I wrote yesterday of Beverly Kopper’s remark that Richard Telfer’s only weakness was not having enough rings for all his championships. Needless to say, Richard Telfer had no championships at UW-Whitewater: he wasn’t a coach or athlete. When I first read Kopper’s remark months ago, it wouldn’t have occurred to me that non-athletes were – literally…
University
University
The Former Chancellor’s Only Weakness
by JOHN ADAMS •
Months ago, as then-Chancellor Richard Telfer was preparing for retirement, then-Provost Beverly Kopper thought about his career, and spotted only one weakness: Chancellor Richard Telfer has only one weakness, according to Beverly Kopper, provost at UW-Whitewater. This weakness isn’t being a bad listener or not being able to do his job. His weakness is only…
Sports, University
Coach Timothy Fader, Vindicated
by JOHN ADAMS •
Coach Timothy Fader, a nationally-recognized coach who was dismissed from his position as head wrestling coach at UW-Whitewater, is now the head wrestling coach at UW-Eau Claire. As Whitewater’s current chancellor likes to be clear, I will be, too: Coach Fader would never have been hired elsewhere in the UW System if there had been any…
University
UW-Whitewater dean of students dies of natural causes, chancellor says
by JOHN ADAMS •
At WISC-TV Channel 3000 there is a published report this afternoon on the death of UW-Whitewater’s dean of students, Mary Beth Mackin. The story includes a statement from UW-Whitewater’s chancellor. Readers will find the story at UWW dean of students dies of natural causes, chancellor says @ WISC-TV Channel3000.com.
Assault Awareness & Prevention, City, Law, University
The Nature of the Federal Title IX Complaints Against UW-Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
The two, separate federal complaints that sexual assault survivors have filed against UW-Whitewater are complaints against that institution for the failure to comply with lawful requirements for handling these alleged survivors’ claims (regardless of the underlying facts in any given claimant’s case). (That’s why, when Title IX complainants seek federal recourse, they say that they have…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Crime, Official Misconduct, University
Chancellor Kopper’s Belated Statement on Another Federal Complaint
by JOHN ADAMS •
Today, only after publication of an account of a second Title IX complaint against UW-Whitewater from a second sexual assault survivor, Chancellor Kopper finally chose to issue a statement in her own words (assuming that she wrote it). I have published that statement in full, at the bottom of this post. (For the story on…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, Crime, Official Misconduct, University
A Second Sex-Assault Survivor Files Federal Complaint Against UW-Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
Raechel Liska, aged 22. Photo from Channel 3000. Link to Ms. Liska’s video interview, available online. Raechel Liska, aged 22, an honors student and Army ROTC candidate at UW-Whitewater, has filed a sexual discrimination action with the U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Division, against our local university. This is the second federal action that…
City, Culture, Local Government, Politics, School District, University
A, B, and Wrong
by JOHN ADAMS •
Most choices for government, such as an option between Policy Choice A or Policy Choice B, involve choices of ordinary outcomes. One option may be more efficient than the other, or one more aesthetically pleasing than an alternative, but either would be considered a normal, reasonable policy outcome. Preferences of the Right or Left, of…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, City, Corporate Welfare, Culture, Economics, Economy, Free Markets, Government Spending, Local Government, University, Waste Digesters, WEDC, WGTB, WHEN GREEN TURNS BROWN
Boo! Scariest Things in Whitewater, 2015
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s the ninth annual FREE WHITEWATER list of the scariest things in Whitewater for 2015. The 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 editions are available for comparison. The list runs in reverse order, from mildly frightening to truly scary. 10. The Coming Ferret Invasion. Alternative title: The Unprepared Will Be Doomed. Earlier this year,…
City, Misconduct, School District, University
An Open Note to Leaders of the Municipal Government, the School District, and UW-Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
Along the lines of listing key topics (see the right sidebar at FREE WHITEWATER for a list of particular areas of concern), it’s worth being clear that important issues in one part of the city should not be ignored in other parts. An Open Note to Leaders of Government, the School District, and UW-Whitewater: misconduct of officials…
City, Local Government, Politics, University
Whitewater’s Major Public Institutions Produce a Net Loss (And Why It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way)
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve often contended – and about this I’m sure – that most people are sharp and capable. It’s only on this foundation that a prosperous and dynamic culture like America’s would be – could be – possible. Whitewater’s major public institutions – her city government, school district, and local university – produce this unexpected result: although members of…
Culture, University
The University Gateway Near Whiton & Main
by JOHN ADAMS •
Five years ago, this community considered whether there should be changes at the intersection of Main and Whiton, where there was then a stone gateway to the university. One now sees that the gateway is being moved back from near Main, farther up the hill from the street. Moving the gateway assures greater visibility nearer the road. It’s good…
City, School District, University, Waste Digesters, WGTB, WHEN GREEN TURNS BROWN
Policy Topics for the Fall
by JOHN ADAMS •
I last wrote in February about local policy topics that I thought were interesting. See, Policy Topics for the Spring and before that Four Public Topics for the Fall (2014). In February, these were my selections: Whitewater School Budget Cuts, the Whitewater’s School Board Election, the UW-Whitewater’s Budget, UW-Whitewater’s Social Relations, and the City of…
City, University
7,000 and 7,622
by JOHN ADAMS •
Welcome signs in Whitewater list the city’s population as 14,622. That’s right, give or take a small number since the signs were last updated. When thinking about Whitewater, however, one can’t reasonably think of a homogeneous population of 14,622. We’re a more diverse city than that, with demographics revealing a multi-ethnic and vocationally-split community. Of…