John KoenigFrom the start, the chancellor selection process was highly confidential. For months, Search and Screen Committee members pored over applications and narrowed their pool of candidates. Students didn’t even receive a glimpse of the candidates until the four finalists emerged, and soon after, the UW System selected Brian Levin-Stankevich as the new chancellor of UW-Eau Claire.
In spite of the news coverage and his personal appearances on campus so far, what sort of chancellor he will be is still kind of a secret. Since journalists hate secrets, I thought I’d have a chat with him about some of the issues that have surrounded the campus in recent years. So, from campus-related politics to alcohol to Blugolds, here’s where Dr. Brian stands.
Reising Issues:
Last fall, the university received $300,000 to fund the creation of the Center for Alcohol Studies and Education. As Homecoming approached, university administrators and student leaders tried to persuade bar owners to open later on Homecoming morning and pushed for students to remain responsible. Meanwhile, the Eau Claire Police Department gained attention for busting a large house party and writing nearly every minor an underage drinking ticket. Do you think the university should attempt to influence students’ personal drinking choices?
Chancellor Designate Levin-Stankevich:
I think the role of the university is in part to educate students, and that includes both academic learning and learning to be good citizens. I really put a lot of stock in . educating people on the reality versus the perception. I think a lot of people think other students drink more heavily than they really do. On the other hand, it is against the law. and we have an obligation to uphold the law. I think the university has a role to play, and it is to enforce the laws that we’re given and try to bring the best research to bear on the issue and to educate students on how these things affect them.
RI:
UW-Eau Claire has faced a few controversies related to ideology in the last couple of years, mainly whether religious proselytization should count for Service-Learning credit and whether the university should regulate what sorts of activities RAs can conduct in their rooms or residence halls. What sort of role do you believe the university plays in balancing free speech with protecting people from feeling excluded or judged?
CL:
We had a couple of similar situations (at Washington State University), like with an Indian activist coming to speak on campus.
We’ve been debating these issues here as well, not so much with the religious context as you have there. My role was to help facilitate (the activist) coming. We need to do our best to protect free speech. (But) hate speech can very well begin to infringe on the rights of others. A public institution needs to be very cognizant of that very thin line between sanctioning speech on one hand and speech that infringes on other types of free speech on the
other hand.
(At a university) you have a lot of unequal relationships. If you talk about an RA, an RA certainly has rights. On the other hand, the RA has an unequal relationship with (their residents), so the question is are we doing enough to make sure that RAs understand . that they shouldn’t abuse that unequal relationship? I think we need to be careful that we’re not coercing people . without giving them the freedom to speak their own mind.
RI:
Last year, Student Senate voted to renovate Davies Center. Newly elected President Chris Wagner has expressed his support of building new academic buildings and a residence hall.
What is your view of such initiatives in future years, especially with funding being a constant issue?
CL:
I think to some extent the state certainly has a role in maintaining the investment it’s already made in the campus. So we’re going to, as aggressive as anyone, pursue state funding. I’d like for equity within the system. I think there are certainly some physical (campus) needs that are pretty evident. There are some buildings that have become dated, and we’re going to need to address that. So if I have the student support on that, that’d be great. I think the public is saying ‘why should we pay for these luxuries?’ On the other hand, we have got to say, what do our facilities look like to a prospective student and are they going to select another university?
RI:
During a recent forum that included members of the Eau Claire City Council and members of the university community, tension was obvious. Other issues like parking in the Third Ward and the courthouse expansion have endured as points of contention between students and city/county government.
What do you see as your role in alleviating this tension?
CL:
I think my role is to facilitate communication and understand both sides of the issue. It isn’t always just one side educating the other; it’s becoming educated about the issues. I’ll look at the situation and build on things that have clearly worked and change things that haven’t worked. You have to do that at the flashpoints where there is controversy arising, but you also have to have a constant dialogue.
RI:
Tension between the Legislature and the UW System has been obvious in recent years, both related to controversy and to state funding of higher education.
What do you see as your role in this dynamic?
CL:
You have to get past that sort of “taxpayer revolt” discussion and say “what is it we really want?” And (employees of the UW System) have to be responsible as well.
We’ve got to demonstrate that we’re being responsible. We have to play an educational role in explaining why what we are asking for is going to benefit the state. You really need to develop relationships with people – try to get them to understand where you’re coming from, as you try to understand where they’re coming from.
RI:
From a mythical bird to a great big “EC” to a pair of blue and gold crayons, countless theories on what a Blugold is have surfaced.
What’s your take?
CL:
I’m just sort of absorbing the different definitions of a Blugold. The alumni seem to have a strong allegiance to sort of the concept of a Blugold. So it is a concept, it’s a sort of privilege that you get to call yourself a Blugold. You know, we’re not owls like 20 other universities in the country. I find that sort of appealing, that you can’t replicate it – it’s not a common thing. On the other hand, I would like to help develop more of a sense of school spirit. So if there’s a way to do that and defining a Blugold is part of that, then I’d be interested.
RI:
You have mentioned student and faculty diversity as an important goal for the university.
How do you plan to encourage such diversity?
CL:
I want to find out what sort of diversity we’ve been successful in attracting to the university. (Companies) look at the diversity of our workforce.
I also think students learn a great deal from one another. If all those students are similar to each other, then you aren’t encouraging education.
There are probably minority populations (in Wisconsin) that are increasing at a much larger rate than majority populations. We have a role to play in that in terms of access.
As for how to do it? I think that goes back to working with the community. We need to make sure that students in downtown Milwaukee. know the advantages of coming to somewhere like UW-Eau Claire. (At WSU) we’ve worked with selection committees – not directing them – to show that we have a commitment to promoting diversity.
RI:
What approach do you plan to take in relation to raising funds for the university?
CL:
I think a lot of it is developing relationships with people first. Quite frankly, where we decided to live (in Eau Claire) was . a big part of that. I spend 10 to 20 percent of my time engaged in fund-raising activities. One of the things I’m learning is you need to involve students.
Students are the best representatives of the universities. It’s the student that the donor is trying to create the opportunity for.
