>> LAC DU FLAMBEAU RESIDENTS
PUSH BACK AFTER WEEKS WITHOUT
ACCESS TO AND FROM THEIR HOMES.
AND A YEAR INTO UKRAINE'S
INNOVATION, THESE VOLUNTEERS
REFUSE TO LOSE MOMENTUM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," AB
UPDATE ON THE EASEMENT DISPUTE
IN LAC DU FLAMBEAU.
THE U.W. SYSTEM PRESIDENT ASKS
TO END THE TUITION FREEZE.
AND ELECTION OFFICIAL DESCRIBES
FUTURE SECURITY CHALLENGES AND
VOLUNTEERS BRING POWER TO
UKRAINE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW," FOR
MARCH 3RD.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> RESIDENTS LIVING ON THE LAC
DU FLAMBEAU RESERVATION FILED A
FEDERAL LAWSUIT TUESDAY OVER
BARRICADES BLOCKING FOUR ROADS
THAT CUT THROUGH TRIBAL LANDS.
AN EASEMENT TO THE ROADS EXPIRED
10 YEARS AGO.
THE LAC DU FLAMBEAU TRIBE IS
TODAY ASKING FOR $20 MILLION FOR
RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCESS AND TRESPASS
DAMAGES.
THE LAWSUIT SEEKS AN INJUNCTION
TO THE BARRICADES, AS RESIDENTS
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME AND
GO FROM THEIR HOMES FOR MORE
THAN A MONTH NOW, AND
COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRIBE HAS
ALL BUT CEASED.
HOMEOWNER AND PLAINTIFF DAVE
MEISS TOLD PBS WISCONSIN, QUOTE,
THIS IS AFFECTING HOMEOWNERS'
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE BECOME DISCOURAGED
BEYOND THE ABILITY FOR U.N. ONE
TO HELP US.
WE LIKELY ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF
WEEKS BEFORE THE ICE BECOMES
DANGEROUS TO CROSS.
ONCE THAT HAPPENS WE ARE TRULY
STUCK AND HAVE TO MAKE DECISION
WHETHER WE HAVE TO ABANDON OUR
HOMES.
FOR THE TRIBE'S PART, A
STATEMENT SAID, QUOTE, THE TOWN
AND TITLE COMPANIES WANT THE
TRIBE TO GIVE THEM RIGHT-OF-WAY
ACCESS FOREVER.
ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE ASKING US
TO GIVE UP OUR LAND.
WE HAVE GIVEN UP MILLIONS OF
ACRES OF LAND OVER GENERATIONS.
WE NOW LIVE ON A 12 BY 12 SQUARE
MILE PIECE OF LAND KNOWN AS A
RESERVATION.
THIS IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY NON-TRIBAL
HOMEOWNERS ON THE LAC DU
FLAMBEAU RESERVATION IN PART OF
THE ANSWER GOES BACK MORE THAN A
CENTURY, WHEN IN 1887, THE
FEDERAL DAWES GENERAL ALLOTMENT
ACT CARVED UP INDIGENOUS LAND
FOR INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP.
MARISA WOJCIK SPEAKS WITH
RICHARD MONETTE, A U.W. MADISON
PROFESSOR OF LAW AND DIRECTOR OF
THE GREAT LAKES INDIGENOUS LAW
CENTER.
>> GENERALLY WHAT DID INDIGENOUS
LANDS LOOK LIKE BEFORE THE DAWES
GENERAL ALLOTMENT ACT?
>> THEY ALMOST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
ANYTHING TO THE UNTRAINED EYE.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM
WITH EUROPEAN AMERICANS COMING
OVER, EUROPEANS COMING OVER, AND
NOT SEEING TERRITORY AND NOT
SEEING PROPERTY, MAYBE TERRITORY
DEFINED A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY,
YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT NATIONS,
SHARED TERRITORY, MAYBE
SEASONALLY, ET CETERA.
THEY DIDN'T GET THAT.
THERE CERTAINLY WAS PROPERTY,
YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TRIBES,
DIFFERENT FAMILIES, CLANS HAD
FISHING SITES, HAD SUGAR BUSHES,
YOU KNOW, HAD PLACES WHERE THEY
DID THEIR CEREMONIES.
