Dr. Fauci’s lecture at U of M rescheduled due to protests and Morrill Hall takeover
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, waves hello to the committee at the start of a House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing, about the budget request for the National Institutes of Health, Wednesday, May 11, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The University of Minnesota said a special Distinguished Carlson Lecture with Dr. Anthony Fauci scheduled for Tuesday evening at Northrup is no longer happening as planned.
The lecture is being rescheduled to a yet-to-be-determined date.
The school cited “complicated incidents that occurred on campus in the past 24 hours” as the reason for the change.
Late yesterday afternoon, protesters entered Morrill Hall, which is near Northrup, and damaged property and barricaded doors to the building. The University said some of the employees in the building were unable to exit until police were involved.
Protesters were demanding that the university divest from Israel and repeal its political neutrality agreement.
Protesters were rallying again Tuesday evening on campus.
RELATED: 11 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after barricading Morrill Hall at UMN campus
Here is the full statement from the University of Minnesota regarding Dr. Fauci’s lecture being rescheduled:
The University of Minnesota has made the difficult decision to reschedule tonight’s Distinguished Carlson Lecture featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci. Given the importance of this lecture and the unexpected and complicated incidents that occurred on campus in the past 24 hours, University officials determined it best to reschedule to ensure a great experience for attendees and our University community.