February 17, 2025 • 11 mins
Outgoing University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce joins Dave Softy Mahler to discuss the state of the school, the Big Ten move, the enrollment at UW, the future of the college sports landscape, the transfer portal and UW’s next President Robert Jones.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Live from the R and R Foundation Specialist Broadcast Studio.
Now back to Softie and Dick on your home for
the Huskies and the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three point
three kJ R FM.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
All right, kiddos, our annual President's Day Show continues right
here on ninety three to three KJR FM. And what
President's Day Show would be complete without a visit and
for the final time as the acting President at Washington,
Anamar A. Caws is with us right now on the
radio show. President Cawsey, how are you doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I'm doing just fine. Happy Valentine's Day too.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, as well to you. Let's first of all, as
we've done now you and me for a couple of years, now,
why don't we start off and this is your last
time doing this with you know, with us as the
president at Washington, because you're stepping down later this year.
How would you characterize the state of the Union over
at you dub right now on this President's Day, Monday
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Well, you know, quite frankly, the university is going gangbusters
in so many different ways. You know, our research, I mean,
you know just continues to you know, you know, get
better and better in terms of actually making a difference
in the world. We've got a Nobel Prize this year.
I mean, you know that's that's not small stuff. And
you know, we've got record enrollments and you know, everything
(01:21):
everything's going really well. And you know, we're a little
nervous about you know, there's a lot of things that
are going on in the country that affect us, and
so we're trying to adjust to those. But in terms
of the university itself, we're going gangbusters well.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
And you mentioned everything happening around the country, around the world,
and look at typically when you and I talk, we
focused mainly on the sports, saying, go, obviously this is
a sports talk radio show. We'll get your thoughts on
the big ten. You know, Robert Jones coming in in
a minute. But everything you went through over the summer
with the protests, the reaction to it, the way you
handled it, the way the university handled it, the way
(01:58):
people reacted to it, talk about kind of what you
learn from that and and and what you would have
done differently maybe if anything.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well, you know, I mean, you know, I'm not big
on you know, you can go Hindsight is always twenty
twenty I think the rule is, you know, how do
we move forward? And I think that you know, as
you see this year, you know, we really are moving
forward in a in a much more positive way. You know,
things unquestionably things got disrupted, and it was a very
(02:28):
difficult year all across the country. And I think that,
you know, what we've really focused on is how do
we get students to talk together across differences? You know,
our our VP of undergraduate education being of undergraduate and
Taylor put together a beautiful class where he had people
from very different perspectives come and talk to each other.
(02:49):
And I think that, you know, if you think about
the state of the country in general, with all the polarization,
what we really need to focus on is, you know,
if someone has a very different views than you, don't
view them as an enemy to be vanquished, view them
as a possible ally to be won over. And how
do we find common ground? And that's really what we
(03:10):
need to work on. And I think those were a
lot of the lessons of last year is how do
we find how do we learn to talk to each
other across big differences.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, you mentioned the word disruption there, Ana Mare, and
there's been a lot of disruption in college sports in
the last couple of years, and you and I have
spent many times on the year off the year talking
about this. Give us an idea of maybe what you
think your department, specifically Upper Campus has done in the
last year or so since we last spoke to make
(03:43):
sure you DUB is in position to take advantage of
this move to the Big Ten after you leave office.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Well, you know, I think that one of the things
that really has been very positive, and I'd say it's
been positive throughout my time here. You know, we know
of gen coming in an athletic director, and I think
that Pat very much has that same style, which is
you know that you know, sometimes people talk about upper
(04:10):
and lower campuses and we really are one campus. And
one of the things that's so fabulous about the Big
Ten and that I love about the Big Ten is
that it isn't just about sports. That you know that
they really do put together, you know, the provosts meet together,
we have you know, academic partnerships, and we really look
(04:34):
at our university as a whole. We recognize that force
actually draws eyes to our university and that can be
a real positive, no question about it. You know the
fact that we've got you know, record applications is probably
partly due to the Big Ten, and that's wonderful. I mean,
we recognize that, you know, as you know, we have
a half share and so we're going to have to
(04:57):
deal with that for a while. And I think, you know,
we're building really strong partnerships between you know, between athletics
and the rest of the university, and quite frankly, we
really you know, I mean, one of the things that
I'm proud of of in terms of athletics is how
well our students are doing in the classroom. I remember
(05:17):
it was probably about three or four years ago when
it was the first time that you know, we were
number one academically in football over Stanford, and that felt
so good. And I think that, you know, under Pat
Chun we really still have very much that that I
think Jen really you know started here that really deep
(05:37):
culture that you know that coach Pete. Coach Pete was
a big part of of really looking at our students
as athletes that are students, not just athletes. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Well, President Annamar cause again with us on our President's
Day show from you dub final time, she's stepping down
later this year. You've been at the school, I believe,
if I have my facts right, since eighty six, president
since twenty fifteen. So you've been at this for forty
years for the most part as a Husky. What are
you going to do with yourself starting in July this summer.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, I will always be a Husky and this will
always be my home, and I'm not going anywhere. You're
still going to see me at the game, you know,
on the sideline, you know, routing on our players. You know.
