Dear CC Parents and Families,
We wanted to take a moment to share information about demonstrations at Colorado College and how we are responding to keep our community safe.
We want to assure you that the nature of the current demonstrations at CC is very different from what you are seeing on the news at other institutions. Protests at CC have remained respectful, non-violent, self-contained, and focused on the internal campus community.
On Wednesday, May 1, around 300 individuals, mostly CC students and some faculty and staff, participated in a campus walkout. The event was held on Tava Quad and included speeches, an art build, and letter-writing to Congress. We had a robust campus safety plan in place, and the event was peaceful.
On Thursday, May 2, around noon, students began to construct tents on Tava Quad near the south side of Tutt Library. The tents are on college property and do not impede access to campus buildings. Students are organizing community activities like yoga, origami, and potluck meals, and engaging in peaceful assembly.
When determining responses to any demonstration or disruption on campus, our number-one priority is the safety and well-being of the entire CC community.
We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or threats of violence of any kind, and individuals who violate these policies are held accountable.
We are also considering the national climate in our response, and we are making a very intentional effort not to escalate.
Our primary concern is the potential involvement of outside agitators, which have escalated protests at other schools nationally. Because our campus is private property, the college may deny access to external community members who are not affiliated with CC. Campus Safety is monitoring, and we have additional safety officers onsite on weekends and between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. We also benefit from an historically productive relationship with the Colorado Springs Police Department, ensuring we are ready to respond should there be an immediate safety or security threat.
If college policies are violated during a demonstration, our approach is delayed enforcement. This means we will not forcibly remove internal community members unless they pose a direct health or safety threat or are breaking the law. We will assess whether policies have been violated at a later time, via our standard reporting and conduct procedures.
College campuses have long been the site of protests, especially at critical moments throughout history. The ability to engage in free expression is vital to a healthy democracy and to the liberal arts, and we must protect that right. Engaging in protest is a method of expressing pain and hope simultaneously — it involves difficult decisions, and it often involves consequences.
Disruption is, in many ways, the very purpose of protest. However, we have faith that our community can voice diverse perspectives while recognizing each other’s humanity. We believe we will ultimately work through conflict and heal together, grounded in empathy.
As college leadership, it is our responsibility to protect the safety of all students, faculty, and staff, uphold the right to free expression, and select fair and appropriate consequences when policies are violated. Every decision we make is based on deep care and concern for our students. This is and always will be our focus.
With Block 8 finals and Commencement just around the corner, we look forward to maintaining a healthy learning environment for all students and celebrating the achievements of our remarkable graduates.
Warmly,
