EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — A University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire professor allegedly flipped over a table set up by College Republicans of UWEC on Election Day Tuesday.

Students who were part of UW-Eau Claire’s chapter of College Republicans were tabling on campus. A person came up to the group around 8:30 a.m. “and forcibly overturned their table,” per College Republicans of America.

The group posted a video on X after their table was flipped.

That person has been identified by UWEC College Republicans as José Felipe Alvergue. Alvergue is an assistant professor at UW-Eau Claire and was the chair of the department of English. On Thursday, UW-Eau Claire announced that the faculty member who was involved in the incident on Tuesday was removed from their role as department chair.

“I am deeply concerned that our students’ peaceful effort to share information on campus on election day was disrupted. UW-Eau Claire strongly supports every person’s right to free speech and free expression, and the university remains committed to ensuring that campus is a place where a wide variety of opinions and beliefs can be shared and celebrated,” UW-Eau Claire Interim Provost Michael Carney said in a statement.

“Civil dialogue is a critical part of the university experience, and peaceful engagement is fundamental to learning itself. We are working with the Universities of Wisconsin and the Office of General Counsel, which is conducting a comprehensive investigation of this matter. The faculty member involved has been placed on administrative leave pending that investigation,” Carney added.

The Universities of Wisconsin issued the following statement in response to the incident:

“We appreciate that UW-Eau Claire has taken swift action, and we will be working with them to conduct the investigation.”