Star Tribune
Why pro-Palestinian student protesters have set up camp at colleges in Minnesota, around the country
Tent encampments on college campuses have become a common sight as pro-Palestinian college protests have been breaking out in the Twin Cities and around the country.
As of Wednesday morning, there were protest encampments at the University of Minnesota and Hamline University. Here’s what else to know about the recent wave of student-led protests.
Why are Minnesota college students protesting?
College students are demonstrating around the country and in Minnesota in support of the Palestinians caught in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Many schools have called on their universities to divest from or cease all financial ties with Israel or Israel-linked companies.
Students at the U have also asked for a ban of specific companies including Lockheed Martin and Honeywell from campus activities, a boycott on Israeli universities and for amnesty for students and other university employees engaging in pro-Palestinian activities.
U Interim President Jeff Ettinger was scheduled to meet Wednesday with student leaders who have organized protests.
What college buildings have been disrupted or closed?
Buildings along Northrop Mall at the U closed Monday and will remain closed through at least Wednesday. That includes Coffman Union, the Weisman Art Museum, Hasselmo Hall, Ford Hall, Vincent Murphy Hall, Tate Lab, Morrill Hall, Northrop auditorium, Johnston Hall, the Walter Library, Smith Hall and Kolthoff Hall.
What’s happening at campuses around the country?
Protests around the country and especially at New York colleges have grown tense, with hundreds arrested in recent days at Columbia University and City College of New York. Last week, some universities encouraged Jewish students to celebrate Passover elsewhere.
Dozens were arrested at Columbia Tuesday night as NYPD cleared a building the university said was “vandalized and blockaded” during a 20-hour takeover, the New York Times reported.
How many have been arrested in Minnesota?
Minnesota college protests have for the most part stayed calm. Last week, nine were arrested for trespassing at the U.
What does divestment mean?
Divestment is the opposite of investment. Students are calling for their universities to cease any investment from Israel-linked companies.
The corporate board at Brown University agreed to hold a vote on divestment, and in response students agreed to cease demonstrations.
What should you do if you are arrested?
If you are arrested, seek to de-escalate the situation. Stay calm. Don’t resist, obstruct officers or lie.
Star Tribune
Investigators searching for additional victims as Hastings man faces child porn charges
A 27-year-old Hastings man has been accused in federal court of producing child pornography over a roughly two-year span, and investigators are trying to identify additional potential victims.
Hunter James Geidlwas charged with four counts of either production or possession of child pornography in federal court Dec. 10. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the charges, Geidl employed and used minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for producing explicit videos from July 2022 to March 2024. He is also accused of possessing a video file of pornographic material involving a minor in 2022.
Geidl made his initial appearance in court Friday and remains in custody, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.
Investigators believe other minors may have been victimized and ask that if anyone believes their child has been in contact with Geidl to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
“She was really into the Replacements. So for her to have her dad suddenly playing in the band, it would be like my dad joining the Rolling Stones.”
Slim Dunlap, right, with Paul Westerberg during a 1987 Replacements concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis. (Brian Peterson, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Dunlap played guitar on the final two Replacements studio albums, also including 1991’s “All Shook Down.” Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson later credited him for sparking a new spirit in the band and extending their run during their waning years.
After the break-up in 1991, Dunlap toured with Dan Baird of the Georgia Satellites, who led the first fundraising campaign on Dunlap’s behalf in the days after his stroke.
Finally, in 1993, Dunlap got his own chance to shine as a singer/songwriter.
He channeled his love for Hank Williams, Chuck Berry and vintage blues alongside the Replacements’ Stones and Faces influences on his debut album, “The Old New Me,” issued by former ‘Mats manager and Twin/Tone Records co-founder Peter Jesperson on the Medium Cool record label. A second solo album came three years later, “Times Like This,” similarly earning a cult-loved status — especially among fellow musicians.
Springsteen publicly raved about those records numerous times, including in a 2014 interview with NPR’s Ann Powers: “I hope I get a chance to cut one of his songs,” said the Boss. “Check out the two Slim Dunlap records, because they’re just beautiful rock ‘n’ roll records. I found them to be deeply touching and emotional.”
A 59-year-old utility worker died Tuesday after falling from the bucket of a boom truck at a job site north of Big Lake, according to Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Ben Zawacki.
Thomas L. Stewart of Dayton fell about six to eight feet and suffered significant head injuries while working in the ditch on the north side of 241st Avenue NW, just west of 185th Street in Orrock Township.
First responders performed life-saving efforts at the scene before Stewart was transported to St. Cloud Hospital, where he was pronounced dead late Tuesday.
Stewart worked for the Minnesota-based utility company Connexus Energy. In a response to a Facebook post about the incident, a representative from Connexus thanked people for their thoughts and prayers, and clarified the utility worker was not electrocuted in the incident.
“We’re heartbroken over the passing of our friend and colleague but we are waiting for family and friends to be notified so we cannot share additional information,” Stacy Downs, communications specialist at Connexus, said Wednesday.
