Steve Ludwig debates Rosen, Davidson
I just finished listening to the podcast of Thursday's debate between Democratic nominee for Colorado University regent at-large Steve Ludwig and his Republican opponent, Brian Davidson.
The debate was moderated by Mike Rosen, who made no attempt to hide his bias. I won't hide mine either. I support Ludwig because he focuses on the issues I care about. He even opened the debate off by stating that the regent's race shouldn't be about Ward Churchill or Big 12 football. It should be about the ways Colorado University can impact the state's economy and education system.
Rosen swiftly asked him about Ward Churchill.
It was a bad start. And it took awhile for things to turn around. Rosen's early questions about Churchill and grade inflation weren't ones that Ludwig seemed anxious to discuss. But when Rosen asserted that universities should be required hire more conservative professors, Ludwig hit his stride. He pointed out that business schools are already staffed by conservative professors, making Rosen's plan intellectually inconsistent. Ludwig went on to state that great professors challenge students from all sides, so the university should strive to hire professors based on talent, not ideology.
For awhile, the debate seemed to be between Ludwig and Rosen. But Davidson weighed in to support affirmative action for conservatives.
Illegal immigration
It wouldn't be a 2006 debate without illegal immigration. Rosen chose to take a question from a caller about whether the children of illegal immigrants should be eligible for in-state tuition.
(As a side note, Bill Ritter has voiced his support for this policy. Bob Beauprez did too in 2002, but has since changed his position. See my post on Beauprez's flip-flop here.)
Davidson flatly responded, "Absolutely not." Ludwig pointed out that the issue is not one that regents can vote on. But he went on to say, "I would be in favor of offering in-state tuition to a young person who has been in the United States for X number of years and graduated from a Colorado high school. I think that to not allow someone that has been striving and thriving in our society even though they were brought here against their will by their parents - I think it is unusually cruel to take that away from them." Ludwig clarified that the system would have to be monitored to ensure that illegal immigrants didn't take the place of legal citizens.
Davidson then accused Ludwig of helping the students on the path to "amnesty."
"No one is crawling through the Arizona desert or being smuggled into the United States in order to get in-state tuition at the University of Colorado," Ludwig replied.
"But they could be," Davidson interjected.
"That's nonsense. It's complete nonsense," Ludwig said.
The next caller started by pointing out that the Bush White House has payed journalists to espouse rightwing agendas. He seemed to want to draw a comparison with Rosen and Davidson's plan to ensure the hiring of conservative academics. Rosen shouted the caller down.
Closing statements
The last caller again brought up grade inflation. Ludwig replied that budgets, state support for the medical college and easing the transition for transfer students were more pressing issues. In his closing statement, he reiterated his goals: Getting more qualified students into Colorado colleges, keeping tuition affordable, working with K-12 leaders to solve the dropout crisis, and ensuring C.U. meets the demands of the modern work world. It is a shame the whole debate wasn't about these issues.
Rosen then closed by asking about the C.U. football program. He said he was "only semi-serious." It's tempting to say that Rosen unintentionally summed up his whole show. But that wouldn't be fair, because Rosen admitted his bias.
Hopefully the voters have the good sense to vote for Steve Ludwig on election day.
The debate was moderated by Mike Rosen, who made no attempt to hide his bias. I won't hide mine either. I support Ludwig because he focuses on the issues I care about. He even opened the debate off by stating that the regent's race shouldn't be about Ward Churchill or Big 12 football. It should be about the ways Colorado University can impact the state's economy and education system.
Rosen swiftly asked him about Ward Churchill.
It was a bad start. And it took awhile for things to turn around. Rosen's early questions about Churchill and grade inflation weren't ones that Ludwig seemed anxious to discuss. But when Rosen asserted that universities should be required hire more conservative professors, Ludwig hit his stride. He pointed out that business schools are already staffed by conservative professors, making Rosen's plan intellectually inconsistent. Ludwig went on to state that great professors challenge students from all sides, so the university should strive to hire professors based on talent, not ideology.
For awhile, the debate seemed to be between Ludwig and Rosen. But Davidson weighed in to support affirmative action for conservatives.
Illegal immigration
It wouldn't be a 2006 debate without illegal immigration. Rosen chose to take a question from a caller about whether the children of illegal immigrants should be eligible for in-state tuition.
(As a side note, Bill Ritter has voiced his support for this policy. Bob Beauprez did too in 2002, but has since changed his position. See my post on Beauprez's flip-flop here.)
Davidson flatly responded, "Absolutely not." Ludwig pointed out that the issue is not one that regents can vote on. But he went on to say, "I would be in favor of offering in-state tuition to a young person who has been in the United States for X number of years and graduated from a Colorado high school. I think that to not allow someone that has been striving and thriving in our society even though they were brought here against their will by their parents - I think it is unusually cruel to take that away from them." Ludwig clarified that the system would have to be monitored to ensure that illegal immigrants didn't take the place of legal citizens.
Davidson then accused Ludwig of helping the students on the path to "amnesty."
"No one is crawling through the Arizona desert or being smuggled into the United States in order to get in-state tuition at the University of Colorado," Ludwig replied.
"But they could be," Davidson interjected.
"That's nonsense. It's complete nonsense," Ludwig said.
The next caller started by pointing out that the Bush White House has payed journalists to espouse rightwing agendas. He seemed to want to draw a comparison with Rosen and Davidson's plan to ensure the hiring of conservative academics. Rosen shouted the caller down.
Closing statements
The last caller again brought up grade inflation. Ludwig replied that budgets, state support for the medical college and easing the transition for transfer students were more pressing issues. In his closing statement, he reiterated his goals: Getting more qualified students into Colorado colleges, keeping tuition affordable, working with K-12 leaders to solve the dropout crisis, and ensuring C.U. meets the demands of the modern work world. It is a shame the whole debate wasn't about these issues.
Rosen then closed by asking about the C.U. football program. He said he was "only semi-serious." It's tempting to say that Rosen unintentionally summed up his whole show. But that wouldn't be fair, because Rosen admitted his bias.
Hopefully the voters have the good sense to vote for Steve Ludwig on election day.
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