Reorientation Teaching Guide: Season 3 Episode 6
Learning Objectives
Students will understand how students and faculty took direct action against injustice occurring at UW–Madison.
Students will understand the limited action and policies the university undertook to mitigate injustice.
Podcast Questions
How are the protests from the mid-1980s and early 1990s similar and different from the previous protests?
Why do you think students accepted the Madison Plan rather than holding firm on the recommendations in the Holley Report? Were you surprised that the Madison Plan was unsuccessful in addressing racial discrimination? Why or why not?
Explain what you think “a culture of racism” meant about how racism appeared on campus and why the university needs to address it.
Why was the faculty vote in support of dismantling the ROTC such a monumental moment for UW?
How did the university try to placate faculty and student demands, then respond to the ROTC protests?
Were these student protests successful? Why or why not?
Recommended Primary Sources
The Holley Report (We recommend reading the executive summary, pgs. 1-5).
The Madison Plan (We recommend skimming the document or looking at one particular section, and note the vague terminology used in the plan).
David Stoeffler, “UW Sticking to Guns over ROTC, gays.” Wisconsin State Journal, March 8th, 1987.
Associated Press, “Faculty set to debate ROTC discrimination.” Wisconsin State Journal, September 25th, 1989.
Recommended Secondary Sources
Ezra Gerard, ““In the Dairy State You Cannot Discriminate:” Protesting Military Homophobia at UW–Madison.” Center for Campus History Siftings Blog.
T.J. Braxton, “A Closer Look at UW–Madison’s Campus-Wide Diversity Initiatives.” UW–Madison Archives Student Historian Program.