MADISON ? Gov. Tony Evers this week visited five University of Wisconsin (UW) System campuses across the state to meet with students and discuss the issues that matter to them as they start the?new school year. From climate change to reproductive healthcare to college affordability and workforce challenges, students shared their thoughts with the governor during roundtable conversations. ??

?Young people across the state?and frankly, country?are leading the way on so many critically important issues,? said Gov. Evers. ?It was great to hear from students, get their feedback, and discuss how we can work together to create the sort of future we want to see for our state.? ?

To begin the governor?s statewide tour, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, Gov. Evers visited UW-Milwaukee. He joined faculty, undergraduate students, and post-graduate students for a discussion on his efforts to address the climate crisis, including through his Task Force on Climate Change and the state?s first-ever Clean Energy Plan,?investments in community safety and violence prevention, and how the U.S. Supreme Court?s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is affecting reproductive freedom in Wisconsin. Following their conversation, the governor visited students and campus leaders?at?Bolton Hall, which houses multiple multicultural resource centers and other student organizations, including the Office of Undergraduate Research, the Student Success Center, and the Roberto Hern?ndez Center. He then visited the UWM Student Union where he spoke with staff and students from the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the Women?s Resource Center, and the Military and Veterans Resource Center about how the resources provided by the organizations help students on campus. He was joined by Chancellor Mark Mone, State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), and State Rep. Johnathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee). Photos from the governor?s visit to UW-Milwaukee are available here,?here, and here. ??

Also on Tuesday, Sept. 27, Gov. Evers visited UW-Eau Claire where he visited Centennial Hall with State Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick). While there, he again hosted a roundtable discussion with students and visited Professor Rod Freitag?s political science course, State and Local Politics. Gov. Evers met with a group of students majoring in criminal justice and social studies education?and answered questions from students about his role as governor and how the state works with the federal government. He?then visited the Study Abroad Fair on the Campus Mall to say hello to the students and organizations at the Fair. During his visit, he?was joined by Chancellor James Schmidt, as well as Dr. Prathibha Varkey, president of Mayo Clinic Health System and James Wilson, chief financial officer of Mayo Clinic Health System, where they highlighted the partnership between Mayo Clinic Health System and UW-Eau Claire to help grow the next generation of healthcare professionals. Photos of the governor?s visit to UW-Eau Claire provided by UW-Eau Claire photography, are available here, here, and here. ??

The governor continued his statewide tour on Thursday, Sept. 29, by visiting three more UW Campuses, starting at UW-La Crosse where he visited the Student Union. While there, he met with students and heard from them on issues concerning more sustainable, alternative forms of transportation and creating more walkable cities and bike paths, ensuring voting is easy and accessible so every eligible Wisconsinite is able to vote, and defending against legislation targeting the LGBTQ community. Following the roundtable discussion at the Student Union, Gov. Evers visited the Prairie Springs Science Center. The Prairie Springs Science Center is between two phases of construction to upgrade the facility to meet student needs. Gov. Evers included more than $92.7 million in his most recent capital budget proposal to complete Phase II of the project, but it was rejected by Republicans on the State Building Commission. To conclude his tour, he visited the new field house on campus. Gov. Evers was joined by State Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), State Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), and Chancellor Joe Gow, and photos of his visit to UW-La Crosse are available here, here, and here. ??

Following his visit to UW-La Crosse, the governor visited UW-Green Bay, where he had another chance to hear from students about the issues most important to them, including college affordability, conservation of natural resources and wildlife, protecting reproductive freedom, and marijuana legalization and expungement for folks with minor marijuana convictions. The governor then visited several popular spaces in the University Union, such as Starz Barber & Beauty, which is a Black-owned barbershop that opened on campus within the last year, Common Ground Coffeehouse, Leona Cloud Commons, the Esports Lounge, and the Pride Center. Gov. Evers was joined by State Rep. Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay), along with leaders from the UW-Green Bay administration, and photos of his visit are available here,?here, and here.?

The governor concluded his tour with a visit to UW-Whitewater, where he held a smaller roundtable discussion with students and heard about their career goals and priorities as students, including increased resources for mental health, commonsense gun safety reforms, sustainability efforts on the UW-Whitewater campus, and support for future educators. After taking?questions from student journalists, the governor walked through the University Center to the Warhawk Connection Center, where he met with students from the Black Student Union and Latinos Unidos, as well as other student organizations. He then went on to listen to concerns about the need for renovations at Winther Hall, which holds the College of Education and Professional Studies.?Gov. Evers included more than $59 million for this project in his most recent capital budget proposal, but, like the Prairie Springs Science Center project, it was rejected by Republicans on the State Building Commission. The governor was joined by State Sen. Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) and State Reps. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Don Vruwink (D-Milton). Photos of the governor?s visit to UW-Whitewater are available here, here, and here.?