PROFESSORS COMING UP NEXT, THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.

ALSO TONIGHT, CAN A.O.C.

MOTIVATE UPSTATE VOTERS?

AND THE U.S.

SENATE TAKES ON NIL.

STAY TUNED, FOR THE "IVORY TOWER" PROFESSORS >> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE; LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY; MICHAEL TILLOTSON OF SUNY-CORTLAND, AND JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME ON "IVORY TOWER", GRANT REEHER OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS APPOINTED ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES, TO INVESTIGATE HOW CORNELL UNIVERSITY HANDLED A 2024 SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION INVOLVING SEVEN STUDENTS AT A FRATERNITY HOUSE.

BASED ON A CAMPUS POLICE REPORT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY INITIALLY DECLINED TO PROSECUTE.

THEN HE REOPENED THE CASE LAST WEEK AFTER INTENSE MEDIA SCRUTINY WHEN JANE DOE FILED A LAWSUIT.

MICHAEL, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK THIS IS A FASCINATING MOMENT, THIS STORY WAS BOGGLED A BIT.

YOUR REACTION TO IT.

>> SO MANY QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION.

HAVING A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IS WISE.

I THINK THERE IS CERTAINLY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DA AND HOW HE HANDLED THE CASE.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CORNELL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHETHER THEY'RE THE BEST ENTITY TO HAVE HANDLED THIS UNILATERALLY.

CORNELL HAS THEIR OWN DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE BUT THEY REMOVED FROM THEIR WEBSITE THAT THEY TURNED OVER TO THE DA THEIR INVESTIGATIVE MATERIALS.

SO HAVING A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL COME IN, DO AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, WORK WITH THE ENTITIES AND GET THE FACTS AND SEE WHERE IT LEADS SEEMS LIKE THE BEST PATH FORWARD AT THIS POINT.

>> THE RIGHT THING TO DO, YEAH, TARA BECAUSE IN THIS CASE, THE TOMPKINS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DID NOT INTERVIEW THE SEVEN.

DID NOT INTERVIEW PERSONALLY HIMSELF THE VICTIM.

DID HE DROP THE BALL HERE?

>> I WOULD SAY YES, HE DID.

I THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND AT THE VERY LEAST, INTERVIEWING ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE BEFORE HIS OFFICE MADE A DECISION.

HE VERY HEAVILY RELIED ON THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION ACCORDING TO HIM, HE RELIED ON THEIR INVESTIGATION.

ON THE ONE HAND, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN EFFORT TO RESPECT CORNELL'S SYSTEM BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF CASE THIS WAS, THIS WASN'T SIMPLY SOMEONE BEING ACCUSED OF BREAKING AND ENTERING OR SOMETHING, WHERE A HUMAN BEING WAS NOT INVOLVED.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A CASE WHERE SOMEONE WAS HARMED.

AND I THINK JUST TO BE SAFE, HE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST INTERVIEWED EVERYONE.

>> YEAH, GRANT, WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?

>> I AGREE WITH TARA.

I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PROPER COURSE.

"THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAD A STORY SUGGESTING THOUGH, AS YOU SAID, THE DA HAD A PRETTY LIMITED REPORT FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY POLICE.

I HAVE TWO CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.

I'LL TRY TO SAY THEM REALLY QUICKLY.

FIRST I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THIS.

IT HAS TO BE DEEP, THOROUGH AND PARTICULARLY INDEPENDENT.

I DON'T HAVE THE SAME CONFIDENCE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE IS RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN SOMEONE LESS PARTISAN, MORE GENUINELY INDEPENDENT.

I THINK THIS ALMOST BATES DONALD TRUMP GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS, BY HAVING HER INVOLVED IN THIS IN A HIGH PROFILE WAY.

THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE REALLY QUICKLY, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY WE, THE CHATTER SPHERE.

THIS NEEDS A DEEP INVESTIGATION.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THE WAY THIS IS BLOWN UP IN SOCIAL MEDIA, IS THE WAY TO DO THAT.

>> SURE.

>> IT WILL BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE JANE JANE DOE'S IDENTITY BECOMES KNOWN.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR HER.

