Auraria Campus Update, May 7

  • Several dozen protestors on the Auraria Campus began marching from the Tivoli Quad through campus Tuesday afternoon. After unsuccessfully attempting to access the MSU Denver Jordan Student Success Building, they made unauthorized entry into the MSU Denver Aerospace, Engineering, and Sciences (AES) Building at around 5:00 p.m.  
  • The protestors occupied the first floor of the building and impeded students' access to classrooms for final exams. Additionally, they chanted, pounded drums, and used amplified sound in violation of campus event policies, and therefore, they violated MSU Denver's Student Code of Conduct.  
  • Following three warnings, the Auraria Campus Police Department issued a summons for trespass and failure to obey lawful orders to each of the 14 protestors.   
  • We continue to balance the legal right to free speech with the need to keep our community safe and the campus focused on teaching and learning. 
  • However, this is the latest example of how the Tivoli Quad protest has escalated on campus, similar to how other protests have escalated on college campuses around the country.   
  • As dialogue with protesters continues, so do normal campus operations as we strive to deliver on our academic mission. 
  • We will continue to provide updates as this situation develops.