2025 March News

 

Local

3/2: "The Colorado Springs Korean community celebrates independence from Japanese rule"- As someone that loves Japanese culture it is important to also be aware of all of the negative things that have also happened in Japanese history. https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/the-colorado-springs-korean-community-celebrates-independence-from-japanese-rule

National

3/7: "The Medal of Honor Recipient Erased in the Pentagon's DEI Purge"- https://www.military.com/history/medal-of-honor-recipient-erased-pentagons-dei-purge.html?amp

2024 October News

National

10/3/24: "Japanese Billionaire Donates Record-Setting $31 Million to UCLA Humanities Program"- https://abc7.com/amp/post/japanese-billionaire-tadashi-yanai-founder-uniqlo-donates-31-million-ucla/15388642/

10/7/24: "Universal Modifies Disability Access At Theme Parks"- This is actually good news since Universal is actually getting rid of extra requirements that put additional burdens on park goers. This is a direct contrast to what Disney is doing since they are making it harder to get accommodations and hurting people with disabilities. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/10/07/universal-modifies-disability-access-at-theme-parks/31097/

2024 May News

Local

5/7/24: "Community College of Denver relocates graduation amid protests at Auraria Campus"- As an employee impacted by this, I did not mind so much because this location was easier for me to get to. At the same time this location didn't have enough parking for the staff let alone for students bring guests. I understand the last minute changes, parking was a nightmare. Several staff were nearly hit by people frustrated by the parking situation or were yelled at. There was also a police presence just incase protestors decided to show up.  https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/community-college-of-denver-graduation/73-d1da95a7-7c14-449c-9152-71ea36c4088a "Protesters detained, ticketed at Auraria Campus building"- https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/protesters-detained-auraria-campus/73-6c5392e7-f789-4f77-bb1d-50969ef62426

5/14/24: "12 more protesters cited for trespassing on Auraria campus Tuesday"- https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/auraria-campus-police-ticket-12-protesters/73-7388c861-0137-41c8-b92f-091c507dbb70

National

5/?/24: "Students caught in the middle of protests at UB North speak out"- https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/students-caught-in-the-middle-of-protest-at-ub-north-speak-out/amp/

5/1/24: "The collapse of affordable internet will hit indigenous communities the hardest"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/05/01/tech/tribes-congress-cuts-acp-internet-subsidy

5/3/24: "Walk-through of Portland State University's library after three-night occupation reveals damage: 'It's ugly'"- https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/05/walk-through-of-portland-state-universitys-library-after-three-night-occupation-reveals-damage-its-ugly.html?outputType=amp

5/4/24: "25 arrested at University of Virginia after police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters"- https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestine-gaza-war-colleges-universities-campus-protests-ad9deb304a49edbb52f5ae607f08cecd

Palestine Protests On Auraria Campus: Emergency Releases Ongoing

 I will continue to update this as more happens. A lot of these are coming out so I will be posting a sampling.

Picture From: https://ccd.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=146481&t=286021514

Picture From: https://ccd.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=145236&t=281243010

Picture From: https://ccd.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=145205&t=281074566

Picture From: https://ccd.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=145194&t=281043750

Palestine Protests On Auraria Campus: Messages From the CCD President (Ongoing)

 I will continue to update since this is an ongoing situation.

________________________________________________

From: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu> 

Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 1:54 PM

To: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu>

Subject: Message from the President | Addressing Recent Campus Disruptions

Importance: High

Dear CCD Community, 

Before noon today, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, a large portion of the protesters stormed into the Tivoli Student Union, disrupting campus operations and threatening to occupy the building. ACPD intervened, and protesters marched through the building and returned to the encampment.

This occurred as Dr. Angie Paccione, Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Chief Executive Officer, met with protest leaders to hear their concerns. During that discussion, protesters stated their demands and once again threatened to disrupt commencements.

Additionally, at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Monday, May 6, 2024, protesters forcefully entered and occupied, without prior notice, the privately locked Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) executive offices in the Tivoli Student Union. Nearly a dozen protesters pushed past a student employee and conducted a sit-in, refusing to leave after being noticed they were trespassing while dozens of other protesters stood outside of the AHEC office shouting and banging on the windows.

