2016-07-28

Posted By J. Adrian Stanley on Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 2:14 PM

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Gage Skidmore

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will speak at 2 p.m. Friday at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs’ Gallogly Event Center.

Not everyone is happy about it.

In a letter released to the public, Chancellor Pam Shockley- Zalaback noted that, “Many faculty, staff, and students have expressed disappointment and anger at Mr. Trump’s appearance on our campus.”

It should be noted that UCCS, as a public university, cannot refuse to host a political event on the basis of preference for (or distaste for) a candidate. But many faculty at the university have signed on to a protest letter in advance of Trump’s event. Both the faculty protest letter and a letter from the Chancellor explaining the decision to host the event are posted below after the jump:

Here is the protest letter:

July 28, 2016

Dear Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak,

With the pending visit of the Republican nominee for President, Donald J. Trump, to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Friday July 29, 2016, the signers of this letter, as faculty of UCCS, feel the need to offer a public response to Mr. Trump’s presence on our campus. This letter does not claim to represent all UCCS faculty or the university, only the individuals who have endorsed its message.

To be clear, UCCS is a public university and, as such, it is an institution that reveres free speech. As university faculty, we not only recognize Mr. Trump’s legal right to speak on our campus, but also embrace the productive dialogue about U.S. and global politics that the event will no doubt inspire. But we as faculty similarly have the right and obligation to express our own professional consciences, especially as it pertains to events occurring at our place of work.

While we recognize Mr. Trump’s right to speak at UCCS and at other public venues, we strongly condemn the content and tone of much of the rhetoric that Mr. Trump has used since announcing his bid for Presidency.

Our issues with Mr. Trump are twofold. First, Mr. Trump has repeatedly made public statements that are either not supported by any reasonable amount of empirical evidence or are reliant on selective samples. For instance, Mr. Trump has repeatedly stated that crime in the United States is rising and that we live in a society that is growing more dangerous. A preponderance of evidence at the nationwide level contradicts that claim; but more importantly, Trump then uses such specious reasoning to fuel fear of certain minority groups.

Second, Mr. Trump’s unsubstantiated statements have been used to impugn entire groups of people, including Muslims, Mexicans, women, and disabled people. We contend that his divisive language prevents the kind of civil discourse that is the life blood of a democratic society. Mr. Trump’s claim that the majority of immigrants from Mexico are criminals, including murderers and rapists, is contradicted by documented evidence. Similarly, Mr. Trump’s call for the use of torture would contravene the United Nations Convention against Torture.

Likewise, UCCS’ stance on diversity and inclusiveness states that we “must be inclusive of everyone” in order to combat “legacies of advantage and disadvantage,” which accords with Article 10 of the University of Colorado’s nondiscrimination policy. We honor the spirit of former CU president George Norlin, who took a courageous stand against racial and religious discrimination based on ideals that our university continues to uphold.

We censure any statement made by Mr. Trump (or any other person) that can be classified in these two ways. As faculty of a university that prides itself on the encouragement of free speech and the productive discourse that can follow, we reject the reckless use of language that supports silencing anyone on our campus—even as we respect the right to speak such words.

Signed,

Jeffrey Scholes, Philosophy Jeffrey Montez de Oca, Sociology

Minette Church, Anthropology

Tom Huber, Geography

Katherine Mack, English

Paul Harvey, History

Carole Huber, Geography

Rex Welshon, Philosophy

Edin Mujkic, School of Public Affairs

Christopher Bell, Communication

Abby Ferber, Sociology and WEST

Steve Carter, English

Elizabeth Daniels, Psychology

George Cheney, Communication

Allison Monterrosa, Sociology

Patty Witkowsky, Leadership, Research, &

Foundations

Nick Lee, Sociology

Crystal Baye Herald, English

Spencer Harris, College of Business

Kristin Samuelson, Psychology

Greg Oman, Mathematics

Brandon Gavett, Psychology

Kimberly Holcomb, WEST

Chlesea Lawson, English

Leal Lauderbaugh, Mechanical & Aerospace

Engineering

Daphne Greenwood, Economics

Karen Livesey, Physics

Lissanna Follari, Teaching and Learning

John Adams, Mechanical Engineering

Carlos a. Paz de Araujo, Electrical and Computer

Engineering

Lew Pinson, Computer Science – retired

April Lanotte, UCCSTeach

Michael Calvisi, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Dustin Bluhm, Management; College of Business

