Latest news with #UWEC

Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UWEC professor fined for election day incident
EAU CLAIRE — The UW-Eau Claire professor who confronted college Republicans and flipped over a table set up to support a Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate settled a disorderly conduct charge with a $295 fine, court records show. Jose Alvergue, 45, Eau Claire, paid the fine Wednesday, the same day as it was issued. The incident took place on election day in April, amid a tense race for the state supreme court. While technically nonpartisan, the candidates clearly lined up with political parties in their bids for the open seat. Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general, was the Republican-backed candidate. He lost to Susan Crawford, who had the backing of the state's Democrats. The college Republicans had set their table up to support Schimel's candidacy. Alvergue initiated the confrontation, approaching and asking why the table was close to a polling place. Like most states, Wisconsin bans campaigning near polling locations. The buffer area in Wisconsin is 100 feet, and the table was apparently in compliance with that requirement. After speaking with the students Alvergue flipped over the table and walked off. He was identified after the students posted video showing him walking across the campus quad and the ground around their table littered with campaign items. UWEC confirmed placing Alvergue on administrative leave after the incident drew attention, though it did not mention him. He was stripped of his position as chair of the university's English department. Alvergue remains listed as a faculty member on the UWEC website as an associate professor.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Despite a fire at the Pablo Center, the show must go on!
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – No matter what, the show must go on! Monica Frederick, Director of the Pablo Center, reports that a fire broke out while actors and crew were preparing for the final performance of UW-EAU Claire production of Guys and Dolls in the RCU Theatre. An electrified piece of scenery broke and started a minor fire. Frederick says UWEC students and faculty worked to extinguish the fire before it spread and there were no injuries. Then, crew members worked to make things right and were able to get the theater ready. The performance went on as planned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud.

Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
UWEC places in top ranking for large public military-friendly schools
EAU CLAIRE — For the third year in a row, UW-Eau Claire is celebrating their gold-level military-friendly designation for their work with military and veteran families. As part of an annual survey from Viqtory Media, UW-Eau Claire's gold designation means they landed in the top 20 percent of schools dedicated to making a lasting impact on the military community. The university ranked high in several categories, including support and retention, admissions and orientation, graduation and career outcomes, financial aid and loan repayment, and culture and commitment. Miranda Cross-Schindler, military and adult services manager at UWEC, said, 'Third year in a row ... is always confirmation that we are doing everything that we should be doing to serve military connected students. 'What was more exciting this year is that we not only got gold, but we are ranked in the top 10 in the 'large public' section, which is wonderful and great; another acolyte that we are doing the best that we can above our peer schools and just confirmation that we are listening to the needs of students. These needs change as time goes on, so we have to be reactive and be responsive to what this population needs and deserves to be able to succeed at school.' Alongside other large public universities, UWEC placed eighth overall. With 326 total military students and 184 spouses or military dependents attending the university, and possibly more receiving services, Cross-Schindler said she hopes the designation is a testament to the fact that this university really cares about understanding and serving the military-connected population. Cross-Schindler said their university has been working with staff to ensure they know what students can get in regards to federal GI Bill benefits, which ultimately makes the students that are eligible better prepared for school. 'Our faculty and staff who support the students —we couldn't do it without them all working together,' she said. 'This is a population that has academics interrupted by active duty orders and deployments. We really work as a team together to make sure the students have a seamless transition out of the classroom to focus on military service and coming back.' Based on student feedback, their Veteran Resource Center is something that is positively reflected on. As a place welcome to veterans on campus, the space has offered socialization and housed their offices for students to stay informed about benefits and resources. Moving forward Cross-Schindler said that it is their interest to keep, maintain and hopefully improve their ranking, with some of the biggest metrics to focus on being graduation, career outcomes, military support and retention. 'It is a goal for the university to maintain and, if not, improve,' she said. 'I think one of the things moving forward is looking at onramps for these returning adult learners and looking at more online course offerings so we can meet these students where they are at no matter what step in their life they are at. 'It makes me very happy and I feel very fortunate to be able to witness this first hand — not only as someone who has served in the military, but someone who serves in this role now.'