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Per the WI State Journal, Jim Johnsen has withdrawn his candidacy to be UW System president, stating, “After deep reflection as to where I am called to lead a university system through these challenging times, it is clear to me and my family that it is in Alaska,” Johnsen said in a statement. “I appreciate the strong support from the search committee at Wisconsin, and for all those who supported my candidacy, but it’s clear they have important process issues to work out.” Click here for the article.

For reference, our previous article is included below.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The Search Committee for a new UW System President has introduced a single candidate for the position, Jim Johnsen, 62, University of Alaska System President, since 2015. In that role he oversees three universities and 13 community campuses, serving more than 26,000 students. The UW System serves more than 170,000 students at 13 universities over 26 campuses. The new President will succeed Ray Cross, who announced his plans to retire, effective with the installation of a new president, last October. Cross assumed his position in 2014. It is very unusual for only one candidate to be recommended for such a position; however, the committee indicated that other prime candidates withdrew for fear that having their name announced publicly might impair their ability to lead their current organizations during the pandemic.

On Tuesday, June 9, Johnsen participated in a virtual forum that was open to interested parties related to all campuses. He also was interviewed in a closed session on the same day by the Board of Regents, which is expected to announce a decision in the near future.

Meanwhile, a petition to the Board of Regents, drafted by the UW-Madison chapter of the Association of American University Professors, has been signed by nearly 2000 students, staff, and alumni.

The petition states:

“The current search process for the next University of Wisconsin System President has failed.
The announcement of a single finalist on June 2 is the outcome of a flawed process that
excluded faculty, student, and staff representatives from the search committee. Furthermore,
the finalist’s record raises deep concerns about respect for educational quality and shared
governance.

As University of Wisconsin System faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members,
we call on the Regents to withdraw this candidate and begin a new search process. The new
search committee must include faculty, staff, and student representatives in keeping with
precedent and in compliance with AAUP procedures.”

It appears that the reference to “the finalist’s record” may have been influenced by the report that there have been two faculty votes of “no confidence” regarding Mr. Johnsen within the University of Alaska System.

Signees of the petition related to UW-Whitewater include the followings:

Cristina Ballatori, Faculty
Victor Barger, Faculty
Jessica Bonjour, Faculty
Kathy Brady, Faculty
John Carlberg, Academic Staff
Bruce Cohen, Faculty
Eric Compas, Faculty
Kennedy Cutts, Student
Corey B. Davis, Faculty
Michael Dugan, Faculty
Denise Ehlen, Alumnus
Teresa Faris, Faculty
Ashley Flor, University Staff
John Frye, Faculty
Ruth Hansen, Faculty
James Hartwick, Faculty
Tracy Hawkins, Faculty
Lisa Huempfner, Faculty
Emily Igl, Student
Kasumi Kato, Academic Staff
Uma Kedharnath, Faculty
Derek Lam, Faculty
Brian Leeper, Academic Staff
Elena Levy-Navarro, Faculty
Courtney Luedke, Faculty
Joshua Mabie, Faculty
Nikki Mandell, Professor Emerita
Thor Manson, Student
Nathan Mcgovern, Faculty
Susan Messer, Faculty
Kimberly Nath, Faculty
Jack Nee, Alumnus
Matthew Onstad, Academic Staff
Christopher Ramaekers, Faculty
Andrea Romero, Faculty
Jared Rowe, Alumnus
Jessica Schwefel, Academic Staff
David Simmons, Faculty
Kyra Tomcheck, Alumnus
Sheila Turek, Faculty
Rhea Vichot, Faculty
Isabella Virrueta, Academic Staff
Holly Wilson, Faculty
Daniel Zamzow, Faculty

Comments added to the petition by persons with local affiliations included:

People on the ground know what’s best for UW System Students/Staff/Faculty etc. so let us in on the process. Kennedy Cutts, Student

You received multiple no-confidence votes from faculty at the University of Alaska, who charged that you ignored governance groups, muzzled chancellors, and misled the Regents. Please respond to these claims and explain why you are suited to lead the University of Wisconsin, which is proud of its tradition of shared governance. Ashley Flor, University Staff

Without procedural justice, there can be no faith in the process or the results. Ruth Hansen, Faculty

