Alan J. Borsuk – Page 113 – Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog

County Executive Candidates: Trying to Establish Their Identities

Post author:Alan J. Borsuk
Post published:January 24, 2011
Post category:Marquette Law School Speakers at Marquette

The new guy. The outsider. The insider. The legislator in line with Scott Walker. The former legislator critical of Scott Walker.

A crucial part of running for office, especially when you’re not a household name, is establishing an identity in the minds of the general public. The most interesting part of watching the first joint appearance of the five candidates for Milwaukee County Executive last week was not in the position statements and answers the five gave. It was in how they tried to identify themselves.

The session, held in the Appellate Courtroom of Eckstein Hall and moderated by Mike Gousha, the Law School’s distinguished fellow in law and public policy, was co-sponsored by the Law School and the Milwaukee press Club. A full house of about 200 was on hand and the session was broadcast later on television.

Doyle Puts Health Care and Education at the Top of His Accomplishments

Post author:Alan J. Borsuk
Post published:December 1, 2010
Post category:Health Care Milwaukee Public Schools Speakers at Marquette

Appearing relaxed and comfortable as the end of his eight years in office approaches, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said Tuesday that he put his work on health care in Wisconsin at the top of his list of accomplishments.

“We have made Wisconsin really the health care leader in the United States,” Doyle said during an “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” conversation at Marquette University Law School. “We really have become the model for much of the nation on how to provide health care.”

During Doyle’s tenure, the Badger Care program for low to middle income working people has expanded and, Doyle said, Wisconsin has had the lowest percentage of uninsured residents of any state in the country except Massachusetts, which has a mandatory health insurance law.

LA Students Drive Home the Message of Success in Education at Law School Conference

Post author:Alan J. Borsuk
Post published:November 12, 2010
Post category:Milwaukee Public Schools Speakers at Marquette

The speech by Raj Vinnakota and the panel discussion from this conference can be viewed by clicking here.

Raj Vinnakota and Rafe Esquith have some real differences in how they approach educating children who come from backgrounds that are connected with low success rates in education. Each has taken decidedly different paths to becoming a nationally prominent figure in pushing for greater success for such children. Vinnakota is involved in national reform efforts. Esquith is a teacher whose message focuses on the great things that can happen between teachers and students.

But the two certainly share one major belief: It can be done. Children growing up amid poverty or in homes where the circumstances are not conducive to success in school can become big successes. Teachers and schools can lead them there. And it can happen a lot more frequently than it has been happening across the nation.

If there was a key take-away from “High Success with High-Need Kids,” a conference Tuesday at Marquette Law School’s Eckstein Hall, it was that Vinnakota and Esquith, as well as four leaders in Milwaukee education, differed on styles of education, attitudes toward testing or teacher unions, and a variety other issues. But they each had a charge to the 230 people who attended: