Ensuring the safety of our community

May 8, 2024

Dear Roadrunners, 

On Tuesday evening, protesters entered MSU Denver’s Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building, blocking doors, beating on drums, chanting and disrupting campus operations, while students attempted to access classrooms to take final exams. Auraria Campus police warned protesters repeatedly to leave the building, and they removed those who refused to do so.  

Earlier in the day, following a meeting between student protesters and Angie Paccione, the executive director of the state Department of Higher Education, protesters entered the Tivoli Student Union, blocked entrances and created a disturbance. In the interest of the safety of our community, we distributed information as quickly as possible. Initial information of the protest moving inside the Tivoli erroneously indicated that protesters locked doors with zip ties. We later verified that law enforcement placed ties on the doors to secure them, and we added a correction to the online message.     

These are the latest examples of how the Tivoli Quad protest has escalated on campus, in much the same way we’ve seen on other campuses around the country. As we continue to work tirelessly to keep students and faculty members on the Auraria Campus safe, I want to be clear that protests that disrupt campus operations or infringe on the rights of others to move about campus violate the Student Code of Conduct and may result in sanctions for students found in violation.  

In light of at least three incidents in which protestors have entered campus buildings without authorization, and to ensure the safety of our students and employees, the Jordan Student Success, AES, Hospitality Learning Center and Seventh Street Classroom buildings are accessible only with a campus ID badge, and other campus buildings also have access restrictions. MSU Denver is otherwise operating normally.  

Meanwhile, we continue our communication with protesters and the campus community in an effort to de-escalate and prevent the disruption we’ve seen recently. In the spirit of transparency, we have provided the protesters with information on the University’s financial and industry relationships. 

Our campus discussion sessions began on Tuesday. We intend these conversations to create a safe space for students, faculty and staff members to talk through and process this rapidly evolving protest on our campus. If you’re interested in participating, please complete this form. 

With Commencement coming up on Friday, we’re doing everything we can to prevent any disruption of the celebratory environment and milestone achievement. These efforts include additional security measures, de-escalation strategies and designating public-forum spaces outside of the Coliseum for those who would like to exercise free speech rights. 

If you have safety or other concerns, please remember that you can always contact the Auraria Campus Police Department for assistance at 303-556-5000, text a tip to 720-593-TIPS (8477) or report instances of discrimination or harassment through the MSU Denver Office of Equal Opportunity.   

MSU Denver also has a variety of resources to support students, faculty and staff in handling and processing conflict, including counseling, an employee-assistance program, student conflict-resolution services and restorative justice resources. 

Thanks to everyone who has shared your thoughts with me through my Idea Catcher.   

Sincerely,

Janine Davidson, Ph.D.
President