>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION C
OVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL P
OLL.
THE IMPACT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
TARIFFS COULD HAVE IN WISCONSIN.
A LOOK AT THE CUTS PLANNED AT
UW-STEVENS POINT.
AND WISCONTEXT REPORTS ON STATE
EFFORTS TO RECRUIT YOUNG CHICAGO
WORKERS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 9.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> A FIRST LOOK TONIGHT AT HOW
WISCONSINITES FEEL ABOUT
CANDIDATES IN THE RUNNING THIS
YEAR AND ABOUT ISSUES IMPORTANT
TO THE STATE.
THIS WEEK, THE LATEST MARQUETTE
LAW SCHOOL POLL CAME OUT AND
SOME OF ITS RESULTS ARE
SURPRISING.
WE'RE JOINED BY PROFESSOR OF LAW
AND PUBLIC POLICY AND DIRECTOR
OF THE MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL P
OLL, CHARLES FRANKLIN.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK.
>> ACCORDING TO YOUR POLLING,
DONALD TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING
HAS TICKED UP SLIGHTLY SINCE
THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
BUT DO HIS NUMBERS DEPEND KIND
OF ON THE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE
NEWS CYCLE?
>> WELL, THEY DO, I THINK.
HE'S BEEN ACTUALLY SORT OF
SURPRISINGLY STEADY.
WAS AT 41 IN JUNE.
IS AT 43% APPROVAL NOW.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A TICK
UP.
NATIONALLY HE TICKED UP A LITTLE
BIT OVER THIS PERIOD, TOO.
HE ALSO TICKED UP JUST SLIGHTLY
IN SOME OTHER MEASURES.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE
ARE DIVIDED AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.
89% OF REPUBLICANS APPROVE.
89% OF DEMOCRATS DISAPPROVE.
INDEPENDENTS SPLIT 34/57, SO
THAT'S MAYBE THE MORE TELLING
GROUP, NOT THE PARTISANS, BUT
THOSE INDEPENDENTS.
>> 57 DISAPPROVE?
>> YES.
>> SO IF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
APPROVAL RATINGS ARE EXPECTED TO
BE ANY MEASURE FOR THE N
OVEMBER VOTE, HOW DOES THAT
AFFECT GOVERNOR WALKER?
>> WELL, GOVERNOR WALKER IS AT
ABOUT THE SAME PLACE HE WAS LAST
SUMMER.
HE'S AT 47 APPROVE, 47
DISAPPROVE.
IT WAS 48/48 LAST SUMMER.
A YEAR AGO HE WAS JUST A SHADE
DOWN FROM THAT AT 45/48.
SO SLIGHTLY UNDER WATER.
HE'S COME BACK UP TO EVEN LAST
SUMMER AND STILL IS.
>> IS IT HARD FOR HIM TO MOVE
THAT NEEDLE EVEN THOUGH HE'S
SEEMINGLY TRYING VERY HARD TO
MODERATE?
>> THAT HOLDS TRUE IN THE
SUPREME COURT RACE, THOUGH
DALLET TOPPED SCRENOCK BY FOUR.
THESE NUMBERS SEEM PRETTY START
HOW FEW PEOPLE KNOW THEM, BUT
ALSO REMEMBER SPRING ELECTIONS
HAVE A LOW TURN OWTD TURNOUT RATE.
20% WILL TURN OUT IN APRIL.
>> CONTRARY TO THAT, 75% OF
RESPONDENTS DID HAVE AN OPINION
ON TAMMY BALDWIN AND HER NUMBERS
HAVE SLIPPED JUST A LITTLE BIT.
>> SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT.
SHE'S TWO POINTS MORE
UNFAVORABLE THAN FAVORABLE RIGHT
NOW, WITH 20% PLUS NOT HAVING AN
OPINION ABOUT HER.
THAT'S DOWN BARELY AT ALL FROM
JUNE, BUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM
A YEAR AGO IN MARCH.
