University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) arrested one protester in the McNamara Alumni Center minutes after the Board of Regents approved a resolution restricting institutional speech during their Friday meeting.

Lieutenant Erik Swanson said the protester was arrested for trespassing. He did not comment on why only one protester was detained.

The adopted resolution authorizes University President Rebecca Cunningham to limit statements from groups of faculty members published on official platforms unless they address issues directly impacting the University. It was proposed in February and prompted concern and disapproval from numerous faculty members, citing the resolution as encroaching on academic freedom at the University. 

Protesters filled the Board room chanting “shame” and calling the regents “cowards.” Faculty members placed blue tape on their mouths in protest, and protesters held signs. 

Following the passing of the resolution, protesters began to chant, “This policy is not for us, Cunningham is not to trust.”

Multiple warnings to quiet down were given by Vice President for Student Affairs Calvin Phillips.

The resolution received mixed support from the Board, with Regents Robyn Gulley, Bo Thao-Urabe and Mary Turner voting against the resolution. The other eight regents approved the resolution.

Community members were concerned that the resolution would silence members of the University. 

A Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) executive, who asked to remain anonymous, said the arrest is concerning given they were protesting how the policy limits their free speech.

“I really don’t know what to think,“ the executive said. “It’s arresting us to silence.”

Students for a Democratic Society, SJP and several other student groups planned the protest. 

Max Vast, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), a labor union representing public service workers in Minnesota, said their concern is that policies like this could affect the unions.

“A restriction of individual, or collective, or departmental, or group, or student or faculty speech is also a concern to us as union members,” Vast said. “Our fear is that these types of policies will also extend to the unions on campus.”

University Spokesperson Jake Ricker confirmed one individual was arrested for trespassing following multiple warnings from police but could not comment on why no other protesters were arrested.

“The University of Minnesota should be upholding the things that they teach their students about,” Vast said. “You know, activists rights and the history of this country, and the protest movement.”