The Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) was one of several state Public Interest Research Groups emanating from Ralph Nader's investigations of the 1960s and 1970s into what he contended were merchandising abuses. The avowed purpose of WISPIRG was to research a variety of issues in the “public interest” and to publicize the results in order to influence public and legislative action. An elected Board of Directors was responsible for coordinating the organizational efforts and the research projects among various WISPIRG affiliates on the campuses of the University of Wisconsin. The major thrust of their efforts was the petition drive, which was designed to provide for the establishment of a funding mechanism for the group. But this process, in which students were to be assessed a small, refundable donation at the same time that they paid their registration fees, was never put into effect. Nonetheless, some research projects were undertaken, especially by the Madison and Green Bay affiliates. Its major research effort was the toy project, an attempt to identify dangerous toys in the area stores and have them removed. However, because of WISPIRG's lack of adequate funds, the organization was officially disbanded October 29, 1974, following nearly two years of extremely limited activity.
