WISCONSIN — Funding for the Universities of Wisconsin is more secure, for the time being. Just a few months ago, that was far from the case.
In an effort to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across the 13 campuses, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos withheld funding, already approved by the legislature, totaling more than $800 million. It included money for construction projects, including a brand new engineering building at UW-Madison, the state’s flagship campus. It also included pay raises for tens of thousands of UW employees, including faculty.
Vos has widely condemned diversity, equity and inclusion publicly. In an interview with Spectrum News Political Anchor Anthony DaBruzzi, Vos said DEI stood for “division, exclusion and indoctrination.”
In the months that followed the funding lock, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin brokered a deal with Vos to release the money. The deal was so controversial that in order to pass, it required two days of voting from the Board of Regents, testimony from chancellors pleading for the funding, and several closed-door meetings out of the public eye.
The proposal that went before the regents included a freeze to the Universities of Wisconsin’s 130 DEI positions through 2026. It also “realigned 43 of them to areas with a primary focus on academic and student success.”
The deal also included other GOP-backed initiatives, including axing UW-Madison’s Target of Opportunity program, which prioritized recruiting diverse faculty. The deal eliminated any requirement for a diversity statement in the admissions process. UW-Madison also agreed to seek philanthropic support to create an endowed chair to focus on conservative political thought.
Through an open records request made in December, Spectrum News 1 obtained nearly 1,000 pages of emails and text messages from the Universities of Wisconsin. Speaker Vos’ office provided a limited number of documents, including the original proposal Rothman provided to Vos on Nov. 24. That proposal included a requirement for all UW employees to undergo unconscious bias training. The final deal did not include that item.
The emails and texts particularly involving Rothman, chancellors, regents and community members detail a behind-the-scenes process much more tumultuous than the public ever knew.
Rothman and Mnookin exchanged a series of texts in the week leading up to the regents’ first vote on Dec. 9. On Dec. 3, the day she and Rothman met with Vos to discuss the proposal, she replied to Rothman “I don’t want to give up on the additional capital projects without a fight.”
In a stunning move, the Board of Regents rejected the resolution on Dec. 9, eight “yes” to nine “no.” The failure had Rothman even questioning his own credibility to lead.
In a text exchange with Regent Ed Manydeeds, an attorney and Native American who opposed the deal, Manydeeds said to Rothman, “You put your heart and soul into the negotiations. Please continue to fight for our campuses, Jay.”
Rothman’s response: “Thanks for the kind words. My concern is that I have lost my credibility to lead. To have President and Vice President vote against a resolution I recommended makes my situation really challenging.”
Rothman sent a similar text to Regent Jim Kreuser who voted in favor of the resolution.
Kreuser: “I’m sorry for what the front row did to you. I’m always available for a phone call if or when you’re ready.”
Rothman: “Unfortunately, I am not sure there is much to discuss. I am pretty sure I know what I need to do. Not happy about that, but I just lost my credibility to lead.”
The “front row” referred to Regent President Karen Walsh and Vice President Amy Bogost both voting the resolution down.
The day after the deal failed, Walsh exchanged texts with Rothman.
Rothman: “Yesterday was a tough day for both of us. I am available to talk at your convenience about next steps.”
Walsh: “Yes and I’m sorry about what happened. We were under so much pressure, as you know.” Walsh went on to say “I believe there is a path.”
Regent Cris Peterson texted Rothman “You were cut off at the knees Saturday by our leadership. I don’t know what the heck happened. But you’re getting knee replacements tomorrow.” Peterson, who is a dairy farmer, also texted “This has been more of a sh*t show than a dairy farm ever has.”
Four days later on Dec. 13, Walsh, Bogost and Student Regent Jennifer Staton flipped their votes, passing the resolution. This came after Speaker Vos publicly said the deal was “the last and best offer.”
Staton previously gave an emotional speech at the Dec. 9 meeting, where she voted “no.” The UW-Parkside student detailed her experience in the Army, saying “Parkside has been a home to me. Diversity, equity and inclusion is not something they just talk about. They live it.”
Throughout the process of the deal’s initial rejection and subsequent approval, Rothman received messages of support from UW chancellors, regents, GOP legislators and community members. He also received an onslaught of hate mail.
One community member wrote “Following the racist legislation affecting your university, I wonder what’s next, book burnings?” Another called for Rothman’s resignation as UW President “after a disastrous attempt to appease Robin Vos.”
A UW-Madison employee said “would you really trade my humanity for a building?” The reference was to the new engineering building the university will now get because of the deal.
A UW Oshkosh graduate sent Rothman a lengthy email, saying, “You kowtowed to a political jihadist in Robin Vos, setting a dangerous precedent.” The email goes on to say “Crippling DEI initiatives across the system is pure political gamesmanship unbacked by any forethought about the actual effects it may have in the real world. DEI offices help nontraditional students including veterans and handicapped individuals.”
Demographic data from the Universities of Wisconsin shows students of color represent 15% of total enrollment. Over the past 50 years, the number of African American students has gone up by less than 3,000. That is an increase of 1.5 percentage points.
Rothman declined to speak on camera for this story. He told reporters after the deal passed that it was a necessary compromise. Regent Manydeeds and Chancellor Mnookin declined interviews as well.
Spectrum News 1 has reached out for comment but has not heard back from Speaker Vos or Regent President Walsh.