Legislators take aim at UW System over Kevin Barrett

Following UW-Madison's defense of Kevin Barrett, state Republicans have added the embattled lecturer to their laundry list of problems with the UW system. Sixty Republicans and one Democrat signed the resolution calling for Barrett's termination. Additionally, both incumbent Gov. Jim Doyle and his opponent Republican opponent, Mark Green of Green Bay, have both expressed their opposition to hiring Barrett. ""Professors who are going to try and teach our students that two plus two equals five have no place at the UW,"" said Luke Punzenberger, a spokesperson for Green. Though state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, introduced the resolution to revoke Barrett's contract, his spokesperson Michael Mickelson, said Barrett is one of many problems ""plaguing the UW- system."" The resolution, according to Mickelson, is part of a larger effort in response to ""other scandals and mismanagement,"" referring to Paul Barrows, the hiring of felons on campus and the lack of implementing a sick-leave policy. ""The reality is the Kevin Barrett matter is only one symptom of what we see as the illness strangling the UW System,"" he said. State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he agrees the issue is not just about Barrett, but rather a ploy allowing politicians to attack the university. ""I think a few of the Republicans, who have been especially loud-mouthed about this are blowing this problem out of proportion. They are trying to look for anything they can get their hands on to run down the university,"" Black said. When asked why more Democrats did not support the resolution, Black said his party thought it would be harmful for politicians to ""censor speech"" at the university. ""To have the legislature try and dictate what's taught and who is allowed to say what, is a prescription for harming the university,"" he said. The only Democrat to support the resolution, state Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Madison, said he did not think Barrett was symbolic of a larger problem in the system. Though no one else in his party lent their support, Ziegelbauer emphasized the issue is not about partisan politics. ""If I thought this was just partisan foolishness I would not have signed on to it,"" Ziegelbauer said. While Mickelson, Green, Black and Ziegelbauer all took different standpoints, one thing they all agreed on was that they did not support Barrett's theories. Barrett, according to Mickelson, was only hired for the job because Barrett was the only applicant vying for the position. Though Black does not support Barrett's theories, he said it is inappropriate for the legislature to infringe on the rights of the university. ""At this point it's not about Kevin. His theories, as I consider, are pretty goofy. It's about whether we are going to have a great university,"" said Black.