Following the occupation of the AHEC executive offices, campus staff, and law enforcement were able to negotiate a resolution with the protesters, leading to an agreement for a future meeting. The protesters eventually vacated the offices and returned to the encampment.

It is clear that protesters are escalating despite numerous attempts at an agreement toward a resolution. In addition to today’s and yesterday’s incidents, we have seen several instances of vandalism, trespassing, and operational disruption to campus and the surrounding areas.

These escalating behaviors are unacceptable and inconsistent with CCD’s core values, further reinforcing our decision to transition CCD’s Auraria Campus operations remotely.

It is crucial to reiterate that CCD does not condone any form of unlawful behavior. We expect all CCD students and employees to adhere to campus policies, codes of conduct, and state and local laws.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis

President

Community College of Denver

_________________________

From: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu> 

Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2024 6:23 PM

To: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu>

Subject: Important Announcement: Changes to End-of-Semester Plans and Commencement Venue

Importance: High

Dear CCD Community,

I hope this message finds you well amidst what has undoubtedly been a challenging time for our campus and the broader community. Today, I must share with you some important updates regarding the conclusion of this semester and our upcoming commencement ceremony.

First, I am grateful for your patience and understanding as we navigate these unprecedented circumstances. The dedication and resilience displayed by our students, faculty, instructors, and staff have been truly remarkable, and it is a testament to the strength of our community.

As you are aware, spring 2024 classes and finals will officially conclude on Monday, May 6th. Considering recent events, including direct threats of escalation and disruption, CCD’s Auraria operations will remain remote through Sunday, May 12th.

Additionally, our commencement celebration, originally scheduled to take place on the Auraria Campus, will now be held at the Lowry Campus. The ceremony will proceed as planned from 10 am to 3 pm.

I understand that these adjustments may cause inconvenience, and for that, I sincerely apologize. However, I assure you that these decisions were made after careful consideration of the current situation and with the intention of ensuring the safety and security of all involved.

It deeply saddens me to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to these changes. Protesters from the encampment have explicitly stated their intentions to escalate if their demands are not met and use graduation as their platform to be heard. As such, we cannot risk the safety of our graduates, their families, and our community.

Please know that I am actively engaged in ongoing discussions with various stakeholders, including Auraria campus leaders, law enforcement agencies, and community representatives. While I am limited in what I can disclose at this time, please be assured that your safety and well-being remain my top priority.

In the future, I plan to address these developments more comprehensively in a longer, reflective letter. However, my current commitments demand my immediate attention, and I must be measured in what I communicate during this evolving matter that impacts not only the Community College of Denver but also Metropolitan State University at Denver, the University of Colorado at Denver, and the entirety of the Auraria Higher Education Complex.

I want to express my unwavering support for our graduates and their families, who have eagerly anticipated this momentous occasion. Your hard work, perseverance, and achievements deserve to be celebrated, and I am committed to ensuring that commencement remains a joyous and memorable event.

Lastly, to our devoted CityHawk faculty, instructors, and staff, your dedication and efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I am immensely grateful for your commitment to our community.

Thank you once again for your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time. Together, we will navigate through these uncertainties and emerge stronger as a community.

Warm regards,

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis

President

Community College of Denver

_________________________

From: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu> 

Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 3:11 PM

To: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu>

Subject: Message from President DeSanctis | The Decision to Transition to Remote 

Dear CityHawk Community,

As I shared with you previously, our Auraria Campus has joined the growing list of nationwide campuses experiencing encampments and protest activities. While we recognize that college campuses are traditionally safe havens for civic engagement, freedom of expression should not come at the expense of respect for one another and must adhere to campus policies.

The difficult decision to move to remote operations and learning was made after unsuccessful efforts to appeal to protesters to exercise their free speech rights while also complying with campus policy.

Many of our classes, events, and operations were impacted on Friday, April 26. The continuity of academic and student services is best protected by moving to remote operations and learning during this fluid and volatile situation.

I understand this is not how you envisioned ending the semester, but this decision reflects our commitment to your academic success without distraction or distress. We know these are trying times, but they are temporary. Let’s not let this distract us from all your personal achievements to date and the exciting milestones to come.

