Rep. Rob Kreibich

It isn’t often a UW-Eau Claire English professor puts a western Wisconsin university in the national spotlight. But this occurred on April 1, which happened to be the primary election day in Wisconsin where a State Supreme Court race was playing out.

UW-Eau Claire College Republicans had set up a table promoting the candidacy of Brad Schimel when out of nowhere a man approaches the students, and after a brief exchange, flips the table over and material and donuts are strewn all over the floor. The police were called. A report was filed. And suddenly this episode was making state and then national news.

Had the roles been reversed in this incident, the student most certainly would have been expelled.

The reprehensible act on election day by English Professor Jose Felipe Alvergue must be dealt with swiftly to restore respect for free speech and civil dialogue. Putting the out of line and obviously hot-headed professor on paid leave doesn’t go far enough. He needs to be to be fired now.

The UW System did demote the professor from his leadership post as chair of the English Department. But I suspect they did not cut his pay as a result. What kind of message does that send?

Public relations is important for the UW System, but their indecisiveness is tone deaf and could cause lasting damage to the Wisconsin Higher Education System unless this rogue intolerant professor never sets foot on a college campus again.

The UW can and must do the right thing here. And not take months to do it.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to join my mailing list, please feel free to reach out to me at www.repkreibich.com or at Rep.Kreibich@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Rep. Rob Kreibich represents Wisconsin’s 28th Assembly District, consisting of parts of St. Croix, Pierce and Dunn Counties.