EXHIBITION DRAWN FROM THEIR PRIVATE COLLECTION.
>> THERE ARE SCULPTURES IN HERE, THERE ARE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE
DIFFERENT MEDIUMS, AND ALL OF THEM WILL TAKE YOUR
BREATH AWAY. >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS
NEWSHOUR BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ?
>> THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS,
AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR, INCLUDING KATHY AND PAUL
ANDERSON AND CAMILLA AND GEORGE SMITH.
>> I LOVE SEEING INTERNS SUCCEED.
I LOVE SEEING THEM COME BACK ENJOYING ENGAGEMENT TEAMS AND
SEEING WHERE THEY GO FROM THERE. I GET TO WATCH THE PERSONAL
GROWTH. IT MAKES MY HEART HAPPY.
? >> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND
INSTITUTIONS. ?
>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU. GEOFF: WELCOME TO THE NEWS HOUR.
IT WAS THE FIRST ATTACK IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S NEW CAMPAIGN IN
THE CARIBBEAN, AND IT HAS BECOME THE MOST CONTENTIOUS.
A U.S. OFFICIAL TELLS PBS NEWS HOUR THE U.S.
MILITARY STRUCK AN ALLEGED DRUG BOAT 4 TIMES ON SEPTEMBER 2ND.
AND TODAY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH DEFENDED
THE ATTACK, BUT ALSO DISTANCED THEMSELVES FROM THE FOLLOW-ON
STRIKE THAT TARGETED PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T KILLED BY THE FIRST
STRIKE. NICK SCHIFRIN JOINS US NOW.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?
NICK: EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, THEY STRUCK THE ABOUT FOUR TIMES
ACCORDING TO A U.S. OFFICIAL I WAS SPEAKING WITH TODAY.
HE SAID AFTER THE FIRST RIGHT, THERE WERE PEOPLE ON BOARD WHO
WERE NOT KILLED, THE SECOND STRIKE TARGETED THEM, THE THIRD
AND FOURTH STRIKES WERE DESIGNED TO SINK THE BOAT.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? AS OF LAST WEEK, ALL WEN YU FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SINGLE STRIKE ON A
BOAT THAT HE SAID WAS CARRYING NARCO TERRORISTS.
LAST WEEK WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SECOND STRIKE, BUT WE DIDN'T
KNOW UNTIL TODAY THAT THE MILITARY NEEDED FOUR STRIKES TO
DESTROY THE BOAT, WHICH WILL BE CRUCIAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE
LEGALITY OF THE STRIKES. ALSO AS YOU SAID TODAY,
SECRETARY HEGSETH SPEAKING AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY REALLY
DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM THAT SECOND STRIKE THAT KILLED PEOPLE
NOT KILLED BY THE FIRST STRIKE. IT WAS NOTED BY AN ADMIRAL.
>> I WATCHED THAT FIRST STRIKE LIVE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO DO.
SO I DIDN'T STICK AROUND FOR THE HOUR AND TWO HOURS, WHATEVER,
WHERE ALL THE SENSITIVE SIDE EXPLOITATION DIGITALLY OCCURS.
SO I MOVED ON TO MY NEXT MEETING.
A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, I LEARNED THAT THAT COMMANDER HAD
MADE THE -- WHICH HE HAD THE COMPLETE AUTHORITY TO DO -- AND
BY THE WAY, ADMIRAL BRADLEY MADE THE CORRECT DECISION TO
ULTIMATELY SINK THE BOAT AND ELIMINATE THE THREAT.
HE SUNK THE BOAT, SUNK THE BOAT, AND ELIMINATED THE THREAT.
I DID NOT PERSONALLY SEE SURVIVORS, BUT I STAND.
BECAUSE THAT THING WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS EXPLODED.
AND FIRE. SMOKE.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT. YOU GOT DIGITAL -- THIS IS
CALLED THE FOG OF WAR. NICK: SO HEGSETH BACKING UP BUT
AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING DOWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT SECOND
STRIKE TO ADMIRABLE -- ADMIRAL BRADLEY.
SING HEADSET -- HEGSETH DID NOT GIVE ADDITIONAL ORDERS BETWEEN
THE FIRST AND SECOND DRUG. DEPEND ON SAID TODAY THERE HAVE
BEEN 21 STRIKES THAT KILLED 82 PEOPLE.
ADMINISTRATION DESCRIBES IT AS AN EFFORT TO STOP DRUGS FROM
COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. TODAY PRESIDENT TRUMP REITERATED
WHAT THE MISSION IS AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BOATS.
PRES. TRUMP: I CAN SAY THIS: I WANT THOSE BOATS TAKEN OUT.
AND IF WE HAVE TO, WILL ATTACK ON LAND ALSO, JUST LIKE WE
ATTACK AT SEA. NICK: ATTACKS COULD TARGET
NICOLAS MADURO WHICH THE U.S. CALLS A NARCO STATE.
GEOFF: WHY DID IT TAKE FOUR STRIKES TO THINK THAT BOAT?
NICK: YOU AND I HAVE BOTH RECENTLY SPOKEN TO FORMER
MILITARY LAWYERS WHO SAY THAT THIS ATTACK WAS ILLEGAL.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC PASSAGES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION THAT SAY
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT SEA, PEOPLE WHO ARE SHIPWRECKED, EVEN IF
THEY ARE COMBATANTS AND THEIR SHIP HAS BEEN WRACKED BY U.S.
MISSILES, MUST BE RESCUED, NOT TARGETED.
BUT IF THEIR SHIP IS STILL SEAWORTHY, IF THEY STILL HAVE
COMMUNICATIONS, IF THEY ARE CARRYING DRUGS ON THIS BOAT,
WOULD THAT CHANGE THINGS? THAT'S A QUESTION I POSED TO THE
FORMER NAVY JUDGE ADVOCATE -- EDUCATE GENERAL, UNDERSECRETARY
ARMY -- OF THE ARMY. >> SO WE'LL ASSUME FROM OUR
CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN A LEGAL CONFLICT.
DURING THAT CONFLICT, IF A BOAT IS ENGAGED AND THAT BOAT IS
DESTROYED, IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NO LONGER OPERATIONAL, IT'S A
SHIPWRECK. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD
WHO SURVIVE IN THE WATER. THEY HAVE BECOME A NON TARGET,
IF YOU WILL. THEY'VE THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OUT
OF COMBAT. THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY
TO ENGAGE IN HOSTILITIES. BUT IF THAT BOAT WAS SIMPLY HIT,
WAS DAMAGED, IT'S STILL SEAWORTHY.
IT'S STILL AFLOAT. AND THE INTELLIGENCE IS SHOWN
THAT IT STILL CONTAINS THE DRUGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CONVERT
FROM COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY, AND THE INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD ARE
MOBILE, THEY CAN ACT, THEY CAN OPERATE THE BOAT, THEY CAN
COMMUNICATE WITH ANOTHER BOAT, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND THAT
REMAINS A LEGITIMATE TARGET. AND THEY REMAIN A LEGITIMATE
TARGET. NICK: THAT SAID, AS MCPHERSON
SUGGESTED, HE AND OTHER FORMER TERRY LAWYERS -- ADMIRAL --
ADMIRAL WILL -- GEOFF: STEVE WITKOFF AND JARED
KUSHNER AND OTHERS MET. NICK: WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A
READ OUT FROM THE U.S. SIDE. THE KREMLIN SAID IT WAS FIVE
HOURS LONG. TONIGHT ONE FOOD AND AID SAID
THERE IS NO COMPROMISE WITH UKRAINE YET.
SOME SAYING THERE ARE SOME AMERICAN DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT --
ACCEPTABLE AND SAYING PEACE IS NO CLOSER BUT NO FURTHER AWAY.
UKRAINIAN AND U.S. OFFICIALS TO SAY THAT IN THE LAST 10 DAYS OR
SO THAT THEY'VE BEEN MEETING, THEY HAVE MADE PROGRESS TOWARD
THIS PEACE DEAL THAT THE U.S. IS PUSHING UKRAINE TO ACCEPT.
AT THE SAME TIME, EUROPEAN OFFICIALS TELL ME THE U.S. IS
STILL PUSHING ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ITEMS FOR UKRAINE, AND
THAT IS GIVING UP PART OF THE DONUTS PROVINCE IN EASTERN --
PROVINCE THAT UKRAINE STILL HOLDS.
RESIDENT ZELENSKYY EARLIER TODAY TRY TO PORTRAY PUTIN AS
THE ONE LOCKING PIECE. >> NOW HE IS THINKING HOW TO
FIND NEW REASONS NOT TO FINISH THIS WAR ON ACCOUNT OF PRESSURE
FROM THE UNITED STATES. AND THEY SAY THAT WE HAVE TO
WORK ON THIS PLAN AND THEY WILL PRESSURE BOTH SIDES.
OF COURSE WE WANTED HIM TO BE MORE ON OUR SIDE, BUT OK, BUT WE
SUPPORTED THE IDEAS. NICK: THEY WILL NOW FLY TO
EUROPE FROM THEIR MEETING IN MOSCOW.
GEOFF: THE KREMLIN SAYING THAT PEACE IS NO CLOSER YET NO
FURTHER AWAY IS QUITE ALIGNED. NICK: ZELENSKYY HIMSELF HAS
ADMITTED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT. RUSSIA CLAIMS IT CAPTURED A CITY
, A KEY HUB. UKRAINE DENIED THAT.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAP, IT SHOWS MULTIPLE CITIES WHERE
RUSSIA IS MAKING GAINS BUT AT GREAT COST.
PUTIN IS ARGUING THEY ARE INEVITABLY GOING TO TAKE THEM
OVER SO WE SHOULD PUSH UKRAINE TO GIVE THEM UP NOW.
GEOFF: OUR THANKS TO YOU AS ALWAYS.
IN THE DAY'S OTHER HEADLINES. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
PREPARING AN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATION THAT WOULD
PRIMARILY TARGET HUNDREDS OF UNDOCUMENTED SOMALI IMMIGRANTS
IN THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST.
PAUL. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, THE
OPERATION COULD BEGIN WITHIN DAYS.
THE MOVE COMES AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DISPARAGED SOMALIS
WITH INCREASINGLY INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC, INCLUDING IN TODAY'S
LENGTHY CABINET MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
THE PRESIDENT MADE A POINT OF SINGLING OUT MINNESOTA
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR, WHO IS SOMALI.
PRES. TRUMP: WE'RE GONNA GO THE WRONG WAY, IF WE KEEP TAKING IN
GARBAGE INTO OUR COUNTRY. ILHAN OMAR IS GARBAGE.
SHE'S GARBAGE. HER FRIENDS ARE GARBAGE.
WE DON'T WANT THEM IN OUR COUNTRY.
LET THEM GO BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND FIX IT.
GEOFF: LOCAL OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR
JACOB FREY, FORCEFULLY CONDEMNED BOTH MR. TRUMP'S COMMENTS, AND
THE IMPENDING OPERATION. MINNESOTA IS HOME TO THE
NATION'S LARGEST SOMALI COMMUNITY.
MICHAEL DELL, THE BILLIONAIRE FOUNDER OF DELL TECHNOLOGIES,
AND HIS WIFE, HAVE PLEDGED MORE THAN $6 BILLION TO THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION -- WITH THE FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR INVESTMENT
ACCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN, KNOWN AS TRUMP ACCOUNTS.
>> WE BELIEVE THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT THAT WE CAN MAKE IS
AN INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN. GEOFF: THE DELLS' DONATION WILL
PROVIDE $250 EACH TO 25 MILLION ELIGIBLE CHILDREN UNDER AGE 10
WHO LIVE IN ZIP CODES WHERE THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FALLS
BELOW $150,000. TRUMP'S TAX BILL CREATED THE
ACCOUNTS, WHICH WILL BE ROLLED OUT NEXT SUMMER.
WITHDRAWALS FROM THE ACCOUNTS CANNOT BE MADE UNTIL A CHILD
TURNS 18. THE PENTAGON TODAY HELD ITS
FIRST BRIEFING IN NEARLY HALF A YEAR, AS IT FACES BIPARTISAN
BACKLASH OVER THAT SEPTEMBER ATTACK ON AN ALLEGED
DRUG-TRAFFICKING BOAT IN THE CARIBBEAN.
