From the VP: When the pandemic separated us, KUOW and KEXP kept their communities connected, informed and entertained

*Photo credit:* Photo: KEXP- Renata Steiner, KUOW

Fifteen months ago, the world dramatically changed when the first COVID-19 case in the U.S. was discovered right here in the state of Washington. Nearly every industry was disrupted as our nation struggled to contain the virus. In this unimaginable year of a public health crisis, upheaval in society and assaults on our democracy, I have renewed my appreciation for those who provide us with news, information and entertainment. As a former co-host of a one-hour show on KAOS-FM who has picked up podcasting during lockdown, I am particularly interested in how the pandemic has shaped and challenged the broadcasting industry.

Longtime Huskies will know there are two local stations with strong ties to the University – KUOW and KEXP. KUOW is one of the nation’s founding NPR member stations, broadcasting from the Puget Sound region continually since 1952. Initially, the station served as a training ground for UW students interested in careers in broadcasting and programming consisted of classical music, classroom lectures, local news and Huskies sports. Over the years, programming shifted to be more news oriented. In 1999, KUOW moved off campus and became operated by Puget Sound Public Radio although the FCC license is held by the UW Board of Regents and I serve as the license officer.

KEXP also began its life as a student run radio station, KCMU, in 1972 in the basement of the Communications building. Due to budget cuts, the station moved to a listener support model in the 80s and in the mid-2000s after a transformational gift from the late Paul Allen, the station was renamed KEXP-FM. Friends of KEXP, the nonprofit arts organization that operates the station, now also holds the FCC license although the station remains a self-sustaining affiliate of the UW. I serve as the station’s designated University contact.

Like businesses in nearly every industry, KUOW and KEXP had to pivot and innovate to continue to fulfill their missions during the pandemic. With far fewer people making their usual daily commute, radio drive-time listening was replaced in large part by digital listening and both stations had to adapt to this increased demand. At KEXP, they found listeners were tuning in nearly all day as the average with time spent listening increasing from 4 hours to 7.5 hours. Listeners were looking for ways to connect with others and found music to be a grounding force in a very uncertain time. At the same time, bands were canceling tours and staying home. Recognizing the artistic community was hurting, KEXP DJs got creative. Since they couldn’t have local bands in the building, KEXP created “Bands on the Lawn” and “KEXP at Home” to showcase local talent.

Listeners were also hungry for information. The progress of the virus and tactics to combat it changed rapidly, especially early on. Three days before Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order took effect, KUOW started the “Seattle Now” podcast, a 10 minute wrap-up of the news of the day. To meet the public’s desire to stay abreast of the latest information about COVID-19, this program quickly pivoted to be all about the pandemic. KUOW was able to provide a quick recap of what public health officials and researchers knew that morning and deliver it quickly and accurately to their audience.

As they kept listeners informed and connected, DJs, reporters and staff faced isolation, anxiety and overwhelming uncertainty. While both organizations sought to provide stability and flexibility for staff in several ways, KUOW was particularly innovative in this space. In addition to ensuring flexible work schedules and encouraging the use of mental health days, KUOW organized guided wellness sessions and group counseling for staff members.

Staying afloat financially was another hurdle for both stations. In March 2020, even after cutting $1.2M from their operating budget, KUOW was still facing the prospect of a 10% reduction in force. However, due to an overwhelming outpouring of support from listeners in the community last spring, they avoided any staff layoffs or furloughs. KEXP also faced financial hardship, primarily from a $1.2M reduction in expected revenue, which was mitigated through budget cuts, modest layoffs and executive furloughs. Like KUOW, KEXP benefitted from generous support from the community which helped cushion the immediate impact and strengthens their long-term stability.

