>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> HOW WILL A 13-DOLLAR AN HOUR
PAY RAISE FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS EASE CONDITIONS AT
WISCONSIN PRISONS? HOW BORDER COMMUNITIES ARE
DEALING WITH MARIJUANA CROSSING THROUGH.
AND MORE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES FEEL THE BUDGET AXE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," WHY
SHORT-STAFFED STATE PRISONS MEANS MORE LOCK-DOWNS.
THEN, ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON LEGAL MARIJUANA SURROUNDING
WISCONSIN. A FORMER VICE CHANCELLOR URGES
CAUTION WHEN IT COMES TO CLOSING TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES.
AND THE NEXT WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE.
THIS WEEK, HEALTH DIVIDES. IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR OCTOBER
27th. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS
FUND FORJOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PB SWISCONSIN.
>> THREE WISCONSIN PRISONS HAVE SUCH A SHORTAGE OF CORRECTIONAL
OFFICERS, THEY ARE ON SOME FORM
OF LOCKDOWN. OR AS THE AGENCY PREFERS,
MODIFIED MOVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE MAXIMUM
SECURITY WAUPUN PRISON, THE VACANCY RATE SITS AT 53%.
AT THE GREEN BAY PRISON, IT'S A 41% VACANCY RATE, AND AT
STANLEY, IT'S NEARLY 44%. ADS LOOKING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO
BECOME CORRECTIONS OFFICERS HAVE BEEN HITTING AIRWAVES AND
ON-LINE RECENTLY. THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
AND RETAIN MORE OFFICERS WITH EXPECTS TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT
THE NEWLY APPROVED PAY BUMP FROM DOCTORS 20 AN HOUR TO $33, A
RAISE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK.
THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM JUST RELEASED A REPORT TITLED PRISON
BLUES, WHICH EXPLORED PRISON SPENDING IN THE STATE.
RESEARCH DIRECTOR JASON STEIN JOINS US ON THIS.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE. >> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU. >> SO THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS DESCRIBES A DIRE STAFFING SHORTAGE IN ITS PRISONS
AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOCKDOWN OF INMATES, MAX SECURITY WAUPUN
WITH THAT 53% VACANCY RATE. HOW SHOULD THIS PAY BUMP
AMELIORATE THIS PROBLEMMISH. >> IT'S GOING TO HELP ACROSS THE
LABOR MARKET, WE'VE SEEN EMPLOYER CHALLENGES, TURNOVER
RATES RISING, AND THAT'S ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT.
OUR 24/7 INSTITUTIONS, THAT'S WHERE IT'S BEEN MOST ACUTE.
I THINK THE CHALLENGES IN 2022, THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,000
VACANCIES WITHIN THE PRISON SYSTEM. SO WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT -- AND YOU CAN'T SIMPLY BRING SOMEONE
IN ONTO STREET, PUT THEM IN A PLACE LIKE WAUPUN AND HAVE THEM
WALK THE LINE. YOU HAVE TO TRAIN THESE PEOPLE.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO TURN THE SHIP IN THE WATER, BUT IT'S A
BIG SHIP AND A LONG TURN. >> HOW LONG COMING AS THIS PAY
RAISE BEEN IS THIS. >> YOU KNOW, IT TOOK US YEARS TO
GET IN THIS POSITION OF ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT AND
PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE PRISON SYSTEM HAVING THESE VACANCIES,
AND THIS GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE STATE WAS WILLING TO PAY AND
WHAT PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO DO, BECAUSE COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY
IN A PRISON IS, NEWS FLASH, A VERY DIFFICULT JOB, AND SO IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET OUT OF THIS HOLE.
>> AND ADDING TO THAT PROBLEM, THE STATE'S 37 PRISONS ARE OVER
CAPACITY WITH THOSE INCARCERATED, AND THIS HAS LONG
BEEN THE CASE. AND WE INCARCERATE MORE PEOPLE
THAN NEIGHBORING STATES. WHY THIS MISMATCH WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS? >> YOU KNOW, GOI NG BACK TO THE
'90s, WISCONSIN BUILT A LARGE PRISON SYSTEM AND DESPITE THE
FACT THAT IT'S A LARGE SYSTEM, IT'S BEEN OVER CAPACITY, EVEN
WHEN WE DIPPED THIS POPULATION DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE REMAIN
OVER CAPACITY. IT COMES DOWN TO WE INCARCERATE
AT HIGHER RATES THAN OUR NEIGHBORS, HIGHER RATES THAN
NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND THAT LEADS TO PER CAPITA SPENDING ON
CORRECTIONS BEING HIGHER IN WISCONSIN THAN IN OUR
NEIGHBORING STATES. THIS IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT
YOU CANNOT CHANGE OVERNIGHT, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE STATE
CAN DO AND THE STATE HAS THE RESOURCES NOW TO TRY AND BEND
THIS CURVE OVER THE NEXT GENERATION.