I encourage everyone to prioritize their safety and well-being. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Warm regards,

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis

President 

Community College of Denver

_________________________

From: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu> 

Sent: Monday, April 29, 2024 11:47 AM

To: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu>

Subject: Message from the President | Prioritizing Safety

Dear CCD Community,

In response to the concerns raised by many of our employees and students regarding safety, we have made the decision to transition to fully remote operations and learning starting from 5:00 pm today, Monday, April 29, 2024, through Sunday, May 5, 2024.

The safety and well-being of our community members has always been my top priority, and I understand the importance of creating an environment where everyone feels secure. This decision aligns with CCD's commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive learning and working environment for all.

During this period, all classes and operations will be conducted remotely. I encourage everyone to stay connected through our online platforms and utilize the resources available to support your continued learning and work responsibilities.

College employees will work together to provide flexibility to our students. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate through these challenging times together. Please continue to monitor your emails and our official communication channels for any updates or further instructions.

Stay safe and take care of yourselves.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis

President

Community College of Denver

_________________________

Message from President DeSanctis | Auraria Campus Update

April 28, 2024

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Dear CCD Community,

Over the past few days, the Auraria Campus has experienced events that have tested our resilience and commitment to peaceful coexistence. As you may be aware, an encampment began on Thursday, April 25, 2024, and a counter-protest has recently emerged nearby. These occurrences have prompted us to carefully consider the safety and well-being of our entire community.

Our fundamental belief in the right to peaceful assembly and expression remains steadfast. We fully support the efforts of our beloved community to engage in meaningful discourse and advocacy for their beliefs. However, recent incidents have highlighted a growing divide between those who seek constructive dialogue and those who aim to sow discord and disruption.

The encampment, while an expression of deeply held convictions, has also posed challenges to the safety and operational integrity of the Auraria Campus. The Campus’s longstanding policy against camping, established to ensure the health and security of all members of our community, remains in effect.

Our commitment to fostering an environment of inclusivity, respect, and academic excellence remains unwavering. As we navigate these challenging times, let us uphold these values and stand in solidarity with one another. Together, we will overcome these obstacles and emerge stronger than before.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and dedication to the Community College of Denver.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis

President

Community College of Denver

(Information from: https://www.ccd.edu/node/9412 , Accessed 4/28/24.)

_________________________

From: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu> 

Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 9:26 AM

To: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu>

Subject: Message from the President | Acknowledgement of Campus Demonstration and Support Resources

To Our CityHawk Community,

I would like to acknowledge the demonstration currently taking place on our campus. This event primarily involves students and external parties, and we understand that it is impacting our campus community.

Please be assured that campus leadership is actively addressing the situation, and we are being supported by both the Auraria Campus Police Department and Denver Police Department (ACPD and DPD) along with a variety of state agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on campus.

If you feel your safety is compromised or have any concerns, please remember that you can always contact ACPD for assistance at (303) 556-5000 or Text a Tip to 720-593-TIPS (8477). If you call 911 from a CCD desk phone, you will be routed to ACPD. 

In times of stress or uncertainty, prioritizing your mental health and well-being is crucial. We want to remind you that the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) offers counseling support services to all college employees. If you feel the need to speak with someone, please consider reaching out to them for support. https://cseap.colorado.gov/support-for-all-employees

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Sincerely,

Marielena "Marie" DeSanctis, Ph.D. President Community College of Denver

Palestine Protests On Auraria Campus: Campus Wide Messages (Ongoing)

 Since this is an ongoing issue I will continue to update as more comes out.

_____________________________________________________________

From: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu> 

Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 3:43 PM

To: CCD Office of the President Mailbox <CCD.PresidentOffice@ccd.edu>

Subject: Message from Auraria Campus Leadership | Demonstration on Tivoli Quad

Dear CCD Community,

The Auraria Campus is the site of a demonstration that began on Thursday, April 25, and drew approximately 100 participants, including students and other community members. Our campus institutions recognize and respect the right to peacefully demonstrate, and our priority is the safety of our students, employees, and visitors. 

Auraria Campus policies prohibit camping due to health, safety, and security concerns. While those who gathered at the onset of Thursday’s protest did so peacefully, some participants established an encampment as the demonstration progressed, which violates those policies. Campus administrators spoke with numerous protestors and advised them of our policy, including providing written copies. Dr. Angie Paccione, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, also visited campus and met with student protestors, who were asked multiple times to remove the encampment.