I HAVE THOSE CONCERNS.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE, GRANT, IS BRINGING AWARENESS TO AN ISSUE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BECAUSE AS MICHAEL POINTED OUT, THE ME TOO MOVEMENT HAS FADED AWAY AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO WOMEN.

AND SO IS PART OF THIS, MICHAEL, THE FACT THAT MAYBE CAMPUS POLICE ARE NOT SET UP TO HANDLE THESE KINDS OF CASES.

THERE WAS NO RAPE KIT DONE.

THE VICTIM WAS NOT REFERRED TO ANY RESOURCES.

SO IS THIS A CASE OF THAT?

>> IT'S A CASE OF A LOT OF THINGS BUT I THINK STATE LEGISLATIVE REFORM IS NEEDED.

PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

WE NEED NEW LEGISLATION THAT SHIFTS THE LEGAL STANDARD OF WHETHER THE PERSON WAS CAPABLE OF GIVING CONSENT REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY BECAME INTOXICATED.

THAT COULD GIVE A NEW STANDARD FOR WOMEN WHO TRUSTED THE WRONG MEN.

>> LUKE.

>> ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE ARE SEXUAL ASSAULTED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY HIGH NUMBER.

AND INVESTIGATORS, THROUGH RESEARCH WE KNOW, THERE IS VERY LOW CONVICTION RATES IN TERMS OF CASES THAT ARE DEEMED LIKELY TO HAVE HAPPENED.

AND GETTING BACK TO SOME OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES, THE CULTURE OF BINGE DRINKING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES IS AT PLAY AND GREATER ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT AND THE SUBCULTURE OF DRUG USE.

PUT THE FACTORS TOGETHER LATE AT NIGHT, EARLY IN THE MORNING, IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION.

>> TARA, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME IS WHAT WAS JUST MENTIONED; THAT THE ISSUE HERE IS CONSENT.

AND WHETHER OR NOT SHE VOLUNTARILY DRANK OR USED KETAMINE OR DID SO INVOLUNTARILY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

DOES THAT REALLY PUT WOMEN AND OTHER VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

BECAUSE IT ASSUMES THAT BECAUSE SHE VOLUNTARILY TOOK WHATEVER IT WAS, THE KETAMINE, THE ALCOHOL, ITSELF, ET CETERA, THAT BY ESSENCE BY SIMPLY DOING THAT ACT, SHE GIVES CONSENT TO WHAT HAPPENS LATER, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT THESE ITEMS ARE GOING TO INTOXICATE HER.

SO YOU ARE INTOXICATED.

YOU CHOSE TO BE INTOXICATED SO YOU ARE THEREFORE OPEN TO WHATEVER HAPPENS.

IT TAKES AWAY THE EMPHASIS FROM THE ACTUAL CONSENT ISSUE.

>> MICHAEL.

>> I WANT TO SAY WHOEVER THOUGHT THAT PUTTING 40 TO 60 YOUNG MEN IN A BUILDING WITH RAGING HORMONES AND HIGH TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IS EVER A GOOD IDEA WITH ALCOHOL BEING UNMONITORED.

ANYONE WHO WENT TO CERTAIN SCHOOLS, BIG 10 SCHOOLS, WE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AT MY COLLEGE, WOULD YOU SEE THE GIRLS WALK HOME ON THE WALK OF SHAME.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMATIC.

>> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMATIC BUT AT THE SAME TIME GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT, GRANT, ARE WE BASICALLY CONVICTING THESE SEVEN WITHOUT A TRIAL?

IS IT A CASE OF GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT?

WE DUBBED THEM THE CORNELL SEVEN, SIMILAR TO THE CENTRAL PARK 5.

>> MY CONCERN JUST AS THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER THE ENTIRE ISSUE.

AND THIS IS BLOWN UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND BLOWN UP IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA.

AND THAT'S IN 48 HOURS.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH MICHAEL THAT THIS IS A CULTURAL ISSUE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CULTURE.

I DON'T JUST KNOW IF THIS IS THE WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

I AM ALSO IN HEATED AGREEMENT WITH MY THREE COLLEAGUES HERE ABOUT THE CULTURE AT UNIVERSITIES THAT NEEDS TO HAVE A HARD LOOK AND INVESTIGATION.

AND TO YOUR POINT, MICHAEL, MY VIEW IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS POOR WOMAN HAD DRANK NORTH OF 13 DRINKS BEFORE SHE ENCOUNTERED ANYBODY.

