ARTICLE AD BOX
Several members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents found their homes vandalized Thursday with spray-painted messages apparently protesting the sale of university land to an aerospace company.
The Minnesota Daily reported that the vandals spray-painted phrases such as “No missiles” on walkways outside regents’ houses.
U of M President Rebecca Cunningham said in a Board of Regents committee meeting Thursday that law enforcement is working to identify the vandals.
“Those who disagree with the university have many lawful avenues by which to express their views,” Cunningham said. “The behavior exhibited not only undermines the principles of public discourse and respect for others, but also jeopardizes the safety and wellbeing of our community.”
In May, regents voted to move forward with a sale of a 60-acre parcel of land at the university’s UMore Park in Rosemount to North Wind, an aerospace company that plans to use the site for a research facility.
Some student groups have protested the sale, raising concerns that North Wind works with the U.S. Department of Defense, and that the land could be used for military weapons development.
Undergraduate student Vee Hill urged regents to reconsider the sale during a public comment period at a meeting Thursday.
“I would think that the university has a responsibility to benefit society. I cannot see how the ability to level a city block benefits society,” Hill said.
Student groups again protested the land sale at a Board of Regents meeting on Friday.
English (US) ·