When protestors did not comply after numerous written and verbal requests, law enforcement stepped in at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Friday to remove the encampments. Currently, there have been approximately 40 arrests by Auraria Higher Education Center Police and the Denver Police Department. Detainees are facing trespassing charges per the campus camping policy.

We will continue to monitor this ongoing situation and remain vigilant. Our top priority remains the safety of all students, staff, faculty, and community members.

Our role is to educate and encourage learning through thoughtful and respectful dialogue. In that spirit, we will continue to support civic engagement and peaceable assembly, while working to ensure a safe and healthy campus environment for all of our students, employees, and visitors.

Sincerely,

Auraria Higher Education Center

Community College of Denver

Metropolitan State University, Denver

University of Colorado, Denver

Palestine Protests On Auraria Campus

Watching the protests live at the Auraria campus was massively disturbing. I was watching the live stream as I sat in my office on campus since we kept getting all of these alerts both in texts and emails. Every time the cops arrested someone and tried to carry them away, other protesters would attack the cops punching, kicking, grabbing. The protesters were not being non-violent. There was also a guy with a flag that kept being very physically aggressive towards the cops. I can understand why Jewish students are afraid to be on campus since these pro-Palestine groups are showing that they are quick to violence. 

This picture shows protestors interfering with cops taking people away and grabbing them.  Picture from the 9news live feed. Link at bottom.

Also as a side note, the protestors had no care for the area they were protesting in. This could be seen in one of the interviews that they did with some of the protestors. They couldn't even name a specific company that they thought that the schools were supporting. They had littered and didn't even care about the mess they were making or about the people that would have to clean up after they leave. 

This shows some of the trash in the area. This still was taken from the 9news live stream. Link below.

This was the link to the live stream on 9news: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/denver-palestinian-israel-protest-arrests-auraria-campus/73-37219ddb-bc39-49df-a742-8ce438b006fe

2024 March News

Local

3/7/24: "Denver LGBTQIA+ salon vandalized on opening day"- This shows how there can be hate and bias even within a larger group. Many times people will be grouped together, but that does not mean that they like or do not have their own biased views. In this case someone that is gay did not like all of the other groups being added to their flag. https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-lgbtqia-salon-vandalized-on-opening-day/

National

3/25/24: "Amid book bans, DEI cuts and 'Don't Say Gay' laws, 7 states will mandate LGBTQ-inclusive curricula"- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna144991

2024 February News

2/1/24: "Utah Bans DEI Programs at State Institutions"- https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/01/utah-bans-dei-programs-state-institutions

2/5/24: "The limits - and uncertainty - of the new Texas law banning DEI at public colleges and universities"- https://www.tpr.org/education/2024-02-05/the-limits-and-uncertainty-of-the-new-texas-law-banning-dei-at-public-colleges-and-universities

2/6/24: "Indigenous Groups Respond After U.S. Museums Cover Native Displays"- https://news.artnet.com/art-world/indigenous-groups-respond-display-native-artifacts-museums-2426071/amp-page "Zoom Cuts DEI-Focused Team as Corporate America Retreats on Diversity Initiatives"- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zoom-cuts-dei-focused-team-165804476.html

2/7/24: "I'm a mature student at Oxford - so why am I being heckled by teenagers?"- https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/07/oxford-university-mature-student-heckled "Professor Demands Blind Student To Give An Interpretation Of An Image, They Maliciously Comply"- https://www.boredpanda.com/professors-task-blind-student-malicious-compliance/

2/9/24: "DEI backlash: Stay up-to-date on the latest legal and corporate challenges"- https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/09/dei-backlash-stay-up-to-date-on-the-latest-legal-and-corporate-challenges/amp/

2/13/24: "Florida school asks parents for permission to have book by an African American author read to students"- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna138685

2024 January News

1/4/24: "Companies are backing away from 'DEI'"- https://www.axios.com/2024/01/04/dei-jobs-diversity-corporate

1/14/24: "DEI opponents are using a 1899 Civil Rights law to challenge equity policies in the workplace"- https://apnews.com/article/dei-corporate-diversity-supreme-court-affirmative-action-a4ddf354423feee9697310366248f646 "As diversity, equity and inclusion comes under legal attack, companies quietly alter their programs"- https://apnews.com/article/dei-diversity-corporations-affirmative-action-309864f08e6ec63a45d18ca5f25d7540

1/17/24: "Federal appeals court rules Texas book bans likely violate Constitution"- https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4414455-federal-appeals-court-texas-book-bans-likely-violate-constitution/amp/

2023 December News

So I will let you know ahead of time many of the articles this month talk about the graphic violence that women have suffered because of Hamas. These articles may be triggering for some, but it information that needs to be heard if as a global society we are to stop violence against women.