THE CREDENTIALED ATTENDEES WERE A HOST OF RIGHT-WING MEDIA
FIGURES, INCLUDING LAURA LOOMER, AND FORMER FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN
MATT GAETZ. GAETZ IS NOW A HOST ON THE
PRO-TRUMP NETWORK, OAN. IT FOLLOWS A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF
PENTAGON PRESS RULES THIS FALL THAT REQUIRED JOURNALISTS TO
SIGN A RESTRICTIVE NEW POLICY. WHICH PROMPTED AN EXODUS OF
TRADITIONAL NEWS OUTLETS FROM THE BUILDING.
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO THEIR FIRST SNOW
OF THE SEASON. AS WINDY, ICY WEATHER ROLLED
ACROSS THE NORTHEAST. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
ISSUED WINTER STORM WARNINGS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -- WHERE
SOME AREAS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED MORE THAN HALF A FOOT OF SNOW.
SEVERAL OTHER STATES WILL SEE A MIX OF SNOW AND RAIN, LIKE IN
PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE WET, SLUSHY CONDITIONS LED TO HUNDREDS OF
ACCIDENTS. THE STORM ALREADY HIT THE
MIDWEST, CREATING MORE TREACHEROUS TRAVEL AFTER THE
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. THIS PILEUP IN CENTRAL MISSOURI
YESTERDAY BROUGHT HIGHWAY TRAFFIC TO A STANDSTILL.
FORECASTERS SAY ANOTHER STORM COULD BRING WINTER WEATHER TO
THE MID-ATLANTIC LATER THIS WEEK.
TURNING OVERSEAS, TO ISRAEL: FORENSICS EXPERTS ARE EXAMINING
WHAT ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE REMAINS OF ONE OF THE LAST TWO
HOSTAGES INSIDE GAZA. PALESTINIAN MILITANTS -- VIA
THE RED CROSS -- HANDED OVER THE REMAINS, WHICH PALESTINIAN
MEDIA SAID WERE UNCOVERED IN NORTHERN GAZA.
MEANTIME, PALESTINIANS IN KHAN YOUNIS MOURNED A FREELANCE
VIDEOGRAPHER -- WHO WAS ONE OF AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE KILLED
TODAY BY ISRAELI FIRE ACROSS THE TERRITORY.
ISRAEL'S MILITARY SAID THEY FIRED UPON BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED
THAT THEY HAD CROSSED INTO AREAS ISRAEL CONTROLS, AND POSED A
THREAT. POPE LEO THE 14TH HAS COMPLETED
HIS FIRST TRIP ABROAD AS PONTIFF WITH AN APPEAL FOR PEACE, AFTER
SPENDING THREE DAYS IN LEBANON. >> THE PATH OF MUTUAL HOSTILITY
AND DESTRUCTION IN THE HORROR OF WAR HAS BEEN TRAVELED TOO LONG,
WITH THE DEPLORABLE RESULTS THAT ARE BEFORE EVERYONE'S EYES.
GEOFF: HE LED MASS ALONG BEIRUT'S WATERFRONT, URGING
DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION AS THE COUNTRY SEES RENEWED
FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH.
EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE POPE PRAYED AT THE SITE OF THE 2020
PORT EXPLOSION THAT KILLED 218 PEOPLE AND CAUSED BILLIONS IN
DAMAGE, A DISASTER FOR WHICH NO OFFICIALS HAVE EVER BEEN HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND CALLED FOR JUSTICE.
RETURNING TO THE VATICAN ABOARD HIS PLANE, POPE LEO ALSO URGED
U.S. LEADERS TO REFRAIN FROM THREATS
OF MILITARY ACTION AGAINST VENEZUELA.
TWO FASHION GIANTS ARE NOW ONE. PRADA HAS BOUGHT ITS LONGTIME
RIVAL, VERSACE, FOR NEARLY $1.4 BILLION.
IT COMPLETES A DEAL THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE APRIL.
PRADA SAYS THE VERSACE BRAND OFFERS SIGNIFICANT UNTAPPED
GROWTH POTENTIAL. MEANTIME, ON WALL STREET TODAY.
STOCKS BOUNCED BACK TO ACROSS-THE-BOARD GAINS.
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ADDED NEARLY 200 POINTS.
THE NASDAQ ADDED MORE THAN HALF A PERCENT,
AND, THE S&P 500 ALSO CLOSED SLIGHTLY HIGHER.
AND, CHRISTMAS CAME TO WASHINGTON DC'S NATIONAL MALL
THIS AFTERNOON. >>5-4-3-2-1.
GEOFF: HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON AND THE NEVADA
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TURNED ON THE CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE'S
NEARLY SIX THOUSAND LED LIGHTS -- WHICH GLITTERED AGAINST ITS
23,000 HAND-MADE ORNAMENTS. THIS YEAR'S RED FIR STANDS 53
FEET TALL AND IS THE FIRST-EVER CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE HARVESTED
FROM NEVADA. THE PEOPLE'S TREE, AS IT'S
CALLED, HAS BRIGHTENED UP THE CAPITOL LAWN FOR FIVE DECADES.
STILL TO COME ON THE NEWS HOUR. WHY MORE TRADITIONAL FOUR-YEAR
COLLEGES ARE OFFERING TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES.
A NEW EXHIBIT SHOWCASES THE WORK OF BLACK CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
FROM THE COLLECTION OF MUSICIANS ALICIA KEYS AND SWIZZ BEATZ.
AND A GROUP OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JOURNALISTS WORK TO REVERSE
FALLING TEST SCORES AND DECAYING CLASSROOMS.
>> THIS IS THE "PBS NEWS HOUR" FROM THE DAVID M RUBENSTEIN
STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE WEST FROM THE WALTER
CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.
GEOFF: THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WAS THE REAL
CELEBRATION FOR AN AMERICAN FAMILY LIVING IN THE OCCUPIED
WEST BANK. 16-YEAR-OLD MOHAMMED IBRAHIM WAS
RELEASED FROM NEARLY 10 MONTHS IN AN ISRAELI PRISON, ARRESTED
IN FEBRUARY IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT AT HIS FAMILY HOME FOR ALLEGEDLY
THROWING STONES AS ISRAELI VEHICLES.
HIS FAMILY WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK OR EVEN SEE HIM FOR HIS ENTIRE
DETENTION. THE AMERICAN EMBASSY ADVOCATED
FOR HIS RELEASE AS HIS HEALTH DECLINED.
FINALLY, LAST WEDNESDAY, HE WAS FREED.
AMNA SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY WITH MOHAMMED AND HIS FATHER.
EXCLUSIVE SIT-DOWN TV INTERVIEW. AMNA: ABOUT ONE IN FOUR COLLEGE
-- THIS WAS HIS FIRST HUG WITH HIS FATHER, FREE AND FINALLY
HOME. BACK WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE
OCCUPIED WEST BANK, HE SAT DOWN WITH HIS FATHER TO SPEAK TO THE
NEWS OUTLET. I HAVE TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO BE BACK HOME? >> SO GOOD, I FEEL SAFE NOW.
I MISSED EVERYONE. AMNA: WHAT WAS THE VERY FIRST
THING YOU DID WHEN YOU ARRIVED BACK HOME?
>> I SEE MY FAMILY. >> GAVE EVERYBODY A BIG HUG,
THAT'S ONE THING THAT HE DID. AMNA: WE SAW THAT VIDEO OF YOUR
FIRST EMBRACE WITH HIM AFTER NINE MONTHS OF BEING APART.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT THAT MOMENT WAS LIKE FOR YOU?
>> IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, THE BEST MOMENT OF MY
LIFE. NINE MONTHS AND A HALF I HAVE
NOT SEEN HIM OR HER HIS VOICE. IT WAS LIKE FROM HELL TO HEAVEN.
I CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS MY FEELINGS ABOUT IT.
HEN I FIRST GAVE HIM A HUG, YOU CAN FEEL HIS BODY, HE'S VERY,
VERY SKINNY, WHICH WE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE HIM CHECKED
, AND HE EVEN ASKED US, AM I DREAMING, AM I REALLY OUT?
WE TOLD HIM YES, YOU ARE OUT. IT'S DONE, IT'S OVER, YOU ARE
BACK SAFE WITH YOUR FAMILY. AMNA: HE WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD
WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED FROM HIS FAMILY HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF
THAT NIGHT, CHARGED WITH THROWING OBJECTS AT AN ISRAELI
VEHICLE. HIS FATHER SAYS U.S. PRESSURE
HELPED SECURE HIS RELEASE. >> MOST OF THESE CHARGES THEY
THROW AT THESE CHILDREN ARE BOGUS CHARGES.
THERE WAS PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND SENATORS AND
CONGRESSMEN, THEY PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE RELEASE OF MOHAMMED.
AT THE END, WHEN THE U.S. EMBASSY VISITED HIM THREE WEEKS
AGO, AND THEY CALLED ME AND THEY SAID, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
STRAIGHT OUT, HE'S NOT DOING GOOD.
HE LOST MORE WEIGHT AND PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, HE LOOKS
ILL. EVEN THE U.S. EMBASSY FEARED FOR
HIS LIFE. THE SAID HE'S NOT DOING GOOD AT
ALL. THAT'S WHEN THE LAWYER WENT IN
AND THINGS CHANGED. SO THEN THEY SAID BEFORE
SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HIM, HE HAS TO BE RELEASED, AND HE GOT
RELEASED. AMNA: WE SHOULD UNDERSCORE
MOHAMMED IS A U.S. CITIZEN. DO YOU HAVE ANNEXED THE NATION
THAT IS SATISFYING TO YOU ABOUT WHY IT TOOK U.S. AUTHORITIES
OVER NINE MONTHS TO GET HIM RELEASED?
>> AMBASSADOR HUCKABEE CALLED ME AFTER HIS RELEASE AND HE SAID,
YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FROM DAY ONE.
WE DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO LAST THIS LONG.
I REALLY THINK IF THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT WANTED HIM RELEASED
FROM THE BEGINNING, THEY COULD'VE PUT MORE PRESSURE FROM
DAY ONE. BUT I THINK THEY JUST LET HIM
SLIDE UNTIL MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.
BUT WHEN THEY SAW HIS HEALTH WAS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND
WORSE, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE PICTURES, THE BEFORE AND AFTER,
BEFORE HE GOT ARRESTED AND HOW HE WALKED OUT, THERE'S A BIG
DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW. HIS FACE SIZE, HIS BODY, HIS
WEIGHT, JUST BY THE PICTURES. WHAT IS SAD, EVERYBODY IN JAIL,
IT'S THE SAME SITUATION. YOU HAVE ANOTHER 3-400 KIDS AND
THEY'RE GOING TO THE SAME THING MOHAMMED WAS GOING THROUGH.
AMNA: BACK HOME, HE IS SURROUNDED BY FAMILY, SHOWERING
HIM WITH LOVE AND PLYING HIM WITH HOME-COOKED MEALS, AFTER HE
LOST SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> THEIR FOOD IS BASICALLY JUNK AND BARELY ENOUGH TO SURVIVE.
CABIES, STOMACH VIRUS, THEY WENT THROUGH A LOT.
THEY TO -- SHE TELL ME WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTRY WOULD DO THAT
TO INDIVIDUALS, STARVE THEM ALMOST TO DEATH.
M ONE OF HISATES THAT WAS IN -- ONE OF HIS MATES IN THE SAME
SALE DIED IN FRONT OF HIM IN JAIL.
AMNA: JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE SAYING MOHAMMED SAW ANOTHER
TEENAGER WHO WAS IN PRISON WITH HIM DIE IN FRONT OF HIM?
>> HE DIED IN FRONT OF HIS EYES. HE HAD THE SCABIES AND HE HAD A
REAL BAD STOMACH KIND OF VIRUS, AND THEY ASKED FOR MEDICAL
ATTENTION BUT THEY NEVER GET IT. SO AT ONE POINT HE JUST FAINTED
AND FELL TO THE GROUND, AND THAT WAS IT.
AND THAT ASKED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIM AND NOTHING
HAPPENED, HE DIDN'T GET NOTHING, AND THEY PRONOUNCED HIM DEAD.
SO THIS HAPPENED IN FRONT OF HIS EYES,
AMNA: THE BOY WAS A 17-YEAR-OLD, PALESTINIAN TEENAGER WHO DIED IN
ISRAELI CUSTODY IN LATE MARCH. AND JUST MOMENTS AFTER HE WAS
FREED, MOHAMMED LEARNED HIS COUSIN, A 19-YEAR-OLD
PALESTINIAN AMERICAN, HAD BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH BY ISRAELI
SETTLERS IN JULY WHILE MOHAMMED WAS IN PRISON.
>> THAT WAS HARD FOR MOHAMMED, WHEN HE GOT THE NEWS, IT WAS
VERY HARD. HE COULDN'T BREATHE.
E HAD TO PUT WATER ON HIS FACE. IT HAS TO STOP.
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS TO STOP ALL THESE ATTACKS ON THE
TOWNS AROUND US. EVERY DAY IT IS GETTING WORSE
AND WORSE. YOU CAN BE IN YOUR OWN HOUSE OR
A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE IN THE VILLAGE AND YOU CAN NOT BE SAY
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HE'S GOING TO COME AT NIGHT AND
ATTEND YOUR -- ATTACK YOUR HOUSE OR YOUR FAMILY.
THIS IS THE LIFE THEY LIVE EVERY DAY NOW.
AMNA: EVERY DAY FOR MOHAMMED NOW MEANS REBUILDING HIS LIFE AND
RECONNECTING WITH THE OLD ONE. AMNA: WE'VE SEEN VIDEO OF YOU
RECONNECTING WITH THEIR FRIENDS BACK IN THE UNITED STATES,
TALKING TO THEM ON THE PHONE. CAN YOU TELL US WITHOUT WAS
LIKE? >> IT WAS SO GOOD.
I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE JAIL, ABOUT EVERYTHING I-8 AND
EVERYTHING. AMNA: I KNOW MOHAMMED TURNED 16
ONE HE WAS IN DETENTION AND YOUR FAMILY TOLD US EARLIER YOU
DIDN'T CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY, OBVIOUSLY WHILE HE WAS STILL IN
JAIL. DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO CELEBRATE
HIS BIRTHDAY NOW THAT HE IS FREE?
>> HE WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HIS NEXT BIRTHDAY, MAYBE.
WE WILL DO A BIRTHDAY EVERY DAY FOR HIM AS LONG AS HE IS HOME.
HIS GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY WAS TODAY SO WE BROUGHT CAKE FOR HIM
TODAY SO HE GOT HIS CAKE TODAY. AMNA: AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE
BEEN THROUGH, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE HIM SITTING THERE NEXT TO
YOU? >> IT FEELS GOOD.
AS A FATHER, MY DUTY IS TO KEEP HIM SAFE AND MAKE SURE HE STAYS
SAFE, AND GET HIS WEIGHT BACK UP AND GET HIM BACK TO THE STATES.
HE MISSED A YEAR NOW OF SCHOOL SO HE HAS TO CATCH UP ON
STUDYING. GETTING HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE,
GET A PART-TIME JOB, START HIS LIFE.
AMNA: WE KNOW YOU ARE ANXIOUS TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS YOU CAN
WITH HIM. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY. MOHAMMED, WELCOME BACK HOME.
>> THANK YOU. ?
GEOFF: ABOUT ONE IN FOUR COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE BOTH
FIRST-GENERATION AND FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS, MAKING
THE PATH TO A COLLEGE DEGREE ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING.
AT BOSTON COLLEGE'S MESSINA COLLEGE -- A NEW, TWO-YEAR,
FULLY RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM -- A WIDE RANGE
OF SUPPORT IS HELPING CHANGE THAT.
JOHN YANG VISITED THE BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, CAMPUS TO LEARN
MORE AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES, RETHINKING COLLEGE.
JOHN: FOR SECOND-YEAR MESSINA COLLEGE STUDENT LOUKENSCIA
ROBERSON, WHO GOES BY LOU, TIME WITH HER MOTHER, EVELINE, AND
OLDER BROTHER, LOUKENS, IS THE PERFECT WAY TO CELEBRATE THE END
OF MIDTERM EXAMS. WHILE SHE MISSES HOME AND HER
CLOSE KNIT FAMILY, SHE SAYS SHE FELT COMFORTABLE THE VERY FIRST
TIME SHE SET FOOT ON THIS CAMPUS WHEN SHE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR. LOUKENSCIA: I CAME HOME TO MY
MOM AND I WAS LIKE, MOM, LIKE THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.
THIS IS WHERE I FEEL LIKE I BELONG.
JOHN: AND HAVING SEEN HER MOTHER DEAL WITH HEALTH ISSUES, SHE
KNEW WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO, STUDY TO BECOME A NURSE.
LOUKENSCIA: THAT MOTIVATED ME TO WANT TO BE IN THE HEALTHCARE
BECAUSE I WANT OTHERS TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN THE
HOSPITAL. JOHN: MESSINA IS THE TWO-YEAR
ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM OF BOSTON COLLEGE, A NATIONALLY
RANKED PRIVATE LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL.
IF STUDENTS FINISH MESSINA WITH A 3.4 GRADE POINT AVERAGE OR
BETTER, THEY'RE GUARANTEED A SPOT IN BC'S BACHELOR'S DEGREE
PROGRAM. MESSINA ENROLLED ITS FIRST CLASS
IN 2024, AND 96% RETURNED THIS YEAR.
MESSINA COLLEGE IS TAILORED FOR LOW-INCOME AND FIRST GENERATION
STUDENTS, THE VERY STUDENTS, RESEARCH SHOWS, WHO ARE LEAST
LIKELY TO FINISH COLLEGE. A BIG REASON FOR THAT IS THE
LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF COLLEGE LIFE
THINGS LIKE OFFICE HOURS, NETWORKING AND BALANCING WORK
AND ACADEMICS. AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN
THEIR FAMILIES THEY CAN TURN TO TO EXPLAIN IT.
LOUKENSCIA: I WAS LIKE, OFFICE HOURS?
MMMM -- IS IT AN OFF- ? I DON'T, LIKE IT WAS AN OFFICE
WITH, I DON'T KNOW, TIMING? AND WHEN MY PROFESSORS WERE
EXPLAINING TO ME WHAT OFFICE HOURS WERE, I WAS LIKE, I'M
SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT.
JOHN SO THIS HAD BEEN A COLLEGE : CAMPUS BEFORE?
>> IT HAD BEEN, YES. JOHN: FOUNDING DEAN FATHER ERICK
BERRELLEZA WAS A LOW-INCOME, FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT
HIMSELF. ERICK: IT WAS A SINK OR SWIM
MODEL. YOU SORT OF FIGURED IT OUT OR
DIDN'T. WE KNOW A WHOLE LOT MORE NOW,
YOU KNOW, TWENTY YEARS LATER. AND I THINK WHAT WE KNOW IS
THERE'S SCAFFOLDING OF SUPPORT THAT WE CAN OFFER.
JOHN: IT INCLUDES A GENEROUS NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM
THAT LIMITS LOANS TO $2000 A YEAR.
ALL STUDENTS GET FREE HOUSING, MEALS, TEXTBOOKS, EVEN LAPTOPS
THAT ARE THEIRS TO KEEP. ERICK: IN MY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE,
THE RESIDENTIAL PIECE WAS CRITICAL.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT GOES ON AFTER YOUR
CLASS TIME THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BE PART OF, AND AND THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE AT A JESUIT
UNIVERSITY, BUT ANY UNIVERSITY FOR THAT MATTER.
JOHN: THERE ARE SIMILAR PROGRAMS AT A SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER OF
PRIVATE, FOUR-YEAR LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITIES, MANY OF THEM
RELIGIOUSLY-AFFILIATED. >> WE NEED MORE STRIVERS.
WE NEED MORE LOWER INCOME STUDENTS, MORE FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENTS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT AMERICA IS.
JOHN: PROFESSOR ANTHONY JACK, ALSO A FIRST GENERATION
GRADUATE, STUDIES HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AT BOSTON
UNIVERSITY. >> MY QUESTION IS: HAVE WE
EXTENDED THE INVITATION WITHOUT PREPARING FOR THE OCCASION?
WE ARE EXTENDING INVITATIONS TO EAGER, ABLE, EXCITED YOUTH TO
BECOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. BUT ARE WE DOING THE NECESSARY
WORK TO MAKE THEM BE ABLE TO BE JUST THAT FULL MEMBERS?
JOHN: BOSTON COLLEGE SPENDS ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR PER MESSINA
STUDENT, NOT EVERY SCHOOL CAN AFFORD THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT.
>> IT'S NOT JUST PROVIDING WHAT PEOPLE NORMALLY THINK OF WHEN IT
COMES TO LIKE BEING ON CAMPUS. IT'S LIKE ALL THE OTHER SUPPORT
SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT JUST
MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE, WHAT KIND OF SERVICE THEY NEED,
BUT ALSO WHEN THE SERVICES ARE OFFERED, GIVEN THE POPULATION OF
STUDENTS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOUR TRADITIONAL 18 TO 21
YEAR OLD DOES NOT. JOHN: MESSINA ENROLLS ONLY 100
NEW STUDENTS A YEAR. SMALL CLASS SIZES ALLOW
PROFESSORS TO FOSTER STUDENTS' CONFIDENCE AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
ATTENDANCE IS CLOSELY MONITORED, A MISSED CLASS TRIGGERS A
CHECK-IN CALL. THE ACADEMIC YEAR RUNS FROM JULY
TO MAY. THAT GIVES FIRST YEAR STUDENTS
THE SUMMER TO ADJUST TO CAMPUS LIFE.
IT ALSO REDUCES THE NUMBER OF CLASSES STUDENTS TAKE EACH
SEMESTER. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO GETS
FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD. JOHN: BRIANNA DIAZ IS A
PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR AND STUDENT ADVISOR.
SHE, TOO, WAS A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT.
PROF. DIAZ: WE GO THROUGH THESE LIKE HIDDEN CURRICULUM THINGS,
HOW SHOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF TO YOUR PROFESSOR?
HOW SHOULD YOU STUDY? WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU FAIL?
LIKE THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA HAPPEN IN COLLEGE, AND HOW CAN
YOU BOUNCE BACK IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY?
JOHN: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS GENEVIEVE GREEN
KNOWS THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND
CHALLENGES. GENEVIEVE GREEN: A LOT OF THEM
HAVE WORKED OR THEY'RE HELPING OUT AT HOME, THEY'VE GOT A LOT
OF RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SO THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY USED TO
ASKING FOR HELP, RIGHT? SO OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS REALLY
JUST TO GET TO KNOW EVERY STUDENT.
THEY JOKE WITH US THAT WE KNOW THEIR BLOOD TYPE, BUT GET TO
KNOW THEM REALLY, REALLY WELL, SO THAT WE CAN TAILOR A PLAN
THAT REALLY WORKS FOR THEM. JOHN: SECOND-YEAR STUDENT
MICHAEL MELO IS MAJORING IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT. >> TO BE HONEST, COLLEGE WASN'T
SOMETHING THAT WAS IN MY MIND. JOHN: HIS MOTHER DIED IN THE
SUMMER BEFORE HIS FRESHMAN YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, LEAVING HIM AND
HIS HIS OLDER SISTER ON THEIR OWN.
HE WORKED AS MANY AS 30 HOURS A WEEK TO HELP SUPPORT THEM.
HIS GRADES SUFFERED. BUT INSTEAD OF DEFEATING HIM, HE
SAYS THE HARDSHIPS MOTIVATED HIM.
MICHAEL: IT RUINED ME BUT IT MADE ME INTO A BETTER PERSON
BECAUSE THE RECONSTRUCTION THAT IT BUILT WHERE I REALIZED THAT I
NEED TO BE PRESENT, I NEED TO ALSO BE THERE, I NEED TO DO AS
MUCH AS I CAN TO KIND OF GET TO THAT NEXT STEP TO BECOME TO GET
TO THAT NEXT MILESTONE TO BECOME MY OWN LEGACY.
JOHN: WITH HIS ANTICIPATED BC BACHELOR'S DEGREE, MELO WANTS TO
BE A THERAPIST. >> INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE THAT
CAME FROM FROM BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE EITHER ALREADY WENT THROUGH
COLLEGE OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO BE SOMETHING,
IT'S LIKE ALMOST INSPIRING TO LISTEN TO.
JOHN: THIS SEMESTER, LOU ROBERSON IS TAKING NURSING
CLASSES AT BC'S MAIN CAMPUS. AT FIRST, SHE WAS INTIMIDATED.
LOUKENSCIA: I HAVE CLASSES WITH BOTH MESSINA AND BOSTON COLLEGE
STUDENTS. WE'RE BOTH STRUGGLING THE SAME
WAY. JOHN: AT MESSINA, SHE'S TUTORING
FIRST YEAR STUDENTS WHO ALSO WANT TO BE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.
LOUKENSCIA: MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND IT KINDA GIVES
THEM LIKE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE
FUTURE. JOHN: SO PASSING THEM ALONG.
LOUKENSCIA: YEAH, PASSING IT ON. JOHN: FACULTY SAY THEY SEE THAT
SENSE OF PURPOSE IN MANY STUDENTS.
