As much of Wisconsin wakes up to survey the damage of last night’s storm, and many remain without power, UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone desperately tries to fix the damage he’s done to his institution, and maintain his grip on power there.
Let’s get right to today’s Key Reads.
As afternoon turned to evening, temperatures rose and several storms swept through the state. Tens of thousands remain without power. Here’s a summary of the damage:
Thousands without power after severe storms in Wisconsin | WMTY Madison
Severe storms impact northeast Wisconsin | We Are Green Bay
Storm damage in western Wisconsin | WQOW Eau Claire
Reported tornado near Unity, severe storms cause damage in central Wisconsin I WSAW Wausau
Wisconsin severe weather aftermath: Power outages, damage reports | WISN Milwaukee
He’s sorry, folks. So can we all just forget about how he sided with pro-Hamas demonstrators? Can we ignore how he allowed them to break the law on campus for two weeks? Can we just move on from the settlement he negotiated, wherein the University accepted the propaganda of Hamas, and equated innocent civilians (including Americans) with criminals who are actually accused of crimes?
The agreement is still in place. It indicates UWM believes Israel is guilty of a plausible genocide. It implies there is something wrong with dealing with companies and organizations that have ties to Israel.
It was just a little mistake. Let’s all just get over it.
What a crock.
Milwaukee Chancellor Mone apologizes in an attempt to save his own skin | Dairyland Sentinel
Mone shared the following message to UWM students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members on May 21, 2024.
Dear UWM Students, Faculty and Staff,
In recent days, I have heard from some on our campus and in our Jewish community that our response over the last few months to global events, local protests and the recent encampment left them feeling vulnerable, unsafe and unseen. As a leader, educator and friend, this feedback has impacted me greatly.
It is clear to me that UWM should not have weighed in on deeply complex geopolitical and historical issues. And for that, I apologize. I acknowledge that it is an increasingly difficult time for many Jewish students at UWM and across America. I’ve also heard that some students have not felt comfortable reporting their concerns or experiences. This distresses me. The expressions of grief and frustration over the conflict in the Middle East must not destabilize our shared sense of humanity or be twisted into a platform to spread hatred.
Let me be clear: UWM resolutely condemns antisemitism, just as we do Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred. Our campus must be a place that welcomes all students and the full expression of their history, culture, identity and ethnicity. But words alone cannot create the culture of inclusion we desire, which is why we must transform our words into commitment and action. This work will take time, as all hard work does, and it will also take the openness of our entire community.
As we move forward, I am dedicated to continued listening, conversation and engagement with all our students. I recognize that students must first trust that we can better support them before they can feel comfortable sharing their concerns.
The path ahead will be grounded in our guiding values. I reaffirm my personal commitment, and that of my leadership team, to advancing an inclusive campus where every student can succeed. I hope you will join me in this work.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Mone, PhD
Chancellor
Promotion of big events is a great thing, and can help boost tourism spending. This approach, however, could be troublesome, as Governor Evers wants money released immediately and his administration would later figure out how much will be spent and where. They cleverly use the NFL draft as a carrot, but there would be nothing stopping them from spending almost all the money on obscure politically-tinged events of dubious tourism value.
That’s not a plan. It’s a slush fund.
Evers wants $10M large event funds released for NFL draft grants | The Center Square
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is asking the Joint Committee on Finance to release $10 million in large event funds to spend on events such as the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.
The funds were an Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Fund as part of the state’s biennial 2023-2025 budget to be administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
If the funds are released by the Joint Committee on Finance, the WEDC board – with advisement from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism – will create requirements for applicants to the fund.
“From the Ice Age Trail officially being designated a national park and the NFL draft coming to Wisconsin in 2025 to the new Amtrak Borealis Train connecting St. Paul to Chicago straight through central Wisconsin, we’re doing big things here in the Badger State,” Evers said in a statement. “We want to continue growing our tourism industry and investing in one of our state’s largest economic engines by promoting Wisconsin as a major destination for some of our country’s largest events.”
Evers says the funds are intended to be used “to assist communities with the costs of major events, such as the upcoming NFL draft in Green Bay.
Many of you have some extra work to do today to address some modest storm damage. Some are facing much more dire situations as a result of last night’s storms.
Mother Nature says she’s sorry. There, now all the damage is repaired and everyone can just move on like nothing happened.
Hardly.
And so, the Mark Mone Watch continues…
