Politicians, students and DEI staff responded strongly to the announcement that the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents would take a second vote on a proposal that would to cut one-third of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) staff — about 43 positions — and realign those positions toward “student success” in exchange for pay raises for about 34,000 employees and funding for a new engineering building at UW-Madison as well as other building projects.
The Regents rejected the proposal in a special meeting Saturday in a 9-8 vote. Some who voted no complained that the deal had been negotiated behind closed doors with no input from students, faculty, staff or community. After another special meeting in closed session, the Regents announced that they’d vote again at 5 pm Wednesday.
“The Board of Regents should be able to make decisions about what’s best for our students, faculty, staff, and, ultimately, what’s best for the University of Wisconsin System without fear of threats and political pressure or retribution,” Governor Tony Evers said in a statement Tuesday. “I supported the regents’ decision on Saturday because I believed it was made consistent with this expectation, their values, and their charge.”
He was apparently referring to Emilee Fannon’s reporting for CBS58 that four Regents – three of whom voted against the resolution – have not yet been formally confirmed by the Senate, and Senate President Chris Kapenga said they’re on “thin ice” and may lose their positions.
One of the people potentially impacted told Madison365 they felt abandoned by administration.
“The chancellor and Board of Regents have now shown their position and quite frankly, ideology on DEI and staff and faculty who are contributing to UW’s success. As a DEI staff member at uw-madison this shows me that leadership is about seeking to bring more revenue (rather) than being ethical in their employee practices and wellbeing,” said a DEI staff member who asked to remain anonymous.
Conrad Telega, a research specialist at the Wisconsin Crop Improvement Center, said he’s willing to forego the cost of living raise he’s owed to stand up for DEI.
“I would love my raise, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I can’t take this deal because it is just just disgusting for me on a moral level. And a big reason for that is that, you know, my own daughter is mixed race. It’s very personal for me … I’m being forced to choose between my own livelihood and … allowing people to make a decision that would harm people like her in the future. I just can’t agree to that.”
He also notes that the pay raises should have already started coming.
“My major gripe with this deal is that the funds (for employee pay raises) were already approved many months ago, and they were supposed to be given to us many months ago, way back into the summer,” he said. “And even more recently, the (Joint Committee on Employment Relations) released funds to pay (other state) employees, guaranteeing their raises, but denied them to UW on all accounts, including infrastructure as well as raises. I feel that the Republicans, especially Robin Vos, are targeting UW and their employees with extreme prejudice. They say that UW shouldn’t be allowed to peddle their agenda. Yet, they are using my livelihood, and the comfort and well being of my family as a chip in their political schemes to push their agenda.”
MGR Govindarajan, a senior at UW-Madison who represents the campus neighborhood on the Madison Common Council, said he was disappointed but not surprised that the Regents appeared poised to reverse course. He said in an interview Tuesday evening that no student protests or actions were planned because it’s the last day of classes before finals and students are “exhausted.”
““We just spent the last weekend trying to defend our right to stay on this campus and feel welcomed on this campus,” he said. “UW is not committing itself to diversity, inclusion or equity at all.”
He said the manner in which the deal was negotiated may have violated state law, which says, “The students … shall have primary responsibility for advising the chancellor regarding the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests.”
“This was a back door deal, and it’s not the first time,” he said.
The Regents will meet at 5 pm today.
Wednesday’s meeting can be viewed via Zoom at this link.