THEY DIDN'T SEE ALL THAT.
>> THE DAWES GENERAL ALLOTMENT
ACT IN THE 1800s, WHAT DID
THAT DO?
>> IN 1887, THE DAWES ACT
ATTEMPTED TO TAKE WHAT WAS THE
THEN LEGALLY RECOGNIZED
TERRITORY, USUALLY BECAUSE OF A
TREATY OF A TRIBE, AND DIVIDED
IT UP INTO PROPERTY, DIVIDED IT
INTO SEVERAL -- FROM 40 ACRES TO
160 ACRES, SOMETIMES A LITTLE
LESS, SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE,
DEPENDING ON THE NUMBERS,
RESERVATION SIZE, ET CETERA.
BUT IT WAS WITH THE INTENT TO --
PURPORTEDLY, TO MAKE FARMERS OUT
OF NATIVES, MAKE PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNERS OUT OF THEM.
AND ONE STATEMENT ALWAYS
ATTRIBUTED TO TEDDY ROOSEVELT IS
TO ACT AS A GREAT PULVERIZING
ENGINE TO DESTROY THE TRIBAL
MASS.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.
SO IT DID THAT.
YOU KNOW, ON MANY RESERVATIONS
LIKE LAC DU FLAMBEAU, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME IN AND
DREW LINES AND DISREGARDED ALL
THOSE PRIOR SUGAR BUSHES,
FISHING HOLES AND OTHER PLACES
WHERE FAMILIES HAD RELATIVELY
RECOGNIZED, QUOTE-UNQUOTE,
OWNERSHIP.
THEY CAME IN WITH A RULER AND A
PEN, AND DIVIDED UP THE
RESERVATIONS, OFTEN, NOT ALWAYS
BUT OFTEN ALONG, YOU KNOW, THE
AMERICAN, YOU KNOW, SYSTEM OF
MEEMETES AND BOUNDS, TOWNSHIP
LINES, SECTION LINES, ET CETERA,
AND THE INDIVIDUAL INDIANS AND
FAMILIES ENDED UP WITH PRIVATE
PROPERTY IN THE AMERICAN SENSE
OF THE WORD.
>> AND THEY DID THIS TRIBE BY
TRIBE, ONE AT A TIME.
DID TRIBES OR INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
HAVE ANY CHOICE IN THE MATTER?
>> THAT WAS DEPENDING ON TRIBE
BY TRIBE TOO.
IT MADE THE BUREAU OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS AND THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR THE TRUSTEE.
AND SO THEY STARTED ACTING ON
BEHALF OF THE TRIBES AND THE
TRIBAL MEMBERS, AS TRUSTEES DO,
OFTENTIMES UNILATERALLY.
AND THUS WE FIND RIGHTS-OF-WAYS
AND EASEMENTS AND/OR THE BUREAU
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS LEASING THEIR
LANDS FOR GAS AND OIL, FOR
TIMBER, FOR GRAZING AND FOR
ROADS.
RIGHT?
SO THAT'S HOW WE SORT OF FAST
FORWARD TO GET TO THIS.
AND THEN IT'S IMPORTANT, ALONG
THAT HISTORICAL LINE, TO
RECOGNIZE, WELL, THAT 25-YEAR
PERIOD EXPIRED, AND THEN THEY
LOST -- THE TRIBES LOST
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF LAND
THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS:
FORECLOSURES BY BANKS, BY
CREDITORS, SHERIFF'S SALES.
SO PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES
SURPRISED, THEY SEE THE BIG
SQUARE ON THE MAP AND THEY SAY,
WELL, THAT'S THE RESERVATION,
HOW DID THEY -- HOW DID THERE
GET TO BE SO MANY NON-INDIANS IN
THERE?
THIS IS LARGELY HOW THAT
OCCURRED, WAS THE ALLOTMENT
PROCESS.
YOU CAN QUICKLY FAST FORWARD TO
ALL THESE EASEMENTS, ALL THE
PEOPLE LIVING ON SOME OF THE
BEST LANDS IN THE RESERVATION,
INCLUDING LAC DU FLAMBEAU, AND
THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE.
