MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Minnesota Senate has rejected a proposal by a group of faculty and student activists who pressured the school to condemn an upcoming speech by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice is scheduled to give a speech on civil rights at the Twin Cities campus April 17 as part of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs’ lecture series.

The University Senate, which includes faculty, staff and student representatives, voted 122-21 against the resolution, which was toned down from an earlier version that urged the university to rescind the invitation to Rice. The earlier resolution criticized Rice for her role in the Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq.

The Star Tribune says the resolution triggered an hour long debate Thursday.