UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney released the following statement today regarding the January 4, 2016 event for Donald Trump at the University’s Tsongas Center.

The Tsongas Center’s professional management company has rented the facility to the Donald Trump campaign for an event on Monday, Jan. 4.

The university is not sponsoring this event, and it does not endorse Donald Trump or any candidate for political office.

Thousands of people, including many of our students and others in our community, have signed a petition asking the university to refuse to rent the facility to Donald Trump. They argue that he engages in rhetoric and speech that goes beyond the bounds of fair and responsible political discourse.

I applaud this work of activism and the motivations behind it.

As you know, one of the university’s most important pillars in our strategic plan is our commitment to building an inclusive and diverse culture. We are proud of the many advances we have made in pursuing this critical mission.

As such, the university supports and encourages free and open debate of ideas, even those contrary to our own.

It is in the academic tradition to speak out on behalf of what we believe is right, and I have no doubt some members of our community will do so in the days ahead.

Thank you for your continued commitment to UMass Lowell.