THERE ARE EXAMPLES LIKE THAT.
THE MAIN THING IS CAN HE
DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF FROM THE
PACK.
YOU'VE GOT THREE TO FOUR
RELATIVELY TRADITIONAL
REPUBLICANS RUNNING.
WHY VOTE FOR HIM RATHER THAN THE
OTHER ONES?
>> ON THE NAME RECOGNITION
FACTOR, DO YOU THINK A NAME LIKE
LEINENKUGEL IN WISCONSIN HELPS
HIM EVEN WHEN A NAME LIKE RUSS
DARRELL APPARENTLY DIDN'T HELP
HIM?
>> AGAIN, IT'S ON THE ONE HAND,
ON THE OTHER HAND.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE NAME
RECOGNITION.
RUSS HAD IT.
FOR SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES
LIKE MR. WALL, HE'S GOING TO
HAVE TO SPEND A MILLION BUCKS
JUST TO GET THAT LEVEL OF NAME
RECOGNITION.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND LIKE YOU
SAID RUSS DARE ROW DARROW DIDN'T DO MUCH
WITH IT.
YOU CAN GO BACK TO OTHERS, RANK,
WHO HAD A SIGN RANK CORN THROUGH
ALL OF WISCONSIN.
NAME RECOGNITION ISN'T
EVERYTHING.
STILL, IF YOU ASK A POLITICIAN,
DO YOU PREFER NAME RECOGNITION
GOING INTO THE RACE OR NOT,
THEY'LL ALWAYS OPT FOR IT.
>> WALL IS MAKING HAY OUT OF THE
LEINENKUGEL/DOYLE CONNECTION.
LET'S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.
THEY SHOW TOMMY THOMPSON WITH A
45% TO 53% LEAD OVER RUSS
FEINGOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THOSE
NUMBERS?
>> THAT MAKES EVERY POLITICIAN
SALIVATE.
OBVIOUSLY IT PUTS TOMMY IN GOOD
STEAD.
BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF A
HYPOTHETICAL RACE BECAUSE
THERE'S ON THE ONE HAND, ON THE
OTHER HAND KIND OF STUFF.
THIS IS TOMMY AS PEOPLE REMEMBER
TOMMY.
BUT THE LAST TIME TOMMY RAN IN
AN ELECTION WAS OVER TEN YEARS
AGO.
HE'S BEEN SPENDING MOST OF HIS
TIME IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE
TOMMY TODAY IS GOING TO HAVE THE
SAME POLITICAL SEX APPEAL OF
TOMMY TEN YEARS AGO.
>> WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT
TOMMY TODAY.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT HE'S LIKELY TO RUN?
>> I THINK THE FACT THAT HE
AUTHORIZED AN EXPLORATORY
COMMITTEE IS A RELATIVELY
SERIOUS THING.
IT'S MORE THAN SAYING, WELL, I'M
SORT OF THINKING ABOUT DOING IT.
IT'S TAKING AN OVERT ACTION.
FOR ANYBODY WHO'S EVER HAD TO
DEAL WITH THE FORMS OF THE
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION OR
THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD,
THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.
YOU DON'T DO IT JUST FOR THE FUN
OF IT.
SO I THINK IT MEANS HE'S
RUNNING.
BUT SUPPOSEDLY HE'S GOING TO BE
COMING BACK FROM EASTER VACATION
WITH A FINAL DECISION.
>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU ONE THING
LASTLY QUICKLY ON THE GOVERNOR'S
RACE.
THIS POLL SHOWS TWO THINGS I
THINK OF INTEREST HERE.
DEMOCRAT TOM BARRETT SHOWS FAR
BEHIND EITHER REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE NEUMANN OR WALKER,
WITH BOTH NEUMANN AND WALKER IN
ABOUT THE SAME PLACE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?
>> GOSH, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES
THESE KINDS OF PREPRIMARY POLLS
AREN'T VERY EXACT.
PEOPLE ARE SORT OF VOTING FOR A
LABEL.
BUT I WAS SURPRISED THAT BOTH
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAD THAT
KIND OF DISTANCE.
IT WAS A STATISTICALLY
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE OVER TOM
BARRETT.
>> THANKS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, SHAWN JOHNSON IS BACK
WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF CAPITOL
INSIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
WWW.CLOSED-CAPTIONING.COM
>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE
AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.