Sitting onstage at a UW-Milwaukee budget forum Wednesday, UW System President Ray Cross affirmed an audience member’s question that if Gov. Scott Walker’s budget passes and shared governance is lost, he will resign from his position.
UW-Milwaukee English professor Richard Grusin asked Cross if he would renounce his position as president if he cannot decrease the budget cuts or secure shared governance for UW System institutions, according to a UW-Milwaukee video of the forum.
Leaning into the microphone, Cross responded with a simple “yes,” and a head nod.
The proposed budget would include a $300 million budget cut to the UW System and make it a public authority model. This would remove shared governance and tenure from state statute, leaving the new model the task of redefining its laws and procedures.
Made up of UW-Milwaukee students, faculty and administration, the audience continued to cheer as the next attendee asked a question.