Dear Editor
In his inauguration speech, Chancellor Robert Coombe expressed his vision that included unequivocal support for diversity at the University of Denver (you can read the speech at www.du.edu/chancellor/speeches.html):
“…To me, that’s what diversity is about. It’s not about retribution, or guilt, or an acknowledgement of the collective sin of discrimination. Rather, it’s about the excellence that can be achieved from a blending of lives, different in many dimensions, focused on achievement. I want DU to be another kind of oasis, where students, faculty and staff of many colors, many religions, many nationalities, many philosophies, many perspectives and persuasions work together, think together and create together. I want it to be a place where those differences are our competitive edge-the edge that will make us champions. I want DU to be a place where three hours of brotherhood every day is not enough. Here, we will respect and celebrate our differences, and in so doing, we’ll be brothers and sisters-family-every hour of every day of every year.”
The University of Denver’s Campus Climate Council believes in Dr. Coombe’s vision and has worked diligently for several years to nurture a positive campus climate for diversity. The members of the Council were discouraged to learn that an incident harmful to this vision recently occurred on our campus. A campaign sign supporting one of the students running for a Student Government elected position was marked with one of history’s most hateful and violent symbols.
Members of the Student Senate responded immediately with a strong message stressing the importance of running civil and ethical campaigns and maintaining a respectful environment for all. As members of the Campus Climate Council, we join the Student Senate in affirming that acts of insensitivity targeting different groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, and religion have no place at the University of Denver.
We call upon all members of the DU community to use this unfortunate incident as an opportunity for conversation and action about our Chancellor’s commitment to diversity. Let us take this difficult moment to renew our commitments to diversity and to respectful relationships with one another.
We also ask for your help. Anyone with information about this incident or who observes suspicious activity such as defacing campaign signs or marking hate graffiti is urged to notify Campus Safety at 303.871.2334.
If you have questions or concerns about the climate or if you observe or experience discrimination or harassment, please contact and use one of many resources at DU available to assist you: You may also call these resources for information or training on establishing a positive climate for diversity in you classroom, office, or other areas of campus.
The campus climate committee,
Susan Lee, director, Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity and co-chair, DU Campus Climate Council; Room 310, Mary Reed Building, 303-871-7436, susanlee@du.edu
JesCB:s TreviCB1o, associate provost for Multicultural Affairs and co-chair DU Campus Climate Council, Center for Multicultural Excellence, 1981 S. University Blvd. 303-871-2591, jtrevino@du.edu
Dan Kast, director, Citizenship and Community Standards, Driscoll Center North, 303-871-4851, dkast@du.edu
Jenna Brown, Ombuds, 303-871- 4712 ombuds@du.edu
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