 

Local

12/3/23: "3 decades later, Western Colorado University is trying again to return looted remains to rightful home"- https://www.cpr.org/2023/12/03/western-colorado-university-looted-remains/

12/31/23: "Lily Gladstone on How Using She/They Pronouns Is Connected to Indigenous Background, "A Way of Decolonizing Gender for Myself""- https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lily-gladstone-using-she-pronouns-223942884.html

International

12/1/23: "Whatever your view of the Israel-Hamas war, rape is rape. To trivialize it is to diminish ourselves"- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/01/israel-hamas-war-rape-israelis-palestinians

12/3/23: "Graphic report details new evidence of rape, sexual violence during October 7 rampage"- https://www.timesofisrael.com/graphic-report-details-new-evidence-of-rape-sexual-violence-during-october-7-rampage/

12/4/23: "Dingell says she was doxxed over Hamas rapes"- https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4341331-dingell-doxxed-hamas-rape-israel/

12/5/23: "Israel Gaza: Hamas raped and mutilated women on 7 October, BBC hears"- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67629181

12/7/23: "What we know about rape and sexual violence inflected by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel"- So letting people know that this was has graphic details about what happened. I know as a woman this article was a little triggering for me, but it is important for people to know.   https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/06/middleeast/rape-sexual-violence-hamas-israel-what-we-know-intl/index.html

12/11/23: "Hamas' use of sexual violence is an all-too-common part of modern war- but not in all conflicts"- I hate to call out this article, but sexual violence in war is as old as human history. It has always been used to inflect fear and punishment on people. https://theconversation.com/hamas-use-of-sexual-violence-is-an-all-too-common-part-of-modern-war-but-not-in-all-conflicts-219301 "Multiple Female Captives Raped in Hamas Captivity, Freed Hostage Says"- https://themessenger.com/news/multiple-female-captives-raped-gaza-freed-hostage-says "Israeli activist takes aim at 'disgraceful' response to Hamas' use of rape in war: 'They have failed'"- https://www.foxnews.com/media/israeli-activist-takes-aim-disgraceful-response-hamas-use-rape-war-failed

12/13/23: "Evidence mounts of sexual crimes perpetrated by Hamas during Oct. 7 attack on Israel"- https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20231213-evidence-mounts-of-sexual-crimes-perpetrated-by-hamas-during-oct-7-attack-in-israel

12/14/23: "Senators to introduce resolution condemning Hamas use of sexual violence"- https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/politics/senators-resolution-condemning-hamas/index.html

2023 November News

 

National

11/30/23: "Graduates of a new doctoral program in Indigenous health strive to address disparities in Native communities"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/11/30/us/indigenous-health-doctorate-north-dakota-reaj/index.html 

International

11/14/23: "Police start building Oct. 7 rape cases, focusing on footage and testimonies"- https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-start-building-oct-7-rape-cases-focusing-on-footage-and-testimonies/

11/18/23: "Israeli police say extreme sexual violence, rape by Hamas terrorists was systematic"- https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-police-say-extreme-sexual-violence-rape-by-hamas-terrorists-was-systematic

11/19/23: "Israel says soldier executed, foreign hostages held at Gaza's Shifa hospital"- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-55-metre-fortified-tunnel-found-under-gazas-shifa-hospital-2023-11-19/

11/30/23: "The Scope of Hamas Campaign of Rape Against Israeli Women Is Revealed, Testimony After Testimony"- https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-30/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/hamas-campaign-of-rape-against-israeli-women-is-revealed-testimony-after-testimony/0000018c-2144-da36-a1de-6767dac90000

2023 October News

 

Local

10/3/23: "Local artist to bring first Day of the Dead parade and festival to Denver"- https://www.9news.com/amp/article/news/local/day-dead-parade-festival-denver-2023/73-bbf3f3f5-28c3-456b-9bc6-8a15d3743f2b

