The students circled the wagons.
Via Mass Live:
Westfield State University announced Friday that MSNBC has reversed its decision to hold a live town hall with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, on the school’s campus following backlash from some students.
University President Ramon S. Torrecilha, in an afternoon message sent to the campus community, confirmed that the event planned for April 13 would no longer take place.
Torrecilha added that while work had been underway to hold the live MSNBC Town Hall on Dever Stage, the network decided to back out of hosting it at the university in wake of “disappointment and passionate opposition” from students involved in the spring musical’s production.
“Although this is a missed opportunity that was sure to help the prominence of our institution, the relevance of public higher education in Massachusetts and create an amazing experience for students, faculty, and staff alike, the spring theater production will now move forward without interruption,” he said in a statement. “Look for promotion about the ‘Urinetown’ performances, which debut April 18.”
The university’s efforts to hold the MSNBC Town Hall on Dever Stage just days before the musical was set to take place in the same venue drew sharp criticism on social media.
Anaila Aleman, a Westfield State senior and theater major involved in the “Urinetown” production, said the cast and crew were told Thursday night that they would have to move their show to another space so MSNBC could hold the live town hall at Dever Stage.