Ripon College Center for Politics and the People

05/18/2026

After ten years of service, Professor Henrik Schatzinger has stepped down as Director of the Center for Politics and the People at Ripon College.

Under his leadership, the CPP hosted 120 events with nearly 300 speakers and panelists, bringing students, faculty, community members, and public leaders together for meaningful conversations about politics, public life, and civic engagement.

The CPP thanks Professor Schatzinger for his leadership, vision, and dedication over the past decade. We are grateful for his work and wish him all the best in his next chapter at Ripon College.

From the CPP archives: a look back at one of CPP’s debate watch parties in 2016.

04/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our student panel, "Let's talk Ripon!" A huge shout out to our panelists, Kayden Hardy, Emma Johnson, Manahil Junejo, and Calan Pervis and our moderator Preston Benton.

This event could not have been made possible without the work of our CPP Student Advisory Board. Thank you to Noah Hinkfuss, Angelica Martorello, Karly Riverdahl and Preston Benton.

A huge shout out to Professor of Political Science Dr.Henrik Schatzinger for his work in helping make events like this possible. His support and dedication to the Center for Politics and the People has crucial to creating space for open and thoughtful campus dialogue, which is a big part of what brings conversations like this to life, and we are very grateful for that.

03/24/2026

CPP Director Henrik Schatzinger recently spoke with Courthouse News about the Taylor-Lazar Wisconsin Supreme Court race and the striking decline in spending compared to last year’s record-breaking contest.

A record-breaking $100 million was spent during last year's race for the state's high court, but only about $5 million in total contributions have been reported with two weeks until election day.

03/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for "Will Al Steal My (Future) Job?" We appreciate the students, faculty, staff, and community members who came out to take part in a thoughtful conversation about the future of work and artificial intelligence.

A special thank you to Ema Roloff, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Roloff Consulting, for sharing her insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping our world and for offering practical ways to adapt in an increasingly digital future.

03/08/2026

CPP Director Henrik Schatzinger was recently featured on NPR’s Throughline, a nationally recognized history podcast, to discuss the rise of Super PACs in American elections. The episode examines how Super PACs became such a powerful force in U.S. politics and why they matter today.
Listen here: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/26/nx-s1-5726302/why-super-pacs-have-more-power-than-ever-in-elections

What’s one thing people across the U.S. can agree on? Hint – it’s about money. Voters from all political parties overwhelmingly see unlimited spending in elections as a threat to our democracy. So if most people don’t like all this money in politics, then who does? The answer, on this episod...

02/10/2026

Ripon College is hosting a free public screening of the documentary "Counted Out" Tuesday, Feb. 10. The film explores the impact of math literacy on social, economic, and political power and will be followed by a facilitated discussion.

10/24/2025

In case you missed Professor Michael Wagner’s (UW-Madison) outstanding talk at Ripon College on the misinformation machine, watch the full program on WisconsinEye:

On October 23, 2025, Ripon College Center for Politics and the People will host a talk on misinformation in the media, featuring Michael Wagner, Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea; Dir...

10/04/2025

In case you missed our event on Global Trade, Local Stakes, here is the recording: https://wiseye.org/2025/09/30/ripon-college-cpp-global-trade-local-stakes-winners-losers-and-whats-next-for-wisconsin/ Thank you for live-streaming it, WisconsinEye!

On September 30, 2025, Ripon College Center for Politics and the People hosted a panel discussion featuring trade experts and local voices to explore the evolving landscape of global commerce and its impact on Wisconsin businesses. Speakers include: Sandi Siegel, president of M.E. Dey & Co. Ken Wasy...