YOU HAVE THAT WITH DRUGS, YOU CAN'T CONSENT TO ANYTHING.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN THINK ABOUT ANYBODY CONSENTING TO ANYTHING.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE THE KIND OF LEGISLATIVE REFORM THAT YOU ARE BOTH ALLUDING TO.

AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF CONSENT, WHICH IS A NEW YORK THING, RIGHT?

SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TALK ABOUT OUR NEXT TOPIC.

CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA OWE CAZIA CORTEZ VISITED UPSTATE NEW YORK THIS WEEK,ER WHO GOAL?

TO ENERGIZE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT VOTED IN THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS.

ALSO TO APPEAL TO WORKING CLASS NEW YORKERS WHOM SHE SAYS THE PARTY HAS NEGLECTED AND IGNORED.

GRANT, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MOTIVATE DISEVAN GAUGED DEMOCRATIC VOTERS UPSTATE AND IS A.O.C.

THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB?

>> HOW DO YOU ENGAGE DISENVAIJED VOTERS, THE METHOD A.O.C.

'S CAMPAIGN HAS USED IS EXACTLY ON TARGET.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE TARGET, ENGAGE THEM AND GO DOOR TO DOOR.

HAVE YOU TO REACH OUT, YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM.

YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE HELP FOR VOTING IF IT IS NECESSARY.

ALL THAT IS TO THE GOOD.

MORE MOBILIZATION IS BETTER.

A.O.C.

AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE BANKING ON THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VOTING ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC THAN OTHERWISE AND THEY'RE TARGETING PEOPLE WHO ARE REGISTERED AS DEMOCRATS.

CONCERN I HAVE THINKING ABOUT IT FROM A DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY STANDPOINT IS JUST WHAT A.O.C.

IS ASSOCIATED WITH PLIL POLITICALLY.

I TEND TO BE MORE OF JAMES CAR VEAL SARAH LONGWELL, HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT CAMP?

FOCUS ON THE ECONOMICS.

A.O.C.

TALKS ABOUT ECONOMICS BUT SHE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY DIVIDED THE PARTY, LIKE THE QUESTION OF ISRAEL.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THAT WILL DO UPSTATE.

>> BUT PERHAPS WHAT SHE COULD DO, LUKE, IS MOTIVATE THE VOTERS WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE OF THE 100,000 INAACCOUNTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS IN NEW YORK.

IT'S PRIMARILY MINORITY AND LOWER INCOME STUDENTS WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE.

COULD SHE APPEAL TO THAT SEGMENT EVEN IF NOT AS GRANT IS INDICATING TO A WIDER SWATH?

>> DEFINITELY.

THIS IS A DIVIDE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, TRY TO BE MORE MODERATE TO TURN OUT VOTERS AND BE SUCCESSFUL OR PRIME THE LIBERAL BASE.

A.O.C.

HAS GREAT APPEAL AMONG YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE LIBERAL, PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND DIVERSE RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY.

IT MAKES SENSE TO DO THAT.

IN OUR AREA, RIGHT, THE QUESTION THAT CONFOUNDS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY'RE WHITE IS HOW DO YOU TURN OUT BLACK VOTERS IN SYRACUSE IN UTICA, IN LARGER NUMBERS WHO IDENTIFY AS LIBERAL, BUT THROUGH VARIOUS REASONS AND CHALLENGES DO NOT VOTE IN LARGE NUMBERS.

I THINK A.O.C.

IS USEFUL IN THAT REGARD AND PROBABLY POSITIONING HERSELF FOR CHUCK SCHUMER'S SEAT SO WE WILL SEE MORE STATEWIDE ENDEAVORS MAYBE BEYOND IN TERMS OF NATIONAL.

THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY HERE, TOO.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE BRINGS THE MEDIA ATTENTION, WHICH GETS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND MAKE THEM THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF VOTING AND I WILL SAY I DID LIKE THE ONE AD THAT I SAW, NOT AD BUT YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL WITH HER, WHERE SHE BASICALLY TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE PROTECTING THE RIGHT, PROTECTING RIGHT TO VOTE, WHICH IS, I THINK-- AND IT'S A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS FOR A LONG TIME IS SOMETIMES OUR MESSAGES ARE JUST WAY TOO, YOU KNOW, EITHER HIGH FA LUTING OR HAS TOO MANY COMPONENTS TO IT.