Along with the pandemic, 2020 brought a long overdue reckoning with systemic racism in the U.S. KUOW journalists elevated the voices of citizens calling for change here in Seattle and across the nation, while KEXP’s programing provided space to help listeners process and make sense of this moment in history. The upheaval of last summer also shined a spotlight on inequities within public media and KUOW and KEXP are committed to transforming into anti-racist organizations. Living out this commitment is an essential and ongoing work in progress. So far both stations have taken thoughtful, initial steps to better serve our community.

KUOW and KEXP are two of the most listened to stations in the Puget Sound radio market. Their association with the University of Washington is a point of pride for the campus and I continue to be amazed and proud of their broadcasting accomplishments. As more and more Washingtonians get their COVID vaccines, a post-pandemic future begins to feel reachable and I can’t wait to see what these two radio stations do next.

From the VP: Better days ahead for the U District

Like every urban business and cultural center, Seattle’s U District neighborhood continues to face the ramifications and economic hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without the bustle of students, faculty, staff and visitors for the past twelve months, some of the great progress the District made in the last few years around livability and public safety has been set back. This is concerning for those who live and work in the District as well as for families of students who make the District their home during the academic year.

As more vaccines get into arms each day, we are finally beginning to see some light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. While there is still a long road ahead, several exciting developments are brewing in the U District that cause me to remain very optimistic about the neighborhood’s future. They include:

Light rail arriving fall 2021– One of three stations coming online this year, the University District light rail stop will connect the U District to downtown Seattle and Northgate, significantly expanding access to the area. While it may be hard to imagine crowding onto public transportation right now, Sound Transit projects that the light rail extension will eventually serve over 41,000 riders a day.
New leadership heading the U District Partnership – After a nationwide search, the UDP welcomed Don Blakeney as their new executive director. Blakeney has held leadership roles in neighborhoods across Seattle and New York City, including his recent position as the VP of Policy and Advocacy with the Downtown Seattle Association. I look forward to seeing how his new energy and fresh ideas help foster a vibrant, diverse and healthy neighborhood for all who live, work and visit the district.
West Campus expanding – As part of the UW Campus Master Plan, Site W27 will be the first new public-private building in the UW’s West Campus. Located on Brooklyn Avenue Northeast at Northeast Pacific Street, Site W27 will house researchers and entities focused on clean energy and other innovations that promote a sustainable future. Within the approximately 340,000 square foot space, Site W27 will also consolidate the UW Clean Energy Institute (CEI), CEI’s Washington Clean Energy Testbeds and the Northwest Institute for Material Physics, Chemistry and Technology under one roof. Funding for this consolidation and the establishment of a world-class center for advanced materials and clean energy technologies (CAMCET) was provided by the state legislature. There will also be an opportunity for mission-aligned civic, nonprofit or private institutions to lease space.
Affordable housing options increasing – The Campus Master Plan also includes a commitment to add affordable housing units in the District. In a joint effort between the University of Washington and Seattle Housing Authority, the Filer Project will build affordable housing units on University-owned land located at Roosevelt and 42nd. The complex will include approximately 150 apartments affordable to people making 60% of area median income as well as a childcare center on the ground floor. An RFQ will be issued in summer 2021 and the building is anticipated to open in 2025.
Plans for additional housing and office buildings – The holes on 12th Avenue Northeast are just the beginning of new developments coming to the U District over the next several years. The Hub U District, Brooklyn — a 25-story residential tower and pocket park that would replace the parking lot behind The Graduate Hotel — and a 13-story office building with retail space to be built on top of the new light rail station are just two examples of nearly a dozen proposed projects. As these towers change the skyline, they will also dramatically increase the number of housing units in the U District and provide additional retail space. For those who want to keep tabs on development plans, I recommend bookmarking Seattle in Progress, an interactive map that highlights new projects.

Like so many things about this pandemic, we must remember that now is not forever. Although we do not know when, students, visitors and university employees will return to the U District in their pre-pandemic numbers. New developments have the potential to increase opportunities for all who live, work, learn and play in the district. In the meantime, let’s continue to support our local U District favorites to ensure they will still be here when the world opens up more broadly again.