>> WHAT WAS THE CULTURAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ON TRIBES,
AND WHAT WAS THE IMPACT ON
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY?
>> THE IMPACT HAS BEEN HUGE.
I MEAN, WE CAN WRITE BOOKS ON
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL
OF HOW LAND IS USED IN A
TERRITORY, YOUR SOVEREIGNTY IS
GREATLY UNDERMINED.
THE INDIAN REORGANIZATION ACT
WAS INTENDED TO FACILITATE A
REBIRTH OF TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY
AND GOVERNANCE RIGHTS OF
SELF-DETERMINATION.
TO GET TO THE SPECIFIC POINT
HERE, WHILE THEY, IN FACT,
RESURRECTED THEIR SELF
DETERMINATION IN A LOT OF ARENAS
WHEN IT CAME TO GOVERNING
PROPERTY, THEY LARGELY HAVE NOT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO
HAPPEN NEXT?
>> FROM THAT HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THE
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS WAS
PROBABLY THE FONT OF THESE
LEASES IN THE FIRST INSTANCE,
AND LARGELY TO BLAME FOR THEM.
THEY PROBABLY ISSUED SOME OF
THOSE LEASES, RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, ET
CETERA, WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION
OR CONSENT FROM THE TRIBE.
THE TOWN PROBABLY JUST THOUGHT,
WELL, WE'LL JUST LET IT LIE AND
IT WILL GO AWAY, AND, YOU KNOW,
JUST LIKE THOSE LEASES FROM 25
OR 50 OR EVEN 99-YEAR LEASES
WHICH ARE COMMON, THEY'LL RUN
OUT AND THE INDIANS WILL BE
GONE, RIGHT?
WELL, THEY RAN OUT AND THEY
WEREN'T GONE.
AND INSTEAD, THERE'S A POLICY
TOWARDS SELF-DETERMINATION.
FRANKLY, WE ARE GETTING TO THE
STAGE IN 2023 WHERE THE BUREAU
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS MIGHT SAY,
CONGRESS MIGHT SAY, WE WILL
SETTLE THIS OUT, THE
TRESPASSING, FOR 10 YEARS NOW,
FUTURE COST, WE'LL PAY A FEW
MILLIONS TO DO THAT.
BUT WE WILL DO THAT UNDER A
COUPLE OF CONDITIONS.
TRIBE, YOU WILL ESTABLISH A
RECORDING OFFICE SO THAT THESE
KINDS OF INTERESTS CAN BE
REGISTERED SOMEWHERE, SO THAT
TITLE COMPANIES CAN FIND IT.
AND BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,
YOU WILL PROVIDE ALL THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THEY NEED
TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN
AND COULD HAPPEN HERE IF THIS IS
DONE CORRECTLY.
AND THEN THIS KIND OF THING
WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, AND IF IT
DOES, WE KNOW WHERE THE FINGER
POINTS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST
IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR A
NON-INDIGENOUS AUDIENCE, TO
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS SITUATION,
ESPECIALLY IF THEY FEEL LIKE
ALREADY MOST OF THE FINGER
POINTING GOES TO THE TRIBE?
>> I THINK THEY HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND ALL THIS, THE
DIFFICULT, TERRIBLY DIFFICULT
HISTORY THAT PEOPLE SAY, YOU
KNOW, WELL, I WASN'T THERE, I
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
IT.
OKAY, BUT YOU'RE HERE NOW.
AND IT VERY CLEARLY DERIVES FROM
THAT.
IMAGINE THE FEELING OF IRONY IF
YOU'RE A TRIBAL MEMBER WITH THIS
WHOLE HISTORY OF, YOU KNOW,
IMPOSED AMERICAN PROPERTY
IZATION, RIGHT, AND THEN YOU'RE
LOOKING AT A BUNCH OF
NON-NATIVES LOOKING AT YOU
TELLING YOU THEY DIDN'T QUITE
UNDERSTAND PROPERTY STUFF AT
PLAY HERE, RIGHT?
IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO BUY.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFICULT
DYNAMICS.
WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE SOME
OWNERSHIP OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN
THIS COUNTRY.
