Criminal background checks are commonplace in the working world. Fortunately, the UW System Board of Regents voted Friday to join the club, adopting a policy requiring background checks for all potential employees.
The new policy stirred debate among objectors who believe the policy could be used to unjustly discriminate against potential job applicants.
But fear not, objectors, for Wisconsin law already precludes discrimination based on criminal history, except in cases where past unlawful behavior affects the job in question.
With sufficient oversight and adherence to Wisconsin law, criminal background checks will avoid discrimination, while allowing the university to hire employees who enrich rather than endanger the campus community.
According to a legislative audit conducted last spring, the UW system employed 40 felons, and 27 of these felons worked on the UW-Madison campus. Of these, two individuals were convicted murderers. Feel safe? Didn't think so.
The recent Board of Regents decision arose in the aftermath of the audit. State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, state Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay and UW System President Kevin Reilly deserve credit for urging the Regents to implement uniform and mandatory background checks.
The Regents also deserve credit for placing the good of the UW system community above the potential cost for running the checks. Al Crist, associate vice president of the UW system, estimates the tab for background check will run upwards of $250,000 annually.
But the cost of safety far outweighs the cost of background checks on a campus becoming steadily more notorious for campus crime. Reasonable application of the policy will protect the rights of all those checked and protected.