From the VP: 2021 Washington state legislative session preview

You may recall at the onset of the pandemic last spring, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Council estimated a shocking $9 billion state budget deficit. This forecast was particularly troubling to those of us in higher education. State appropriations to the University of Washington were cut in half during the Great Recession and the UW has only now, more than a decade later, reached pre-recession levels of funding. Another significant reduction in appropriations from the state now would be devastating. Thankfully, subsequent revenue estimates have been less bleak. In fact, the November 2020 forecast adjusted the state’s projected revenue shortfall down to $2.4 billion. Although the deficit is not as large as initially anticipated, the legislature will still have their work cut out for them when they convene virtually on January 11.

In response to the state fiscal environment, our operating budget requests are modest and primarily focus on the significant COVID-19 related needs of our hospital system. On the other hand, we are proposing several major capital budget requests including funding for construction of an Interdisciplinary Engineering Building in Seattle, the new Milgard Hall in Tacoma and the new Behavioral Health teaching hospital at UW Medical Center Northwest. To read the full list of the UW’s capital and operating budget requests, click here. Last week we received the good news that Governor Inslee’s 2021-23 budget proposal included funding for nearly all of our operating and capital budget requests. While not a guarantee, this is an encouraging first step forward.

As we prepare for the start of the legislative session, it is important to note that the upcoming session will primarily be conducted remotely. This presents a unique challenge for us—much of our work happens when we catch a member or staffer in the hallway between meetings or in line for a cup of coffee. These serendipitous encounters simply don’t happen in a virtual environment. It is comforting, however, to know that everyone is in the same boat. No one has figured out how to navigate virtual session yet, but I know the State Relations team will find new ways to make the University’s voices heard.

As 2020 comes to a close and vaccine distribution begins, it might be tempting to think the pandemic is finally moving behind us. As President Cauce often says however, while there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s still a very long tunnel that will take many more months to navigate through. As we enter this new year full of renewed hope, all of us in the Office of External Affairs will continue to be vigilant and advocate for continued investments in the important work of our great University.

From the VP: Name, image and likeness and the NCAA — a debate far from settled

It might seem strange to be discussing student-athletes when the pervasive spread of COVID-19 abruptly shut down all college sporting events this spring and the potential for future contests continues to be uncertain. Players may not be on the field, but conversations around student-athlete compensation — particularly the ability to profit from the use of their own name, image and likeness — continue to move forward with an increasing sense of urgency.

For the uninitiated, the phrase “name, image and likeness” refers to a person’s ability to monetize their persona, appearance and/or social status. This can include accepting payment for promoting products, signing autographs, hosting summer camps, modeling and public appearances, as well as newer avenues made possible by social media platforms. While common place for professional athletes, National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations have essentially prohibited college players from monetizing their personas.
Proponents contend that student-athletes are being denied access to sources of income that their non-athlete peers are able to pursue unencumbered. In fact under the NCAA’s current policy, student-athletes can’t even use their own name if they want to create a small business as part of a class project. Allowing student-athletes to have the same opportunities as their peers in the general student body has become an issue of fairness.

The NCAA on the other hand has prohibited players from using NIL to both uphold their definition of amateurism and protect the recruitment process from manipulation. As the NCAA has cautiously opened up to the idea of modernizing their rules around NIL, these issues still drive the conversation. Worried that NIL compensation could be used as an enticement in the recruiting process, giving schools with wealthy boosters an advantage over lesser resourced ones, the NCAA and member universities have stressed the need for strong guardrails to protect both the process and students themselves from outsiders who might want to take advantage of them.

