With the loss of the more than fifty year-old Cultural Center, along with its staff and resources, an unimaginable burden has been placed upon campus affinity group leaders to fill this gap. Forcing an overextension of already over-worked and unpaid students.
For this reason, the Black Student Alliance (BSA) would like to make an official statement that we can no longer back this institution as a safe and supportive place for Black students.
I am Camryn Gunter, the president of BSA and I have spent the past year attempting to advocate for the struggles of minorities at this institution.
I clearly presented that there have been verbal and physical assaults on Black students and that the culture at DU has reached a critical point. I was adamant about the need for more resources — and proceeded to meet with various DU departments: DEI, Title IX (EOIX), and DOS affairs, culminating with a meeting with Chancellor Haefner in June 2025. During which I expressed the Black experience at DU and the reasons it is hostile and unsafe, and the impact on getting an education.
Discussing the lack of a pathway to advocacy when there are hostile occurrences and the hopelessness brought upon the student body. The need for an exclusively Black space, the lack of and need for administrative support for Black students and the burden put on affinity group leaders due to the gap in resources that were not met…
I expressed concerns about how difficult it can be to advocate for minority needs when the few resources and spaces we rely on face the threat of being taken away prematurely. He responded with how well I articulated my thoughts and said that “DU is still committed to diversity and inclusion”.
I left with no commitments and a few days later the closing of the Cultural Center occurred. We lost numerous faculty members who were essential to the building of minority communities and spaces on campus. Along with minority students losing their on campus jobs, it was a huge hit to minority support on campus.
In the following year, affinity RSO leaders were left with detrimentally less access to safety resources. The removal of the BIPOC Lounge, queer lounge, and the cultural center in the Community Commons destroyed belonging for minority students.
Student leaders now face more difficulties creating spaces for others, after being left without designated community spaces and faculty knowledge and guidance. Due to this, I reached out again to upper administration to reiterate my concerns. I was only given existing, often unhelpful resources that I already expressed were lacking.
It is clear that Chancellor Haefner does not care about minorities at DU. Without reinstating the Cultural Center, retaining Black students and faculty and giving affinity RSOs the support they need, BSA cannot support this institution.
– The Black Student Alliance
