The University of Minnesota Board of Regents adopted a policy of restricting institutional speech to be approved by President Rebecca Cunningham in a 9-3 decision at its meeting March 13 and 14. 

Regents also toured the Cedar Creek Reserve, the Urban Research & Outreach Center and Elmer L. Anderson Library for their Outreach and Active Learning Day to connect with University researchers and other professionals. 

Protesters gathered at the March 14 meeting against the new policy regarding institutional speech, and one protester was arrested for trespassing by University police. 

Institutional Speech

In a 9-3 decision, the Regents approved a resolution introduced at the February meeting restricting institutional speech at the March 14 meeting.  

The resolution states that all official communications from the University must be approved by the president. It also states the University will not comment on issues that address matters of public concern unless it concerns the mission of the University. 

Regents Robyn Gulley, Bo Thao-Urabe and Mary Turner voted against the resolution citing concerns that students, faculty and staff may be silenced. 

The resolution has been seen as controversial by members of the University community. In reaction to the Board, the University Senate wrote and passed a resolution against the policy’s adoption. More than 100 people were in attendance at the meeting, most protesting the resolution. 

One protester was arrested for trespassing, according to Lieutenant Erik Swanson. Board Chair Janie Mayeron spoke in support of the policy, saying that all forms of communication can have consequences for the University. 

“The fundamental and underlying question presented by this resolution is what role should the University be in addressing and resolving these critical issues?” Mayeron said. “Is it our role to provide for more and to foster discourse and debate on how to resolve these critical roles to decide to debate itself?”

Regent Gulley said the feedback she received was largely against the resolution. She was concerned with the chilling effect this resolution may bring, and that it may cause people to self-censor at the University. 

“It’s our work to ensure that our experts can speak about what they know,” Gulley said. 

Regent Turner said she has spent her career fighting for nurses’ rights to have a voice and is concerned that the policy puts democracy at stake and voted against the resolution.

“I cannot go against beliefs that I’ve held my whole life,” Turner said. “All of our freedoms, all of our voices in whatever means that is, whether it be freedom of speech, academic freedom, freedom to assemble are at risk right now, and we need to resist this.”

Regent Mike Kenyanya said he supports the resolution because it does not impact individual speech. He said because there is no challenge to individual freedom that the resolution would benefit the university, unifying its position. 

Outreach Day

For their Outreach and Active Learning Day, the Board toured the Cedar Creek Reserve, the Urban Research & Outreach Center and the Elmer L. Andersen Library.

Mayeron said the goal was to get regents into the field for research, teaching and outreach to show them what the University is working on.

The Regents began their day touring the 5,500 acres at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in East Bethel. The Center is home to research in the College of Biological Sciences looking at the possible long-term effects of human-driven environmental change.

Regents then toured the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in North Minneapolis. UROC opened in 2009 and has been conducting research in North Minneapolis since. 

Board members had the opportunity to explore several programs offered at UROC, including free classes for seniors in artificial intelligence, nutrition and a research study focusing on back and neck pain. 

Community partners Bill English and Sondra Samuels talked with the Board members about the different programs that are assisted by UROC. Samuels is the director of Northside Achievement Zone, which helps students through support like early childhood education and housing assistance. 

The Boards’ final stop was at Anderson Library on the Twin Cities campus’ West Bank, home to the University archives. The Board also toured the caverns, which hold 1.5 million volumes, including books, documents and other materials. The archives are two stories high and the length of two football fields. 

Archives and Special Collections Director Kris Kiesling said the libraries serve around 10 thousand research requests each year. 

“We were all just so impressed by all of the work that our faculty, staff and students do on a daily basis across the state, and the meaningful impacts it has, locally, regionally and globally,” Mayeron said.