A SIMPLISTIC MESSAGE MAKING SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED AND ON THE REGISTRATION ROLLS ET CETERA.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, AND YOU ALL ALLUDED TO IT, IS HER IDEA IS THINGS SHE HAS DONE FOR HER CAMPAIGN AND WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR HER.

SHE IS NOT POSITIONED TO DO THEM ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

SHE IS NOT GOING DOOR TO DOOR.

HOW DO YOU CONNECT HER IMAGE WITH THE PERSON'S IMAGE LOCALLY WHO IS GOING DOOR TO DO DOOR, GOING TO THE COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, CHIMPS, ET CETERA.

HOW DO YOU CONNECT THOSE TWO?

AND THAT'S THE THING THAT IS MISSING HERE?

>> HOW DO YOU BUILD A GROUND GAME, MICHAEL?

>> I KNOW WE ARE IN THE ERA OF CULT OF PERSONALITY POLITICS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF A.O.C.

IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO TOUR THE ENTIRE STATE, PARTICULARLY CENTRAL AND UPSTATE.

SHE APPEALS AS EVERYONE SAID DEMOGRAPHIC 21 TO 35 YEAR OLDS BUT PEOPLE SEE HER AS A POLARIZING FIGURE WITH EXTREME POSITIONS.

FOR ME, IS THIS A VANITY TOUR TO TEST AS LUKE SAID, THE TEMPERATURE FOR A POSSIBLE SENATE RUN MASQUERADING AS A BRING OUT THE VOTE CAMPAIGN OR PLAIN EFFORT SELF INTEREST WITH SELFIES AND HUGS.

WAS NOT A MORE CENTRIST PERSON AVAILABLE TO TOUR THE UPSTATE.

SHOULDN'T THE DNC HAVE THOUGHT OF TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO DO THIS TOUR?

I DON'T THINK THIS WAS THOUGHT THROUGH VERY WELL BUT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOR ME OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S SHORT SIGHTED OBTUSE THINKING.

THEY SEEM TO MISS THE MOMENT WHEN IT IS HANDED TO THEM ON A SILVER PLATTER AND FOR ME, IT IS EXHAUSTING.

>> LUKE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DRIVERS ARE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND TURNOUT?

YOU ARE AN ELECTION SPECIALIST.

>> REGISTRATION.

I THINK THE BIGGEST FLAW IN OUR SYSTEM IS THAT WE MAKE PEOPLE REGISTER THEMSELVES TO VOTE WHERE EVERY OTHER DEMOCRACY IN THE IN THE WEST, THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS.

IF WE CHANGE THAT, VOTER TURNOUT WOULD GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVE 50 DIFFERENT STATE SYSTEMS BUT THAT'S THE FIRST THING TO MY MIND.

>> AND MAKE IT A HOLIDAY.

>> MAKE IT A HOLIDAY.

MAKE IT EASIER, EARLIER VOTING.

>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS HERE ALSO THAT ARE GOING ON.

IF WE THINK ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM, THE MID TERMS, I THINK THIS MID TERM ELECTION IS REALLY GOING TO TURN ON AS MANY MID TERMS DO ON TURNOUT.

SO IF SHE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN OUT MORE PEOPLE, THAT IS ALL TO THE BETTER FOR HER PARTY.

, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER FACTOID I SAW IN A NEWS DLTD WEEK POLL-- NOS WEEK POLL, 42% OF THE VOTERS RIGHT NOW SAY THEY ARE NOT FIRMLY DIVIDED ABOUT THE-- DECIDED ABOUT THE MID TERMS.

16% SAID THEY'RE COMPLETELY UNDECIDED AT THIS POINT.

THAT STUNNED ME.

IF IT IS THAT MUCH 234 PLAY, WHICH I SUSPECT IT IS NOT.

THE KINDS OF CONCERNS THAT MICHAEL RAISED AND I RAISED ABOUT A.O.C.

COULD BE A PROBLEM UPSTATE.

