The Minnesota Student Association, the student-led governing body at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities voted Tuesday evening in favor of having a campus-wide commemorative event on the anniversaries of the attacks on September 11th. Alpha News reported on this issue last week after MSA voted against having a “moment of recognition” for 9/11 a week prior. Initially the University released a statement saying, “although MSA students generally supported the resolution, they voted against it as presented so logistical issues related to its implementation could be addressed.” However, Alpha News received several first-hand accounts saying that the “loudest” opposition to the resolution came from a group of students fearing it would “increase islamophobia” and be detrimental to the “safe space” on campus for some student groups.
Both the University and MSA received a large amount of scrutiny after the issue was picked up by several national news outlets. Just over a week after MSA voted down the resolution the University released another statement explaining that regardless of how MSA votes on the issue they would, “move forward with its plans to honor and remember the victims of 9/11.”
The Minnesota Republic reports that “tension remained visible” throughout the meeting Tuesday, explaining that some voting representatives criticized the University administration for “issuing a statement informing the public of their commitment to a 9/11 commemoration before MSA had made their final decision.”
The University will plan more details surrounding the commemorative event closer to September 11th.