Carole Woodall, History and WEST

Kotaro Shoji, Trauma, Health, & Hazards Center

Jarred Bultema, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Jane Rigler, VAPA-Music

Liesl H. Eberhardt, Communication

Eric Eberhardt, Pre-Collegiate, Communication,

Extended Studies

Alexander Soifer, Inter-Departmental Studies

Evan Engle, Education

Leah Davis Witherow, History

Lori Guasta, Sociology

Brandon Vogt, Geography

Abram Minzer, Music

Nina Ellis Frischmann, History

Zachary Mesyan, Mathematics

Kimbra Smith, Anthropology

Lilika A. Belet, Sociology

Haleh Abghari, VAPA

Robert Larkin, Geography and Environmental Studies

Margaret M. Beranek, College of Business

Jamie May, English

Linda K. Watts, Anthropology

Karenleigh A. Overmann, Center for Cognitive

Archaeology

Lauren M. Kinnee, VAPA

Julaine Field, Counseling and Human Services

Michael Kisley, Psychology

Stephany Rose, Women’s Ethnic Studies

Rhonda Williams, Counseling and Human Services

Suzanne P. MacAulay, VAPA

Sarah Treschl, English

Margie Oldham, National Student Exchange Program

Suzanne Cook, Languages and Cultures

Sherry Marshall, Sociology

Michaela Steen, Visual and Performing Arts

Valerie Sievers, Nursing

Cerian Gibbes, Geography

Leslie Rapparlie, English

Lesley Ginsberg, English

Sudhanshu Kumar Semwal, Computer Science

Mary Margaret Alvarado, English

Chris Bairn, History

Anthony Cordova, MOSAIC

Mary France, Languages & Cultures

Joan Ray, Professor Emerita, English,

Stephanie Spratt, Kraemer Family Library

Eileen Skahill, Sociology and Humanities

Don Klingner, School of Public Affairs

Heather Albanesi, Sociology

Elizabeth Cutter, Teaching & Learning

Jefferson M. Spicher, Nursing

Fred Lege, Student Health Center

Christine L. Robinson, English

James Parmenter, Mathematics

Janice Gould, Women’s & Ethnic Studies

Lisa Durrenberger, Biology

Vanessa Howell, Nursing

Ken Pellow, English

Majid M.J. Arjomandi, Communication

Jared Benson, History and Humanities

Robert Carlson, Mathematics

James Daly, Professor Emeritus Mathematics

Roger L. Martinez, History

Radu Cascaval, Mathematics

David Havlick, Geography and Environmental Studies

Maggie Gaddis, Biology

Manuel Gunther, Computer Science

Leilani Feliciano, PhD, Psychology,

Edie Greene, Psychology

Barbara Prinari, Mathematics

Christina Jimenez, History

Glen Whitehead, VAPA

Mary Jane Sullivan, PhD, Visual and Performing Arts,

Anna Kosloski, School of Public Affairs

Christopher V. Hill, History

Benjamin Syn, English

Stephanie Ryon, School of Public Affairs

Pauline Foss, Visual and Performing Arts

Nanna L. Meyer, Nursing

Leslie Grant, Teaching & Learning

Amy Haines, History

Irina Kopteva, GES

Here is the Chancellor’s letter in full:

Dear Campus Community,

Following the announcement yesterday of Donald Trump’s July 29 campaign stop in Colorado Springs using UCCS facilities, I have been asked a series of questions I will attempt to answer in this message. Many faculty, staff, and students have expressed disappointment and anger at Mr. Trump’s appearance on our campus. I am appreciative of questions and concerns raised and want to continue to be responsive. Because time is short before the event takes place, I want to address as many issues as I can in one communication.

The Legal Underpinnings of Leasing Space to Political Candidates—UCCS and the vast majority of all public universities make space available for lease (if space if not in use for academic or athletic purposes) to organizations including political organizations. UCCS for most of its 51 years has leased space to organizations including political parties. Because UCCS has made its facilities available to political candidates and their campaigns in the past-provided those campaigns have paid appropriate fees and complied with campus use policies-the university cannot legally deny the same access to Mr. Trump. As your Chancellor, I thoroughly checked our legal standing, as I would do in any such case, prior to authorizing the lease. The same process was used when we were the venue for a campaign event in 2008 by candidate Barack Obama. Simply put, the University of Colorado cannot discriminate against political candidates on the basis of their viewpoints. The First Amendment recognizes that if the university provides the opportunity for political candidates to speak, it cannot deny other political candidates the same opportunity. The lease to Mr. Trump is not an endorsement by me, UCCS, the University of Colorado, or its Board of Regents.