This sounds like the definition of a failed search, and a failed search process. James Hartwick, Faculty

No one would allow a search for a faculty position to be continued with one candidate. This is an unsuccessful search. Start again. Elena Levy-navarro, Faculty

Sadly, Wisconsin continues to be the canary in higher education nationwide. This doesn’t make the fight to preserve public higher education for the people any easier, but it does make it all the more important. Nikki Mandell, Professor Emeritus

In this time of crisis, we must have trust in administrative leadership – hiring an individual that is on the brink of losing their position for failing to earn that turst is dangerous and intentionally subversive. Please, wake up!! Susan Messer, Faculty

Jim Johnsen is a mistake. Ray Cross is a disaster. They both should get as far away from the UW System and the Wisconsin Idea ASAP. Jack Nee, Alumnus

As the Faculty Senate Chair at UWW since May 2018, I have been outspoken about the flawed search process revised by the Board of Regents to diminish and eliminate shared governance — especially the voice of the faculty — in choosing chancellors and the System president. Nearly 3,300 people who care about comprehensive regional education, local decision-making, and the Wisconsin Idea have already signed our petition to protect the UW from President Cross’s Blueprint — which the sole finalist in a search conducted in secrecy seems chosen to carry out without honoring these voices. Please join your fellow citizens and sign to protect the UW! David Simmons, Faculty

Thank you for taking action on this very important matter. One candidate should be considered a failed search. Sheila Turek, Faculty

This search is a joke and needs to be declared failed search and started again — with faculty and non-regent student input. Isabella Virrueta, Academic Staff

No search should end in only one final candidate and without the input of a sizeable chunk of the university community. The current conclusion is cleary (sic) a sham and the search should be redone with all stakeholders at the table. Russell J. Hansen

This search has been a misguided disaster from the beginning. Insufficient numbers of faculty, staff, and student representatives on the committee is a major problem and will lead to lack of buy to any new leader by the university community. Frank Hanson

We’ve got to be able to do better than this Dylan Jeninga

The attempt to forward only one candidate (especially one with so abysmal a record) for the President’s position is a mockery of the principles the UW stands for and a blatant slap in the face of Faculty, Staff, students, alumni, and the citizens of Wisconsin as a whole. The University is far too important to the state, financially, economically (yes, those are different things), scientifically, environmentally, and culturally, to allow the Regents to forcibly install an individual that has clearly built a career on being a professional “Axe Man”. The Regents’ candidate has done irreparable damage to the University of Alaska, and by putting him forward as their only choice, the Regents have clearly signaled their desire that he inflict the same type of damage on one of the greatest land-grant university systems in the nation, under the false pretense of fiscal conservatism. The Regents that have strong-armed this candidate through the selection process should be ashamed of themselves. It is deeply saddening that there is no process through which they can be forcibly stripped of their positions for the continuing damage they insist upon doing to this great University System. Anthony Peterson, Alumnus

This single candidate put forth is NOT welcome in Wisconsin…and definitely should NOT be even under consideration to head our vaunted UW System of universities! Lynne, Parent

For a story, ‘Failed Result of a flawed search process: UW faculty, students critical of president finalist,” in the Cap Times on June 4, 2020, click here.

For a story, “As 1 finalist interviews to be UW System president, nearly 2,000 people call for new search,” in the Wisconsin State Journal, on June 9, 2020, click here.

For a story, “Turmoil at University of Alaska,” in the Anchorage Press, On October 8, 2019, click here. Included in the article is information about significant declines in enrollment and the closing of the education program after loss of its accreditation.

Whitewater, WI (Whitewater Unites Lives Submission) Dr. Jim Shaw was nominated to be this week’s Hometown Hero, and he graciously declined, requesting that the Whitewater Unified School District Teachers and Staff receive this award instead, “For, overnight, transforming instructional methods during the COVID-19 school building closures; for connecting with every student and family; and for their caring and dedicated work on behalf of all students.”

He adds, “I am honored, and humbled to be nominated as a Whitewater Hometown Hero. I am honored, because the school board gave me the opportunity to be part of wonderful Whitewater and serve as the Interim District Administrator.  I am honored, because Whitewater supports public education, and values the schools as an essential part of the community. I am honored, because during the COVID-19 school closure the WUSD teachers were heroes who overnight transformed instructional methods, and connected with every student and family. I am humbled, because I don’t deserve recognition for the community’s longstanding support of public education, or for the caring and hard work of WUSD employees. The award recognizes WUSD. That’s why I will always cherish it. Thank you, Whitewater.”     