National

10/14/23: Yayoi Kusama Expresses "Deep Regret" For Anti-Black Statements Ahead of Exhibition at SFMOMA"- I'm not familiar with her specific work so I'm not sure what she did wrong. At the same time if she did what they said this is another example of how racism isn't just a white vs. everyone else. All races can be racist, like we saw that play out during covid where African Americans used targeted violence against people that appeared Asian. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/yayoi-kusama-deep-regret-anti-black-statements-exhibition-sfmoma-1234682506/amp/

10/16/23: "Billionaire former Victoria's Secret CEO pulls funding from Harvard, accusing the school of dismal failure' to take a stand for Israel"- https://www.businessinsider.com/wexner-foundation-pulls-funding-from-harvard-over-stance-israel-hamas-attacks-2023-10?amp

10/17/23: "Top universities facing antisemitism accusations, losing long-time donors amid Israel-Hamas conflict"- https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4260925-universities-antisemitism-donors-israel-hamas-conflict/

?/?/23: "The Huntsman family says it's cutting off its mega-donations to University of Pennsylvania over 'antisemitism'"- https://www.businessinsider.com/jon-huntsman-family-stops-donations-penn-university-antisemitism-israel-response-2023-10

International

10/9/23: "Who are Hamas? The group that rules the Gaza Strip has fought several rounds of war with Israel"- https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a?fbclid=IwAR1B5uDu7btw__ULQHxWjm2Vm52RQ-EvWcQv7I41VrYeiBKfU0Pe9C_3I58

2023 September News

9/6/23: "Jewelle Gomez: the Black lesbain writer who changed vampire fiction- and the world"- https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/06/jewelle-gomez-the-black-lesbian-writer-who-changed-vampire-fiction-and-the-world

9/27/23: "Universities axe diversity statements in wake of US Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action"- https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03049-8

9/29/23: "13 Colorado colleges, universities considered Hispanic-Serving Institutions"- A school having the HSI designation should really mean something, but I have personally worked at a school that had the designation and the only real reason why they had it was due to the number of Hispanic students they had in their population and not on what they actually did to serve those students, which was basically nothing. One employee at an open meeting even asked the leadership what HSI meant because of what little the school did in relation to the population and how little it was talked about. I think that there should be stricter requirements to get this designation and with how it current stands this designation is meaningless. https://www.denver7.com/lifestyle/education/13-colorado-colleges-and-universities-considered-hispanic-serving-institutions

August 2023 News

National 

8/7/23: "Jada Pinkett Smith Shares Photo of Her Hair's 'Come Back' as She Continues to Deal with Alopecia"-  https://people.com/jada-pinkett-smith-photo-hair-comeback-alopecia-7570646

8/12/23: Miles Morales' Broken Spider-Sense is a Powerful Message About Mental Health"- https://screenrant.com/miles-morales-spiderman-spider-sense-ptsd-mental-health/

8/14/23: "Parents can't challenge Maryland school's gender identity policy, court rules"-https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna99880

8/15/23: "States that protect transgender health care now try to absorb demand"- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna99966

8/16/23: "Blue Beetle is a Splendid Surprise and Heartfelt Tribute to Latino Culture"- https://nerdist.com/article/blue-beetle-dc-movie-review-heartfelt-tribute-to-latino-culture-excellent-performance-xolo-mariduena-as-jaime-reyes/ "North Korea says Travis King wants refuge from mistreatment, racism in US"- If this is true, North Korea is not one of the place you would want to go..... https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-says-us-soldier-travis-king-expressed-willingness-seek-refuge-kcna-2023-08-15/

8/17/23: "Starbucks must pay another $2.7 million to employee who said she was fired for being White"- https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/business/starbucks-payment-racial-discrimination-white/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2jsmc1t-kQjyycTcqK2Z5jiA-3eNoqFzF5_ve3ou-WjCcd5Z3yDmMjjok

8/18/23: "Professor Leaving University After Being Dubbed 'Pretendian' for Years"- https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/diversity-equity/2023/08/18/professor-leaving-after-being-dubbed-pretendian

8/21/23: "Texas teen was told girls of color couldn't do well. She's graduating college at 14"- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/08/13/texas-teenager-science-graduating-college/70565236007/