THERE HAS BEEN ADVERTISING BY
OUTSIDE GROUPS CRITICIZING HER
OVER THAT PERIOD, AND I THINK
YOU MIGHT LOOK AT IT AND SAY IS
THAT ENOUGH TO ACCOUNT FOR A
THREE OR FOUR-POINT MOVE IN
THOSE TWO NUMBERS.
YEAH, MAYBE IT IS.
BUT ALSO SHE HAS JUST BEGUN HER
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.
SO IN THE WORLD OF THESE
CAMPAIGNS, HERS IS SORT OF THE
FIRST ONE TO HEAT UP.
>> FOR HER REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGERS THAT WILL BE DOING A
FACEOFF IN A PRIMARY, REPUBLICAN
VOTERS THAT YOU SURVEYED, YOU
FOUND THAT NEARLY HALF DIDN'T
KNOW THEM?
>> FAR MORE THAN HALF WERE
UNABLE TO RATE THEM.
83 AND 85% UNABLE TO RATE EACH
OF THEM.
AND IN THE VOTE QUESTION, 49%
SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY
WERE GOING TO VOTE.
SO JUST AS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY, VOTERS AREN'T TUNED
INTO THIS.
THE CANDIDATES HAVEN'T BEEN
ADVERTISING ENOUGH, HAVEN'T BEEN
IN THE NEWS ENOUGH, HAVE NOT YET
MADE THEMSELVES KNOWN TO VOTERS.
>> ALL OF THAT WILL TICK UP IN
THE COMING DAYS, NO DOUBT.
I WANT TO SKIP ALONG TO ONE OF
YOUR ISSUE POLLING QUESTIONS AND
THAT HAS TO DO WITH GUNS.
YOU FOUND THAT 81% OF YOUR
RESPONDENTS FAVORED UNIVERSAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND 56%
SUPPORT BANS ON ASSAULT RIFLES.
WERE THOSE NUMBERS SURPRISING TO
YOU?
>> ACTUALLY, THEY'RE IN LINE
WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
THEY HADN'T GONE UP.
IN FACT, THE BACKGROUND CHECKS
WAS DOWN A COUPLE OF POINTS FROM
TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT THEY SHOW THE CONSENSUS ON
BACKGROUND CHECKS.
IT'S SORT OF A COMMON SENSE
THING TO DO.
78% OF GUN HOUSEHOLDS FAVOR
BACKGROUND CHECKS.
86% OF NON HOUSEHOLDS.
SO THAT'S AS CLOSE TO A
CONSENSUAL ISSUE ON A DIVISIVE
TOPIC AS YOU'RE EVER GOING TO
SEE.
THE ISSUE IS THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HERE AND THE
NATIONAL CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON,
DESPITE THIS HUGE CONSENSUS ON
THIS ONE PARTICULAR TOPIC, IS
UNABLE TO CRAFT A LEGISLATIVE
MAJORITY TO MOVE ON IT.
ASSAULT WEAPONS, ON THE OTHER
HAND, ARE MORE LIKELY DIVISIVE
ISSUE WITH A MAJORITY OF GUN
HOUSEHOLDS OPPOSING A BAN, A MA
NORTH OF NONGUN HOUSEHOLDS
FAVORING A BAN.
>> CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK.
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS
WEEK ANNOUNCED HIS PROTECTIONIST
PLANS FOR STEEL TARIFFS.
>> TODAY I'M DEFENDING AMERICA'S
NATIONAL SECURITY BY PLACING
TARIFFS ON FOREIGN IMPORTS OF
STEEL AND ALUMINUM.
WE WILL HAVE A 25% TARIFF ON
FOREIGN STEEL AND A 10% TARIFF
ON FOREIGN ALUMINUM.
WHEN THE PRODUCT COMES ACROSS
OUR BORDERS.