Dr. Jim Shaw was nominated “For always putting Whitewater students and families first, from helping to coordinate food distribution for Whitewater Unified School District families to planning a graduation under extremely difficult circumstances, for always being open to feedback, and for visiting each and every classroom in the district.”

Included in his nomination is the following: “Dr. Jim Shaw served as District Administrator of the Whitewater Unified School District during a critical time of transition and has led staff, teachers and students with professionalism, care, and he was always focused on what was good and right for students. In a few short months Dr. Shaw also had a tremendous impact on teacher and staff morale.  He has always been open to feedback and visited each and every classroom in the district-he might not live in Whitewater, but he’s a proud Whippet and a hero to our community.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

By the Whitewater 4th of July Committee

You may have noticed that as a committee we’ve been pretty quiet the past few months when normally we would have been shouting from the rafters how awesome Whitewater is and what a tremendous tradition this celebration is for our community. Like many event organizers around the world we’ve been cautious and making tough decisions about what is best as well as what is safest for our community.

Parade participants initially received an invitation to the annual 4th of July parade as the committee was optimistic that by June we’d have emerged from the health crisis and would be ready to move on; we were wrong. Parade participants also received a follow-up letter that the parade had been cancelled. Similarly our service organizations and churches didn’t hear from us as we hoped they’d be able to participate; again we were wrong. In May we also sent notifications to their organizations that the food vendors would not be part of the festival.

By this point we knew that as many small communities do, there was a tremendous amount of speculation about what was or wasn’t happening. Just as many cheered the thought of the festival not happening in 2020 as were saddened. The committee continued to meet. The committee discussed safety, guidelines, phased reopenings, the absence of a Safer-at-Home order and blueprints for reopening. On June 8 we met as this was the point of no return for our decision making for this year. And there are some things that we want to make sure that you understand about that process.

• As a committee we make decisions together; this was no exception.
• When we initially invited parade sign ups – our bands were the first to tell us no. Over the course of a month when we would have had dozens, we only had six registrants. We made the decision to cancel the parade in part because of that and also in part because we were unable to obtain a parade permit as the situation evolved.
• Our new park amphitheatre was delayed by the Safer-at-Home order in Michigan. It arrived more than a month late for installation and is unlikely to be ready for use for another 4-6 weeks.
• Most of the festival relies on volunteers, many of whom are in vulnerable populations who may not feel ready to volunteer in the same capacity yet.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, CDC, local and state health departments provide guidance for the means by which any number of industries can operate as safely as possible.
• Each part of the festival was evaluated independently on the safety of its occurrence as well as other factors.
• As much as we all may be tired of hearing it, this is our new normal and as a community we need to find ways to stay safe but also enjoy life.

That last point is a crucial one to note. 2020 will look different. We hope that 2021 looks more like what we’ve come to love about the festival. We are also now prepared to announce that there will be fireworks on July 4th at 10 p.m. This would not be possible without the ongoing support of DLK Enterprises and the Coburn Company. There will also be a carnival. This would not be possible without the full commitment of the Christman family and their support of following industry guidance for the safe operation of a carnival/amusement park.

From the community we ask your commitment to the following:

• Wash your hands.
• Stay home if you are ill or have been around someone who has been ill.
• Practice social distancing guidelines – there will be reminders posted; this may include wearing a mask at times.
• Be kind. We understand that now is not the right time for some to end their safer-at-home practices, and we appreciate that the decision to attend or not is a personal one.

WHITEWATER, WIS (Discover Whitewater Press Release) – The Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Council are thrilled to welcome their new Executive Director, Kellie Carper.

Kellie brings to the Discover Whitewater collective a passion for building relationships and actively serving the communities she calls home. She grew up in the Geneva Lakes area living in Fontana and Lake Geneva as a youth. She happily returned to the area with her family in 2004 and has been a resident of Walworth County for over 15 years, raising her children in Lake Geneva. Her daughter is a student at UWW and her son will be following his sister’s footsteps to campus in the next few years. Kellie joins the Whitewater community with a background in hospitality, higher education, and small business management. She enjoys being a tourist in her own state, exploring all that it has to offer. Kellie looks forward to supporting the business community in Whitewater, fostering collaboration and growth, and creating engaging opportunities for visitors and locals alike to enjoy its rich history and friendly culture.