I haven't had a sabbatical, and I don't know how
many years, twenty thirty years, and so I want to
take a little bit of time, do a little bit
of writing, do a little bit of reflecting, might do
a little teaching. I'm and take it a step at
(06:33):
a time.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah. Well, you mentioned the record applications over at Washington,
and I guess record applications is one thing, but will
it come with record enrollment? And there's been a lot
of folks that are asking will the rising athletic department
costs and rising costs period really lead to bigger enrollment
numbers at the university? Will you guys be basically forced
(06:55):
to take more kids to bring in more revenue to
cover these bills.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Well, you know, I mean, the the issue is that
we are passed. You know, we are as you know,
we are as stretched as possible in terms of enrollment.
We could I mean, in all honesty, we could take
another ten thousand student. We're you know, we're having a
legislative yurope. We're talking to the legislature and if they
can help give us some more funding, we can help,
you know, we can help them try and take some
(07:22):
more in state students in particular. But the truth is
that you know, what what it comes down to is
there are great students. Don't get in here, and you know,
please remember we also have bothel Win Tacoma that have
really been grow up. They have great students. But at
the end of the day, you know, you know, we
need you know, in order to take more students, we'd
need more building, we'd need to expand, and you know
(07:45):
right now that that's a difficult thing to do overnight.
But we are talking to the legislature about trying to
see what we can, what we can do, and how
we can get better funding per students. We are the
least well funded university in the States. If you look
at us per student, we're the only I think university
(08:06):
right now that is maximally enrolled. And so we're going
to the legislature and seeing that they can help us
out because we would love to take more in state students.
No question, GOTU.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
President Anamarcau say you dubbed with us on the radio
show for a few more minutes on our President's Day
show Monday here on ninety three three KJR FM. And look,
I mean you and I have spoken many times about
the future of college sports, where this thing is leading,
where it's going. Do you still envision today potentially the
Big Ten, the SEC breaking away from the NC Double A,
(08:39):
and for lack of a better term, doing their own thing.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
You know, anything is possible and nothing is ruled out.
You know, I think that we have you know, right now,
things are very uncertain. Right We're seeing soccer really pick
up as as a sport that people are watching, and
for us, of course, growing is always really cool. And
so you know, I think that you know the fact
that that players are being paid given you know, what
(09:05):
they do on the field. So I think that some
of these are very positive, very positive developments. But we
don't really have them well controlled. And I do think
that I need to work on.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
What is your vision for a portal system that works
for everybody?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
You know, I don't you know, you know, I leave
the experts to the expertise, but I think that you know,
maybe just you know, having a portal once a year
or something more of that sort. I just think that
particularly having the portal open in the middle of you know,
playoff season and stuff is incredibly disruptive and you don't
(09:43):
have players, you know, playing in their games, and you know,
I mean it just you know, I do think that
we have to get a better control of the portal.
I think that it's not necessarily and you know, maybe
even you know, every other year. I mean, I think
that players should and I think that it will bring
more paradi you know, the fact that a team could
in essence cord players and you'd have good players that
(10:05):
would never get a chance to play. That wasn't a
good thing. But I do think that right now things
are a little bit out of control.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
No question. Hey, before you go, and again we appreciate
you doing this final time officially on this show as
the president at Washington. We'll see what retirement brings for you,
but we're also going to see what Robert Jones brings
to you, DUB starting in August of this summer. So
give us a thought on the man who will be
stepping in and hopefully agreeing to do this interview with
(10:33):
me next year at this time. Who was Robert Jones
And what are you hoping he brings to the table
as your successor.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I have no doubt that you will be talking to Robert.
He's a very inquiring and transformative leader. I think that
the EW is lucky to have them. As you know,
he knows the Big Ten quite well. He was actually
in charge of the Big Ten when we got let
in and so that was really bad us. And I
think he has a very deep commitment to again that
(11:04):
notion of the student athletes and how that needs to
come together. He's very committed to our mission of really
giving students access to excellence, making sure that students from
all background can go to college. And I think his
values are very much in sync with ours. And again
he's been a very strong leader in the Big Ten
(11:26):
conference and he will continue to be.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Audam Maracusa, thank you so much for doing this. Congratulations
on retirement. And we will hopefully bump into each other
and talk down the road. Thanks for doing this.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Again, Okay, thank you you bet.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Good stuff from Outamarcus Again. You missed any of this,
jump on the website. Check out the podcast page ninety
three to three kjar dot com. When we come back,
we'll kind of react to what we've heard so far.