PROF. DIAZ: THERE IS A LOT OF INTENTION BEHIND WHY THEY'RE
HERE. THERE IS A LOT OF RICHNESS THAT
THE IDENTITY I THINK FIRST GEN CARRIES WITH THEM.
JOHN: AND THEY'RE CHANGING THE BROADER BC COMMUNITY.
GENEVIEVE: BOSTON COLLEGE NEEDS YOU AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND
YOUR IDENTITY AND YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
JOHN: DO YOU THINK OR DO YOU HOPE THINGS THAT YOU DO HERE
WILL ALSO INFLUENCE BC? ERICK: ABSOLUTELY. THESE
STUDENTS ARE ALREADY ENRICHING THAT CAMPUS.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, TIME WILL TELL THE IMPACT OF THAT OVERALL,
BUT THESE STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CREATE A LOT OF IMPACT FOR THEIR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, AND
THE GENERATIONS OF POTENTIAL COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO WILL FOLLOW
THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR EXAMPLE. JOHN: GROWING UP IN HAITI, LOU
ROBERSON'S MOM DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SO SEEING HER DAUGHTER A COLLEGE STUDENT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
DO YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A GOOD NURSE?
SHE'LL BE A GOOD NURSE? >> YES.
GOOD NURSE. WHEN I COME HERE, EVERYONE TELLS
ME, LUCASIA IS A GOOD STUDENT. SHE'S WONDERFUL.
JOHN: AND JUST THE SORT OF STUDENT WHOSE LIFE MESSINA
COLLEGE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE.
FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I'M JOHN YANG IN BROOKLINE,
MASSACHUSETTS. GEOFF: THE ART EXHIBITION WITH A
HIGH-PROFILE AND A LONG NAME -- GIANTS: ART FROM THE DEAN
COLLECTION OF SWIZZ BEATZ AND ALICIA KEYS -- RECENTLY OPENED
IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA AFTER STOPS IN BROOKLYN, ATLANTA, AND
MINNEAPOLIS. CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS, IT SPANS 20TH-CENTURY ICONS SUCH AS
PHOTOGRAPHER GORDON PARKS TO TODAY'S EMERGING TALENT.
I SAT DOWN WITH THE MUSICAL POWER COUPLE BEHIND THE
EXHIBITION, ALICIA KEYS AND KASSEEM DEAN BETTER KNOWN AS
SWIZZ BEATZ, ABOUT HOW THEY BECAME ART COLLECTORS AND THE
MEANING BEHIND THIS EXPANSIVE COLLECTION.
IT'S PART OF OUR ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES, CANVAS.
THIS IS NO ORDINARY MUSEUM OPENING CELEBRATION, BECAUSE
WHAT'S INSIDE THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ART IS NO
ORDINARY COLLECTION. THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED GIANTS,
AND THE COUPLE WE HIDE THEM ARE GIANTS IN MUSIC WHO ARE NOW
RESHAPING THE ART WORLD. ALICIA KEYS AND SWIZZ BEATZ.
SHE'S A 17 TIME AWARD WINNER AND PRODUCER.
SINCE HER DEBUT ALBUM, ALICIA KEYS HAS SOLD MORE THAN 65
MILLION ALBUMS AND GENERATED OVER 5 BILLION STREAMS
WORLDWIDE. HER BROADWAY MUSICAL HAS EARNED
MULTIPLE TONY AWARDS AND A GRAMMY.
AND SWIZZ BEATZ IS A DJ AND GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER BEHIND
SOME OF THE BIGGEST SONGS IN HIP-HOP, R&B AND POP, WORKING
WITH ARTIE'S LIKE DMX, JAY-Z, AND BUSTA RHYMES.
TOGETHER THEY BUILT A COLLECTION, ONE OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE
WORLD. WE TOOK A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE
EXHIBIT, SEEING IT INSTALL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AROUND 130 WORKS SELECTED FROM A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 1000.
FOOT -- WHAT FIRST SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN COLLECTING ART?
>> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? >> GROWING UP IN THE BRONX AND
SEEING ART EVERYWHERE, WAKING UP, COMING FROM SCHOOL, GOING TO
SCHOOL, SEEING GRAFFITI ON THE WALLS, IT ALWAYS FELT LIKE
SOMETHING THAT WE LIVED IN. JUST LIKE MUSIC.
I REMEMBER WANTING TO FURNISH A PLACE AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND I
DIDN'T WANT POSTERS. I STARTED GOING DOWNTOWN TO LOOK
AT ART. >> HE'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT ART. HE'S ALSO AN ARTIST, HE ALSO
PAINTS. OUR FIRST DATE WAS BASED AROUND
ART. HE'S ALWAYS BEEN BRINGING THIS
INTO MY LIFE AND THAT'S HOW I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND, WE CAN DO
THIS. WE CAN COLLECT THESE GORGEOUS,
POWERFUL PIECES OF ART THAT WE CAN RELATE TO AND THAT ARE SO
UNIQUE AND MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT.
THAT WAS HOW WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER THE COLLECTION.
GEOFF: DO YOU REMEMBER THE FEELING THAT SET YOU ON THE PATH
TO WANT TO BUILD THIS COLLECTION TOGETHER?
>> I THINK THE FIRST PIECE WAS A 30 FOOT SCULPTURE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT PIECE.
IT IS A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE DARK. >> 30 FOOT SCULPTURE.
>> WE GOT IT INTO OUR HOUSE AND THEY HAD TO TAKE OFF THE ENTIRE
SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THE BRIXON EVERYTHING.
-- THE BRICKS AND EVERYTHING. IN ORDER TO GET IT INTO THE
HOUSE, THEY HAD TO TAKE OFF THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
THAT WAS WHAT STARTED THIS IDEA THAT WE CAN EXPRESS IN GIANT
WAYS, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TINY, SMALL PAINTING.
WE CAN HAVE THOSE AS WELL AS HUGE PIECES LIKE THIS.
GEOFF: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, THE AUDACITY OF
THESE PIECES IS PHENOMENAL. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
>> IT MEANS THAT SHE DELIVERED A HELL OF A WORK.
SHE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS READY, BUT SHE SAID YOU MIGHT WANT TO COME
TO MY STUDIO. CANCELED EVERYTHING, WENT TO THE
STUDIO, GO UPSTAIRS, AND TURNED THE CORNER, AND I ALMOST
FAINTED. SHE SAID, DOING THIS WORK FOR
THE COLLECTION ALLOW BE TO HAVE SOME FUN AND DO SOMETHING I
WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO. I SAW TWO GUYS ON HER BIKE, THE
ROUGHRIDERS IS MY FAMILY'S COMPANY.
SHE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THAT.
GEOFF: THERE ARE PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND SCULPTURES
THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION DISPLAYED THEMATICALLY, ON THE
SHOULDERS OF GIANTS, GIANT CONVERSATIONS.
>> THE COOLEST THING ABOUT THE COLLECTION IS, BECAUSE WE ARE
BOTH ARTISTS, THEY'RE SO MUCH LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
HAVE ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE ART.
SODESCRIBING THE STUDIO VISIT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
UNFAMILIAR. IT'S NEVER TRANSACTIONAL.
LIKE THERE ARE REAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE CREATED
BECAUSE OF THE RESPECT BETWEEN ART AND THE ARTIST.
THAT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING. BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU WALK IN
THE SPACE THAT YOU CAN FEEL WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT IT DEALS LIKE.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE WORKS ARE OVERSIZED, BUT IT'S
EMOTIONAL, IT'S GENUINE, IT'S PERSONAL, BUT IT'S ALSO, LIKE,
POWERFUL. GEOFF: ONE MEMBER OF THAT FAMILY
WHOSE WORK ANCHORED THE EXHIBITION IS KNOWN FOR
REWORKING ART HISTORY TO CENTER BLACK SUBJECTS LONG ERASED FROM
IT. >> WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR 80% OF
THESE WORKS IN THE SHOW. GEOFF: YOU MEAN FIGHT TO ACQUIRE
THEM? >> YES, THERE'S A WAITING LISTS,
THERE'S MUSEUMS, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
THE BIGGEST PART WAS BUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARTIST
AND THE GALLERIES AND MUSEUM AND LETTING THEM KNOW WE ARE NOT
FLIPPING ART, WE ARE AN INSTITUTION OURSELVES.
WE ARE ADDING TO THIS, WE ARE NOT COMING TO TAKE FROM IT.
GEOFF: WHY BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING IT PUBLIC?
>> IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT WOULD BE SELFISH TO HAVE ALL
OF THIS BEAUTY HANGING ONLY IN A HOME WHEN YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH
THE WORLD. I THINK ALMOST A HALF MILLION
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE SHOW ALREADY AND I KNOW FROM THE
PEOPLE THAT CAME TO SEE GIANTS, LEFT FEELING LIKE GIANTS.
GEOFF: THE GOAL, THEY SAY, IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE FROM ALL
BACKGROUNDS AND ADVOCATE BEHIND THE SCENES TO ENSURE THOSE
ARTISTS RECEIVE A FAIR SHARE WHEN THEIR WORK IS RESOLD.
THE SCALE OF THE COLLECTION IS STAGGERING IN SIZE, BUT ALSO IN
AMBITION. ANYA MIDDLE PIECES THAT COMMAND
ATTENTION. THE TWO OF YOU ARE A MAJOR ENTRY
POINT INTO THE WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY ART, TO PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE DISCOVERED IT.
>> THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE, WHEN YOU GO INTO A PLACE
LIKE A MUSEUM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ACT THEY KNOW THINGS, OR ACT
LIKE THEY ARE SMART ABOUT ART. AND IT'S OK TO BE EIGHT STUDENT,
BECAUSE WE ARE STILL STUDENTS, THAT HAVING THE SELF-PORTRAITS,
AND PEOPLE SAY I KNOW THEM, THOSE ARE MY FRIENDS RIGHT
THERE. SEEING THE BMX BIKES, WHERE I
COME FROM IN THE SOUTH MONKS, SEEING HER PIANO, SEEING THE
TURNTABLES, SEEING THE STREET SIGN FOR HIP HOP.
>> HE SAID, AT ONE TIME, HAVING A BMX BIKE WAS THE BIGGEST THING
I COULD'VE EVER DONE. IT WAS A BIG, BIG DEAL.
WHEN WE CAME IN, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN SAID TO US --
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A SONG HE WROTE.
>> HE SAID BRICK BY BRICK. LITERALLY, ALL OF OUR STORIES
ARE SOMETHING THAT WAS CULTIVATED BRICK BY BRICK.
EVERY SINGLE ONE. AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
AND SLOWLY BUT SURELY, IT CAN BECOME THIS.
GEOFF:THE COLLECTION ISN'T JUST ABOUT OWNING ART.
IT'S ABOUT EXPANDING WHO GET SEEN INSIDE INSTITUTIONS THAT
WEREN'T ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE, AND ENSURING THE NEXT GENERATION
WALKS IN, NOT AS OUTSIDERS, BUT AS GIANTS.
WE'LL BE BACK SHORTLY. BUT FIRST, TAKE A MOMENT TO HEAR
FROM YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION. IT'S A CHANCE TO OFFER YOUR
SUPPORT. WHICH HELPS TO KEEP PROGRAMS
Wisconsin. Breaking into
to ask you on this Givingy
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>> Hi. I'm Linda Berman, a
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>> Hi, I'm Eric Greiling.
of PBS Wisconsin, and Iends
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usGEOFF: IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE LONG
FACED SCRUTINY, FROM LOW TEST SCORES AND CRUMBLING BUILDINGS
TO PERSISTENT CHALLENGES COMMUNICATING WITH BILINGUAL
FAMILIES. BUT AS BEN BERKE OF OCEAN STATE
MEDIA REPORTS, ONE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS PUSHING
BACK AGAINST THAT NARRATIVE, THANKS TO A TEAM OF YOUNG
REPORTERS. >> SHOULD IT BE THE GOODBYE AND
THEN THE FUN FACT, OR THE FUN FACT AND THEN GOODBYE?
IT SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE THING, BUT IT'S NOT WHEN WE START TO
PUT THE VIDEO TOGETHER. DOES EVERYONE AGREE WITH THAT?
>> THE NEWS DAY BEGINS WITH THE MORNING MEETING.