AT THE SAME TIME, DUE TO THE
UNIQUE NATURE OF OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH CANADA AND
MEXICO, WE'RE NEGOTIATING RIGHT
NOW NAFTA.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF THE
TARIFF ON THOSE TWO COUNTRIES TO
SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ABLE TO
MAKE THE DEAL ON NAFTA.
>> SPEAKER PAUL RYAN OPPOSES THE
PRESIDENT'S TARIFFS, SAYING,
QUOTE, I DISAGREE WITH THIS
ACTION AND FEAR ITS UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
THE BETTER APPROACH, HE SAYS, IS
TARGETED ENFORCEMENT AGAINST
THOSE PRACTICES.
OUR ECONOMY AND NATIONAL
SECURITY ARE STRENGTHENED BY
FOSTERING FREE TRADE WITH OUR
ALLIES AND PROMOTING THE RULE OF
LAW.
DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR TAMMY
BALDWIN SAYS THIS.
QUOTE, I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO
SUPPORT WISCONSIN WORKERS IS TO
PUT IN PLACE STRONG BUY AMERICAN
STANDARDS, RENEGOTIATE A BETTER
DEAL ON NAFTA AND TAKE ON CHINA
CHEATING.
I ALSO WANT AN EXEMPTION FOR OUR
EUROPEAN TRADING PARTNERS SO
WISCONSIN'S MANUFACTURING AND
FARMING ECONOMY ISN'T HURT GOING
FORWARD.
FOR HIS PART, GOVERNOR SCOTT
WALKER USED A VISIT THIS WEEK TO
JANESVILLE'S SENECA FOODS TO
STAGE HIS OPPOSITION TO HIGHER
STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS.
SENECA, WITH NINE PLANTS IN
WISCONSIN, MAKES THEIR OWN STEEL
CANS FOR THEIR FOOD PRODUCTS.
HIGHER TARIFFS MAY IMPACT THEIR
BOTTOM LINE.
>> THAT JUST MEANS THAT EACH OF
THESE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO PAY MORE, YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT $25 MILLION MORE ANNUALLY
TO PAY FOR THE STEEL THEY NEED
TO USE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY
MAKE HERE.
>> SO JUST WHAT ARE THE STAKES
FOR IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FLOWING
IN AND OUT OF WISCONSIN?
EXPORTS THAT INCLUDE MILWAUKEE'S
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES.
COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY
RETALIATORY TARIFFS ON HARLEY
BIKES OVERSEAS WOULD HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SALES,
CUSTOMERS AND RETAILERS.
WE TAKE THOSE TARIFF QUESTIONS
TO UW-MADISON PROFESSOR OF
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ECONOMICS,
MENZIE CHINN.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WAS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON
THESE TARIFFS A SURPRISE?
>> I MEAN, HE GAVE SORT OF A
WARNING SHOT LAST WEEK, SO TO
THAT EXTENT IT WASN'T A
SURPRISE.
BUT THE VERY FACT THAT HE WENT
THROUGH WITH IT IN THE NATURE
THAT HE DID WAS SURPRISING.
AND THEN THE VERY FACT THAT IT'S
NOT EVEN OVER, EVEN AS WE SPEAK,
IS EVEN YET ANOTHER SURPRISE.
THAT IS HE LEFT A LOT OF WIGGLE
ROOM.
AND IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY MAKES
THINGS MORE UNSETTLED THAN YOU
WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A WEEK AGO.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHAT IT COULD
ALL MEAN.
>> EXACTLY.
LAST WEEK HE SAID 25%, 10% ON
STEEL AND ALUMINUM RESPECTIVELY
AS TARIFFS OVER THE ENTIRE
SPECTRUM OF IMPORTS FROM ALL
SORTS OF COUNTRIES.
WHAT HE DID YESTERDAY WAS EXEMPT
CANADA AND MEXICO SUBJECT TO AN
ACCEPTABLE NEGOTIATION ON NAFTA.
