Opinion: Editorial

Fighting Nass-ty

Where State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, is concerned, it seems every opportunity to lambast his ideological opponents is too good to pass up.

This latest controversy involving Nass arose regarding state Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson’s use of the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Career and Student Service newsletter. In the online edition of the newsletter, Abrahamson — who often finds allies in Democratic circles — posted a listing for job opportunities on her re-election campaign. Nass claimed the posting violates statutes that prohibit candidates from using state resources for political campaigns.

Nass’ admonishment of Abrahamson ended meekly, admitting the statute may not actually violate the law. “The Law School may argue that it’s not illegal, but it’s certainly not ethical,” he said. But if Nass is so concerned about the ethical implications of Abrahamson’s posting, why did he not raise a similar uproar about the mass e-mail sent to all political science majors in early August by the Republican Party of Wisconsin soliciting interns for political campaigns?

What concerns us most is the danger Nass’ hawkishness holds for UW students. Student newsletters such as the Law School’s Career and Student Service newsletter are vital methods of communicating to students, and particularly in this climate, it would be an ill-advised decision to allow political feuds to interfere with the efforts of potential employers to find capable recruits from the student population.

Rep. Nass, it’s going to be difficult enough for us to find employment as things are. Please don’t allow your zealotry to make it worse.

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10 older comments

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Ryan Masse, everybody.

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Nass is a joke. It won’t be too long before his constituents wise up.

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The betting pool on how soon you get a reply from “Steve Nass” (a.k.a. his brain trust, Mike Mikalsen) is now open. We’ll give 5 to 3 on noon.

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The lead for this story is confusing and poorly written. Someone should have edited this.

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Had Nass actually received an education at Madison, maybe he wouldn’t be so bitter. He is a hick parading around as a reformer of higher education. Find your entertainment elsewhere…preferable in Whitewater with the idiots who elected you.

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Actually, UW needs Nass’ help. A large budget cut will mean devastation for UW unless a large tuition increase is added. Democrats will not provide this increase unless Republicans support it as well, and Nass is the key person here. Chancellor Martin must move ahead by cleaning up the disasters left behind by John Wiley, par- ticularly the horror in the Political Science department.

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I agree. The PS department mess is really a problem, and I don’t think Martin’s recent vote on abortion helps a bit. UW could be destroyed by these follies.

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1:32pm: “Had Nass actually received an education at Madison, maybe he wouldn’t be so bitter. He is a hick parading around as a reformer of higher education. Find your entertainment elsewhere…preferable in Whitewater with the idiots who elected you.”

The “idiots” of Whitewater didn’t elect Nass. The city of Whitewater isn’t in Nass’s district. What? You didn’t learn that in one of your amazing Madison classes? Way to perpetuate the stereotype of stuck-up UW students. Sometimes I’m embarrassed to go to school here.

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Yes. Attacking Nass is a poor strategy when UW clearly needs his help to survive.

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what’s the “horror” in the political science department

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