The conversation seemed to be at an impasse until 2019 when the California legislature passed the first bill enabling student-athletes in their state to receive NIL compensation. This put pressure on the NCAA and stoked the NIL fire for public advocates, other state lawmakers and federal officials. In November of that year, the NCAA announced it was pulling together a working group to discuss a national path forward. When in February of 2020 not much had come out of that working group, a Senate hearing was held. The committee strongly advised the NCAA to come up with a solution that addressed the issue nationally without the federal government stepping in. Thus the NCAA found itself, in the middle of a global pandemic, trying to figure out how to satisfy state legislators, federal judges, federal lawmakers and their constituencies.

Fast forward to late April of this year when the NCAA released the long awaited results of their working group’s deliberations. The Board of Governors announced they supported rule changes that would allow student-athletes to receive compensation from third-party endorsements – both those related to their athletic achievements and separate from them. While this might sound like a definitive answer on the subject, this is yet another step in the long, slow process of modernizing its rules. The Board’s 31 pages of recommendations will move to the individual divisions of the NCAA and the divisions are expected to create and adopt new NIL rules by January 2021. These new rules would be put into effect for the 2021-22 academic year.

If you’re thinking this decision and subsequent changes are moving at a glacially slow pace, you are not alone. Legislatures have continued to pass bills to allow college athletes in their state to profit off of NIL. This spring, Colorado and Florida legislatures joined California in passing such laws. Washington state was one of over 28 other states speeding toward passing NIL bills. Washington’s SHB-1080 may have died this past session, but NIL is not going anywhere.

Unfortunately, a patchwork of state laws compounds fairness issues surrounding NIL. NCAA member schools operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. If some states have NIL laws in place while others do not or every state has different versions of NIL laws in place, this would create a very confusing – and easily exploited – recruiting environment. The last thing anyone wants is an environment that creates an above-board bidding war for players by outside entities. Feeling the NCAA is not moving fast enough, members of Congress have begun working on national bills. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) formed a bi-partisan working group on the issue. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also have been active concerning NIL while Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) introduced a NIL bill in the House. A Federal law would preempt the various state laws, but with Congress facing a global pandemic and an election year, there will likely be less bandwidth to push on NIL at least for the present.

No matter how the NIL conversation lands, it is important to remember there is a reason we refer to them as student-athletes — they are students first. While studying to earn their degrees, they choose to play a sport they love against students from other colleges and universities. Yes, a handful will go on to play professionally, but the vast majority will enter the workforce in a role more closely associated with their degree than their position on the field. Remembering and protecting this student first mentality is integral to the mission of college sports within higher education. Only with a cohesive, national approach will we be able to create a system that has the potential to be fair to both students and the schools wanting to recruit them.

From the VP: City Council approves another twelve years of the U District Business Improvement Area

On Monday, June 8, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a twelve-year renewal of the U District Business Improvement Area. The renewal was the result of a true collaboration between those who care about the area’s future and is a strong win for all who live, work and play in the University District.

Established in 2015, U District BIA assessments help pay for: cleaning and public safety; events and marketing; economic development; planning; and program management. This important work is guided by the U District BIA Ratepayer Advisory Board and The U District Partnership is contracted to manage program implementation.

Throughout the renewal process, businesses, neighbors and non-profits have shared how the programs funded by the U District BIA are making a positive difference in their lives and for the community as a whole. One effective program is REACH, a neighborhood-based outreach program that connects unhoused neighbors to services they need while lessening stress for businesses and responders who are trying to help. REACH’s skilled coordinators are trained to address the specific concerns identified by the community they serve. Clean and Safe is another impactful service established to provide cleaning services and beautification for areas throughout the U District BIA.

These programs are working and community stakeholders made it clear that the University District benefits because of them. Even while facing the challenges brought on by COVID-19, passionate small-business owners took the time to testify before the City Council and share their support for the U District BIA. The process of renewing the BIA was a true partnership between the people and institutions that care deeply about the present and future of the University District. As the area continues to develop, the work of the U District BIA will only become more essential. With its renewal, U District BIA members can continue to work together to fund programs in the U District making it a cleaner, safer and more vibrant neighborhood for all.