AND THEN HE ALSO LET THE DOOR
OPEN FOR FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS
FOR ANY COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT
APPLY FOR WHATEVER PARTICULAR
REASONS THAT WOULD COME TO THEIR
MINDS.
>> SO DOES EXEMPTING FOR A
PERIOD OF TIME, UNCLEAR AS TO
HOW LONG YET, CANADA AND MEXICO,
DOES IT SOFTEN, YOU KNOW, THE
TARIFFS THAT HE HAS IMPOSED?
DOES IT SOFTEN THE WHOLE THING
FOR CRITICS OF THIS?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT WOULD
BECAUSE A GOOD PORTION OF THE
IMPORTS COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES, IN FACT, CANADA IS THE
MAJOR SUPPLIER OF STEEL IMPORTS
INTO THE U.S., TO THE EXTENT
YOU'RE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES COVERED BY THE TARIFF,
THEN THE AVERAGE PRICE OF
IMPORTED STEEL IS GOING TO BE
LESS THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD BE
IF YOU IMPOSED IT ACROSS ALL
COUNTRIES.
>> SO IF THIS EXEMPTING CANADA
AND MEXICO IS QUID PRO QUO FOR
RENEGOTIATING NAFTA, WHAT IS
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP OR THE
ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO GET OUT
OF NAFTA?
>> WELL, THEY'VE SAID THEY WANT
TO RENEGOTIATE SOME OF THE TERMS
BY WHICH NAFTA IS IMPLEMENTED.
TO ME, THE BIGGEST ONES HAVE TO
DO WITH DOMESTIC CONTENT
REQUIREMENTS.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LOOK AT
AN AUTOMOBILE THAT'S MADE IN
NORTH AMERICA, WHAT PROPORTION
OF IT HAS GOT TO BE U.S.
SOURCED, AS OPPOSED TO SOME
PARTS ARE FROM MEXICO AND
CANADA.
AND THEY WANT TO JACK UP THAT
RATIO A LOT HIGHER.
AND SO THAT'S A MAJOR POINT OF
CONTENTION.
>> OKAY.
BACK TO THE TARIFFS ON STEEL AND
ALUMINUM.
MANY REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING OUR
GOVERNOR, SAY THAT THIS IS GOING
TO HURT WISCONSIN BUSINESSES,
FROM BEER TO MOTORCYCLES TO
CRANBERRIES TO OTHER KIND OF
PRODUCTS.
>> THERE ARE TWO SETS OF
CONCERNS YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS.
FIRST IS THE DIRECT IMPLICATION
OF HIGHER STEEL AND ALUMINUM
COSTS.
SO THOSE ARE GOING TO FEED
DIRECTLY INTO THE COST OF
PRODUCTION OF MOTORCYCLES, FOR
INSTANCE, OR CONSTRUCTION, WHERE
YOU USE IMPORTED STEEL.
SO THERE'S THIS DIRECT IMPACT.
WHATEVER JOBS YOU MIGHT SAVE IN
STEEL, IN GENERAL IN THE OTHER
INDUSTRIES THAT USE STEEL, WHICH
ARE MORE LABOR-INTENSIVE, YOU'RE
PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE
OFFSETTING OR MORE THAN
OFFSETTING JOB LOSSES.
ON NET YOU HAVE THIS DIRECT
IMPACT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR THE
FINAL GOODS PLUS REDUCED
EMPLOYMENT IN THOSE INDUSTRIES,
OF WHICH WISCONSIN IS ONE OF
THOSE STATES THAT IS PRIMARILY
-- HAS A LOT OF THIS
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO STEEL PRICES.
THEN THERE'S THE RETALIATION
ISSUE YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER.
>> AND THAT'S A REAL THREAT AS
WELL, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S THIS
KIND OF WIGGLE ROOM NOW?
>> WELL, YES, BECAUSE, FOR
INSTANCE, WE HAVE NOT EXEMPTED
THE EUROPEAN UNION AND WE KNOW
WHAT THE EUROPEAN UNION'S
PRELIMINARY HIT LIST LOOKS LIKE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, CRANBERRIES,
BUT ALSO MOTORCYCLES.
