MADISON, Wis. — In his first interview since being fired, Jay Rothman, the former president of the Universities of Wisconsin, expressed he was blindsided by the unanimous decision of the board of regents that led to his ousting. Rothman, who had served in the role for nearly four years, revealed that he was provided no explanation for his termination during a 30-minute closed-door meeting on Tuesday night.
Absolutely I was blindsided, Rothman told reporters. I asked for reasons why. They were not able to articulate any. Despite his surprise and the lack of clarity surrounding his firing, Rothman stated that he does not harbor any resentment and is unlikely to pursue legal action.
That’s not who I am, Rothman said about the possibility of a lawsuit. He acknowledged that he had considered the prospect of retiring prior to the firing, but opted against it due to the board not providing him with any substantial reasoning.
Senator Patrick Testin condemned Rothman’s firing, labeling it a blatant partisan hatchet job. In contrast, Regent President Amy Bogost stated that the decision was about the future directions of the university system, which plays a crucial role in educating approximately 165,000 students across 13 universities.
Despite the controversy surrounding his dismissal, Rothman refrained from speculating about the motives behind the board's decision, maintaining he had made multiple requests for explanations without success.
