Results of Campus Inquiries
Dear DU community,
As an institution of higher education focused on advancing knowledge, developing character and preparing the leaders of tomorrow to excel in an increasingly diverse global society, we must remain committed to continually learning and improving as a university community. In that light, and in the spirit of transparency and commitment to this community’s continual growth, I am sharing the results of two recently completed external examinations of our University’s campus culture.
These reviews, completed by outside experts, were initiated through DU’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOIX) to come to a clearer understanding of the experiences and needs of our community. EOIX facilitates the University's compliance with nondiscrimination laws and helps DU live up to our deep commitment to fostering an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. The office is responsible for reviewing and responding to all reports of discrimination and harassment in our community.
The first examination looked at reports of antisemitism from January 2023 through mid-April 2024, prior to the encampment at the University last spring, and did not find evidence of an overall hostile environment for the Jewish community at DU.
A second inquiry focused on reports of discrimination and harassment during the encampment period and determined hostile environments existed on campus based on shared ancestry, gender identity and sexual orientation. Said another way, this review found that during the encampment period, some of our University community members who identify as Jewish or LGBTQ+ experienced a hostile environment that impacted their ability to live, work and learn at DU.
First and foremost, this reality is disheartening and deeply distressing for our University, and I am truly saddened for members of our community who experienced a hostile environment, discrimination and/or harassment in any way. You deserve a living, learning and working environment free from discrimination and harassment, and that continues to be our commitment. Campus resources are available to our students, faculty and staff. Confidential support is also available through the Ombuds Office. In addition, EOIX is available to provide supportive measures designed to support and restore your participation in our community.
Both of the inquiries, outlined below, provide recommendations about how DU can best move forward. The University has already begun implementing several of these, and we are committed to implementing all of them. It is important to remember the results below represent aggregate findings based on the reports submitted to the University and the individuals who elected to speak with investigators; they do not intend to diminish or refute any community member’s personal experiences.
Review of Responses to Reports of Antisemitic Conduct on Campus
The first review was to examine the University of Denver’s response to reported antisemitic conduct on campus occurring between January 2023 and April 2024. It was conducted by Grand River Solutions, an independent higher education civil rights and Title IX investigations consulting firm. The investigator also sought to gather additional information regarding Jewish students’ experiences and perceptions of the climate at DU.
The investigator concluded that DU’s responses to reports relating to alleged antisemitic conduct followed established best practices and our institutional policies and procedures. The review also determined the University responded promptly with options for resolution and potential remedies to reported concerns. Finally, the review did not find evidence of an overall hostile environment for the Jewish community at DU. These results indicate that the University responded appropriately, and there was not an overall hostile environment for Jewish students during the period of the review from the 2022-23 academic year through mid-April 2024.
Review of Encampment Discrimination and Harassment Reports
The campus environment quickly changed for many people in May when DU experienced an encampment protest and counter-protests. While DU’s encampment ended peacefully, in contrast with many others across the nation, the encampment period on our campus was clearly damaging to our community.
Throughout the 20-day encampment on campus, we experienced both free expression and a detrimental lack of civil discourse. EOIX received more than 60 reports of discrimination and harassment from students, faculty, staff and community members, specifically related to the encampment. Troubling reports of discrimination and harassment occurred at the encampment site; in classrooms, University housing, academic offices and campus common areas; and online. Many of the reports were anonymous and did not provide enough information to identify the individuals involved. This is part of the reason we wanted to bring in outside expertise and resources to investigate the reports. We also experienced 15 separate incidents of related and destructive vandalism on or near campus.
In late May, the University engaged Lim Riley, an external law firm specializing in evaluating and assessing protected class misconduct, to investigate the reports of discrimination and harassment occurring in and around the encampment. Through an extensive process, the investigator determined that hostile environments existed on campus based on shared Jewish ancestry, gender identity and sexual orientation throughout the encampment period.
It is important to note that individuals both inside and outside the encampment experienced harassment, discrimination and hostile environments.
This report is troubling, and it details conduct that is wholly inconsistent with our values. I am confident the discriminatory and harassing actions and behavior identified in the report refer to a small number of individuals and are not representative of our larger student or employee community.
Reports and Recommendations are Available Online
The University has created a dedicated website where you can review both the Antisemitism Climate Inquiry report and the Encampment Inquiry report. You can also review a combined list of recommendations from both reports as well as the University’s responses. This site will be updated as the University continues to implement recommendations.
Please know that the reports and the Encampment Inquiry report, in particular, include references to harsh, discriminatory language and statements. To be clear, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable, violate University policy and have no place at DU.
Moving Forward
We are sharing the reports with our campus community because we must learn and grow from this incident, restore divisions and move forward together. We believe being open and transparent about the findings is important to our healing and improving as a community.
As highlighted above, the University has already begun implementing several of the reviewers’ recommendations. EOIX will continue supporting affected individuals and groups across campus. We also encourage all students, faculty and staff to take advantage of a variety of programming this fall designed to advance civil discourse and free expression at DU.
Additionally, I hope we will each reflect on this last year and how we can learn from it and grow as individuals and as a community. It will take us all doing our part, individually and collectively, to advance the inclusive, civil, supportive and pluralistic environment we strive for at DU.
We are a university dedicated to advancing free expression and civil discourse as we address very real, important and serious issues. We inevitably will have disagreements and differing opinions—and we should discuss and passionately debate them—but I implore us all to embrace our roles as part of an incredible academic community and ground our interactions in the continual pursuit of learning, intellectual humility, curiosity and respect.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor