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UW PROFESSOR FLIPS TABLES

Recently at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, a university professor, José Felipe Alvergue, flipped the table of the College Republicans, a student group on campus on the same day as a major election. He’s since been removed from his position and placed on administrative leave pending further disciplinary action by the University.

The Spectator, UW-Eau Claire’s student newspaper, wrote a follow up article in May, discussing the aftermath of the incident and the students affected a month after it occurred. While the usual bandy was made about how this was scary and it was hard to believe this happened, an interesting take was made by this individual:

Lynn Buske, an organizer for local advocacy nonprofit JONAH Justice, said she feels Alvergue’s alleged reaction was a nonviolent, human expression of emotion and that he should not be removed from his position. She said that, from her point of view, the media painted the story in the wrong light.

“People are now outraged about someone’s outrage, which is exactly the same behavior they’ve been complaining about,” Buske said. “It isn’t productive. The focus should not be on the action — the focus should be on the why of the problem and what caused the reaction.”

Jaxson Moe and Tatiana Bobrowicz, the students whose table experienced gravity, said that they did not feel the behavior of the professor was warranted. Here, The Spectator describes what happened:

Both the College Republicans and the College Democrats were tabling on the campus mall. Each club displayed signs, banners and other information in support of their respective candidates.

According to first-year economics and finance student Jaxson Moe, who was tabling with the College Republicans and recorded a now-viral video of Alvergue walking away, Alvergue approached the table around 8:27 a.m. to ask what the organization was doing so close to the polls, potentially referencing a state legislative statute.

Moe said he and club president Tatiana Bobrowicz were the only ones at the table.

“She started to answer, but before she could respond, he said, ‘The time for this is over’ and flipped over the table,” Moe said.

Some members of the College Democrats approached the group and shook their hands afterwards, saying that kind of occurrence shouldn’t happen regardless of political affiliation.

According to WEAU News, Alvergue has since “plead guilty to a no contest plea after being cited on disorderly conduct. A fine was issued of $295 which he paid.”

A statement from the Republican Party of Eau Claire County sates that Alvergue, “should be required to apologize to the College Republicans and then be fired.” In July 2025 UW-Eau Claire suspended him for one academic year.