>> AND HOW DO YOU BEND THE CURVE IN THAT WAY?
>> YOU KNOW, ONE -- THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO INCARCERATION IN
THE STATE HAS BEEN REVOCATIONS. SO IT'S NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE
COMMITTING A CRIME FOR THE FIRST TIME.IT MAY BE A CRIME, BUT
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON
EXTENDED SUPERVISION INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SOMETHING, WHETHER
IT'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WHETHER IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE,
WHETHER IT'S NEW CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS LANDING THEM BACK IN
THE SYSTEM. AND SO THE STATE HAS BEEN
TESTING METHODS AND HAS ACTUALLY LOWERED THAT REVOCATION RATE.
AND SO THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE GOING FORWARD, BUT
THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS MAINTAINED
WHILE THOSE REVOCATION RATES ARE LOWERED AS WELL.
>> AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT'S THE KIND OF EFFORT THAT TAKES A
WHILE TO BRING THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.
>> CORRECT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANCE
ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT
PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH FOR ANYONE IN THE POPULATION, AND, YOU
KNOW, ONE AREA WHERE THE STATE -- ONE BRIGHT SPOT IS THE
STATE DOES HAVE, WITHIN ITS LARGE STATE SURPLUS, THE ABILITY
TO INVEST IN TARGETED, YOU KNOW, TO EXPERIMENT AND INVEST IN
TARGETED METHODS TO TRY AND DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS.
>> SO WISCONSIN IS SPENDING $2.76 BILLION CORRECTIONS IN THE
CURRENT STATE BUDGET. AGAIN, MORE PER INMATE THAN
SURROUNDING STATES, AND IS IT A FUNCTION OF JUST HAVING MORE
INMATES AND MORE PRISONS THAT WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN OUR
SURROUNDING STATES? >> IT'S LARGELY A FUNCTION OF
THAT.THE THING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND IS STATE PRISONS ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY OR ANY OTHER STATE IS
GOING TO GIVE YOU MONEY FOR. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR
THAT WITH YOUR OWN STATE'S TAX DOLLARS, SO FINDING WAY TO
ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY BUT ALSO MINIMIZE CORRECTION SPENDING
OVER TIME IS GOING TO TO SAVINGS IS ENTIRELY GOING TO GO TO
TAXPAYERS IF YOU CAN THREAD THAT NEEDLE.
>> HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL START THREADING THAT NEEDLE.
JASON STEIN, THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN IS SURROUNDED BY LEGAL MARIJUANA WITH BOTH
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN LEGALIZING THE RECREATIONAL USE OF
MARIJUANA IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. IN MINNESOTA, VOTING TO DO THE
SAME EARLIER THIS YEAR. IT'S ESTIMATED MORE THAN HALF OF
ALL STATE RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 21 LIVE WITHIN A 75-MINUTE
DRIVE TO A LEGAL DISPENSARY, AND THAT NUMBER WILL ONLY INCREASE.
ZAC SCHULTZ EXPLAINS HOW THIS LEAFS WISCONSIN RESIDENTS AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT CAUGHT IN A GRAY AREA WHERE A PRODUCT PURCHASED
LEGALLY IN ANOTHER STATE BECOMES ILLEGAL THE MINUTE IT CROSSES
THE BORDER. >> THE HIGHWAY 41 BRIDGE TRAVELS
OVER THE MENOMONEE RIVER, CARRYING YOU OUT OF WISCONSIN
AND INTO MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA.TAKE THE FIRST RIG
HT AND YOU'RE KNOT PARKING LOT OF A
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY.IF YOU GO THROUG
H THE DRIVE-THROUGH, YOU DON'T EVEN
NEED TO EXIT YOUR CAR TO PURCHASE LEGAL MARIJUANA
PRODUCTS AND START THE DRIVE BACK ACROSS THE RIVER.
>> YEAH. JUST A REALLY OPTIMAL LOCATION.
>> LINDSEY MARWICK IS FROM HIGHER LOVE.
SHE SAYS MOST OF THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE FROM OVER THE BORDER.
>> A GOOD MAJORITY ARE FOLKS FROM WISCONSIN.
