Encampment Update
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Dear DU Community, We have a few important updates to share with you regarding the protest activity on campus. First and most paramount, we ask everyone to remember and prioritize our shared responsibilities to one another and to the overall safety and well-being of our campus community. Tuesday night, as Carnegie Green overflowed with people from within and outside our university, we witnessed alarming behavior including verbal expressions of hate, physical harm, and vandalism. Students, faculty, and staff within the encampment, and others outside of the encampment, became targets of verbal attacks. We are extremely grateful for the faculty, staff, and campus safety officers who worked late into the night to keep tempers down, protect safety, and defend free speech. We are also grateful for all the individuals inside and outside the encampment who used peaceful means to navigate the situation. As our community continues to grapple with the impact of this humanitarian crisis, we implore all community members to embrace all that unites our incredible DU community and act in a manner that reflects our shared values – which include integrity and inclusiveness. If you witnessed or experienced harassment or discrimination previously, or encounter it in the future, please report it to Equal Opportunity and Title IX. We will continue to carefully review all reports and pursue appropriate actions. If you have any information about the recent vandalism on campus or the false emergency call, please contact Campus Safety at 303-871-3130 or on their Report an Incident page. While we continue to meet with students who represent various viewpoints and concerns, we held another meeting with encampment participants. In prioritizing safety and holding firm to our commitment to free expression, our goal remains the safe and peaceful resolution to the encampment. Near the conclusion of the meeting, we agreed upon a joint statement regarding a forthcoming safety measure that is being enacted now: “All members of the DU community deserve to be safe. Last night, the members of the encampment experienced harm. As a response to this, Chancellor Haefner and Provost Clark have offered to put up a protective barrier as an additional safety measure. The members of DU for Palestine that were involved in the conversation today, agreed that this would be an effective measure to increase their safety and reduce harm.” We have heard from concerned community members over the last several days. We share your concerns, which was a major driver in the decision to provide a fence and increase safety measures in and around the encampment area. This is a short-term measure as we continue discussions with encampment participants. Please continue supporting the University with patience and respect. Sincerely, Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor Mary Clark, Provost |