With our new director firmly in place we are also happy to announce that the Discover Whitewater office in downtown Whitewater will be open again. Due to continuing health concerns we are opening with reduced hours, Monday through Friday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. However, we will continue to monitor the climate and adjust our hours accordingly. Kellie would welcome the opportunity to share information about Discover Whitewater’s operation and all it can offer the local businesses and community. If you are already a Chamber member please stop by to say hi and talk about how we can serve you better. If you are still deciding about joining the Chamber, Kellie would love to talk about how we can partner with you for success! If you have information to share with the community and our visitors, please be sure to send it our way.

Discover Whitewater is excited for our future and the future of Whitewater!

Thank you to The SweetSpot Bakehouse and Nelson’s Bus Service for going above and beyond in helping make the non-traditional Whitewater High School graduation festivities that much more festive for the Class of 2020.

The SweetSpot donated a beautiful individual graduation cake to each senior that walked across the outdoor stage on Saturday, June 6. Thank you to Lacey Reichwald and Karen Moline for coming up with this idea and for being there all day on June 6 to hand them out and personally congratulate each graduate!

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Nelson’s Bus staged a special tribute, secretly moving 22 buses into perfect formation in the Central Office parking lot on May 29 to form a 2020. A video of the bus tribute became part of the virtual graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 7, as one more surprise for students. Thank you to Dave Nelson, Chris Arnett, Beth Babcock, Joe Melito, Stephen Kessler, Kelsee Tipton, Karl Ludeman, and Matt Hounsell for your time and effort. If you haven’t had a chance to see this part of the graduation video, check out the two-minute video clip at https://youtu.be/sDjZM2Q4zaU

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Thank you from the WHS Class of 2020!

Whitewater, Wis., (Roberta’s Gallery Press Release) – All are invited to the Storied Moments exhibit, NOW AVAILABLE VIRTUALLY, at Roberta’s Art Gallery.

The Storied Moments exhibit features Wisconsin Pastel Artist (WPA) and Warhawk Alumna Judy Grochowski. This exhibit will take you on numerous adventures through multiple seasons, and you won’t be able to help but take a moment to stop and stare. Her exhibit is available for viewing online from now until August 24, 2020. The gallery is currently not open for in-person viewing; however, the online exhibit will be featured 24/7. The exhibit is set and ready to go in the gallery for when it is safe and possible for the gallery to open. Click here to view the exhibit.

Judy Grochowski is a graduate of UW-Whitewater (with strong connections to the Art Department). She worked as an art teacher for many years. Although she spoke of her passion for teaching young ones art during her time as a teacher, she spoke of her excitement to be able to make more of her own art during her retirement and her love for the WPA. When asked about her work, Judy quotes: “My work is a mix. I work from photos I have taken or go out to paint plein air. Plein air is painting outdoors, on site and working in a quick fashion to capture the scene before the light changes. It’s a wonderful challenge and I’m just beginning to feel completely satisfied with my painting on site…” Judy even has a set-up in her car so that she can leave on a moment’s notice to go paint. Her dedication and love for what she does truly shines through in her work.

Roberta’s Art Gallery is a full-service gallery that focuses on numerous styles of art exhibits, workshops, and events, and aims to reach students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and other visitors. Art is believed to be a universal language and being a resource for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Roberta’s Art Gallery collaborates with students, campus departments, student groups and community organizations.

All exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center (UC) at UW-Whitewater. If you would like more information, feel free to contact Roberta’s Art Gallery via email ucart@uww.edu or via phone (262) 472-3193. We look forward to seeing you in person sometime in the near future. Please stay tuned to our website for more information.

For other updates and workshops done by Roberta’s Art Gallery over the summer, please feel free to follow the UW-Whitewater University Center. Roberta’s Art Gallery posts -bi-weekly blogs about crafts to do from home and will also be hosting a Facebook LIVE Event on Tuesday, June 23 at 7 p.m. Watch out for more information, and we hope to see you there!