They are advancing speech-code legislation that Larry Dupuis, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Wisconsin chapter, correctly refers to as “unnecessarily draconian.” If Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and his compatriots get their way, the Board of Regents would be mandated to adopt policies requiring UW campuses to remain neutral on public controversies — like, one supposes, the debate over how best to protect Wisconsin dairy farmers in international trade disputes. This has the potential to impinge on academic freedom, public discourse and the ability of lobbyists for the university system to advocate for maintenance of the Wisconsin Idea, adequate funding of campuses, tuition issues and more.
Office of Strategic Communication