>> THEY'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING OUT OF A TRAILER BUT ARE
BUILDING A PERMANENT LOCATION NEXTDOOR.>> THE FOLKS THAT
ARE COMING TO US FROM WISCONSIN, WE GET TO
BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE HIGHER LOVE FAMILY AND WE'RE
JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES AND BE NICE AND CLOSE TO
THE BORDER FOR CONVENIENCE. >> BUT WHEN THEIR CUSTOMERS
CROSS THE BRIDGE INTO MARINETTE, THE PRODUCT THEY JUST BOUGHT IS
ILLEGAL. >> IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT THAT
CARS THAT ARE STOPPED HAVE, YOU KNOW, MARIJUANA PRODUCTS,
ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TRAVELING THROUGH THE AREA, NOT
NECESSARILY FROM THE AREA. >> Reporter: CALLAHAN IS A
NARCOTICS INVESTIGATOR FROM THE MARINETTE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> IN MY OFFICE, WE ARE CHARGING WITH THE ENFORCING THE LAWS.
MARIJUANA IS AGAINST THE LAW IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IN ANY
FORM.>> Reporter: DeSHEA MO RROW
IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. TOGETHER, THEY'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO HANDLE THE SURGE OF WISCONSIN RESIDENTS
TAKING DAY TRIPS FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
>> THAT 141 CORRIDOR, WITHIN THE DRUG UNIT, KIND OF HAD THE
NICKNAME OF THE GREEN HIGHWAY, THE GREEN CORRIDOR, JUST BECAUSE
IT WAS VERY WELL KNOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW SINCE THOSE
DISPENSARIES OPENS UP, THAT THAT WAS THE QUICKEST ACCESS POINT
FOR LEGAL WEED FOR CLOSE TO NEAR A MILLION PEOPLE, RESIDENTS OF
WISCONSIN. >> SO FAR, MOST PEOPLE PULLED
OVER WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF DISPENSARY MARIJUANA HAVE
AVOIDED ARREST. INSTEAD, THEY LIKELY RECEIVE A
CITATION AND THE CONFISCATION OF THEIR PURCHASE.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A TRIAGE APPROACH, THERE HAS TO BE IN
THIS LINE OF WORK. AND SO, YES, IF IT'S SMALL
AMOUNT OF WEED, THAT MAY BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN A SMALL
AMOUNT OF HEROIN. >> ON APRIL 20th OF THIS YEAR,
A MARINETTE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY PULLED OVER A CAR WITH TWO MEN
AND SEIZED A BACKPACK FULL OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
WHEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DISPLAYED THE BUST ON THEIR
FACEBOOK PAGE, THE POST ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS,
RANGING FROM RIDICULE TO SUPPORT. >> I DON'T THINK P
EOPLE REALLY REALIZE THAT THAT'S NOT
EVERYTHING THAT WE -- WE HAD FOUR OR FIVE OTHER INTERDICTION
STOPS THAT DAY. THAT WAS JUST ONE TRAFFIC STOP.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF FEEDBACK, BUT WE WERE REVERT TO THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
>> THEY RECEIVED CITATIONS FOR $263.THEY HAD TRAVELED FROM
OSHKOSH, MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES AWAY.
IN MANY WAYS, IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT SOME OF THE
DISPENSARY START ADVERTISING ON BILLBOARDS AS FAR SOUTH AS
FOND du LAC.>> THE MORE WE C AN ADVERTISE AND
LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE, THE BETTER.
>> LINDSAY MARWICK SAYS THE RISK BELONGS TO THE CUSTOMER AND IT'S
A RISK THEY'RE CLEARLY WILLING TO TAKE.
>> THEY KNOW THAT WHERE THEY'RE HEADING, IT'S NOT LEGAL.
NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN THAT LIGHT SO WE TRY TO EXPRESS TO OUR
CUSTOMERS WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO IF THEY ARE CROSSING THAT
LINE. >> IT'S CLEAR THAT THE MOST
DANGEROUS THING ABOUT CANNABIS IN WISCONSIN IS THAT IT IS
ILLEGAL. >> DEMOCRAT FROM WISCONSIN.
>> PROHIBITION DID NOT WORK IN WISCONSIN AND WHEN IT CAME TO
ALCOHOL OR MARGARINE. IT'S NOT WORKING WHEN IT COMES
TO CANNABIS. >> SHE'S BEEN TRAVELING THE
STATE ON HER AGGREGA GRASSROOTSR PROMOTING HER BILL TO LEGALIZE
MARIJUANA IN WISCONSIN. >> IT IS CLEAR, NEARLY SEVEN OUR
10 PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE ADULT USE POLICY FOR
CANNABIS WITH A MEDICINAL COMPONENT.
