St. John’s student creates petition to keep St. Thomas in MIAC

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More than 1,000 people had signed an online petition to keep St. Thomas in the MIAC. St. John’s University senior Brendan Klein created the petition. (TommieMedia File Photo)

As of Wednesday morning, more than 1,000 people had signed an online petition to keep St. Thomas in the MIAC.

St. John’s University senior Brendan Klein created the petition three days ago on the website Change.org.

“I knew there was a lot of people who maybe thought (expelling St. Thomas) wasn’t a good idea, but there wasn’t really a organized way of expressing people’s support in keep St. Thomas in the MIAC,” Klein said.

Klein included a letter to the 13 MIAC university presidents in the petition that highlights why they should choose to vote against the expulsion of St. Thomas.

“We believe that membership in the MIAC should be based of a school’s commitment to private, liberal arts education, not their enrollment size,” Klein wrote.

His main intentions were to spread awareness and allow anyone the chance to show support for St. Thomas and to keep them in the MIAC.

“I hope… that this gives us a way to basically have an organized method of showing support to St. Thomas in the MIAC from all members of the MIAC, not just St. Thomas students, not just St. John’s, St. Ben’s students, but hopefully everyone that’s part of the MIAC conference,” Klein said.

Klein started the petition Sunday, May 5.

“The responses have been great, but honestly I think we want to try and get as many students as possible,” Klein said.

Klein studies political science and economics at St. John’s and is a former vice president of SJU Student Senate.

“You know, as a Johnnie we have that kind of historical rivalry so it matters a lot to us, but in general I’m not really sure how or where students are about this,” Klein said. “That’s a part of this petition…I think a lot more awareness has been raised.”

The 13 MIAC presidents met on April 18, but no vote was taken. MIAC official Dan McCain said in a statement that they will discuss the issue at future meetings.

According to the MIAC website, the next official presidents’ meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29.

Matt Curry, Alex Panos, Samantha HoangLong and Emily Haugen contributed to this report.

3 Replies to “St. John’s student creates petition to keep St. Thomas in MIAC”

  1. There are a couple of ways to look at this! Kind as this young man is from St. John’s in asking for a special consideration in regard to St. Thomas’ fifth place MIAC ranking, I think the best thing that happened here is that St. Thomas did not qualify for the playoffs, fairly and squarely, because they did not play with privilege in spite of their large student body!
    It wasn’t just one or two teams that beat them, they lost (and won!) to teams that play at all levels. The right thing, to me, would be to leave them alone. Stop the talk about moving them out of MIAC, and do not offer them special circumstances! Seeming special circumstances rooted the reasons for the effort to move St. Thomas out of the league.

  2. St. Thomas is a key component of the MIAC. They are a part of the foundation of the conference. It’s important that they remain.

  3. Such a tough look for St. Olaf on this. Imagine being that worried about losing.

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