University of Minnesota Regents’ Homes Vandalized Over $8M Aerospace Property Sale

Several members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents had their homes vandalized in protest against the university's recent sale of 60 acres of UMore Park in Rosemount to North Wind Test LLC, which plans to develop the Minnesota Aerospace Complex, a hypersonic test facility. University officials, including President Rebecca Cunningham, condemned the vandalism and emphasized that while they support lawful expression of dissent, threatening behavior and property destruction are unacceptable and undermine community safety and discourse. The university highlighted its leadership in computational modeling and simulation for hypersonic aerodynamics, noting that the new facility will advance research in aerospace and national security applications. Activist groups opposing the sale cited concerns about environmental and public health impacts, as well as the university's ties to defense-related projects, although some denied involvement in the vandalism. Authorities are investigating the incidents, but no arrests have been reported yet. The university urged those opposed to the sale to express their views through legal channels to maintain the integrity of the community and the legitimacy of their causes.