>> HOWEVER, SENATOR AGARD DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT FOR
HERE BILL, WHICH MEANS IT MAY NOT GET A HEARING, MUCH LESS A
VOTE ON THE FLOOR. >> FOR THE LAST THREE SESSIONS,
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A BILL AROUND MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND
IT'S SLOWLY GAINING. MEME ARE MUCH MORE OPEN TO IT.
>> SENATOR FELZDOWSKI'S PROPOSAL WOULD LEGALIZE MEDICINAL
MARIJUANA, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A PATIENT TO SEE A DOCTOR TO GET A
PRESCRIPTION.AS A CANCER SU RVIVOR, SHE WANTS
TO SEE MORE OPTIONS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT.>> I'M TRYING TO
HELP PATIENTS. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD VERY
DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, ARE VETERANS, THE P.T.S.D.,
M.S., AND I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT OPIOIDS DO TO
YOU AS A SIDE EFFECT. >> Reporter: BUT SHE'S FACING
STIFF OPPOSITION FROM HER REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, WHO SEE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA AS A GATEWAY TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
SHE SAYS AGARD'S BILL DOESN'T HELP.
>> AND MELISSA IS VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS AND SHE CAN DO,
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT HARDER IN OUR CAUCUS,
AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR CAUCUS MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT THIS
GOING, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO BE ILLINOIS, WE DON'T WANT TO
BE MINNESOTA. >> AGARD SAYS FELZKOWSKI'S LAST
VERSION OF THE BILL DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
>> THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS. SENATOR FELZKOWSKI HAS BEEN
OUTSPOKEN FOR HER SUPPORT OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.
>> THE CARS STILL HEAD NORTH ON HIGHWAY 41 AND MORROW SAYS
THEY'D APPRECIATE SOME CLARITY FROM MADISON.
>> THEY NEED TO LOOK AT LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO PROTECT OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALSO TO SEND A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE IN
THE STATE, BUT ALSO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GIVE US BRIGHT
LINES ON HOW TO ENFORCE THIS. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ADVICE FOR
THEM. I FEEL BAD THAT THEY 'RE PUT IN
THIS POSITION. I THINK THEY'RE IN AN UNTENABLE
SITUATION WHERE WHAT IS THE WIN HERE. I MEAN, THERE REALLY
IS NO WIN HERE.
>> FELZKOWSKI SAYS SHE'S HOPING TO GET A PRELIMINARY HEARING ON
HER PUBLIC HEARING ON HER BILL IT AND MAYBE A VOTE ON THE
FLOOR, BUT FINAL PASSAGE MAY BE A LONG WAYS OFF.
>> IT'S A HEAVY LIFT THIS SESSION, BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC.
I'M OPTIMISTIC. >> REPORTING FROM MARINETTE, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE & NOW." >> IN EDUCATION NEWS,
UW-PLATTEVILLE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT IS CUTTING 111 POSITIONS
TO MAKE UP A MORE THAN $9 MILLION DEFICIT, AND THE
UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN PRESIDENT JAY ROTHMAN HAS
ALREADY ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AT THE
FOND du LAC AND WEST BEND TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES AND THE
DEFINITIVE CLOSING OF UW-RICHLAND.
WE SAT DOWN THIS WEEK WITH STEVE WILDECK, VICE CHANCELLOR
EMERITUS OF UW-COLLEGES AND UW-EXTENSION WHO IS CRITICAL OF
THIS MOVE. WE SHOULD NOTE, PBS WISCONSIN IS
PART OF UW-MADISON. WE STARTED BY ASKING HIS
REACTION.>> I THINK WHAT MY REACTION WAS
NOT TOTAL SURPRISE. MY CONCERN WAS AT THOSE CAMPUSES
WAS THAT THEY WERE CONVENIENT CASUALTIES OF ENROLLMENT
CHALLENGES AT THE FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.
WHEN THE UW-COLLEGES AND UW-EXTENSION WERE DISSOLVED BY
THE UW-SYSTEM LEADERSHIP IN 2018, THAT BEGAN A VERY
PRECIPITOUS DROP THIS ENROLLMENTS AT THE TWO-YEAR
CAMPUSES STARTING IN 2019 THAT BROUGHT US TO THE CURRENT DAY.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT, AGAIN, THOSE CAMPUSES THAT WERE ATTACHED AT
THAT TIME, TOO, UW-MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH AND PLATTEVILLE, THE
CONNECTION IS VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THAT DID NOT HELP THOSE
CAMPUSES. >> SO HOW SHOULD THE UW-RESPOND
TO FALLING ENROLLMENT AND, WITH IT, BUDGETS THAT ARE IN THE RED,
NOT JUST ON TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES, BUT ACROSS THE SYSTEM?
