Controversial Speaker Sparks Protests at Colorado Mesa University

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is facing backlash as a known white supremacist, Jared Taylor, is set to speak on campus later this month, following an invitation from the student organization Western Culture Club.

While Taylor disputes the white supremacist label, he has been widely identified as such by experts and watchdog groups, and his views align with what he refers to as ‘race realism,’ a term critics describe as a euphemism for scientific racism. Taylor’s ideology has drawn significant concern from students and faculty at CMU.

In an email sent to students, CMU President John Marshall expressed his disagreement with Taylor’s views and stated he would not be attending the event. Marshall emphasized the university’s position on free speech, arguing, ‘This speaker has been invited by students of a campus student club. CMU’s role isn’t to dictate to student clubs, or faculty, who they can invite and what content they present.’

Marshall continued, stating, ‘Our job as a university is not to ‘platform’ or ‘deplatform’ speakers invited by students or faculty.’ He plans to demonstrate peacefully and reflect the university’s values during the event.

Concerns around the event are particularly pronounced among students from marginalized groups. Several students expressed fears that Taylor’s presence could foster a hostile campus environment. One student, Orionna Byrd, voiced worry over the potential implications: ‘This is very problematic and you’re bringing very harmful people onto campus. Because we have white supremacists on campus, it is not safe for minorities.’

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has categorized Taylor’s organization, the New Century Foundation, as a white nationalist hate group. Taylor has a history of associating with figures linked to hate groups, including David Duke, former leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

Maxwell Applebaugh, president of the Western Culture Club, defended the invitation to Taylor, suggesting that the controversy surrounding him adds to his appeal. ‘I know that Jared Taylor is a very controversial figure, and that’s sort of to me, that’s the appeal of them,’ he said in a recent interview.

Despite Taylor’s controversial background, CMU has maintained its commitment to free expression. In 2020, the university received a top rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, recognizing its dedication to academic freedom.

Marshall acknowledged the challenges posed by controversial speakers, stating, ‘I will acknowledge that controversial and offensive speakers test the limits of our civility. It is difficult to abide ideas and speech that denigrate human beings.’

As the event approaches, protests and counter-events are anticipated, with many students planning to peacefully demonstrate against Taylor’s appearance. Marshall reassured students that the intention is to foster dialogue and understanding, stating, ‘For those students who choose to attend, I believe it’s the opportunity of your life to peacefully and respectfully demonstrate kindness, goodness, manifest our campus values, and to carefully deconstruct his dehumanizing ideas.’

The upcoming event encapsulates the ongoing debate surrounding free speech in educational institutions—a debate that frequently tests the boundaries of civility and the safety of marginalized individuals.