SO IN NOT EXEMPTING THE EUROPEAN EUROPEAN
UNION WE'RE ON A COLLISION
COURSE WITH THEM, AT LEAST FOR
NOW.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A WORRY FOR
OUR EXPORTERS.
>> NOW, IS THERE ANY CONCERN OR
LIKELIHOOD THAT IF THIS KIND OF
CHEAP STEEL ISN'T VAINL AVAILABLE FROM
CHINA WITHOUT THIS 25% MARKUP
THAT DOMESTIC U.S. PRODUCERS OF
GOODS THAT USE THAT CHINESE
STEEL WOULD MOVE OUT OF THE
COUNTRY?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S PRIMARILY
AT THIS POINT THE ACCESS TO
CHINESE STEEL.
IN POINT OF FACT, CHINA EXPORTS
A PRETTY SMALL PROPORTION OF
STEEL TO THE UNITED STATES AT
THE MOMENT, PARTLY BECAUSE WE
HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF
ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING
DUTIES AGAINST CHINESE PRODUCTS.
THAT'S THE IRONY OF THE
SITUATION.
CHINA IS TO BLAME FOR LOW PRICES
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH EXCESS
CAPACITY.
THEY'VE BUILT SO MANY FACTORIES
THAT ARE PUTTING OUT STEEL AND
TO A LESSER EXTENT ALUMINUM THAT
IT'S DEPRESSING THE WORLD PRICE.
VERY LITTLE COMES TO THE U.S.
BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY
IMPLEMENTED PROTECTIONS AGAINST
THAT STEEL.
SO WHO ARE WE HITTING?
WELL, BEFORE YESTERDAY'S
ANNOUNCEMENT PRELIMINARILY, WE
WEREWEWERE HITTING OUR ALLIES, CANADA,
MEXICO, SOUTH KOREA AND THE
EUROPEAN UNION AND UK.
NOW YOU'VE TAKEN OFF MEXICO AND
CANADA, BUT YOU'RE NOT HITTING
THE TARGET YOU SAY YOU WANT TO
HIT.
AND EXTRA POINT IS THE MEASURES
ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED UNDER THIS
NATIONAL SECURITY PROVISION.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHICH IS A WHOLE NEW BALL
GAME.
WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INVESTIGATION
ALONG THESE LINES FOR AT LEAST
15 YEARS AND WE'VE NOT
IMPLEMENTED PROTECTIONS BASED ON
THIS SECTION 232 FOR AS LONG AS
I KNOW, MANY, MANY DECADES.
>> LOTS OF NEW BALL GAMES OUT
THERE.
MENZIE CHINN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RELATED TO ALL THIS, "HERE
AND NOW" REPORTER MARISA WOYCIK
HAS THIS REPORT ON EXPORTS FROM
THE BADGER STATE.
>> WISCONSIN EXPORTS TOTALED
$22.3 BILLION IN 2017.
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY WAS THE
STATE'S LARGEST EXPORT, AT $2.4
BILLION.
THE MAJORITY OF WISCONSIN
EXPORTS WENT TO CANADA, TOTALING
$6.9 BILLION.
MEXICO WAS THE NEXT HIGHEST,
RECEIVING $3.2 BILLION IN
WISCONSIN EXPORTS.
EXPORTS TO CANADA GREW BY 4.3%
FROM 2016 TO 2017.
OTHER TOP EXPORTS FROM WISCONSIN
INCLUDE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT,
VEHICLES AND PLASTICS.
OTHER TOP COUNTRIES WISCONSIN
EXPORTS TO INCLUDE CHINA, SAUDI
ARABIA AND JAPAN.
FIND MORE AT wpt.org.
>> AN INSIDE LOOK NOW FROM
CHANGES PROPOSED AT UW-STEVENS
POINT.