>> WELL, THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.I WOULD CONTEND TH
AT EBB ROLLMENT IS NOT -- ENROLLMENT IS
NOT THE PROBLEM. ENROLLMENT IS THE SYMPTOM THAT
EVOLVED FROM THE PROBLEM OF NOT ADEQUATELY MANAGING AS A
UW-SYSTEM THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND ACROSS ITS UNIVERSITIES, AND
THAT'S CALLED ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD
A SYSTEMWIDE ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY LITERALLY
SINCE 2004, 2005. >> DO YOU THINK, THOUGH, THAT
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND ITS PUBLIC UW-INSTITUTIONS, ARE
THERE TOO MANY OF THEM GIVEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS?
>> BEFORE WE BEGIN SHUTTING DOORS FOREVER AND BACKING OUT OF
AGREEMENTS WITH COMMUNITIES WHO PUT UP REAL MONEY TO BUILD AND
MAINTAIN THESE CAMPUSES, WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND PUT A
MORATORIUM ON ANY MORE DOOR CLOSURES AND HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS IN HIGHER
EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN. >> IN FACT, YOU SAID THAT WHAT
YOU'RE SEEING IS THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE SYSTEM AND
YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT IT WILL GET WORSE.
HOW SO? >> I THINK THAT THE TWO-YEAR
CAMPUSES HAVE -- ARE IN A VERY VULNERABLE SPOT.
THEY HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO FOUR-YEAR CAMPUSES WHO WILL
CONTINUE TO SEE ENROLLMENT PRESSURES AND I THINK THAT THE
COMMITMENT AND THE PROMISE THAT THE UW-SYSTEM AND THE BOARD OF
REGENTS MADE TO THOSE COMMUNITIES BACK IN THE 1960s
IN EXCHANGE, THEY GOT THESE CAMPUSES ALL ON THE LOCAL
PROPERTY TAX DOLLAR, I'M AFRAID THAT COMMITMENT AND THAT
PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN PUT OFF TO THE SIDE AND OUT OF THE
CONVERSATION. WE HAVE TO P UT THAT RIGHT BACK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE THAT'S HOW
THESE COMMUNITIES CAME TO BE. >> WHAT IS THE BEST PATH
FORWARD?>> I HAVE NOT SEEN A WILLINGNESS
TO HAVE A BROAD PUBLIC STRATEGIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE'RE
GOING WITH HIGHER EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN.
I AM CALLING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO THROW THAT YELLOW FLAG ON THE
FIELD, TO USE A FOOTBALL METAPHOR, TO SAY TIME OUT.
WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE PERMANENT.
WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT WILL HAVE LIFELONG NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES ON COMMUNITIES FOR WHICH WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF
OBLIGATION AND WE'RE CLOSING DOORS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AT A
TIME WHEN THIS STATE NEEDS A HIGHER LEVEL OF DEGREE HOLDERS,
IT NEEDS BETTER-PAYING JOBS. WE ARE BECOMING MUCH LESS
AELECTRIC ACTIVE TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES -- ATTRACTIVE TO HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATES IN THE UW-SYSTEM THAN WE WERE EVEN
SEVEN YEARS AGO. WE HAVE TO OPEN THAT CAN OF
WORMS TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW
WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AS A STATE.
AND WHETHER OR NOT THE EXISTING STRUCTURES OF THE UW-SYSTEM AND
THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES, WHICH, AGAIN, ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE IN OTHER STATES, ARE SERVING OUR CITIZENS AND OUR
RESIDENTS IN WISCONSIN THE VERY BEST THAT THEY CAN.
>> ALL RIGHT. STEVE WILDECK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> AS TO THE CLOSURES,
UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN PRESIDENT, JAY ROTHMAN, SAID IN
A STATEMENT, QUOTE, IT'S TIME FOR US TO REALIGN OUR BRANCH
CAMPUSES TO CURRENT MARKET REALITIES AND PREPARE FOR THE
FUTURE. THE STATUS QUO, HE SAID, IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE.>>> TURNING NOW TO OUR SERIES OF
SPECIAL REPORTS ON RACE, WITH WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEHEMIAH CENTER FOR URBAN LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT. OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS,
REPORTER NATHAN DENZIN REVEALED DISPARITIES IN THE RACIAL WEALTH
GAP IN WISCONSIN. TONIGHT WE CONTINUE OUR
REPORTING WITH THE FIRST OF FOUR STORIES ON RACIAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES STARTING WITH WHY THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUTCOMES.HERE'S THE FIRST I
NSTALLMENT OF WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE,
HEALTH DIVIDES.
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I'm Nathan Denzin.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. (CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING COMPANY)
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
SCONSIN. JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBSWI