Message

Important updates regarding destructive events at Morrill Hall

Dear students, faculty and staff,

I am writing to provide the University of Minnesota community with some important updates regarding yesterday’s events on our Twin Cities campus.

Our University has a rich history and commitment to free expression. I have a strong personal commitment to these values. Under my leadership, we will continue to value individuals’ rights to peaceful protest and the expression of diverse viewpoints, in ways that are consistent with University policies and federal, state, and local laws.

We have seen many peaceful protests this fall. However, what happened in Morrill Hall yesterday was not a form of legitimate protest. Threatening behavior and destruction of property have absolutely no place within our community. These actions endanger safety, erode the fabric of our University community, and undermine the legitimacy of important causes that our students, faculty and staff care so deeply about.

To provide more context on the events of yesterday, protesters assembled at 3 p.m. on the lawn in front of Coffman Memorial Union. An hour later, some of these individuals headed north, up the Northrop Mall and entered Morrill Hall.

Once inside Morrill Hall, with our employees present, protesters began spray painting over internal security cameras so they could not function properly, breaking interior windows, and barricading the building’s entrance and exit points, creating significant damage. Our teams are in the process of investigating the extent of these damages.

Several employees were working in Morrill Hall at the time of yesterday’s incident, some of whom were unable to exit the building for an extended period of time. Doors were barricaded inside and outside with furniture, and bicycle U-locks were placed on door handles, preventing employees’ free movement and exit. This was a terrifying experience for many of our employees.

To ensure the safety of our employees, and in light of ongoing property damage, the U of M Police Department responded to the scene. Eleven people were ultimately arrested.

These actions crossed the line into illegal activity when they actively threatened the emotional and physical safety of our employees, prevented their free movement, disrupted building operations and destroyed campus property. The safety, security and wellbeing of our staff, students and faculty are our highest priority, and we cannot — and will not — allow this type of behavior.

Morrill Hall will remain closed today and tomorrow so our teams may assess the damage and begin repairs. All classes will continue as scheduled, and all other buildings on the Twin Cities campus will maintain normal operations.

I understand events like this can be incredibly distressing and disruptive to many in our University community. Faculty, staff and student employees should not hesitate to reach out to their supervisor or local human resources team with any questions or concerns.

As a community, we must ensure that free expression and protest occurs in a manner that does not jeopardize our collective sense of safety and wellbeing. Together, we have more work to do to ensure these important values can coexist.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Cunningham
President