Whitburn Center
Interviews
Explore our Interviews
The Whitburn Center is a source of positive media coverage for UWO. Our work and experts have been featured in numerous state, local and national media outlets. Click on the links below to view our interviews.
Turning down the heat on political dialogue
When conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed last week, people across the political spectrum began pointing fingers and blaming their political opponents for the violence. We talk with two leaders at the Universities of Wisconsin who work to promote healthy political dialogue.
Click the audio recording to hear more or visit Wisconsin Public Radio.
(Published: September 19, 2025)
Preventing Political Violence
Coordinator for the Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust Paul Van Auken talks about the rise in political violence in the U.S. What are some of the reasons for this? What is his organization doing to prevent political violence? How is the organization reaching out to young adults specifically? How is perception involved in political violence? What are some challenges in getting the community involved? How is the organization gearing up for an election year in 2026?
Click the video to hear more or visit Wisconsin’s Midday News.
(Published: September 15, 2025)
Can Wisconsin fund school districts with the $7 billion budget surplus, instead of referendums?
Two topics merged into one with Wisconsin’s billions in budget surplus and how schools get funded, as the La Crosse School Board this week voted to go back to a referendum for a new school.
Helping us navigate the two topics on La Crosse Talk PM is UW-Oshkosh Public Administration professor, Dr. Mike Ford.
Click the audio recording to hear more or visit WIZM News Talk.
(Published: February 20, 2024)
Tax cut proposal and Wisconsin’s budget surplus explained
The 2023-2025 biennial state budget is projected to have a $3.25 billion surplus at the end of the current budget cycle less than what was initially predicted, and Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans disagree on how to spend that surplus. A public policy expert joins us to analyze recent Republican tax cut proposals and how they compare to Democratic priorities.
Click the audio recording to hear more or visit Wisconsin Public Radio.
(Published: January 31, 2024)
How national politics impact local government with Dr. Michael Ford
Michael Ford, an associate public administration professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research, discusses the impact of partisan politics on local elections.
Click the video to hear more or visit UWO Now.
(Published: May 18, 2023)
Protecting the vulnerable during disaster
Although natural disasters hurt socially vulnerable populations the most, emergency response plans don’t often include them. We speak with a UW-Oshkosh researcher on how local governments can proactively protect the vulnerable during disaster.
Click the audio recording to hear more or visit Wisconsin Public Radio.
(Published: August 26, 2022)
Wisconsin School Boards and Partisan Politics
Michael Ford, a professor of public administration at UW-Oshkosh, reflects on the growing influence of partisan politics on school board elections in Wisconsin and what it means for education efforts.
Click the video to hear more or visit PBS.
(Published: April 08, 2022)