>> SOME OF THE LITERATURE SHOWS THAT SIMPLY MOBILIZATION ON THE PART OF POLITICAL PARTIES IS A WAY OF ENGAGING A WAY OF PUSHING VOTERS TO STUDY MORE, TO READ MORE.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY HERE TO ENGAGE VOTERS ON THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK IT'S A POSSIBILITY BUT AGAIN, AND I HATE TO USE THE WORD SIMPLISTIC BECAUSE THAT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE TALKING DOWN AND I DON'T MEAN LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO READ A FIVE OR 10 PAGE SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE POLITICAL ISSUES SO HAVE YOU TO KEEP THE MESSAGE SIMPLE.

AND MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.

YOU KNOW, YOUTUBE VIDEOS, SOME INSTAGRAM, ET CETERA.

THAT'S WHERE THE MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE GOTTEN OUT.

FACEBOOK.

>> THIS IS A PERSON WHO REPRESENTS PARTS OF THE BRONC BRONX AND QUEENS.

DOES SHE HAVE A MESSAGE FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK.

UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE ARE NOT THE SAME.

>> I THINK WE ARE RIPPING ON HER MORE THAN I'M COMFORTABLE.

>> I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION.

>> YOU CAN BE SELF-INTEREST AND WANT TO HELP YOUR PARTY WIN SO YOU ARE IN THE MAJORITY.

I WAS COVERING THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, I SAW HER GIVE A SPEECH AND AS SOON AS SHE IS TALKING, LOOKING AT THE REACTION FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DEMOCRATS, I THOUGHT THIS IS SOMEONE IS GOING TO GO FOR HIGHER OFFICE ONE DAY AND LIKELY BE SUCCESSFUL.

SHE HAS THE CHARISMA, THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

SHE IS POLARIZING IN SOME WAYS PAYMENTS AND THAT IT WILL PROTECT ATHLETES.

BUT SOME PROTECT ATHLETES, BUT SOME, LIKE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS, SAY THE BILL PROTECTS EXPLOITATION, INSTEAD OF ATHLETES PANELIST WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE BILL?

>> VERY UNUSUAL THAT THE SENATE WOULD PICK THIS UP AT THIS TIME BEFORE THEY RECESS FOR THE ELECTIONS BUT IT'S A DRIVING FACTOR FOR SOME I SUPPOSE.

THE NCAA TOOK ADVANTAGE OF D-1 STUDENTS FOR MANY YEARS PROFITING OFF TV CONTRACTS AND ENDORSEMENT DEALS THAT GO DID NOT GO TO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE RISKING THEIR HEALTH, PLAYING THESE SPORTS, INCLUDING FOOTBALL AND THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM THAT HAS CHANGED AND IT HAS BEEN PRETTY CHAOTIC AND THAT'S TROUBLESOME TO A LOT OF COLLEGE SPORTS FANS AT THE D-1 LEVEL.

THE LEGISLATION TRIES TO BRING SOME ORDER BUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT IT'S THE GOVERNMENT CODIFYING A SALARY CAP FOR STUDENT ATHLETES WITHOUT CODIFYING A SALARY CAP FOR ATHLETIC DIRECTORS OR COACHES WHO CAN STILL MAKE UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY SO IT'S JUST WEIRD THAT CONGRESS IS GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING ABOUT IT IS NOT CREATING EQUITY AND FAIRNESS ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO WHO IS GETTING THE MONEY FROM THESE ACTIVITIES.

>> TARA, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE EQUITY QUESTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GREATER RESTRICTIONS ON THE ATHLETES.

YOU CERTAINLY WILL HAVE GREATER SCRUTINY FOR THE AGENTS FOR THE ATHLETES SO IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THE ATHLETES ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE RESTRICTIONS AND MORE RULES THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW, THEIR AGENTS ARE GOING TO-- WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING, ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE RULES THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW BUT WE DON'T CREATE MORE RULES FOR THE COACHES, THE DIRECTORS, ET CETERA.

>> GRANT.

>> WELL, I FOUND A FACTOID IN THE LAW THAT JUST STUNNED ME.

AND I THINK REVEALS A LOT.

IT'S HOW PROFESSIONAL THESE COLLEGE SPORTS HAVE ALREADY BECOME.

AND IT'S THAT RULE THAT NOW PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO SCHOOL TO PLAY.

