Former Chancellor Biddy Martin’s announcement she would step down from her position was the culmination of a three-year tenure notable for its bold initiatives and political volatility. After a period marked by increasing polarization among UW’s faculty and student body, the Board of Regents’ choice to bring back Chancellor Emeritus David Ward indicates a desire to return to a calmer and less politically charged campus atmosphere.

During Ward’s tenure, a conservative Republican was governor and Paul Soglin was mayor, the Internet was radically changing higher education and major advances such as stem cell research were thriving at Wisconsin. Sound familiar?

Ward effectively helped UW take advantage of a strong economy and an attitude toward higher education that many advocates envy today. His success at Wisconsin was notable enough that it earned him the presidency at the American Council on Education.

Most importantly, Ward’s selection to temporarily replace Martin shows the Board of Regents’ desire to avoid further political conflict between UW’s administration, employees, faculty, students and policymakers at the Capitol. Unlike Martin’s predecessor, John Wiley, Ward is largely removed from the political polarization that has hurt UW’s relationship with conservative legislators like Rep. Steve Nass.

We do, however, have some concerns about the appointment.

In February 2000, student leaders and activists organized a sit-in in Bascom Hall outside of the chancellor’s office to protest sweatshop labor. Four days into the sit-in, Ward promised not to arrest the protesters, but to meet with them at the beginning of the week. However, only one day after Ward’s statements, riot police entered Bascom Hall and arrested 54 people.

“I authorized this action,” Ward said the next day in a press release. “I did so because it is my responsibility to ensure that students, faculty and staff do not face intimidation, interference or personal danger as they go about their business. Despite the rash of erroneous reports of events during the protests, these problems did develop. They had to end.”

With or without Martin, the next academic year will likely be a tumultuous one for UW. This board believes Ward would be a capable leader for this university in peaceful times. What remains to be seen is whether, in today’s climate of activism, Ward will continue to react poorly against student activism.