THAT'S WHERE 13 MAJORS HAVE BEEN
PUT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AS 16
NEW OR EXPANDED PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED.
THE CUTS INCLUDE MAJORS IN ART,
POLITICAL SCIENCE, ENGLISH AND
LANGUAGES, INCLUDING FRENCH AND
GERMAN.
EXPANDED PROGRAMS INCLUDE
FINANCE AND COMPUTER INFORMATION
SYSTEMS.
ADDITIONALLY, NEW PROGRAMS WOULD
INCLUDE AN MBA AND DOCTOR OF
PHYSICAL THERAPY.
THESE CHANGES COULD LEAD TO
TENURED FACULTY LAYOFFS.
ALL OF THIS MUST BE APPROVED BY
THE BOARD OF REGENTS.
GREG SUMMERS IS THE PROCEED POST
AND VICE-CHANCELLOR OF ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS.
WHY THIS MOVE?
>> WE'RE NO STRANGER TO BUDGET
REDUCTIONS.
BACK IN THE 1970s WHEN THE UW
SYSTEM WAS FIRST CREATED, WE GOT
ABOUT 50% OF THE BUDGET FROM THE
STATE AND TUITION WAS ALMOST
FREE AND FEES WERE RELATIVELY
MODEST.
TODAY WE GET ABOUT 13% OF OUR
BUDGET FROM THE STATE AND FEES
AND TUITION HAVE BECOME QUITE A
BURDEN FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THERE'S NOT MUCH NEW THERE.
WHAT HAS CHANGED ARE SEVERAL
OTHER FACTORS.
WE'RE IN THE FIFTH SIX YEAR OF A
SIX-YEAR TUITION CHANGE.
DEMOGRAPHICS DO NOT FAVOR
RECRUITMENT.
MOST INTL FOR US, WE'VE RECENTLY
DRAMATICALLY INCREASED OUR
FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE.
IN 2011 WE HAD A 22% GRADUATION
RATE.
TODAY IT'S MORE LIKE 34%.
THAT'S REALLY EMPTIED OUT THE
UNIVERSITY AND LED TO ENROLLMENT
DECLINE.
>> AND SO WHAT KIND OF BUDGET
CRUNCH ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT A $4.5 MILLION
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT PRESENTLY.
>> WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION FROM
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO THESE
CHANGES?
>> THIS IS EASILY THE MOST
PAINFUL PROCESS THAT I THINK
I'VE BEEN THROUGH AS EITHER A
FACULTY MEMBER OR AN
ADMINISTRATOR.
I'VE BEEN ON CAMPUS NOW FOR 17
YEARS AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT
PROCESS TO LET A MAJOR GO,
PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE
DISCIPLINES THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
THESE ARE THE TRADITIONAL
LIBERAL ARTS DISCIPLINES.
EVEN THOUGH IT REMAINS TRUE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE OFFERING ALL
OF THESE COURSES AND CURRICULA
IN THE FORM OF MINORS, TO LET GO
OF THE MAJORS THEMSELVES IS A
VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS.
AND SO IT'S BEEN KIND OF A
THUNDER CLAP FOR THE CAMPUS TO
ABSORB.
>> BECAUSE IN FACT ONE OF THOSE
MAJORS IS HISTORY AND THAT IS A
DEPARTMENT YOU CAME OUT OF
BEFORE YOU WENT INTO
ADMINISTRATION.
SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
CRITICS WHO SAY THAT THOSE
HUMANITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO
EDUCATION?
>> OH, THEY'RE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT.
I WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT
ALL.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS HERE.
WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN THE OHIO
STATE SYSTEM, I WENT TO SCHOOL
AT A PUBLIC OPEN ENROLLMENT
UNIVERSITY AND I GOT TO MAJOR IN
HISTORY AND STUDY THE DISCIPLINE
AND I WENT ON TO BECOME A
COLLEGE PROFESSOR.