YOU HAVE TO PUT THAT RULE IN THERE.

AND THAT, TO ME, JUST SAYS OKAY, WHAT IS THE LANDSCAPE HERE.

THE OTHER THUNK IS THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME CHANGE IN WHAT WE'VE GOT NOW.

BECAUSE IF WHAT WE HAVE NOW CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD, THERE IS GOING TO BE 25, 30, 40 SCHOOLS AT THE MOST THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMPETING AND REST OF GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ABOUT MY OWN UNIVERSITY, WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM.

AND SO THE CONCERN ABOUT EQUITY AND CREATING SOME SYSTEM WHERE EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IS REAL IMPORTANT.

>> MICHAEL.

>> I THINK THE POSITION THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS HAS TAKEN ON THE P PSCA IS INFORMATIVE.

IT FAILS TO PROVIDE ATHLETES WITH EMPLOYMENT RATES.

INCLUDES ANTITRUST PROVISIONS AND CBC WANTS LEGISLATION THAT STRENGTHENS ATHLETIC PROTECTIONS, INCREASES TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURES MEANINGFUL REPRESENTATION.

THAT'S A WIN ACROSS THE BOARD AND I THINK THE CBC'S POSITION NEEDS MORE ATTENTION.

>> PERHAPS THOSE THINGS WERE NOT INCLUDED, LUKE, BECAUSE THE ATHLETES WERE NOT INVITED TO THE SENATE HEARINGS BEFORE THIS BILL WAS PASSED.

I FIND THAT STRIKING.

>> I THINK THE BEST WAY TO HAM THIS IS TO HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND ATHLETES AND THE NCAA UNIVERSITIES.

AS GRANT POINTED OUT, THERE ARE ODD THINGS GOING O. THE REASON IT WAS PUT IN THERE, YOU HAD STUDENT ATHLETES WHO TRIED TO GO PRO, DIDN'T MAKE THE TEAM AND TRIED TO COME BACK AND IT REVEALS HOW THIS HIGH LEVEL D-1 SPORTS IS REALLY QUASI PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

SO LET'S TREAT IT THAT WAY.

LET'S HAVE THEM BARGAIN.

EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND LET THE RESOURCES BE AL KUWAITED THAT WAY.

-- AL KUWAIT-- ALLOCATED THAT WAY.

>> I SEE SOME AGREEMENT WITH THE CBC BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE -- IF THEIR DEMANDS, WHEN THEY PRESENT THEM AS RACE SPECIFIC IN THE CURRENT MOMENT, IS GOING TO FLY.

>> YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GOING FLY.

>> RACE SPECIFIC, NO.

>> WELL, WE WILL SEE HOW THIS PANS OUT.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS AND WE'LL START WITH OUR FS.

TARA, PLEASE KICK US OFF.

>> MY F GOES TO VICE PRESIDENT J.D.

VANCE FOR THE PROPOSAL OF PROJECT 2025 TO SHIFT MOTHERS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE FOR DAYCARE TO A MORE LARGELER AND COMPETITIVE POOL OF FOLKS BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO BE PITTED AGAINST STAY AT HOME PARENTS AND THOSE PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRY AND ACCESS THE SAME SET OF FUNDS THAT WOULD BE USED FOR ACADEMIC FOR THEMSELVES-- DAYCARE FOR THEMSELVES TO HOME SCHOOL.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HELP LOWER INCOME WORKING PARENTS, WHETHER SINGLE OR MARRIED.

>> LUKE.

>> MY F GOES TO HOUSE PROGRAM THAT REIMBURSES MEMBERS FOR D.C.

LODGING AND MEAL COSTS.

NO RECEIPTS ARE REQUIRED.

AND THE COSTS OF THIS PROGRAM INCREASED BY 20% OVER LAST YEAR.

WE SHOULD NOT BE PAYING THE MORTGAGES OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES SECOND HOMES.

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY F GOES TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR DOWNGRADING OR ASKING THE STATES TO BEAR THE BURDEN FOR HEAD START, A PROBLEMATIC EFFECT FOR THE ECONOMY DOWN THE ROAD.

>> I'M STARTING OFF WITH A BANG, GIVING A GIGANTIC BIPARTISAN F TO ESSENTIALLY EVERYONE FOR NOT PAYING ENOUGH SERIOUS ATTENTION TO THE NATIONAL DEBT.

