Overview:
CU hasn't signed a letter defending academic freedom, while other local schools have, prompting criticism from students and faculty.
As of May 1 at 9 a.m., 586 colleges, universities, and scholarly organizations around the country had signed a national letter condemning the Trump administration’s political overreach and defending academic freedom. The statement, published by the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), warns that the federal government is using control over research funding to intimidate higher education institutions.
While several Colorado schools—including DU, Colorado College and Colorado State University—have added their names, the University of Colorado system has not. The silence from CU’s leadership has sparked backlash from students and faculty who say the university is failing to uphold its public mission and protect vulnerable members of its academic community.
“The core ethical principle of counseling is ‘do no harm,’” said Matt Kaplan, a second-year graduate student in the mental health counseling program at CU Denver. “By choosing not to sign the letter and express support for academic freedom and student wellbeing, I feel that CU Denver is doing its faculty and students a disservice and, in turn, causing harm.”
Kaplan is one of several students speaking out against CU’s inaction. Many see the system’s refusal to engage as especially troubling given its status as Colorado’s largest public university and its prominent role in research.
Several CU faculty and staff members were contacted for comment from various campuses; all declined or did not respond—except for Dr. Michaele Ferguson, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Critical Thought at CU Boulder.
“It is shameful and cowardly that CU’s administration refuses to stand up for higher education in solidarity with our peers,” Ferguson said. “I’m proud of both of my alma maters (Bryn Mawr College and Harvard University) for being among the first to sign.”
Private Institutions Lead the Way in Colorado
In contrast, other Colorado universities—including private institutions like the University of Denver and Colorado College—were among the earliest to sign.
On Tuesday, April 22, University of Denver (DU) students, staff and faculty received an email in their inboxes with the subject line, “DU Stands in Solidarity.” Sent from the Office of the Chancellor, the email informed the DU community that Chancellor Jeremy Haefner, along with over 200 other leaders of higher education institutions and organizations across the country, signed a letter published by the AAC&U calling for “constructive engagement” between the Trump Administration and academia.
The letter was published on the heels of Harvard University filing a lawsuit against several Trump Administration officials, arguing that freezing government funds earmarked for America’s oldest university, among other things, infringes upon the institution’s First Amendment rights.
“As leaders of America’s colleges, universities and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” opened the letter. “We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.”
“I’m actually really proud that DU signed that letter,” said freshman Sundury Garay, an undeclared business major from Denver. “Most of my friends wouldn’t expect DU to sign–we’re a private, PWI (predominantly White institution). This letter shows solidarity and support against an administration that’s against our academic freedom.”
Dr. Nadia Kaneva, director of the M.A. in Media and Public Communication program at DU, which enrolls several international students, expressed her pride a bit more tentatively. “DU’s decision to join a group of more than 200 universities and colleges across the country in a statement that opposes political interference in academic freedom is welcome,” Kaneva said.
“It’s an important symbolic step as universities strive to uphold the integrity of higher education in the US,” she continued. “However, this statement on its own does not alter the immediate daily realities for international students who still face uncertainty and fear. I am glad to see DU standing up for what is right, and I hope that the university will continue to work with others to make sure that our campus is a welcoming place for all students.”
When asked about the different legal implications a public university might weigh in its decision to sign the letter from a private one, Chris Beall, a professor of media and copyright law at DU and former Deputy Secretary of State of Colorado, said institutions must consider whether or not the Trump Administration will retaliate by freezing or withdrawing its grant money.
“That risk is independent of whether the institution is a public or a private college,” Beall said. “The risk is really more a function of how much the particular institution’s budget depends on federal grant money. Some public colleges may well have very little risk because they have very few federal research grants, whereas some private institutions, such as Harvard, will have very large amounts of federal research dollars. And vice versa.”
Statements provided on behalf of Chancellor Haefner and Interim CC President Manya Whitaker gave similar rationale for being among the first to join the call, citing commitments to their missions, democratic values and protecting their students. “Staying silent poses a greater risk than speaking out with my fellow presidents and chancellors,” Chancellor Haefner said.
In the days following the letter’s publication, public universities in Colorado started following suit. The first was Metropolitan State University (MSU) of Denver, which signed the letter on April 23.
Tim Carroll, senior director for media and public relations at MSU Denver, said that President Davidson signed the letter “as soon as she could,” citing her belief that “higher education is a public good that transforms lives, strengthens communities and expands opportunity. Cooperation is essential to strengthening Colorado’s future.”
Colorado State University (CSU), the state’s second-largest public university, signed on April 24. Tiana Kennedy, associate vice president for communications at CSU, noted that it was not originally asked to sign the letter because the university is not a member of the AAC&U, but that President Amy Parsons reached out once the letter had been published and asked to participate.
Regardless of whether or not a university is a member (DU and MSU are not; CC is), all interested participants are required to contact AAC&U before their signatures are accepted to verify their eligibility, said Dr. David Tritelli, vice president for communications and public affairs at AAC&U.
Regis University, a Jesuit school in North Denver, became the most recent Colorado signatory on April 28. Sheryl Tirol, Regis’s Director of Communications, stated that the university takes its time in evaluating whether or not it should participate in advocacy efforts, ensuring participation aligns with its Jesuit values. She insisted that the delay in participation was not due to any perceived conflict with Jesuit values but rather part of a careful approach to taking up advocacy issues.
AAC&U is still accepting signatures to the letter published last Tuesday. As of May 1, the number of academic institutions and scholarly organizations represented in the letter is up to 586. Despite being a member of AAC&U, CU Boulder, Colorado’s flagship public university, has yet to sign the letter. In fact, no universities within the CU System have signed, which has frustrated many current students and alumni.
“By not signing this letter, it unfortunately appears that CU Denver is not willing to stick up for its diverse student body,” said Bella L., a second-year graduate student in CU Denver’s clinical mental health counseling program. “It raises significant concerns about the ethics of research being conducted at the university, since the whole purpose of the letter is to reject the coercive use of public research funding and to protect ideas, opinions and viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or worse, being deported whether it’s lawful or not.”
To Bella, the decision not to sign the letter isn’t an isolated misstep—it reflects a broader pattern of institutional silence and self-preservation that she believes undermines student trust.
“The fact that they didn’t sign makes me wonder if there are other things at stake for the university,” Bella L. said. “Again, it doesn’t surprise me that the higher-ups at CU Denver are only serving their best interests and not the students; just last year, they had students arrested on campus for peaceful protest. Until we have more people in power who are truly representative of the general body, the voices that matter the most will never be heard as loudly as they should.”