NOW AS FAR AS THE TRIBE U KNOW,
WELL, EQUITIES ARE EQUITIES, AND
THEY UNDERSTAND THE
RELATIONSHIP, THEY TEACH THIS,
BETWEEN THE COLLECTIVE AND THE
INDIVIDUAL.
THEY TEACH PEOPLE TO ASSESS
THOSE THINGS SEPARATELY, SO YOU
CAN SEE HOW THEY'RE PROPERLY
RELATED AND PROPERLY BALANCED.
WELL, THESE INDIVIDUAL
AMERICANS, SURE, THEY'RE
AMERICANS AND PART OF THAT WHOLE
UGLY HISTORY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO
INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE
SOME EQUITY AT STAKE.
AND THE TRIBE AN ITS PEOPLE WILL
NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT TOO.ú>> K
YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME VERY MUCH.
>> YOU CAN WATCH THAT EXTENDED
INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBPAGE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS.
TURNING TO EDUCATION, AFTER A
DECADE OF UNDERGRADUATE TUITION
FREEZES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN, THE SYSTEM PRESIDENT
IS NOW ASKING TO BE ABLE TO HIKE
THE COST OF ATTENDANCE BY 5%
STARTING NEXT FALL.
CURRENT TUITION RATES VARY AT
THE 13 UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.W.
SYSTEM FROM ABOUT $4,750 PER
YEAR TO JUST UNDER $9,275 AT
U.W. MADISON.
A 5% INCREASE WOULD ADD HUNDREDS
OF DOLLARS TO THAT BILL.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS' BUDGET
CALLS FOR GIVING THE U.W. SYSTEM
MORE THAN $300 MILLION OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS, BUT THAT IS
STILL SHORT TO COVER COSTS,
ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY.
U.W. SYSTEM PRESIDENT JAY
ROTHMAN JOINS US NOW.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE SHOULD NOTE
PBS WISCONSIN IS PART OF U.S.
MADISON.
PRESIDENT ROTHMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> YOU DESCRIBED THERE ARE TWO
LEVERS FOR THE UNIVERSITY WHEN
IT COMES TO MEETING COSTS:
STATE GPR, TAX DOLLARS, AND
TUITION.
BUT EVEN THE GOVERNOR'S
EDUCATION-FRIENDLY BUDGET
DOESN'T GET YOU THERE, IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT IT, AND COMING FROM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, I LOOK AT IT AND
SAY WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROFIT AND
LOSS STATEMENT THAT BALANCES OUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS
REVENUE LEVERS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO US, AND THAT'S --
GPR IS A PRACTICAL MATTER AND
TUITION AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE EXPENSE SIDE.
IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE TUITION
HAS BEEN ADJUSTED, AND DURING
THAT PERIOD OF TIME, INFLATION
HAS BEEN THERE, BUT MUCH MORE
ACCELERATE OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO BALANCE
OFF WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN
TERMS OF A TUITION INCREASE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COVER THE COST
OF INFLATION AS A PRACTICAL
MATTER, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO ALSO LOOK AT THOSE EXPENSE
LEVERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
ACHIEVE THE TWO GOALS THAT WE
REALLY HAVE.
ONE IS TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY
AND EXCELLENCE THAT THE U.W.
SYSTEM IS KNOWN FOR, AND
SECONDLY, TO ENSURE THE
LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY
AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR
UNIVERSITIES.
>> WHAT ARE THE MAIN DRIVERS OF
THE INCREASE FOR THE SYSTEM
RIGHT NOW?
>> IN SOME CASES IT'S THE
INFLATIONARY PRESSURE BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO INVEST.
WISCONSIN IS IN A WAR FOR
TALENT.
WE ARE NOT FILLING THE JOBS THAT
ARE NEEDED BY STATE EMPLOYERS.
CERTAINLY COMING OUT OF THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, I KNEW THAT,
BECAUSE I WAS EXPERIENCING THOSE
SAME PRESSURES.
BUT AS I'VE SPENT TIME IN MY
CURRENT ROLE TALKING TO
EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE, THE NEED
FOR ENGINEERS, THE NEED FOR
NURSES, THE NEED FOR TEACHERS,
THE NEED FOR DATA SCIENTISTS,
THAT LIST GOES ON AND ON.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN ENROLLMENT
AND IN INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING.
THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN ADOPTED
BY THE REGENTS IN DECEMBER HAS A
TARGET OF INCREASING OUR
GRADUATES BY ABOUT 10% TO 41,000
ANNUALLY BY 2028.
>> IN YOUR MIND, WHAT HAPPENS IN
WISCONSIN IF THE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM CANNOT ATTRACT AND RETAIN
THAT TALENT, THOSE WORKERS?
>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A
BROADER ISSUE.
IT'S A WISCONSIN ISSUE.
IT'S FOR THE STATE.
IF WE ARE NOT ABLE -- WE ARE THE
BEST TALENT MAGNET IN MY
JUDGMENT THIS STATE HAS IN TERMS
OF RECRUITING, DEVELOPING AND
RETAINING GREAT TALENT IN THE
STATE.
87% OF OUR IN-STATE RESIDENTS
WHO GRADUATE FROM ONE OF THE
SYSTEM SCHOOLS STAY IN THE
STATE.
THAT'S A GREAT MAGNET.
BUT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, IF WE
AREN'T SUCCESSFUL AND IF
WISCONSIN IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN
WINNING THAT TALENT WAR, THE
ECONOMIC PROSPECTS FOR THE STATE
DECLINE.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
WHAT IS THE STATE GOING TO LOOK
LIKE 10 AND 15 AND 20 YEARS FROM
NOW, AND WE HAVE CHALLENGES.
WE LOOK AT DEMOGRAPHICS, WE LOOK
AT BIRTH RATES, WE LOOK AT NET
OUTWARD MIGRATION, AND WE LOOK
AT THE DECLE DECLINE IN COLLEGE
PARTICIPATION, THE NUMBER OF
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES GOING INTO
COLLEGE.
THOSE ARE CHALLENGES FOR OUR
STATE.
THE U.W. SYSTEM, PARTNERING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, PARTNERING
WITH THE LEGISLATURE, CAN HELP
ADDRESS THOSE FOR THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> NOW, AS YOU KNOW, THE
GOVERNOR INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL
$24.5 MILLION TO FUND YOWRP
TUITION PROMISE PROGRAM, BUT
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
HAVE SAID STATE FUNDING OF THAT
IS UNLIKELY AND SHOULD COME FROM
PRIVATE DONATIONS.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> A COUPLE FACTORS.
ONE IS, I THINK THAT IS A STEP
IN HELPING US WIN THE WAR FOR
TALENT.
THAT IS AN INVESTMENT IN
STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING FROM
LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC MEANS, AND
THAT IMPACTS ALL 72 COUNTIES IN
OUR STATE.
INCLUDING THE COUNTY THAT I GREW
UP IN, IN NORTH CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.
IT CAN HELP GET MORE STUDENTS IN
BECAUSE IT TAKES TUITION OFF THE
TABLE.
THOSE STUDENTS STILL HAVE A
WHOLE LOT OF SKIN IN THE GAME.
THEY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SKIN IN
THE GAME BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE
TO PAY FOR HOUSING, THEY HAVE TO
PAY FOR BOOKS, THEY HAVE TO PAY
FOR TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY ARE
INVESTING FOUR YEARS OF THEIR
LIFE IN THAT COLLEGE EDUCATION,
SO THERE'S A LOT OF SKIN IN THE
GAME THAT ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL
MOBILITY AND ALLOWS US TO TRY TO
ADDRESS THE TALENT WAR.
SO I THINK THAT IS A BIG PIECE
OF TRYING TO RESPOND.
SECONDLY, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE
OPEN.
I'VE WELCOMED THE CONVERSATION
WITH THE LEGISLATORS ABOUT HOW
WE CAN STRUCTURE THAT PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE IN IT, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT, I THINK IT HELPS
ACHIEVE SOME GOALS FOR THE
STATE, BUT I ALSO THINK WE HAVE
TO -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE
OPEN TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION
WITH THEM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
DOING THAT.