THE CHART THAT I THINK YOU ARE SEEING HERE SHOWS THE DEBT IS A PERCENTAGE OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.

THE DEBT IS NOW AT LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE WORLD WAR II.

OBAMA AND BIDEN ARE TO BE BLAMED ALONG WITH BUSH 43 AND TRUMP.

SOMETIMES I JOKE WITH MY STUDENTS, I THANK THEM FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS AND SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE I'M GOING TO GET FROM THEM.

THAT JOKE IS NOT GOING TO BE FUNNY FOR VERY MUCH LONGER.

>> AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO END WITH SOME GOOD NEWS AND WE'LL START AGAIN WITH TARA.

>> MY A GOES TO OUR PRODUCER DOUG WHO HAS BEEN OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER FOR 20 YEARS.

THIS IS A LONG OVERDUE A. DOUG HAS BEEN BASICALLY ONE OF THE OTHER PANELISTS, THE UNSEEN PANELISTS AND BASICALLY HE HAS KEPT US GOING.

HE HAS MADE THIS SHOW WORK SEAMLESSLY AND WE APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU, DOUG.

>> LUKE, MY A ALSO GOES TO DOUG OUR LEADER AND FRIEND FOR MANY YEARS.

DOUG IS THE HARDEST WORKING GUY I KNOW.

THE SHOW WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS WITHOUT HIM.

THANK YOU FOR YEARS OF DEDICATION TO US AND ALL OUR VIEWERS.

>> AND MICHAEL.

>> MY A GOES TO DOUG ALSO WHO I CALL BOILERMAKER DOUG.

B-DOUG.

HE NAVIGATES OUR SIGH VOLINGS VERY WELL WHICH IS A DIFFICULT TASK AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE LOVES THE LIFE OF THE MIND AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HIM.

>> AND GRANT, I'M GIVING AN A TO DOUG BY REPUTATION.

I HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HIM.

I WANT TO GIVE AN A TO THE SYRACUSE STAGE OF "COME FROM AWAY" A FITTING TRIBUTE OF THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.

IT IS A TOUCHING EMOTIONAL, EVEN AT TIMES FUNNY REMINDER OF HOW THE ENTIRE WORLD CHANGED IN A SINGLE MOMENT AND THE PRODUCTION RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER 11.

>> AND GRANT, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ALSO ON YOUR F. AND THINKING ABOUT, I GUESS IT'S A 500-DOLLAR PAYMENT THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE GETTING FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I THINK I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

ARE YOU?

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE IT.

BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN OLD SAYING THAT WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A DEEP HOLE, THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS STOP DIGGING.

WE GOT TO STOP DIGGING AND WE ARE JUST DIGGING MORE WITH EVERYTHING WE DO.

>> AND LUKE, ONE WAY TO STOP DIGGING IS TO PROVIDE RECEIPTS, RIGHT?

LIKE WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

METICULOUSLY.

>> OF COURSE.

SUCH A DOUBLE STANDARD AND NOT GOOD PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

>> NOT GOOD PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVE ALL GIVEN OUR A TO DOUG AND I'M GOING TO SAY MORE ABOUT DOUG IN A MINUTE.

I WANT TO SAY FOR EVERYBODY HERE AT THE TABLE, WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU TREMENDOUSLY.

AND SO FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, WE HAVE CONCLUDED OUR DISCUSSION AROUND THE TABLE I WANT TO SAY MORE ABOUT DOUG.

ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY, SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL MISS YOU.

WE BID YOU FAREWELL AS OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION YOU HAVE BEEN WITH WCNY AS TARA SAID FOR 20 YEARS AND YOU ARE BEGIN CAN A NEW CHAPTER WITHOUT US.

WE WILL MISS YOU.

WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR CALM AND COLLECT WAY OF MANAGING A BUNCH OF OUTSPOKEN Ph.D.s, ALMOST ALL OF WHOM ARE TENURED.

YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND YOUR SUPPORT ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND MOST OF ALL, AS MICHAEL SAID, YOUR COMMITMENT TO BALANCED, POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS.

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," DOUG, THANK YOU.

WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND TO EVERYONE ELSE, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.