Gov. Jim Doyle and state lawmakers expressed doubt in university officials following the release of a report alleging that former UW-Madison Vice Chancellor Paul Barrows sexually harassed several women.
UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley placed Barrows in a backup position after it came to light that Barrows had a relationship with a graduate student. Before being demoted, Barrows spent seven months on paid sick leave.
Many legislators have been critical of the UW System and UW-Madison in particular for the use of backup positions and the publication of this report has caused some lawmakers to question Wiley's job future.
\We've got a chancellor who delayed putting someone in a backup position, allowed them to be gone for seven or eight months, allowed them to use sick leave, even though they admit they weren't sick,"" Rep. Rob Kreibich, R- Eau Claire, said in an interview with ABC-27 News.
""In many other states, I think it's quite probable that a chancellor who had conducted himself this way wouldn't survive in his job,"" he said.
UW System President Kevin Reilly has defended backup jobs, saying they are necessary to retain quality faculty. The release of the Steingass report has raised questions regarding whether back-up jobs can have the effect of forcing the university to keep faculty it may not want.
Some state lawmakers have also been critical of the System's handling of money, charging that mismanagement and poor policy contributed to the UW System budget deficit.
The report said that the beginning of Barrows' sick leave was appropriate but Wiley erred in allowing Barrows extended paid leave without a doctor's verification.
Although the report detailed allegations against Barrows, it does not prove anything and Barrows and his lawyers refuted many of the charges.
Lawmakers have long discussed changing state law in order to ease restrictions on UW System officials who wish to fire employees. Reilly has cited state law as a reason that the system did not fire professors convicted of a felony.
State Sen. Fred Risser said he had not read the report yet but ""at first glance it appears [Steingass] has done a credible job.""
The last year has been a contentious one between the university and state legislature and this report may increase strain between the two bodies.
