Charles Blow writes of the work ahead for those many citizens who now find themselves compelled to defend their rights: I fully understand that elevated outrage is hard to maintain. It’s exhausting. But the alternative is surrender to national nihilism and the welcoming of woe. The next four years could be epochal years in the history…
Law
Far-Right Populism, Law, Liberty
Republicanism Without Principle
by JOHN ADAMS •
Writing at Commentary, Noah Rothman has a short, but powerfully insightful, post entitled Republicanism without Principle. The essay is, immediately, about Trump and the Republican party, but it applies as nicely to republicanism as a form of government under the pressure of radical populism. (It’s worth noting that Commentary is a conservative publication; one finds…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Law, University
Answer of Telfer and Edmonds to Former Coach Fader’s Federal Lawsuit
by JOHN ADAMS •
In August, Timothy Fader, the former wrestling coach at UW-Whitewater, filed a federal lawsuit against former chancellor Richard Telfer and then-Athletic Director Amy Edmonds (she has since been demoted), alleging defamation & constructive termination stemming from a dismissal because Fader reported an alleged sexual assault committed by a recruit directly to Whitewater police rather than a…
History, Immigration, Law, Liberty
Trump Surrogate Defends Precedent of Internment Camps
by JOHN ADAMS •
Carl Higbie, a Trump surrogate, while speaking to Megyn Kelly on Fox News suggested the internment of the Japanese during the Second World War as a precedent for a registry of Muslim immigrants to America. Kelly rightly rejected the precedent, as the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War and the Korematsu decision…
Elections, Law
Getting Protest Hashtags (#NotMyPresident) Half Right
by JOHN ADAMS •
Columnist Paula Dvorak, writing at the Washington Post, contends that saying “saying #notmypresident is the same as saying #notmyconstitution or #notmycountry or #notmyAmerica.” See, Stop protesting democracy. Saying #notmypresident is the same as saying #notmyconstitution. Dvorak is only right about the first two hashtag phrases – she overreaches on the others. It’s true that #notmypresident is…
History, Law, Liberty, Politics, Presidential race 2016, Trump
Kevin Drum on Trump and the End of Reconstruction
by JOHN ADAMS •
Blogging at Mother Jones, Kevin Drum – like many of us, of whatever politics – seems uncertain about the consequences of a Trump Administration. (In fairness, much has happened in a short time, and it’s hard to make sense of it all.) Still, Drum’s thinking has shifted significantly over the last few days, in ways…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Law, University
UW-Whitewater’s Amy Edmonds Out as Athletic Director
by JOHN ADAMS •
UW-Whitewater’s current Athletic Director, Amy Edmonds, is reportedly out as head of UW-Whitewater’s athletic programs. The report notes that she’s being demoted to associate athletic director (at a significant cut in salary). There’s no certainty that she would, in fact, remain in a subordinate role following the apppointment of an interim director, let alone a…
City, Elections, Law
Absentee Voting in the Whitewater Area
by JOHN ADAMS •
One often hears that a given election is important, and that each person’s vote matters. That’s been true so many times in our history, and it seems particularly so this year. Absentee voting – by mail or in person – is a part of our law, and the window for in-person voting will open soon. Immediately below readers…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Law, University
Coach Fader Appears on ESPN’s Outside the Lines
by JOHN ADAMS •
On Friday, former UW-Whitewater Coach Timothy Fader appeared on ESPN’s nationally-broadcast Outside the Lines, to describe the treatment that led him to file a federal lawsuit against former Chancellor Telfer and current Athletic Director Amy Edmonds. See, Coach fired for reporting sexual assault. UW-Whitewater officials declined to appear on the program, but issued a…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Law, Misconduct, University, UW System
Long Miles Ahead
by JOHN ADAMS •
I posted yesterday on the federal lawsuit filed against former Chancellor Richard Telfer and current Athletic Director Amy Edmonds. See, Former Coach Fader Files Federal Lawsuit Against UW-Whitewater Officials. One should not expect a quick resolution to the many issues the lawsuit raises, of mistreatment of honest employees & disregard for assault survivors. On the contrary,…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Law, Misconduct, University, UW System
Former Coach Fader Files Federal Lawsuit Against UW-Whitewater Officials
by JOHN ADAMS •
At Channel 3000, investigative reporter Adam Schrager reports on a federal lawsuit that former Coach Timothy Fader has filed against UW-Whitewater officials, in their individual capacities. (I had promised readers that I would continue to follow this story, and will continue to do so as the case unfolds.) Both current Athletic Director Amy Edmonds and…
Education, Law, School District
The Masking Effect of Act 10
by JOHN ADAMS •
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Crime, Law, University
Attorney General Schimel’s Support for Senate Bill 656
by JOHN ADAMS •
Late last month, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel joined law enforcement officials at a press conference to announce his support for a bill that would offer amnesty for underage drinkers who report incidents of sexual assault (whether reporting as claimants or bystanders). The bill (Senate Bill 656) would assure that someone could report an…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Law, Public Relations, University
Contrasting Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Media Relations Director Sara Kuhl
by JOHN ADAMS •
In December, Laura Dunn, Esquire and four of her clients, all with experiences within Wisconsin as sexual assault survivors, met with Wisconsin’s Attorney General, Brad Schimel, to discuss their concerns about how the UW System is addressing sexual assault complaints. See, UW sexual assault survivors meet with AG, seek meeting with UW system leaders @ Channel…