THE FACT THAT THAT PARTICULAR
JOURNEY MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE HERE
AT STEVENS POINT IS KIND OF
HEARTBREAKING FOR ME PERSONALLY.
BUT WE'RE MAINTAINING LARGE
PARTS OF THE CURRICULUM.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OFFER
A STRONG LIBERAL ARTS CORE IN
OUR GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM,
PRESERVE A LOT OF MINORS AND
CERTIFICATES ROOTED IN THOSE,
AND DEVELOPING NEW DISCIPLINES
GROUNDED IN THE HUMANITIES AND
LIBERAL ARTS.
>> HOW MANY LAYOFFS MIGHT
RESULT?
>> WE DON'T KNOW YET.
THERE'S A PROCESS THAT'S GOING
TO BE UNHOLDING IN UNFOLDING IN THE STRUCTURE
HERE.
THERE'S A POLICY THAT WE'LL BE
FOLLOWING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE-TUNING
THE PROPOSALS.
WE SIMPLY WANTED TO GIVE THE
SENSE OF WHAT OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE AND TO ASK
FOR THEIR HELP IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS OR SO TO WORK TOGETHER ON
SHAPING UP THE PROPOSALS THAT WE
NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> IS THIS THE DIRECTION THAT
OTHER CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE
ARE LOOKING AT AS WELL, TO YOUR
KNOWLEDGE?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING
TO RECRUIT NEW STUDENTS AND MANY
OF THE INSTITUTIONS ARE DEALING
WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES THAT
ARE MAKING US REALLY WORK HARDER
TO BRING IN NEW STUDENTS.
AND WE'RE ALL SEEING SOME
DECLINES IN ENROLLMENT.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS
INSTITUTION IS THAT GRADUATION
RATE ISSUE.
BECAUSE WE'VE SO DRAMATICALLY
INCREASED OUR GRADUATIONING GRADUATION RATE,
OUR SITUATION HAS BEEN MORE
ACUTE.
THAT'S A GREAT THING FOR
STUDENTS.
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
STUDENTS ARE GETTING OUT OF HERE
SOONER AND WITH LESS EXPENSE.
BUT FINANCIALLY IT'S PUT A CRIMP
ON OUR BUDGET.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WE WISH YOU LUCK.
GREG SUMMERS, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> WISCONSIN IS SPENDING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO LURE
MILLENNIALS OUT OF CHICAGO AND
ELSEWHERE TO COME HERE TO WORK.
IN TONIGHT'S WIS CONTEXT, A LOOK
AT HOW ARGUMENTS IN THE STATE'S
AD CAMPAIGN, WHICH TRADE ON COST
OF LIVING COMPARISONS, STACK UP.
WE ARE JOINED BY SCOTT GORDON,
WHOSE REPORTING APPEARS THIS
WEEK ON wiscontext.org.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOU LOOKED AT THE
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION'S AD CAMPAIGN TO
LURE MILLENNIALS OUT OF CHICAGO
TO LIVE IN WISCONSIN.
AND ONE OF THE FIGURES THAT WAS
USED IN THE AD SAID THAT
WISCONSIN RENTS ARE 55% LESS
THAN IN CHICAGO.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THAT
CLAIM?
>> WELL, NO DOUBT IT'S CHEAPER
TO LIVE IN JUST ABOUT ANY PLACE
IN WISCONSIN THAN IT IS IN
CHICAGO.
BUT WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHERE
THE STATE WAS GETTING ITS
NUMBERS AND IF WE COULD
REPLICATE SOME OF THESE
COMPARISONS ABOUT RENT.
AND THE FOLKS AT WEDC DID TELL
US SOME OF THEIR SOURCES FOR
THIS DATA, AND WE HAD A HARD
TIME EXACTLY REPLICATING THAT.
AND THE KIND OF CHICAGO TO
WISCONSIN AS A WHOLE THING WAS
SOMETHING I WASN'T REALLY ABLE
TO DIG INTO AND IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, TO COMPARE
A CITY TO A WHOLE STATE IN TERMS
OF RENT.