THE JOURNALIST, ALL FIFTH-GRADERS, TALK WITH THEIR
PUBLISHER, THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN, ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO COVER IN
THE WEEK THE SHOW. >> WHAT DAY WAS NATIONAL PRESS
DAY? >> BEFORE HEADING OUT TO REPORT
THE STORY, THEY PUT ON THEIR PRESS BADGES AND TEST THEIR
EQUIPMENT. ON A TYPICAL DAY, THEY ROAM THE
HALLWAYS, LOOKING FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO INTERVIEW.
THIS WEEK, THEY ARE REPORTING ON MEDIA LITERACY.
> WERE GOING TO ASK TWO QUESTIONS TODAY.
[LAUGHTER] >> BACK IN THE NEWSROOM, THE
FIFTH-GRADERS WRITE SCRIPTS AND TAPE THE SHOW IN TWO LANGUAGES
IN FRONT OF A GREEN SCREEN. >> READY?
>> LATER COME THEY WILL RELEASE THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL
MEDIA. >> GOOD MORNING, OR GOOD
AFTERNOON, AGAIN. >> JADEN SAYS IT IS THE KIDS
HAVE A BILINGUAL NEWS CREW. >> ALL CLASSES HAVE A BIT OF
SPANISH ARE ENGLISH. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE
NEWS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. >> THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING ON A
WEEKLY NEW SHOW FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW.
SHE SAYS THEIR MISSION IS SIMPLE.
>> WE INFORM PEOPLE, STUDENTS OR TEACHERS, ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THAT SCHOOL, BECAUSE SOME TEACHERS AND KIDS OUR STUDENTS
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. >> LAST YEAR, THE CREW LANDED
WITH ONE OF NEW ENGLAND'S BIGGEST POWER PLAYERS.
>> THAT'S VERY GOOD. >> YOU WANT TO BE GOVERNOR?
[LAUGHTER] >>ALICIA, WHO GRADUATED LAST
YEAR, SAYS INTERVIEWING PEOPLE LIKE THE GOVERNOR TAUGHT HER
SOMETHING IMPORTANT. >> THAT YOU SHOULD BE SCARED TO
DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE WHAT IF IT'S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY? I WOULD JUST GO FOR IT, IN MY
OPINION. >> ALICIA TRACKED HIM DOWN IN
THE HALLWAY WITH THE MICROPHONE. >> I ASK HIM ABOUT THE THINGS
HE'S BEEN SEEING. >> THEY TALKED ABOUT THE RISING
COST OF RENT IN PROVIDENCE. THE CONVERSATION MADE SUCH AN
IMPRESSION ON THAT MAYOR, HE MENTIONED IT THAT NIGHT ON LOCAL
TV. >> THIS IS THE LIMA ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL HERE IN PROVIDENCE. THEY HAVE A NEW STEAM.
I WAS INTERVIEWED BY THEM THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE THEIR HARD QUESTIONS AND HONESTLY, I HOPE
ONE DAY THEY ARE STANDING IN YOUR SPOT.
>> IT CAN BE NERVE-RACKING TO INTERVIEW A BIG SHOT LIKE A
MAYOR OR GOVERNOR, BUT THEY ARE ENJOYING IT.
>> IT FEELS GOOD TO GET ANSWERS TO A QUESTION THAT YOU WANT TO
KNOW. >> IT HAS AN EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON
THE SCHOOL STAFF, TOO. >> EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT BE LIKE,
I REALLY WANTED MY STUDENTS TO SCORE THIS ON THE LAST STATE
TEST. BUT LOOK AT ALL THE AMAZING
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. >> IT SEEMS LIKE A WAY TO
RECLAIM THE NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN A
PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOL. >> HANDS DOWN.
A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE JUST GET STUCK ON SCORES.
OUR STUDENTS ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN A SCORE.
>> THE KIDS AND THE RECENT ALUMNI HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT
WHAT THEY LEARN IN THIS NEWSROOM.
>> WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR STATE?
>> I KNEW HOW TO -- LEARN HOW TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND INTERVIEWED
THEM GOOD. >> I LEARNED MORE ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY, HELP FUND SOME OF THE TEACHERS ARE.
>> FOR SOME STUDENTS, GETTING JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE IS
INFLUENCING HOW THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ART.
>> I WANT TO BE A JOURNALIST OR A DOCTOR.
>> I HOPE THEY BECOME ARTISTS AND DOCTORS, BECAUSE IF THEY
DON'T, THEY MIGHT BE COMING FOR MY JOB ONE DAY.
GEOFF: AND MY JOB, TOO. AND THAT'S THE NEWS HOUR FOR
TONIGHT. I'M GEOFF BENNETT.
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR, THANKS FOR SPENDING
PART OF YOUR EVENING WITH US. >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS
NEWS HOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY --
? > MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160
YEARS. NSF, THE ENGINE THAT CAN
ACCESS. >> THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT
FOUNDATION. >> THE CHARLES F KETTERING
FOUNDATION, WORKING TO ADVANCE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACIES.
LEARN MORE AT KETTERING.ORG. >> FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR, IN
HONOR OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THEIR PARENTS.
HROUGH FIDELITY CHARITABLE. CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW
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PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION, DEMOCRACY, AND PEACE.
MORE INFORMATION AT CARNEGIE.ORG.
ND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.
HIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS
STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.] >> YOU'RE WATCHING PBS.
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS [bright music]
- Announcer: The following program is a PBS Wisconsin
original production.
- Deb Nicolaus: There is not a better mascot
in the United States--
well, actually in the world-- than Buckingham U.
He's the best mascot.
Just watch him.
- Narrator: He is Bucky Badger.
- Brian Adam: Bucky Badger's on another level
when it comes to mascots.
- RoseAnn Donovan: Bucky is an icon.
Bucky has crossed generations.
Bucky has stood the test of time.
- Narrator: With a tale that stretches back to the origins
of the Badger State, from a wild animal on the sideline...
[badger growls]
- Doug Moe: That took off, and the rest is history. [laughs]
- Narrator: ...to a symbol of Wisconsin.
- Matt Lepay: Bucky is a mascot of the people.
Bucky is for everyone.
- Fan: He embodies what this state is about.
- Bill Sachse Jr.: We all wanna be like Bucky.
- Narrator: A big personality with an even bigger heart.
- Lucas Douglas: The things we get to do as Bucky
is unlike any other experience.
It's amazing.
- Josette Jaucian: Bucky is definitely larger than life.
[laughs]
[group chants "Bucky!"]
- Narrator: Bucky!
[crowd cheers]
[whistle blows]
- Announcer: Funding for Bucky! is provided by:
the Dancing Goat Distillery,
Robert J. Lenz,
Charles H. and Barb A. Merry,
Dr. Henry Anderson,
Lau and Bea Christensen,
Cynthia and David Shaw,
Elizabeth Olson,
the Alfred and June Kohlwey Family Foundation,
donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs,
and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
[marching band cadence]
[crowd cheers]
[wind blows]
- Narrator: East of the mighty Mississippi,
a land of rolling hills,
lush prairies,
towering pines.
Wisconsin!
Home to a wild and majestic creature.
Bucky Badger!
[record scratching]
[upbeat polka music]
- Go, Bucky!
- RoseAnn: Bucky Badger is part of Wisconsin's identity.
It's who Wisconsinites are.
That perfect combo of fierce and inviting,
friendly, but not to be messed with.
- Go, Bucky!
- Mike Koval: Badgers are seriously
one of the most beloved institutions in our state.
- Narrator: Badgers pop up everywhere.
[popping]
We actually put one on top of the statue
on top of our capitol.
We even name badgers after other badgers.
- Beth Petersen: Right now, our two badgers
at the Henry Vilas Zoo are named Kaminsky and Dekker,
after some famous basketball Badgers.
- Matt: And a step back, three straight on.
Got it!
Ice cold-blooded!
Sam Dekker.
The badger represents toughness.
Like, don't mess with a badger.
[crowd cheers]
[whistle blows]
- Narrator: Yep, that checks out.
- Beth: On the other hand,
they can be really fun and sometimes a little bit silly.
Just like Bucky.
- Narrator: The old "work hard, play hard" Wisconsin mentality,
wrapped up in a lovable furry menace.
- Brian: Wisconsinites have a ton of pride in their state,
and Bucky represents the state of Wisconsin.
- Mike: We are the Badger State.
Bucky is literally a mission with us.
- Everybody loves Bucky.
- Bucky!
- He's royalty.
Wisconsin royalty. [crowd cheers]
- Go, Badgers!
[chiming sound]
- Narrator: Bucky's regal lineage began in the hills
of southwestern Wisconsin,
but not because of his cousin, the North American badger.
The Badger State took its name from something else underground.
[gentle music]
- Doug: Before statehood, lead ore miners
would burrow down for the lead.
And, of course, the badger with its claws
was really known as a digger.
Pretty soon, the miners started being referred to as badgers.
- Narrator: The name stuck.
The badger quickly became identified
with Wisconsin, and Wisconsin with the badger.
- Doug: Statehood comes in 1848.
The badger is seen on the state flag.
And we become known as the Badger State.
[bright music]
- Narrator: In 1889,
football came to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The early teams were known as the Fighting Badgers.
Coach Phil King took the helm in 1896
and became the first coaching legend at Wisconsin,
racking up a 65-11-1 record.
- Justin Doherty: He was the winningest football coach
at Wisconsin for a really long time,
until Barry Alvarez surpassed him roughly 100 years later.
Phil King set that tone for the grittiness, the toughness,
the Upper Midwest hardworking culture
that Wisconsin football became known for.
- Narrator: Blue-collared characteristics
defined the program, and also its namesake.
- Justin: The badger probably is the perfect mascot,
the perfect symbol for Wisconsin.
It's a smaller animal, but it's tough,
and it's not an animal
you're gonna wanna deal with.
[badger hisses]
- Narrator: Yeah, not everyone got the memo, though.
[playful music]
- Doug: A UW student named Lloyd "Babe" Spencer
was a well-known character on campus.
He would bring a badger on a leash to football games.
- Narrator: Babe Spencer and his badger Billy
were fan favorites during Coach King's era
at the turn of the century.
Before games, Spencer led his badger onto the field
with the marching band close behind.
- Doug: There's photographs of him, red sweater, white pants.
He's got a badger on his shoulder. [laughs]
He became very much a part of the atmosphere
and was beloved on campus.
- Narrator: Babe Spencer's tradition
carried on for decades.
A live badger would be brought into Camp Randall
at times to excite the crowd.
However, the wild animal could become,
you know, wild.
[badger hisses]
- Beth: A live badger as the mascot
is a pretty terrible idea. [chuckles]
- Doug: There's some news accounts of them getting loose
and creating havoc at Camp Randall.
- Beth: They can excavate a den within just a minute or two.
- Narrator: Pesky badger holes dug into the field
and reports of the occasionally bitten cheerleader
led to a pivot in the plan in 1948.
- Doug: They brought in a raccoon,
which that's not friendly either.
[laughs] But they brought in a raccoon
and claimed it was a badger in raccoon fur.
They even had a name for it, Regdab,
which, of course, was "badger" spelled backwards.
Brilliant, right?
- Narrator: Surprisingly, Regdab did not catch on.
The football team was also in a rut.
With school spirit at a low, it was time for a change.
[crowd groans]
[upbeat percussion music]
The athletic department hired Art Lentz
as its publicity director in 1946.
He took charge of changing the atmosphere and morale on campus.
- Doug: Lentz was an interesting guy.
He did the radio broadcasts of Badger sports.
- Art Lentz: From all over the state,
they come to cheer the Badgers.
People from Janesville, Park Falls,
from the Fox River to the Mississippi.
- Doug: And eventually, ended up becoming head
of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
He also came up with a phrase:
"Let's get that badger up off its belly."
- Narrator: Lentz wanted the football team back on their feet
and the team's mascot to join them,
standing proudly.
- Doug: Immediately, we began seeing
drawings of a badger upright in a black sweater,
looking a little bit like the Bucky we came to know
and love later, but not quite.
- Narrator: Lentz put his upright badger
on athletic department letterhead
and football publications.
But something was in the water.
Other upright badgers began popping up
in the school yearbook, newspaper,
and homecoming decorations.
By 1948, there was a big badger breakthrough.
- Doug: On the bottom-right corner
of an athletics department publication,
there was the badger that we all know now,
chest puffed up, in the red and white sweater,
and his fists clenched.
- Narrator: The star of our show: Bucky Badger.
[crowd cheers]
But we're gonna have to back up our story here, people.
That mascot still didn't have a name.
We'll get to that.
And it was actually drawn eight years earlier, in 1940.
[dreamy music]
- Doug: Arthur Evans was a California-based illustrator
who drew the first Bucky Badger as we know him today.