>> WITH LESS THAN A HALF A
MINUTE LEFT, WHAT IS YOUR
MESSAGE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
IN WISCONSIN ABOUT THIS TUITION
INCREASE?
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT
AND SAY THREE THINGS.
ONE IS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF
EDUCATION AND IF WE DON'T INVEST
IN IT, WE WON'T MAINTAIN THAT
QUALITY THE SYSTEM IS KNOWN FOR.
SECONDLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE
SUSTAINABLE, BUT THIRD, WE DID
AN AFFORDABILITY STUDY LAST
SUMMER.
WE ARE THE MOST AFFORDABLE
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE
MIDWEST.
THIS TUITION INCREASE IS NOT
GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE THE
MOST AFFORDABLE, BEST VALUE OF
ANY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE
MIDWEST.
THE VALUE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION
IS, I DON'T THINK THE
ECONOMICS -- THEY ARE
UNATTAINABLE.
IT IS CLEAR THAT STUDENTS CAN
BENEFIT FROM THAT, BOTH
ECONOMICALLY BUT ALSO SOCIALLY.
IT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT IN THE
FUTURE.
>> CHAIR ROTHMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WITH INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS
HIGH OVER U.S. SUPPORT OF
UKRAINE FOLLOWING RUL SHA'S
INNOVATION, AND HEIGHTENED
ACRIMONY BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND CHINA, ELECTION
OFFICIALS ARE ON ALERT FOR
CYBER-ATTACKS LEADING UP TO
2024, INCLUDING OUR OWN
OFFICIALS.
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, MEAGAN
WOLFE, WHO ALSO IS THE IMMEDIATE
PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF STATE ELECTION
DIRECTORS, JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
>> SO WHY DO ELECTION OFFICIALS
PRECISELY, LIKE YOURSELF, HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT CYBER-ATTACKS
FROM RUSSIA OR CHINA IN THE 2024
ELECTIONS?
>> ELECTION OFFICIALS ALWAYS
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CYBER
THREATS REGARDLESS OF WHERE
THEY'RE EVENTUALLY ATTRIBUTED
TO.
AND SO AS ELECTION OFFICIALS, WE
ARE CONSTANTLY PREPARING FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF SOME TYPE OF
CYBER THREATS.
ELECTIONS ARE CONSIDERED
NATIONAL CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT MEANS
PROTECTING THEM FROM A CYBER AND
A PHYSICAL THREAT PERSPECTIVE IS
A PRIORITY, BOTH AT THE
NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
LEVEL.
>> IS IT ACCURATE THAT YOU
DIDN'T SEE ANY ATTACKS ON THE
2022 ELECTIONS?
>> THAT IS -- THAT IS ACCURATE
TO SAY.
WHILE WE'RE ALWAYS PREPARING FOR
THAT POSSIBILITY, WE'RE ALWAYS
PREPARING FOR THINGS LIKE DENIAL
OF SERVICE ATTACK, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHERE SOMEONE MAY TRY TO
OVERWHELM THE NETWORK OF A STATE
OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO THAT IT
DISRUPTS THEIR FLOW OF BEING
ABLE TO CONDUCT THEIR PROCESSES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE
CERTAINLY DID NOT SEE ANY OF
THOSE SPECIFIC TYPES OF ATTACKS
IN THE 2022 ELECTION, BUT WE'RE
ALWAYS PREPARING FOR THOSE AND
WORKING TO MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEMS
ARE RESILIENT AND ROBUST.
>> WHAT ACTIVE CYBER ATTACKS DID
WISCONSIN SEE IN 2020?
>> IN 2020, WE CERTAINLY -- I
DON'T KNOW THAT WE SAW ANY
SPECIFIC CYBER THREATS TO OUR
SYSTEMS, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A
CONSTANT LOOKING AT OUR SYSTEMS,
MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE
RESILIENT.
IT'S DOING THINGS LIKE
CONDUCTING THE POST-ELECTION
VOTING EQUIPMENT AUDIT.
SO AFTER EACH ELECTION, WE
CONDUCT A POST-ELECTION VOTING
EQUIPMENT AUDIT, WITH I INVOLVES
HAND-COUNTING BALLOTS IN
RANDOMLY SELECTED JURISDICTIONS
TO ENSURE THAT THE PAPER BALLOTS
REFLECT THE MACHINE TOTALS ON
THE TABULATORS.
AND IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, AND
THEN AGAIN AFTER THE 2022
ELECTION, WE ACTUALLY AUDITED
10% OF THE BALLOTS IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN AND COMPARED THOSE
PAPER TOTALS AGAINST THE MACHINE
TOTALS, AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE
INCREDIBLY ACCURATE.
AND SO IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF
AVOIDING THOSE ATTACKS,
PREPARING FOR THOSE THREATS.
WE ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AFTER
EACH ELECTION TO ENSURE THAT OUR
PROTECTIONS OF THE SYSTEM DID,
INDEED, WORK.
>> AND YET WHY COULD WISCONSIN
BE VULNERABLE TO THIS?
>> ANY CORPORATION, ANY
GOVERNMENT ENTITY, ANY
INDIVIDUAL IS CERTAINLY U.S.
SUSCEPTIBLE TO CYBER THREATS.
SO IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS
NOT JUST ELECTION OFFICIALS BUT
AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN
GENERAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PREPARING FOR, PRACTICING OUR
CONTINGENCY PLANS AND OUR
RESILIENCY EFFORTS.
AND WE DO A LOT WITH OUR LOCAL
OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND CYBERSECURITY BEST
PRACTICES, AND THAT THEY HAVE
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE
ABLE TO OPERATE THEIR LOCAL
ELECTION SYSTEMS IN A SECURE
MANNER.
WE DO THIS THROUGH
SCENARIO-BASED TRAININGS WITH
OUR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS,
AND WE ALSO PROVIDE GRANTS TO
LOCAL ELECTION OFFICES SO THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO PROCURE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED, LIKE A
SECURE COMPUTER, ACCESS TO
MANAGED SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
THEIR COMPUTERS, AND EVEN GRANTS
SO THAT THEY CAN ATTEND TRAINING
WHERE WE FOCUS ON CYBERSECURITY
INITIATIVES.
SO WE MAY HAVE A VERY
DECENTRALIZED ELECTION SYSTEM
HERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
WITH EACH OF OUR CITIES, TOWNS
AND VILLAGES OPERATING
ELECTIONS, BUT WE DO A LOT TO
WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE PREPARED FOR ANY POTENTIAL
PHYSICAL OR CYBER THREATS TO
ELECTIONS.
>> WHAT DOES WISCONSIN AND OTHER
STATES NEED FOR THAT PREPARATION
AND THAT TRAINING GOING FORWARD?
SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE
NOW?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,
WHAT WE NEED IS SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING FOR CYBERSECURITY IN
ELECTIONS.
AND PHYSICAL SECURITY IN
ELECTIONS AS WELL.
WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW IS WE
RECEIVED FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING,
WHICH ALLOWS US TO IMPLEMENT
ONE-TIME SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL
ELECTION OFFICES, FOR STATE
ELECTION OFFICES, FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO BUILD OUT OUR
CAPABILITIES.
BUT THERE IS NO FINISH LINE WHEN
IT COMES TO CYBERSECURITY IN
ELECTIONS.
EVERY DAY THAT GOALPOST MOVES.
THE THREATS THAT WE FACE, THOSE
MOVE AND THEY CHANGE.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO FIND A
WAY AS STATES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO BE ABLE TO
SUSTAIN THOSE INITIATIVES.
BECAUSE THE THREAT OF A
CYBERSECURITY ATTACK, IT'S NOT
GOING TO GO AWAY AND THERE IS NO
FINISH LINE.
SO I THINK FINDING WAYS TO
CREATE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND
PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT SECURITY
IN ELECTIONS IS REALLY, REALLY
AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE AND
SHOULD BE A PRIORITY AT BOTH THE
STATE AND THE LOCAL LEVEL.
>> RIGHT.
MEAGAN WOLFE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE THE
RUSSIAN MILITARY INVADED
UKRAINE, RELIEF EFFORTS REMAIN
HIGH.