SO THAT JUMPS OUT AT ME.
>> SO THE ADS ALSO BOAST THAT IN
MILWAUKEE THE COST OF LIVING IS
22% LESS THAN CHICAGO.
DO YOU KNOW HOW WEDC DETERMINED
THAT?
>> THEY'VE BEEN USING SOME
DIFFERENT FIGURES FROM DIFFERENT
WEBSITES AND THINGS.
THERE'S ONE THAT THEY USE FOR
RENT DATA CALLED RENT CAFE.COM.
THERE'S ANOTHER SPITE CALLED
SPERLING'S BEST PLACES THAT DOES
COMPARISONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT
CITIES AND ECONOMICS AND
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY THE
SOURCES I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED
THE STATE TO USE, SUCH AS
GOVERNMENT SOURCES OR THE COST
OF LIVING INDEX FROM THE COUNCIL
FROM COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC
RESEARCH, WHICH IS SOMETHING OF
A STANDARD.
>> SO THAT THERE ARE SORT OF
GOLD STANDARDS, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING FROM READING YOUR
REPORTING IS THAT SOMETIMES YOU
JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS APPLES TO
APPLES COMPARISON BECAUSE SOME
OF THE STANDARDS KIND OF COMPARE
DIFFERENT INKS THIS.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> RIGHT.
YEAH.
AND ONE THING I WAS REALLY
TRYING TO ASK AT THE OUTSET OF
THIS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW, WAS
IS THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF COST OF
LIVING A REALLY HARD AND FAST
MEASUREMENT IN THE, YOU KNOW,
ECONOMICS WORLD OR IS IT
SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE
NEBULOUS.
I THINK IT'S CLOSER TO THE
LATTER.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY AND
ECONOMIC RESEARCH THAT THEY PUT
OUT A QUARTERLY INDEX OF COST OF
LIVING, WHERE THEY'RE WEIGHING
TOGETHER SORT OF HOUSING COSTS.
THAT'S ALWAYS THE BIG ONE, OF
COURSE, IN ANY COST OF LIVING
CALCULATION THAT'S CREDIBLE.
AND ALSO ALL KINDS OF THINGS
THAT KIND OF REPRESENTS A WHOLE
MIX OF NEEDS AND WANTS THAT A
HOUSEHOLD MIGHT HAVE ANY GIVEN
PLACE.
>> AND YOU SUGGEST IN YOUR
REPORTING THAT OFTEN PEOPLE MOVE
FOR A NEW JOB, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE
OF POTENTIALLY A SIGNIFICANT PAY
BUMP AND THAT COST OF LIVING
CALCULATIONS MAY NOT BE
SOMETHING THAT MILLENNIALS ARE
LOOKING AT IF THEY'RE GOING TO
CHICAGO SAY FOR KIND OF A
BIG-TIME JOB.
>> RIGHT.
I MEAN, THE NUMBERS CAN'T
NECESSARILY ACCOUNT FOR SORT OF
THE MORE NUANCED AND INTANGIBLE
DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING
ABOUT WHERE TO MOVE OR WHERE TO
TAKE A NEW JOB OR WHAT THEY WANT
OUT OF LIFE AND THE PLACE THAT
THEY LIVE.
PEOPLE HAVE OBVIOUSLY POINTED
OUT TO ME THAT PEOPLE WILL BE
WILLING TO SHOULDER A HIGHER
COST OF LIVING OFTEN IF THEY'RE
GETTING KIND OF THE AMENITIES
AND FEATURES THAT THEY LIKE OR
IF THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE IN A
LABOR MARKET THAT GIVES THEM
MORE PLACES TO GO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, SCOTT GORDON, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING.
IT CAN BE AGAIN SEEN AGAIN ON WIS
CONTEXT ORG.
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THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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