The University of Minnesota has recently made headlines by agreeing to hear student demands to divest from Israel, following in the footsteps of Northwestern and Brown universities.
University officials reached an agreement with pro-Palestinian protesters to end their encampment on the Minneapolis campus. As part of the deal, representatives from the coalition of student organizations involved will have the opportunity to address the university's Board of Regents at their upcoming meeting on May 10. The discussion will focus on the students' demands for the university to divest its investments in Israel.
Interim President Jeff Ettinger shared the news of the agreement in an email to the campus community. He announced that buildings that were closed earlier in the week as a precaution would reopen at noon. In return, the protesters agreed not to disrupt final exams or commencement ceremonies.
Ettinger expressed optimism about the progress made, acknowledging that more work lies ahead. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and understanding, stating, 'While we do not condone tactics that are outside of our policies, we appreciate student leaders' willingness to engage in dialogue. I value the challenging and healthy conversations we've had.'
Several other universities have also navigated similar situations with protesters. Brown University in Rhode Island agreed to consider a vote on divesting from Israel in October, marking a significant development in the U.S. higher education landscape. Northwestern University in Illinois opted to reestablish an advisory committee on university investments and other commitments in response to student concerns.