The company that Evans worked for
had a contract with Brown's Book Store in Madison
to design some decals with a badger on them,
and the store would use them for commercial purposes.
- Narrator: Evans also drew mascots for Michigan and Purdue.
But, look, don't blame him.
Not everyone can bat a thousand.
Anyhow, Evans' iconic badger
hibernated in obscurity for eight years
until Art Lentz made him a celebrity,
placing him on the cover
of the 1948 Football Facts and Centennial Sports Review.
- Doug: The first illustration took off
and the badger stood up, and the rest was history.
- Narrator: A hit on campus,
the drawing would soon come to life
with the help of a couple of UW students
from Sheboygan North High School:
Bill Sagal and Bill Sachse.
[groovy music]
- Bill Sachse: When I got out of the United States Navy in 1946,
I went down to Madison
and registered, and became an active student.
I rowed on the Wisconsin freshman crew
and on the varsity eight for the next three years.
- Bill Sachse Jr.: My dad enjoyed his time there
because it was a large class.
The country was starting to boom
and the future was looking bright for these kids.
- Narrator: Adding to the excitement,
the UW football team hired a new coach in 1949,
Ivy Williamson.
Hopes were high for Williamson to turn around the program.
[whistle blows]
At the center of Badger fever on campus was Bill Sachse,
who volunteered to organize the football team's pep rallies.
- The pep rallies drew big crowds.
A typical crowd was several thousand students
in front of the Memorial Union.
This thing was right up his alley.
He was a born salesman.
- Narrator: Sachse was always looking for a clever hook
to bring in the crowds.
And for homecoming that year,
he was cooking up an idea
that would change the course of Badger history.
- When he was walking through the Memorial Union,
he saw a display of African masks,
and he thought they were beautiful pieces of art.
Then he realized that he had the gimmick
for the homecoming of 1949.
- Bill Sachse: I thought to myself, boy,
if we could have a papier-mâché badger head made
and we could put that on one of the cheerleaders,
we would have a real live badger.
[crowd cheers]
- Narrator: Sachse was no artist,
so he enlisted the help of a friend, Connie Conrard.
- Sachse: Connie was an art major.
And I said to her, "Connie,
could you make a papier-mâché head of a badger?"
And she said, "Get me a picture, I'll make you a head."
- Narrator: The construction was underway,
but one thing was missing.
- Bill Sachse: I needed somebody to wear that head.
And the only guy was my classmate, Billy Sagal.
- Sagal was perfect to wear the head and become our new mascot.
[groovy music]
- Deb: Even though my dad was only 5'2"
and tiny in stature, he walked in the room,
he filled it.
He had a real mischievous side.
He was a bit of an imp. [chuckles]
He was born to be a mascot.
- Narrator: Bill Sagal grew up in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
A son of Polish immigrants, he was one of six boys.
His father passed away when he was 16.
To help his family with money, Sagal left home.
- Deb: He jumped on a train with not a penny in his pocket,
and he joined the circus.
- Narrator: A gifted acrobat,
his specialty act was the teeterboard.
- Deb: My dad would stand on the low end,
and then somebody would jump on the high end,
and then he would do flips into the air and land into a chair.
[crowd cheers]
- Narrator: After enlisting and serving in World War II,
Bill Sagal enrolled at the University of Wisconsin.
There, as head of the cheerleading squad,
his athletic prowess became the stuff of legend.
- Even had a nickname, the jumping jack of Camp Randall.
- Narrator: And that brings our story back to the other Bill,
Bill Sachse, and his papier-mâché badger head.
He asked Bill Sagal to be the new mascot
at the homecoming pep rally.
What followed was a date with destiny.
- Bill Sachse: Connie had this magnificent
but rudimentary head, and it was painted red and white.
It was fantastic.
- A photo was taken of my dad kind of lowering the head.
Sagal kind of holding it as it was coming down,
and Connie holding a paintbrush
as though she's putting finishing touches on the head.
And that photograph of the three of them
was the birth of Bucky Badger.
- Narrator: Well, almost.
This new mascot didn't have a name,
so Sachse started a contest to come up with one.
[bright organ music]
There was just a little problem.
- Bill Sachse: The names started to come into The Daily Cardinal,
and they were wild.
Sylvester Badger or Wilhelm Badger.
There were some screwy names and they weren't gonna fit.
- Narrator: For inspiration,
Bill Sachse looked across the pond.
- Bill Sachse: There were a lot of stuff going on at that time
at Buckingham Palace, and I thought, boy, what a great name.
We would call him Buckingham U. Badger.
And his nickname would be Bucky.
- The middle name U. was just the letter.
It was really meant to be like the word you.
You are a Badger, this is your mascot.
- Narrator: Hang on a second.
But what about the naming competition?
- Well, he had fixed the contest, basically.
- Narrator: In hindsight, the right move.
Sachse ended up giving the Delta Gamma sorority credit
for the winning name:
Bucky Badger.
- This was gonna be a mascot for the people,
for the fans, the students, the alumni,
Badgers.
- Narrator: On November 11, 1949,
an enthusiastic crowd gathered for UW's homecoming pep rally.
- Bill Sachse: It was jammed!
Biggest crowd I ever saw.
- Narrator: Bill Sachse took center stage,
making the introduction of a lifetime.
- Sachse: "The big moment is here," I said.
"Our new mascot is Bucky," and a big cheer went up.
And down comes Sagal.
["On Wisconsin"]
- He comes out like a boxer doing,
you know, punches and fighting. [chuckles]
- And it was just a blast.
It was just a blast.
- Narrator: The celebration continued
with the homecoming football game.
There, Bucky Badger appeared at Camp Randall
for the very first time.
- Bill Sachse: It was serendipity.
Sagal wore the head for the rest of the game,
and from then on.
I don't think I saw his face for two more months.
- Narrator: The Badgers beat Iowa 35 to 13.
Just saying, facts matter.
But it was the Wisconsin fan base who really won out.
- What started out as a gimmick for homecoming
became Bucky Badger forever.
[upbeat music]
- Matt: Think of what Bucky has seen through the years.
He has seen great teams.
He's seen really not great teams and everything in between.
But Bucky perseveres.
- Lucas: It's a testament
just to how much Bucky's beloved by the entire state.
It's a pretty special honor that we get to embody this character
that people love.
- Narrator: Students have carried on Bucky's legacy
for decades, and it all starts with a little bit of belief.
- Timothy Reiss: When you believe that you're Bucky,
everyone believes you're Bucky.
- RoseAnn: The moment you put that costume on,
you are Bucky Badger.
It is go time.
- Mike: Boom, you're on.
- Timothy: And you're just locked in as Bucky.
- You're not a guy in a suit.
You have Bucky's personality
and you're just running around having fun.
[crowd cheers and applauds]
- Brian: When we walk into a wedding, the room goes nuts.
When you walk into a school, the kids cheer.
And when you run out the flag at Camp Randall,
the fans all get loud.
[crowd cheers]
But the coolest part about being Bucky
is you can make people smile and you can make people laugh.
- That ability to be uplifting is so important,
and Bucky can do that.
volunteer here at PBS, a
Wisconsin, joined by no
badger the subject of. You
together. I think I cane
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Right now, we've gotort.
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1-800-236-3636.r call.
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David said, we here at PBS
explore all of Wisconsin as
highlight this, to share it
iconic things that are so
that's food, traditions or
natural beauty. We're here
it depends upon yourou. But
best ways you can support
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an automatic monthly gift.
want it to, and you haveyou
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>> So let's talk for a.
that you call and make aers
aware, federal funding for
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want more programs likeI
documentaries. That's why
1-800-236-3636.
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month. Bucky will autograph
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1-800-236-3636. start with
we are. like David told you,
times here at PBS Wisconsin
elimination of federal
bright spot. It is thea
you who have called us, who
have gone online and said
to their homes, to theirs
programs like this about
matter. And we can do this
stay, but we're here too
support, your generosity.
calling in for the firstber
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here at PBS Wisconsin. Itdo
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maintain emergency alert
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you. If you're already a of
generous donor, please a
additional gift during this
we can say thank you withm,
that Linda mentioned. And
call to our volunteers.
>> It is now my distinct
Charlie Behrens. You may
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Wisconsin, we were so PBS
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>> You're you're a busy guy.
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>> A month. Ten bucks aks.
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>> Well that's good. That's
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>> Oh yeah. enough push ups.
>> Well we'll talk more
But give us a calla moment.
>> So right now it's an
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>> So many great ways for
when you make your call and
your membership. So manyo
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support PBS Wisconsin and
Let's keep PBS Wisconsin
the sensation of you'reit's
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give. Now give during thisu
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give us a call devices,
>> So, Charlie, you've
actually your your accent
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- Josette Jaucian: I am going to get you guys signed in see more.
- Josette Jaucian: I am going to get you guys signed in
in a minute.
We are gonna all start out in here for station one,
and you're gonna max out on push ups.
The biggest thing is just making the judges laugh
and just have a good time.
All right, let's do it.
- Down!
- As the Spirit Squad director,
I'm in charge of the cheerleaders,
the dance team, and the Bucky Badger team.
- All: Bucky!
- Josette: Typically, we'll have six to eight students
playing Bucky Badger.
We try out for the new team every April.
- Cecil Powless: They put you through push ups.
They put you up in an elevator where the cheerleaders grab you
and lift you 20 feet into the air.
You're at dancing stations, at prop stations,
and they actually put you in the Bucky head.
- Timothy: A little intense, but it's a lot of fun.
It's a lot of fun.
- You're not gonna use it to--
- Narrator: Bucky alums help with those tryouts,
looking for the newest members to add to their pack.
- What do you do for fun?
- Narrator: Each year,
the new Bucky team works to embody a single character.
- Josette: It's really stressed at the beginning
that we are one team and we are one character.
- Timothy: That's one of the things we spend a lot of time,
especially with our new rookies on.
- Cecil: Be able to train them up ourselves
and pass on the traditions and pass on the mannerisms.
- Narrator: A belief in each other and in the magic
of Bucky Badger helps the team bring him to life.
- It's inexplainable, but you're just like,
you really just become Bucky.
- Lucas: You're seeing out of the mouth,
but it feels like you're seeing out of the eyes,
and you'll go and look in a mirror.
All you see is Bucky staring back.
It's just surreal.
- Photographer: All right, Bucky, right over here.
[whoo-hoo!] Bucky, big smile, big smile.
- Narrator: Now, to become the mascot,
the Bucky team must rely on more than just his movie star looks.
They need to exude an attitude that is larger than life.
- Brian: Bucky Badger is on another level
when it comes to mascots.
He's good looking, he's strong, great dancer, lots of persona,
and he's representing the greatest state
and greatest university in the country.
? Hey, hey, hey, hey ?
- Matt: Yeah, Bucky is the ultimate extrovert.
Whether Bucky knows you or not, will fist bump, high five,
put an arm around you.
Personality plus, plus.
- Narrator: Over the top
and always the life of the party.
- RoseAnn: Your personality has to be bigger than life.
You're covered in fur, so it has to be exaggerated.
[crowd exclaims]
- Sometimes I think about it, and I was like, "Man,
if I did this as a regular person, I'd look ridiculous."
But to Bucky, it looks normal.
That's just what Bucky does.
- Josette: I think there's a lot of people
that would describe Bucky Badger as cute.
- Brian: Best-looking mascot there is.
- Timothy: Suave. - Cecil: Very suave.
- Timothy: Very.
- That's a good word, a good word.
- Timothy: Bucky's got some swagger when he walks, a little,
you know, his shoulders are moving, his head's bobbing.
He's got the elbows up.
- Narrator: That ain't Bucky's only move.
Cue the oom-pah-pah.
[bright polka music]
- RoseAnn: Bucky knowing how to polka,
that's just being a Wisconsinite.
It's like going to a supper club.
It's drinking a beer, having a cheese curd.
If you're a Bucky, you know how to polka. [chuckles]
- Bucky can be a little mischievous.
He likes to have a little fun.
He likes to maybe poke fun at other mascots.
Steal an opposing team's cheerleader.
- Josette: Bucky is definitely very charming,
and the more mischievous he can be,
people will love it even more.
But he just needs to know where that line is
and not get in trouble. [chuckles]
- Narrator: Now, that line was pushed pretty far
during a football game in 1999
against Michigan State University.
- I noticed out of the corner of my eye,
the Michigan State cheer flag was sitting on the ground.
Grabbed the flag, sprinted down to our end zone,
threw the flag on the ground, stomped on it,
and then I was done with it.
- Narrator: Oh, but the Spartans weren't done.