Crack and Boss Todd Liwiki will join us on our
President's Day show at five right here on ninety three
three KJARFM.
Live from the R and R Foundation Specialist Broadcast Studio.
Now back to Softie and Dick on your home for
the Huskies and the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three point
three kJ R FM.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
All right, kiddos, our annual President's Day Show continues right
here on ninety three to three KJR FM. And what
President's Day Show would be complete without a visit and
for the final time as the acting President at Washington,
Anamar A. Caws is with us right now on the
radio show. President Cawsey, how are you doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I'm doing just fine. Happy Valentine's Day too.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, as well to you. Let's first of all, as
we've done now you and me for a couple of years, now,
why don't we start off and this is your last
time doing this with you know, with us as the
president at Washington, because you're stepping down later this year.
How would you characterize the state of the Union over
at you dub right now on this President's Day, Monday
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Well, you know, quite frankly, the university is going gangbusters
in so many different ways. You know, our research, I mean,
you know just continues to you know, you know, get
better and better in terms of actually making a difference
in the world. We've got a Nobel Prize this year.
I mean, you know that's that's not small stuff. And
you know, we've got record enrollments and you know, everything
(01:21):
everything's going really well. And you know, we're a little
nervous about you know, there's a lot of things that
are going on in the country that affect us, and
so we're trying to adjust to those. But in terms
of the university itself, we're going gangbusters well.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
And you mentioned everything happening around the country, around the world,
and look at typically when you and I talk, we
focused mainly on the sports, saying, go, obviously this is
a sports talk radio show. We'll get your thoughts on
the big ten. You know, Robert Jones coming in in
a minute. But everything you went through over the summer
with the protests, the reaction to it, the way you
handled it, the way the university handled it, the way
(01:58):
people reacted to it, talk about kind of what you
learn from that and and and what you would have
done differently maybe if anything.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well, you know, I mean, you know, I'm not big
on you know, you can go Hindsight is always twenty
twenty I think the rule is, you know, how do
we move forward? And I think that you know, as
you see this year, you know, we really are moving
forward in a in a much more positive way. You know,
things unquestionably things got disrupted, and it was a very
(02:28):
difficult year all across the country. And I think that,
you know, what we've really focused on is how do
we get students to talk together across differences? You know,
our our VP of undergraduate education being of undergraduate and
Taylor put together a beautiful class where he had people
from very different perspectives come and talk to each other.
(02:49):
And I think that, you know, if you think about
the state of the country in general, with all the polarization,
what we really need to focus on is, you know,
if someone has a very different views than you, don't
view them as an enemy to be vanquished, view them
as a possible ally to be won over. And how
do we find common ground? And that's really what we
(03:10):
need to work on. And I think those were a
lot of the lessons of last year is how do
we find how do we learn to talk to each
other across big differences.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, you mentioned the word disruption there, Ana Mare, and
there's been a lot of disruption in college sports in
the last couple of years, and you and I have
spent many times on the year off the year talking
about this. Give us an idea of maybe what you
think your department, specifically Upper Campus has done in the
last year or so since we last spoke to make
(03:43):
sure you DUB is in position to take advantage of
this move to the Big Ten after you leave office.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Well, you know, I think that one of the things
that really has been very positive, and I'd say it's
been positive throughout my time here. You know, we know
of gen coming in an athletic director, and I think
that Pat very much has that same style, which is
you know that you know, sometimes people talk about upper
(04:10):
and lower campuses and we really are one campus. And
one of the things that's so fabulous about the Big
Ten and that I love about the Big Ten is
that it isn't just about sports. That you know that
they really do put together, you know, the provosts meet together,
we have you know, academic partnerships, and we really look
(04:34):
at our university as a whole. We recognize that force
actually draws eyes to our university and that can be
a real positive, no question about it. You know the
fact that we've got you know, record applications is probably
partly due to the Big Ten, and that's wonderful. I mean,
we recognize that, you know, as you know, we have
a half share and so we're going to have to
(04:57):
deal with that for a while. And I think, you know,
we're building really strong partnerships between you know, between athletics
and the rest of the university, and quite frankly, we
really you know, I mean, one of the things that
I'm proud of of in terms of athletics is how
well our students are doing in the classroom. I remember
(05:17):
it was probably about three or four years ago when
it was the first time that you know, we were
number one academically in football over Stanford, and that felt
so good. And I think that, you know, under Pat
Chun we really still have very much that that I
think Jen really you know started here that really deep
(05:37):
culture that you know that coach Pete. Coach Pete was
a big part of of really looking at our students
as athletes that are students, not just athletes. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Well, President Annamar cause again with us on our President's
Day show from you dub final time, she's stepping down
later this year. You've been at the school, I believe,
if I have my facts right, since eighty six, president
since twenty fifteen. So you've been at this for forty
years for the most part as a Husky. What are
you going to do with yourself starting in July this summer.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, I will always be a Husky and this will
always be my home, and I'm not going anywhere. You're
still going to see me at the game, you know,
on the sideline, you know, routing on our players. You know.
I haven't had a sabbatical, and I don't know how
many years, twenty thirty years, and so I want to
take a little bit of time, do a little bit
of writing, do a little bit of reflecting, might do
a little teaching. I'm and take it a step at
(06:33):
a time.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah. Well, you mentioned the record applications over at Washington,
and I guess record applications is one thing, but will
it come with record enrollment? And there's been a lot
of folks that are asking will the rising athletic department
costs and rising costs period really lead to bigger enrollment
numbers at the university? Will you guys be basically forced
(06:55):
to take more kids to bring in more revenue to
cover these bills.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Well, you know, I mean, the the issue is that
we are passed. You know, we are as you know,
we are as stretched as possible in terms of enrollment.
We could I mean, in all honesty, we could take
another ten thousand student. We're you know, we're having a
legislative yurope. We're talking to the legislature and if they
can help give us some more funding, we can help,
you know, we can help them try and take some
(07:22):
more in state students in particular. But the truth is
that you know, what what it comes down to is
there are great students. Don't get in here, and you know,
please remember we also have bothel Win Tacoma that have
really been grow up. They have great students. But at
the end of the day, you know, you know, we
need you know, in order to take more students, we'd
need more building, we'd need to expand, and you know
(07:45):
right now that that's a difficult thing to do overnight.
But we are talking to the legislature about trying to
see what we can, what we can do, and how
we can get better funding per students. We are the
least well funded university in the States. If you look
at us per student, we're the only I think university
(08:06):
right now that is maximally enrolled. And so we're going
to the legislature and seeing that they can help us
out because we would love to take more in state students.
No question, GOTU.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
President Anamarcau say you dubbed with us on the radio
show for a few more minutes on our President's Day
show Monday here on ninety three three KJR FM. And look,
I mean you and I have spoken many times about
the future of college sports, where this thing is leading,
where it's going. Do you still envision today potentially the
Big Ten, the SEC breaking away from the NC Double A,
(08:39):
and for lack of a better term, doing their own thing.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
You know, anything is possible and nothing is ruled out.
You know, I think that we have you know, right now,
things are very uncertain. Right We're seeing soccer really pick
up as as a sport that people are watching, and
for us, of course, growing is always really cool. And
so you know, I think that you know the fact
that that players are being paid given you know, what
(09:05):
they do on the field. So I think that some
of these are very positive, very positive developments. But we
don't really have them well controlled. And I do think
that I need to work on.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
What is your vision for a portal system that works
for everybody?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
You know, I don't you know, you know, I leave
the experts to the expertise, but I think that you know,
maybe just you know, having a portal once a year
or something more of that sort. I just think that
particularly having the portal open in the middle of you know,
playoff season and stuff is incredibly disruptive and you don't
(09:43):
have players, you know, playing in their games, and you know,
I mean it just you know, I do think that
we have to get a better control of the portal.
I think that it's not necessarily and you know, maybe
even you know, every other year. I mean, I think
that players should and I think that it will bring
more paradi you know, the fact that a team could
in essence cord players and you'd have good players that
(10:05):
would never get a chance to play. That wasn't a
good thing. But I do think that right now things
are a little bit out of control.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
No question. Hey, before you go, and again we appreciate
you doing this final time officially on this show as
the president at Washington. We'll see what retirement brings for you,
but we're also going to see what Robert Jones brings
to you, DUB starting in August of this summer. So
give us a thought on the man who will be
stepping in and hopefully agreeing to do this interview with
(10:33):
me next year at this time. Who was Robert Jones
And what are you hoping he brings to the table
as your successor.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I have no doubt that you will be talking to Robert.
He's a very inquiring and transformative leader. I think that
the EW is lucky to have them. As you know,
he knows the Big Ten quite well. He was actually
in charge of the Big Ten when we got let
in and so that was really bad us. And I
think he has a very deep commitment to again that
(11:04):
notion of the student athletes and how that needs to
come together. He's very committed to our mission of really
giving students access to excellence, making sure that students from
all background can go to college. And I think his
values are very much in sync with ours. And again
he's been a very strong leader in the Big Ten
(11:26):
conference and he will continue to be.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Audam Maracusa, thank you so much for doing this. Congratulations
on retirement. And we will hopefully bump into each other
and talk down the road. Thanks for doing this.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Again, Okay, thank you you bet.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Good stuff from Outamarcus Again. You missed any of this,
jump on the website. Check out the podcast page ninety
three to three kjar dot com. When we come back,
we'll kind of react to what we've heard so far.
Crack and Boss Todd Liwiki will join us on our
President's Day show at five right here on ninety three
three KJARFM.
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