7
3
Citing public safety concerns ahead of the February 26 Young America’s Foundation lecture featuring Ben Shapiro (part of the David and Marlyce Logan Advancing Freedom Lecture Series), University of Minnesota administrators have repeatedly denied conservative students’ requests for venues and isolated them to “an island” away from the central part of campus.
Apparently, administrators do not want the event to take place near light rail, University Avenue, or hospitals that border the campus in case intolerant leftists react adversely to ideological diversity.
Instead of enforcing the law and holding anyone who attempts to disrupt the event or destroy property accountable, the U of M is punishing conservatives with stringent regulations that didn’t apply to speaking events by now-disgraced Senator Al Franken or an appearance by Senator Elizabeth Warren. The plan to effectively quarantine conservatives on a satellite campus shows the University of Minnesota’s disregard for the free exchange of ideas and double standard when it comes to working with conservative students who wish to advance their ideas on campus.
The University of Minnesota rejected the following venue requests from conservative students:
Ted Mann Concert Hall with a capacity of 1500, centrally located on the main Minneapolis campus was rejected for a schedule conflict, despite no conflicting events being known at the time the request was made.
Willey Hall with a capacity of 800, also on the main Minneapolis campus, was rejected due to its proximity to a light rail (public transit) station and connections to other buildings via underground tunnels.
Mayo Memorial Auditorium with a capacity of 450, on the main St. Paul campus, was rejected by administrators as well.