University of Minnesota students decry PAC influence in Legislature's election of new regents Campus leaders cite board members' donations to PAC as conflict of interest before Monday's selections. March 12, 2021 — 6:48pm Text size Copy shortlink: University of Minnesota student leaders criticized members of the school's Board of Regents on Friday for contributing money to a political action committee that has been accused of trying to influence the Legislature's election of new regents, calling the donations a "thinly veiled effort by board members to pick their future colleagues." Student leaders addressed the board directly and sent letters to lawmakers denouncing the Maroon and Gold Rising PAC. They asked the regents who contributed to the PAC — Ken Powell, Richard Beeson, Janie Mayeron and David McMillan — to no longer donate and called for the state Campaign Finance Board to investigate the PAC's actions.