MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Jay Rothman, former President of the Universities of Wisconsin, expressed that he was 'blindsided' by his recent firing but maintained a remarkably composed attitude towards the decision. Rothman's termination, a unanimous decision made by the board of regents, followed a private discussion that lasted about 30 minutes. Notably, the board has not disclosed any specific reasons for his dismissal during his nearly four-year tenure in the role.
In his first interview since the termination, Rothman shared with The Associated Press, 'Absolutely I was blindsided.' He expressed his confusion over the lack of communication from the regents, stating, 'I really don’t know. I asked for reasons why. They were not able to articulate any.'
Despite the unexpected nature of his ouster, Rothman indicated he is unlikely to seek legal recourse. 'We’ll have to see how circumstances develop,' he said. 'I don’t think it’s likely that I would go in that direction.' Rothman had considered resigning when regents asked for his retirement but decided against it due to the absence of reasons for his dismissal.
In a statement prior to the decision, Regent President Amy Bogost remarked that the choice was focused on the long-term future of the 13-university system, which serves approximately 165,000 students. Rothman refrained from speculating on the motivations behind his firing but stressed that he has sought clarity from the regents, asserting he has yet to receive a satisfactory answer.
