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Grand Valley State Students Drop Pledge At Campus Meeting

ALLENDALE, Mich. (AP) — Members of the student government at Grand Valley State University scratched the Pledge of Allegiance from the agenda at a recent meeting.

Student senator Samuel Jacobs tells WOOD-TV that "by removing the pledge, we can be accepting of all students." The vote Thursday was 21-10 with 10 abstentions.

Another senator, Dorian Thompson, says students have posted angry reactions on social media. He says skipping the pledge at the meeting takes away the "voice of the people." Thompson says it was the wrong message during the week of Veterans Day.

Grand Valley's new president, Philomena Mantella, didn't offer an opinion but says the debate is healthy "as long as it's done thoughtfully and respectfully."

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