Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson joined University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin for a discussion with students about civil discourse during a class hosted by the La Follette School of Public Affairs.
The discussion, moderated by La Follette School Director Susan Webb Yacke, came as a surprise to students in the class. Johnson and Mnookin spoke about a wide range of topics, including student debt, free speech and the COVID-19 vaccine.
The pair came up with the idea for a student discussion when they met in Washington, D.C., and they hoped the discussion would set an example of civil discourse.
“We’re not a naturally divided people,” Johnson said.
Mnookin said UW-Madison must “walk a tight line” on free speech issues as a public university. She noted that she finds it “challenging” when people take what she called the “freedom of speech for me but not for thee” approach to the issue.
“With reverse effects, how should we think about that?” Mnookin asked Johnson.
Free speech has been a hot-button issue on the UW-Madison campus. Last May, a video circulated of a white UW-Madison student saying racial slurs and violent remarks directed toward Black people, with students calling for the expulsion of the student in the video.
In a statement, Mnookin responded to the video and student demands from The Blk Pwr Coalition. She did not address all the student demands, but apologized for the pain caused by the video.
Additionally, speakers such as Matt Walsh, a self-described “theocratic fascist,” have come to UW-Madison despite concerns over transphobic rhetoric. And antisemitic graffiti and chalkings on the first day of classes in fall 2022 created student unease.
Johnson described a set of rules that every group on campus should follow when it comes to addressing speakers on campus.
“No matter what the political persuasion, you end up protecting the speaker,” Johnson said. “It's complex, but the real solution lies in everyone's heart,” he added.
A student asked Johnson why he didn’t vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed through the U.S. Senate in 2021, which included funding for climate change policies and environmental policies such as providing clean water for struggling communities.
“What climate legislation would you vote on?” the student asked. “Since you’ve talked about being pro-life… I think having a livable future for everyone is something you would agree with.”
Johnson responded by saying that he is not a climate change denier or a climate change “alarmist.” He said the U.S. is currently overspending on ineffective climate change policies.
Another student asked about disinformation, including claims made by Johnson that vaccines cause AIDS.
“You’re spreading disinformation right there,” Johnson responded. “That’s not factually accurate.”
Johnson has floated the baseless assertion that the COVID-19 vaccine “may cause AIDS” on other occasions. In May 2022, Johnson did an interview with anti-vaccine advocate and attorney Todd Callendar on conservative streaming platform Rumble. Calendar asserted that the COVID-19 vaccine gave countless people AIDS.
“Everything you say may be true,” Johnson replied to Callendar.
Johnson then discussed his “great relationship” with the vaccine injury community, referencing those who claim that they have been injured by receiving vaccines of any kind.
He told students doctors he has talked with are not listened to by the scientific community. He also mentioned that he believes doctors are being manipulated by false research into believing that the COVID vaccine works.
“There is nothing I have said that has been proven false,” Johnson said. “The things that make people think I'm a conspiracy theorist, those have all been proven true.”
Gabriella Hartlaub is the former arts editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has also written state politics and campus news. She currently is a summer reporting intern with Raleigh News and Observer. Follow her on Twitter at @gabihartlaub.