"HERE AND NOW" STUDENT
JOURNALIST ADITI DEBNATH HAS
THIS STORY OF A WISCONSIN ROTARY
CLUB HELPING TO POWER HOMES
DURING THE UKRAINIAN WINTER.
>> MY PARTNERS AT THAT TIME TOLD
ME WHAT I'M DOING IS INSANE, BUT
IT'S GOING TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF
LIVES, AND IT'S ONLY MONEY, AND
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
>> RISKING HER RETIREMENT
SAVINGS, ANYA VERKHOSVKAYA
ORDERED JUST UNDER $1 MILLION
WORTH OF PORTABLE POWER
GENERATORS TO BE SENT TO
UKRAINE, IN PREPARATION FOR THE
WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
>> I'VE NEVER ORDERED 1100
GENERATORS BEFORE.
ACTUALLY, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO START A
GENERATOR, AND I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT GENERATORS.
>> SHE THEN MET DR. DOUG DAVIS,
WHO HAD A SIMILAR MISSION.
SINCE RUSSIA'S INNOV RUSSI RUSSF
UKRAINE ALMOST A YEAR AGO,
DR. DAVIS HAS SHIPPED AN
ESTIMATED 100,000 POUNDS OF
MEDICAL AID FROM A WAREHOUSE IN
GERMANTOWN.
>> WE HAD PROBABLY 50 GAYLORD
BOXES OF SUPPLIES THAT WE WERE
HAVING TROUBLE GETTING SHIPPED.
AND SHE'S LIKE, I COULD TAKE
CARE OF THAT.
>> DR. DAVIS WHOSE FAMILY IS
UKRAINIAN, EVACUATED HIS IN-LAWS
LAST FEBRUARY TO HIS HOME IN
OREGON, WISCONSIN.
HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, DR. TARAS
KHABA, HAS BEEN ABLE TO USE HIS
MEDICAL CONNECTIONS IN UKRAINE
TO HELP DETERMINE HIGH-NEED
ITEMS.
>> I DIDN'T FEEL VERY WELL AT
THAT TIME AND HE TOLD ME I KNOW
HOW TO HELP YOU, HOW TO HELP
YOUR COUNTRY, AND THAT'S TO
BECOME VOLUNTEERS.
>> BUT DAVIS AND KHABA DIDN'T DO
IT ALONE.
THE ROTARY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE HAS
PROVIDED COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS
TOWARD THE CAUSE, AND IN
JANUARY, THE GROUP WAS ABLE TO
FUNDRAISE FOR VERKHOSVKAYA'S
GENERATOR PROJECT.
>> WE LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES
AS PEOPLE OF ACTION WHO WORK
TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, NOT ONLY IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, BUT COMMUNITY
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
>> THIS FEBRUARY, DR. DAVIS
TRAVELED TO UKRAINE, WHERE HE
AND THE ROTARY CLUB OF UKRAINE
TOOK DELIVERY OF THE FIRST
GENERATORS TO ARRIVE.
AMID-AIR RAID SIRENS AND
CATCHING UP WITH FAMILY, HE SAYS
WITNESSING THE PAYOFF IS WHAT
KEEPS HIM GOING.
>> I THINK LEARNING ABOUT ALL
THAT MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN HARDER
THAN MEDICAL SCHOOL.
>> BACK IN WISCONSIN, VOLUNTEERS
DON'T HAVE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE
GENERATOR PROJECT'S SUCCESS.
>> AND YOU CAN'T REALLY
CELEBRATE ANY SMALL VICTORIES OR
BIG VICTORIES BECAUSE THERE IS
THIS TREMENDOUS CLOUD OF
COLLECTIVE TRAGEDY THAT IS
HAPPENING THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO
FIGHT ALL THE TIME.
>> THOUGH DONATIONS MAY BE
SLOWING DOWN, THE CRISIS LEVEL
NEED FOR HUMANITARIAN AID IN
UKRAINE PERSISTS, NOW ONE LONG
YEAR AFTER THE INVASION.
>> IF PEOPLE THINK THIS IS JUST
SOME COUNTRY IN EASTERN EUROPE,
NO, THIS IS WORLD WAR THREE.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M ADITI
DEBNATH IN GERMANTOWN.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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[MUSIC]
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FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.