Nope.
A Michigan State cheerleader,
this guy bolted right after Bucky.
- Brian: Didn't really see him until the last second,
and form tackle just laid me out.
I've never been hit that hard in my life.
- Narrator: The two of them were separated
and taken off the field.
But Bucky, [scoffs] he wasn't about to go out like that.
You kidding me?
- I came back on the field
wearing a boxing robe that read "Big Bad Bucky"
and two big boxing gloves ready to fight.
[ring bell chimes]
Bucky doesn't back down.
- Crowd: One, two, three, four!
- Narrator: It's not all fun and games for Bucky Badger.
There's a tough job to do here, people.
- Putting on a suit of fur and a carbon fiber head
on top of your shoulders is exhausting,
especially in the heat.
- Mike: Back in my day,
they were only going with the model of two Buckys.
It would not be untoward that I would do a basketball game,
two hockey games,
and a home football game against the Gophers
all within 72 hours.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
- Cecil: It's a million miles an hour.
You're doing anything and everything in between.
You kind of get caught up in the moment and it's a ton of fun.
- If Bucky's having fun, the fans are having fun.
[air horn] [crowd cheers]
- Narrator: That fun-loving attitude of both Bucky
and the Badger fan is a time-honored tradition.
- Hockey Announcer: And listen to this Badger crowd go wild.
- Narrator: And in the Bob Johnson hockey era,
the party was just getting started.
- Badger hockey fans in the 1970s
really embodied what we think of as Wisconsin sports fans today.
[hockey buzzer sounds] Back in those days,
the Dane County Coliseum was kind of a legendary venue.
And you walk in, and they're doing the sieve chant.
[crowd chants]
And Bucky's there, and the band and Mike Leckrone.
It was cool, it was,
it was just a cool experience for a hockey fan.
- Hockey Announcer: Takes another shot, scores!
- Mike: People wanna be a part of something positive.
People wanna be a part of something
bigger than themselves.
- Narrator: In Wisconsin, we call that the Badger spirit.
It's about tradition,
about celebrating both sports and life.
- RoseAnn: Bucky's role has exploded.
He's the photo op at the wedding.
He is at the parades, he's at fundraisers.
He's doing so many good things that aren't just tied to sports.
- This one has a clear and colorless liquid.
- Cecil: Bucky is a cultural symbol.
Wisconsin is just a very joyful place,
a place that's full of people that are very proud
of where they're from.
- Crowd: ? When you say Wisconsin ?
- Cecil: And to have that boil down into a mascot
is pretty cool.
- Crowd: ? You've said it all ? [marching band note]
- Narrator: The badger, the symbol of Wisconsin,
but for over a hundred years, only informally.
In 1956, a group of children from Jefferson, Wisconsin,
were learning about the state bird, state flower, state tree,
when siblings Leslie Smith, Greg,
Erik, and Kristin Gilbertson noticed a big furry oversight.
- Kristin Gilbertson: We discovered that the Badger State
did not have an official state animal.
[crowd exclaims]
We did not think that this was right.
So in our childish indignation,
we said, "We have to do something about this."
It was called the Bucky Badger Bill.
- Narrator: Assemblyman Byron Wackett agreed
to introduce a bill on behalf of the children
to make the badger Wisconsin's official state animal.
- Doug: There was some pushback.
Some folks up north wanted the white-tailed deer.
- Kristin: They introduced a competing bill.
Oh, we were angry. [laughs]
Outraged, you know, childhood outrage.
- Narrator: The legislature had a playful debate
over which animal should represent Wisconsin.
[crowd boos]
Leaving nothing to chance,
Kristin and her siblings summoned the courage
to make their case for Bucky,
testifying in front of the Wisconsin Assembly.
- I was eight years old.
I was a little sprout.
One by one, we had to go up and explain
why we thought the badger should be the state animal.
- Narrator: They pointed to the early history of the miners
and the badger on the state seal.
The kids even warned that the badger doorknobs in the capitol
would need to go,
and that the face of Wisconsin would be no more.
- Even back then, Bucky was everywhere.
It's very hard to change a mascot,
once a mascot is beloved by the people it represents.
- Narrator: Yep, those kids had a point.
And the state legislature agreed,
[gavel bangs] passing the Bucky Badger Bill.
[children cheer]
Heck, even a compromise left everyone with a win.
- The compromise was the white-tailed deer was named
the state wildlife animal, and the badger was the state animal.
- Narrator: In June of 1957,
Governor Vernon Thompson signed the Badger Bill into law.
- I think what happened was inevitable.
Wisconsin has been the Badger State forever.
I wouldn't say it was a wrong that was being righted.
It was just something being made official.
- Doug: How appropriate that it was some kids
who got the ball rolling.
Because of course, Bucky's beloved by kids.
- Kristin: I am really proud of what we did.
We stepped up for Bucky.
- Narrator: Oh, you betcha.
[funky music]
- Brian: Kids in Wisconsin have grown up loving Bucky.
- Josette: Kids see him just as a big, lovable stuffed animal.
They will mob him wherever he goes and follow him
and give him hugs, high fives.
- Narrator: Bucky knows how to draw a crowd,
but he also needs to keep his darn head on a swivel.
- Timothy: Kids will come up and hug your leg, and you're like,
"Oh, my gosh, there's a kid there."
And like, I had no clue that there was a kid there.
- Brian: Your vision in that suit is really limited.
Your vision is here.
So there's definitely been times
where you've kicked kids on accident
'cause they come running up to you
thinking you can see them.
- Literally, you feel like you're Turkish taffy
being thrown in 16 different directions,
and it's a great feeling to have.
It's a great feeling to have.
- Narrator: Bucky also has the ability to create little magic.
- Many kids are just in awe, just kind of a state of wonder.
Seeing Bucky was always something
uplifting and just joyful.
- Timothy: Bringing that joy and happiness into people's lives,
that's, like, our main job.
? That's right ?
[monitor beeps]
- Narrator: Sometimes, that job isn't all that easy.
- Kids can bring us down to earth
real quickly in terms of their vulnerabilities.
You're meeting with a kid at the children's hospital,
and you can see within all the other stuff
that this poor child's going through,
there's actually a light that sparkles in their eye.
There's a connection, if only for a moment or two,
to take the gloom and doom out of the air.
- Josette: We actually had a Bucky several years ago
that has pictures of when he was a child in UW Hospital,
and he remembers the joy that Bucky brought to him
when he was a kid.
So, he was always volunteering for those types of events
'cause he knew what that felt like.
- Hey, sweetheart.
- Mike: It's a great rally cry
when Bucky Badger can be so many things to so many people,
but especially those who are the most vulnerable in our midst.
- Hi, Bucky.
- Narrator: Old Bucky seems to have a knack for being there
when he's needed most.
- Matt: Ron Dayne from seven yards out,
and the Badgers take the lead again.
- Deb: In the state of Wisconsin,
so many family gatherings are around a television
with the Badgers on.
- Matt: The Wisconsin Badgers win it.
- It gives you an opportunity
to spend a little more time together.
- Narrator: A little more time together
was just what the family of Bill Sagal, the first Bucky Badger,
needed in the spring of 2000.
- Justin: The '99-2000 men's basketball team
just got on this incredible run
that Badger fans that were here at the time will never forget.
- Narrator: Dick Bennett's unlikely Badgers
captured the fans' imagination,
rallying at the end of the regular season
to sneak into the NCAA tournament.
- Matt: Part of the story line going in was,
could they win a game?
Could they win a game in the NCAA tournament?
Could they push through?
- Narrator: Oh, they won, all right,
even punching their ticket to the Sweet 16.
Badger fans had a reason to believe,
with their team sitting on the cusp of history.
But for the Sagal family, that moment was bittersweet.
- Deb: My last conversation with my father was
when we made it to the Sweet 16.
- Narrator: Bill Sagal, the original Bucky Badger,
passed away two days after the upset over number one Arizona.
Going into the Sweet 16,
the Bucky team carried a heavy heart.
- There's a special little bond between the other Bucky Badgers,
and I wanted to honor Bill at the Sweet 16
and Elite Eight games.
- Deb: Bucky walks out, and he has a black armband on
to mourn my father,
which, you know, there were no words at that time
about how that helped start the healing.
- Narrator: The Badgers took down powerhouse LSU
in the Sweet 16.
- Oh, the Badgers were important.
We were willing them to get us through this.
We really were.
- Matt: The Badgers and Purdue
will battle it out Saturday,
with the winner going to the Final Four.
- They're playing Purdue,
a team they matched up pretty well with.
- Matt: And Purdue takes the lead, 32-31.
- It was a nip and tuck game.
Wisconsin was behind, and John Bryant hit some shots.
Everybody just made plays.
- Matt: 13-footer in the lane, good.
Roy Boone with the jumper.
- Matt: And then when it got down to the final seconds,
to myself, it's like, "Oh, my God,
they're gonna, they're gonna actually do this."
- Matt: Four seconds.
Smith steps back, launches a three, off the back rim.
No good.
Kowski taps the rebound, Lewis is there, up right hand.
No good!
Wisconsin wins the game!
I can't believe I'm gonna say it,
but here it comes!
The Wisconsin Badgers are going to the Final Four!
- Everyone was just over the moon.
And you can't believe it.
Like, the Badgers, who snuck into the tournament,
are going to the Final Four.
- Narrator: It was the Badgers' first trip to the Final Four
in nearly 60 years.
- Matt: Hugs and kisses all around on the floor
of the Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- And the fans started chanting for Bucky.
- Crowd: Bucky, Bucky, Bucky!
- Brian: So I climbed up that ladder,
cut down a piece of the net,
squeezed that thing tightly inside my paw
until we left the arena.
- Matt: The wait was worth it.
Incredible.
[gentle piano music]
- To honor the original Bucky was pretty special.
- Deb: Bucky doesn't die,
but the person that decided to put the head on
for the first time did.
And so, they decided to honor the origin of who Bucky was.
- Brian: Bucky embodies everything
the state of Wisconsin is all about.
- Deb: He's a connection between people,
and I think that's what we all need.
And that's the essence of Bucky.
[upbeat music]
- Bill Sachse Jr.: Bucky was a student's gift to Wisconsin.
Buckingham U. Badger.
You are Badgers.
This mascot is one of you.
- RoseAnn: Bucky represents so much more than just sports.
Bucky is Wisconsin.
Young, old, rich, poor, whatever,
you are a Badger.
- Narrator: You don't need a furry suit or a giant melon
to see the world through the eyes of Bucky Badger.
[upbeat music]
- Anyone can be Bucky at heart.
- Go, Bucky!
Whoo!
- He can be a lightning rod of unity for people.
- You get 17,000 people in this building,
and you have 17,000 people who want the same thing.
[crowd cheers]
Where else can you get that?
- Narrator: They don't call Wisconsin the Badger State
for nothing.
- They know how to work hard.
They play hard, and love making people laugh and smile.
- And what is something that combines all of that?
[crowd cheers] - Fan: Bucky!
- It's Bucky.
[upbeat music]
- Kids: [chanting] Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky!
>> You can bring your
>> Hi, I'm David Hoffert, a
Wisconsin, and we have just
Bucky documentary. I, I
it as much as I did. Youte
appreciation for Bucky, but
taboo topic, but for thee a
inside Bucky or however you
But like the people whot.
And I think understanding?
understanding the the
icon that we have in our
meaningful. And and it's
of us in Wisconsin. So my
if this meant something to
of financial support, telle
that local programing like
numbers there on yourThe
>> Hi, I'm Linda Berman and
evening being with Buckyg
the story and the history
generation and my son is a
and this is the kind of,
share with him. And at $10
Blu ray is one I am goingVD
month. We have thist $12 a
Bucky Badger. This plush
including 70s, 80s and 90s
month. We have the iHeart,a
Wisconsin PBS because PBS
our state. At $25 a month,
get the DVD, you get the
the sweatshirt. Now we have
and it sounds like we're
get five copies of the DVD
can give them as gifts. The
is your opportunity to let
of Bucky. But the mostory
know is that it all starts
This very special call.
special, special feature a
most important thing isthe
you can do that right nowo
>> Hi, I'm Eric Greiling.
PBS Wisconsin. We want tof
you make your call, whenn
support. And this is af
That means if you call in
member, a new member, youra
Thanks to the support of.
