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University of Wisconsin–Madison
    • Introduction
    • Teejop
    • A University Built on Ho-Chunk Land
    • Playing Indian
    • The Firsts
    • Women at the University
    • Introduction
    • A Culture of Bigotry
    • Racism in the Yearbooks
    • Claiming Space
    • Discrimination in Greek Life
    • Educational Pamphlets
    • The 1960 Clause
    • The Divine Nine
    • Fraternity & Sorority Life Today
    • Introduction
    • Japanese American Students at UW
    • Hmong in Wisconsin
    • Disability in the Classroom
    • Racism in the Classroom
    • Faculty and Staff
    • Ethnic Studies at UW–Madison
    • Who Belongs?
    • Introduction
    • Housing Denied
    • Students Fight Housing Discrimination
    • Sifting, Winnowing, and Film Burning
    • University Housing
    • Housing Issues Today
    • Introduction
    • The First Athletes
    • The Color Line in College Athletics
    • First Athletic Staff
    • Activism and Athletics
    • Accessing Athletics
    • Who is a Badger?
    • Introduction
    • Student Organizing against UWPD
    • The Gay Purges
    • The 1964–65 Negro Census
    • Pre-1969 Black Student Strike Organizing
    • The Needs of Black Students are the Needs of the University
    • The Beat Goes On …
    • A Culture of Racism
    • The Multicultural Student Center
    • Student Protest
    • #TheRealUW
    • Chamberlin Rock
    • Our Shared Future

2.0_PipeofPeace_WSJClipping_June19_1927.jpg

By jnweaver • July 26, 2022

In conclusion

“True resistance begins with people confronting pain … and wanting to do something to change it.”

—bell hooks, MA’76

As we fearlessly sift and winnow through the university’s past, many hard truths emerge. We also find hope, and the ever-present possibility of change for the better. The university has changed in many ways across its history, often because members of the campus community have demanded it.

We believe that reckoning with our history can lead us to a better future, and that unless we acknowledge and learn from our past, we cannot move forward together. The future is not yet written. What happens next is up to us.

The UW–Madison Public History Project was made possible with support from the Office of the Chancellor using private funds.

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