In the Public Square OF Higher Education - DISCRIMINATION WITH ARROGANCE

July 25, 2011

Milwaukee Professionals Association Open Complaint against President Reilly and the University of Wisconsin Regents
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Right photo: Distinguished Professor Mark Schwartz

"The Committee is making an effort to reach out to a number of different community groups outside of the campus to allow members of the public an opportunity to be heard, and to make it less inconvenient for them to participate, by holding sessions closer to where they live or work. We want to allow everyone the opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the future leader of our campus to the Committee.” said Committee Chair Distinguished Professor Mark D. Schwartz. ‘‘All sessions, regardless of location, are open to anyone who wishes to attend.”

Professor Schwartz’s comment is a typical example of what is said versus what is done.


This is a 5-part series for background and update of discrimination with arrogance by our highest public education system in Wisconsin.

Arrogance is defined by Random House Dictionary (2011) as:
offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.

Open Complaint
The Open Complaint process started April 26, 2011, when Mary Glass hand-delivered the first compliant to WI Attorney General JB Van Hollen in Madison, Wisconsin. It was documentation regarding the malfeasance of the 2010-2011 Chancellor Search and Selection process and discriminatory practices against Milwaukeeans, especially African American, People of Color and the Work-Challenged (un-, under-employed; un-, under-skilled; un-, under-financed neighborhood business, disabled, reentry, especially those reentering from WAR, INCARCERATION, boomerang employment and boomerang retirement).

Mary Glass is the Chair/CEO of Milwaukee Professionals Association and a 20-year Protagonist focusing on the Inner City census tracts of the City of Milwaukee. A neighborhood-vetted leader for neighborhood strategic planning and channel development.

MPA's Mission-Daily Focus is to speak out and speak up for democracy that allows urban and rural stakeholders better quality of life, use of heritage, use of born-talents, practical/academic attainment, human, civil rights and legal rights; and, support of neighborhood wealth-building and sustainability FREE of discrimination.

This series is part of ALL Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative to end Enduring Concentrated Poverty by "re-defining", "re-branding" and "un-trapping" over a half-million Milwaukeeans (NEW Middle Class) through empowering hidden neighborhood-level talent and markets of economic development (emerging and submerging).

It is also to expose those who are stealing federal funds under the guise of economic development, partnerships, quality of life; yet discriminating against those who bring the dollars to the table - namely, African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged.

L-R, Regent Brent Smith, Vice President, Regent Michael Spector, President, UW System President Kevin Reilly

University of Wisconsin System
FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, my first inquiry was sent to President Kevin Reilly and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, seeking input into the questionable behavior and culture of un-inclusion of Milwaukeeans, especially African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged (residential and commercial), policies of inclusion – affirmative action/Equity Scorecard, discriminatory practices – segregation and disrespect of People of Color, enduring concentrated poverty in Milwaukee – lack of employment, procurement, partnerships, deans, staff appointments in highest offices, research, education and technology attainment per state statute; and, for over 9 months sought participation and answers regarding the 2010-2011 search and selection of the 8th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin.

This is a first-hand account of what can happen if the powers to be are allowed to run rampart with government funds and Accountability with specificity is not in place.

It is the search and selection of Dr. Michael Lovell as the 8th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee that all “hell” broke loose.

Over the next five days, we will call attention to policies that breed cronyism, shrouded in secrecy - NO transparency, lacking in best practices, conflict of interest, longevity in office; behaviors that must not be condone in any way; behaviors that hurt “public trust”; behaviors that demean “higher public education”; behaviors that create/by design enduring concentrated poverty; behaviors that say, “we are above what is right” – we do what we want to do – with your funds; behaviors that says we can do just what we please and be protected by the office of the state attorney general; behaviors that link outside real estate barons, high rollers, connected business groups, elected officials, philanthropic donors for favors; behaviors that are scandalous and mirrors the despicable behavior we see in our public square of elected-appointed-hired-volunteered individuals; behaviors that demand replacements; behaviors that send the wrong message to our students-young-followers; behaviors that demand a thorough investigation with results - revamping policies and procedures, updating laws, and a strong message of civil-legal correction/remedies for violation of the People and the laws that protect them.

It is important to note that two of the main board of regents of questionable behavior are now the NEW leaders of University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Regent President Michael Spector and Regent Vice President Brent Smith. They were two (2) of the seven (7) attorneys on the board, almost half of the requirement of appointments. The appointment is 16 with two ex-officio members – WI Department of Education and WI Technical College System (new replacement is Mark Tyler).

At the beginning of the article, there are quotes from UW-Milwaukee Committee Chair and Distinguished Professor Mark Schwartz. He was the past chair of the search and selection committee selected for UW-Milwaukee – 25 members.