MANKATO, Minn. — The president of Minnesota State University-Mankato, Edward Inch, distanced himself from a demand to fire political science professor for suggesting violence — even murder — against health insurance companies. Inch denounced the professor’s message but noted that was not made on a campus forum but on the prof’s personal Facebook page. Inch was mealy and avoided the call of Congressman Brad Finstad to fire prof Kevin Parsneau. It was clear, however, that Inch won’t do it. He wrote that:
> All students and staff represent the university.
> Values should be upheld.
> Messages should be educational and enlightening, not disparaging or disrespectful.
Inch said he will coordinate a campus conversation in the spring about speech, limits, and responsibilities. What triggered all the fuss? In Facebook the professor wrote: “How long do we really need to look for Brian Thompson’s killer?” Thompson was the $10 million a year chief executive the Minnesota-based insurance company United Healthcare. He was ambushed and killed on a New York City sidewalk en route to a conference to inform investors on the company’s huge profits. The assassination immediately generated two responses from the public:
> Alarm at the brazen murder and a nationwide search for the killer.
> Disgust against how insurance companies systematically delay and deny claims.
Friends said that Parsneau was engaging in rhetorical flourish and that Congressman Finstad missed the nuance.
Inch. President of MSU-Mankato since 2021. Caught awkwardly trying to navigate between the values of free speech and academic freedom – and an angry member of Congress from another world.