Wisconsin. So show your
programing Wisconsind of
That's poignant, thatn.
you with one of thesehank
also know that during thisd
your gift goes even further.
during this this pledge
really special treats for
We've got guests, we've got
footage to share with you.
producers of this program,
Hornbacher. Programs like
even years, to work. Weimes
them for you and yourke
possible. Take advantage of
advantage of saying we like
with these gifts. Startsyou
(800) 236-3636.one
actually more coming. We
official documentary. But
we're going to show youreak,
we've put together that
Donovan, who you saw in the
for that. I mentionedtuned
local programing, and how
have made a documentaryd
watching tonight. Well,n
The producers here areright?
Wisconsin Hometown Stories
all those programs that you
rely on, and they're made
We are up to eight callsns.
Now is the time to joinreak.
>> We're having our own
no no no no. Now we know no
pledge your support. Thisnd
More than just an armk.
to say. Yeah. Okay. You won.
producers saw thisg. The
making it and said, wait,
we need to go back to.hings
need to interview and thate
remind you, at $10 a month,
Bucky right on the DVD. You
At $12 a month, you gety.
toy. You can see even Bucky
month. You get theky. $15 a
Wisconsin in PBS because
heart and has been for the
want to say at $25 a month,
Bucky, you can get the DVD,
with all pledges. You will
Bucky on the cover. Yes.
you, at $20 a month, youd
Oh. Hi, Bucky. Bucky likes
wearing your face. Yes, but
have five DVDs to share and
them as wonderful gifts.
break. We're at ten callse
more. This is the timet
Badgers, and Beyond going,
but you can call us. Ie,
much, but he's saying call
>> Some great and unique
you when you call with your
this program or go online,
your screen to make a gift
Right now, we can say thank.
for this unique program.fts
We want you to call in nowk.
of that challenge, and your
We're on our way towards.
this break. If you don'ting
please be patient. Our,
best to keep up. Go aheadr
And and just know that we.
you programs like this,ring
Wisconsin, programs that
reveal some of the but also
thought we knew. Going even
to say thank you, but went
going through some We're
we are committed toere, but
like this about Wisconsines
stay strong together. Itn
using that QR code, going
at 1-800-236-3636.us a call
about some of the great
available to you when you
remember, there are other
the levels that Linda'sf
with "Airwaves" magazine,
I don't know about you, but
harder just to get a simple
be on coming up. But you to
matters is PBS Wisconsin.
mail and also PBS Passport
demand programing through
programs that are, that are
not on air or haven't been
of those are additional all
course, really what matters
of being a supporter. Being
making all of this possible
your neighbors and they and
Give us a callin community.
>> And I just want to
you have the DVD of thenth,
the history, the storynow,
wonderfulness of being
We had the ten inchmonth.
and we got Bucky. Buckyucky
month. We have those5 a
to say something about it.
raglan sleeves. It isot
but it can also have am fit,
you talk to your volunteer
the $25 a month level, you
gifts the DVD, you get the
sweater, and of course, you
with every pledge ofine
to let you know what'sant
special feature. We've been
As I said, the producerss.
wonderfulness out of
story, and this isd her
with you. She has not seen
just finished. So you gety
It's a very short littlehis.
something you're going to
tuned. There's very special
right now. So stay. But you
as it's over, but staysoon
something special.his is
always been the life of the
>> My personality is
are are. I think if youorld
in the day or my currentck
say the same thing loud,
>> In the fall of 1978,
over-the-top personality
of Wisconsin-Madison,rsity
badger.lly becoming a
>> Did I have any concept
[MUSIC] was to come?
>> Ha RoseAnn pledged a
Greek social life.ed in
Yet she was on the hunt for
>> Many of my friends, my
of our guy friends were in
happened to be cheerleaders
much fun they had and game
kinds of fabulous things.l
friend would soon change a
college life. Roseanne's
well, Roseanne, why don't
I'm like, well, Bucky, Ind
Bucky's a guy. I said, no,
anywhere that it has to be
tall enough. And I'm like,
that. gosh, I'm gonna do
RoseAnn dug into of 1981,
Badger tryouts.r the Bucky
to go for it, I'm going to
>> RoseAnn brought her
the audition, and a little
>> One of the judges like,
one of the traditions isnow,
opposing side and, you know,
cheerleaders. And I just
wait right here. I run over
door open. There's mythe
her up and run around the
Badgers! I think the panelo
what in the world justke,
>> The group of aspiring
bleachers for the judge's
>> You know, drum roll. And
guy. His name was Mikest
Way to go. And people are
all this. And our secondnd
82 season is RoseAnn 1981
I just remember, like,. And
the world just happened?in
just joined an exclusivehad
>> As far as I know, I am
gotten the honor to play a
>> RoseAnn was soon
Wisconsin's furry, bigs
>> When you are Bucky, you
Around here. People busted
>> Bucky, Bucky.aming Bucky.
know the little one looking
and just to see the facesph
really amazing.ally it was
year at UW becoming Buckyor
games and a countless other
[MUSIC]le events.
about being Bucky was thatt
on, it was going to be ait
Whether it was at a game, a
loss, or it was a parade to
screaming, it was always
and just joyful.d uplifting
RoseAnn reign as Bucky came
remained a badger at heart.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I did
believe. Yeah, that wasd to
[MUSIC]amazing.
[MUSIC]s really amazing.
the middle of a challengein
opportunity to have your
standing with me now thee
Donovan, the very first
you so much for joining us.
>> Boy, it's an honor to be
>> We heard you say in that
I can't be Bucky. Bucky's a
that hump to actually gor
>> You know, I think for
personality, that just was
was like, Bucky's a guy,y
when I investigated, it was
say anywhere. Just have to
five nine. I was tall'm
dare I did it. kind of on a
here we are. Here we are.
like to, I mean, both to be
kind of groundbreakinghis
>> You know, I think to be
fully appreciate what a big
learning more and more. And
being the first female and
just at some of our events,
big deal and just really,
college experience. And,
teacher, educator for 43 a
like being in front of a
Anybody who knows me like.
surprise.ks. This is not a
know that you were onces
reveal your secret identity
>> No. While I was Bucky,
into the classroom, thatt
fun things that I got tory
would always do kind of an
something an interesting's
students would share? I was
broke a football record and
>> Yeah, right. Well, we're
RoseAnn in just a moment,
1-800-236-3636.all
everybody that you will get
matter where you Bucky. You
other way. There you canhe
magazine. And we are so
every pledge of support,
Bucky. You will get theof
can read it upside down.
plush little. I've got two.
You and this one. Yeah, the
month. $15 a month. You get
heart. Wisconsin is perfect.
you can get everything. The
plush little Bucky, the the
at $20 a month, you can get
that you can give them as
challenge, Bucky. No, you
break. Bucky. How manye
Da da da da 47 calls. Weow?
before the break is over.50
double the money. So give
>> Thank you Linda. It is a
on our way. Our our we're
on the phone. If you call
patient. We'll get to you
pbswisconsin.org or use
When you do, it will pullen.
you can see right there and
speaking of choosing, you
between a DVD and Blu ray,
DVD as your thank you gift,
and Blu ray. And that'sD
Blu ray as well. At $20 aD
rays. That's five each DVD
have to choose whether it's
gives you the opportunity
So if you've got a lot of
Beyond in your life, it's a
out. If you have people who
mascots, you can send them
know what really matters.m
mascot in the country is
scenes story. So QR code,e
let us say thank you to you
challenge break. We've a
going to keep going. Soe're
1-800-236-3636.us a call
funny you mentioned that
sitting at lunch today at
it turns out was ague who
We will not name the school
matters right now. I still
Donovan and RoseAnn. What
experience you had as Bucky
>> You know what I think
two. I think the the were
commercial back in the day,
dealership. I don'tr
sorry out there, but I
live badger. What? Andh a
me all like with these had
on because of of the clawss
running around Camp Randall.
coolest. The most memorable
start the first Crazylegso
>> The first one.
>> And we didn't know at
an annual event. I think be
it's been a while. Yeah.o
from Arlie Mucks thankinger
first race. So that wast
>> So so here you are a
you stay in touch? Is is
Not all of them were yourms.
>> And I think because I
know of, I do think thereI
really brought me closer
plan to play in the Bucky
So the reason to up my game
been a really fabulous just
>> Thank you so much for
going to ask you to calle
those calls coming.keep
>> And I just want to show
and oh, whoa.e plush Bucky
See what your calls are
stand on his head. If Plush
Big Bucky. So your callsd
55 calls now you can see it.
going to go to 70. This is
Being here with the Bucky's
your opportunity to call so
And if I talk fast enough,
a month. You can get the10
a month, you get the plush.
standing on his head. And
a month. You get thery, $15
sweatshirt. I Wisconsine
month. You get then, $25 a
DVD, $20 a month. You gete
Bucky's made it on his head.
still on his head. Yay,s
keep them there.calls will
>> Hit it Eric.
going to be, I think, 57's
works? At least 58 push ups.
coming. 1-800-236-3636.ls
Count up as far as we can
thank you to you. I also
who gave to this project on
without knowing what it
knowing how much we could
about Bucky, share thehare
the poignancy, and oftory,
that we absolutely have the
Those donors really makery.
do you. Your gift ofbut so
difference. Together we can
We will be here. We willg.
will allow us to continue
programing programing that
speaking of Wisconsin And
another treat for you,
one from Wisconsin Life. So,
you this programing. We're
Now give us a callwith you.
>> You just kind of have to
for the best. Simply noe
think of. like this I can
>> The most important thing,
[MUSIC], is to have fun.
it, got it all.Got it, got
a superhero in a way.t like
>> You have everybody in
and you just run out. It's
say.g responsibility, I'd
>> Winner.
created at some point back
250 ish total employees.e
>> They reached out to me
you want to be a mascotdo
never heard of anythinghave
why not?t before. So sure,
>> We've probably done 25
the years. We did ahrough
forklift costume, and it
that just kind of went upt
button on the other side
full body robot, top tose,
coming through here, weages
every, I don't know, five
very high profile project a
you about.that I can't tell
>> Most of our costumes are
with the average of themrs,
80 hour range. We consider,
activity level, we we go a
to make sure it fits like a
person. There's a lot of
kind of go into it.hat I'll
>> So when I see the
how I'm going to make thise
mannequin, I startn to the
that I know what the so
how to make something what
form.ould look like on the
fur tempo, double knit are
we use. I particularly like
just because it's cool to
together and different
>> We work with hundreds of
Pro sports teams,ingle year.
restaurants, brands,ams,
know, represent everything
schools.even elementary
[MUSIC] two, three.
>> It's a very strange
watching a Packer game or
comes on. It's like I madel
you know, it gives me ake,
just like this costume made
good, feels like art comety
we're working on here, you
scale realized thing.ll
>> And then it's like, you
hard work and you're like,
comes down to at the end.t
here are just amazing. It's
every day. It's the reason
face. It's the reason why I
because it's a great group
make some really fun stuff.
>> This has been amazing.
challenge break? Da da da
outstanding. This has just
just want to remind you, at
story of Bucky, the history
little Bucky plush toy, the
a month. You get the it's a
I heart PBS and it's says,
a month, you get the Bucky5
Bucky, you get the shirt.
the five pack of Bucky's.et
we're at 72? We can make 75
this is a great thing. But
1-800-236-3636. Take itl at
>> Bucky and I just have so
thank you to all theay
bank tonight who havene
counting. Thank you to
to Bucky. Bucky, Bucky.ou
Bucky and Bucky. And mosty,
you. Thank you for making
like this to exist anywhere
PBS Wisconsin. It's all at
not too late to be because
you call 1-800-236-3636 and
pbswisconsin.org, there's
on your screen if you knowe
Which frankly, sometimes I
but I bet, I bet these guys
What matters is thating.
and we know that you want,
that's your vote in all of
remember, you also get a
the vote that tells us that
matters to you. And and
media right. PBS public
what makes the public in's
behalf of so many peopleon
microphone to. And that's
what I'm asking you to doat
and make a pledge ofcall
number again. One. The
by more Bucky's than I will
combined. Probably. It'se
It's been a hectic night.
calling. We appreciate you
keep, keep it coming. and
["If You Want to Be a Badger" by UW Marching Band] Thanks for your support.
["If You Want to Be a Badger" by UW Marching Band]
- Narrator: Okay, Bucky, that's a wrap.
And watch out for deer out there.
They're still mad you beat 'em out as the state animal.
[crowd cheers] [whistle blows]
- Announcer: Funding for Bucky! is provided by:
the Dancing Goat Distillery,
Robert J. Lenz,
Charles H. and Barb A. Merry,
Dr. Henry Anderson,
Lau and Bea Christensen,
Cynthia and David Shaw,
Elizabeth Olson,
the Alfred and June Kohlwey Family Foundation,
donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs,
and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
[marching band cadence] [crowd cheers]