Assessing Charges—Some students have questioned whether UCCS should “make money” by leasing to Mr. Trump’s campaign. UCCS consistently assesses charges when any political candidate holds a campaign event. Other types of organizations also reimburse UCCS for event space. With regard to political campaigns, assessing charges prevents UCCS from violating laws that prevent the expenditure of public funds for the benefit of political candidates or showing preference for any political candidate. UCCS will not make a profit from assessing charges but will cover direct expenses.

Hostile Environment Based on Campaign Rhetoric—Some have raised concerns that Mr. Trump’s appearance on campus creates a hostile environment in a manner that would violate other federal laws. I have sought legal advice to respond to this inquiry. Political speech, even if that speech is offensive, is protected by the First Amendment and offensive speech does not serve as an adequate basis to deny this campaign or any other campaign the opportunity to rent university facilities.

Campus Safety—Some students have expressed their concern about campus safety, particularly in light of the fact that there have been confrontations at some of Mr. Trump’s other campaign events. UCCS leaders, our own excellent police force, local law enforcement, and the United States Secret Service are working to provide appropriate security and ensure campus safety. Campus leaders and I, accompanied by our own police officers, will be highly visible throughout the campus on Friday.

Expressions of Opposing Viewpoints—Many faculty, staff, and students have expressed their desire to demonstrate against Mr. Trump while he is on campus, and others in the community may join in those demonstrations. As a University that respects the ability and right of all citizens to voice their opinions, UCCS absolutely will permit lawful and peaceful demonstrations. No demonstration permits are required. The lawn in front of Cragmor and Main Hall and the lower University Center Plaza are convening sites for such expressions of free speech. As a core value of the University of Colorado, free expressions must be and will be honored. Law enforcement agencies will work to preserve the security for all. I will personally visit both sites multiple times.

Inclusion as a Core UCCS Value—Some have expressed concern that Mr. Trump’s visit does not support the UCCS core value of inclusion and respect. This event underscores more than ever the need for inclusion and respect. UCCS has a legal obligation to lease space to Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump has a legal right to speak. Others have a legal right to express disagreement. But this not solely about legal issues. The UCCS core value of inclusion and respect is front and center. This event, or any other event, must not let us waver in our commitment to inclusion and respect for all. I am confident UCCS, its students, faculty, and staff, and our community will approach Friday in a manner that demonstrates our shared commitment to free expression, inclusion, safety, political choice, and the democratic virtues that has served us for generations.

Details of the Event—as of the time of issuing this message Mr. Trump is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. Those wanting to express opposition to the campaign are asked to gather in either the Cragmor lawn or the lower level of the University Plaza. UCCS is not handling details of ticketing for the event and other information may be available at the Trump website. Those wishing to assist me in providing safe way-finding for our students and others on campus may contact the Chancellor’s Office (x3436).

• The University Center Upper Plaza and Upper Plaza east and west access will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday until mid-afternoon. The Bookstore, Clyde’s, the Copy Center and Sanatorium Grounds Coffee will operate normally.

• The Pedestrian Spine walkway through the University Center will be closed most of Friday. Students, faculty and staff who need to traverse from buildings on the east side of campus (Main, Cragmor, Dwire, etc.) to the west side of campus (Columbine, Osborne, Engineering, etc.) will need to find an alternative route.

• Those holding tickets for the Trump event are likely to line up on the pedestrian spine in front of Dwire Hall and Main Hall. Non ticket holders will be directed to the Cragmor Green space or to outdoor space on the first floor of the University Center.

• Parking in lot 222 in front of Centennial Hall will be restricted to media and disability parking. If you normally park in this lot, I ask that you park in another lot or the Parkway Garage. The visitors will be asked to park in the Alpine Valley garage and will pay to do so.

I will be scheduling a campus conversation to discuss the events of Friday, July 29 in a couple of weeks. As always, thank you for your voice in our campus life, thank you for your respect for the importance of the issues of our times, and thank you for participating in important campus challenges and opportunities.

Respectfully, Pam

Pam Shockley-Zalabak

Chancellor

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