8/24/23: "Charter school launches new Pre-K program to help kids with disabilities"- https://www.live5news.com/2023/08/24/charter-school-launches-new-pre-k-program-help-kids-with-disabilities/?outputType=amp "Oklahoma Board of Education Unanimously Votes For Public Schools To Submit Pronoun Usage Policy"- https://www.newson6.com/story/64e7d7826611d90729afdf3e/oklahoma-board-of-education-unanimously-votes-for-public-schools-to-submit-pronoun-usage-policy "Oklahoma superintendent pushes religion into public classrooms"- Here's another example of how religious groups find it ok to force religion on others. They talk about rights while they force their beliefs on others. This is also a form of indoctrination and brain washing. Religion is one of the oldest forms of brain washing in human history. https://www.newsnationnow.com/religion/oklahoma-superintendent-religion-public-classrooms/amp/

8/29/23: "Alice Cooper Dropped from Make Up Partnership for Transphobic Comments"- https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/alice-cooper-dropped-from-make-up-partnership-for-transphobic-comments/

July 2023 News

Local

7/19/23: "Colorado Republicans Rebuke Own Members for Standing With Transgender Lawmakers"- https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/colorado-republicans-rebuke-own-members-for-standing-with-transgender-lawmakers/

National

7/11/23: "Abortion laws are driving academics out of some U.S. states- and keeping others from coming in, laws related to LGBTQ+ issues and diversity are also at play"- https://www.science.org/content/article/abortion-laws-are-driving-academics-out-some-u-s-states-and-keeping-others-coming

7/12/23: "6 DEI leaders just left senior roles in Hollywood and media - it's part of a larger problem: 'It's absolutely alarming'"- This is where I see false words in media. Some of these people that they are calling leaders in DEI don't actually have a background in anything that would make them qualified for those positions beside just being hired into a position where DEI words are in the title. One example from the article is Karen Horne. If you look at her LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-horne-90b6603/) the job she left at Warner Bros. was her first job to have DEI related words in it and before that she was in HR. Putting people from HR into DEI positions is a horrible mistake and has helped to lead into all of the corruption of DEI because they do not have the cultural training or diversity training they need to be successful. Yes they can tell you about business laws, but past that they are useless. For Horne, the one degree she has is in broadcasting, so unless she did a lot of electives in DEI topics, which more then likely she didn't, then she can't even fall back on that as showing an understanding of cultural topics. Jeanell English (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanell-english/) is in much of the same position with her background mostly in HR and her education in business. Our society needs to see that DEI is failing because we are viewing people as leaders that are not really leaders in the field. Now with information out there on places like LinkedIn we need to be checking what credentials people really have and hold accountable businesses for hiring people into positions where they have no background. https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/07/12/6-dei-leaders-just-left-roles-in-hollywood-media-its-part-of-a-larger-problem.html

7/13/23: "Montana State Library withdraws from national library group over president's 'Marxist lesbian' comment"- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna94130 

7/15/23: "Why so many U.S. schools are adding Sikhism to their curriculum"- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna87937

7/20/23: "Seth Marnin is the Nation's First Out Trans Male Judge"- https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/seth-marnin-is-the-nations-first-out-trans-male-judge/

International

7/24/23: "Trans Activist Called on Crowd to Punch TERF Women in the Face During Hate Inciting Speech"- This is not ok on any level. They should be focused on boycotts, sit-ins, voting, and other non-violent forms of protest. Threating to hit someone should not be allowed and they should be arrested for supporting violent actions. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trans-activist-called-on-crowd-to-punch-terf-women-in-the-face-during-hate-inciting-speech/ar-AA1egaoX?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=54ce4dcd3cac4f79be1252c8f5ed6cf5&ei=10

June 2023 News

National

6/1/23: "Former Houghton University employee claims he was fired for using pronouns in email signature"- https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/former-houghton-university-employee-claims-fired-pronouns-email/story?id=99756517 "Elon Musk's new Twitter pronoun rule invites bullying, LGBTQ group say"- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna87336

6/3/23: "A federal judge rejects Tennessee's anti-drag law as too broad and vague"- https://www.npr.org/2023/06/03/1179990709/tennessee-drag-show-law-ruling

6/5/23: "Lakota School Board creates a new diversity council that excludes controversial member"- https://www.wvxu.org/education/2023-06-05/lakota-school-board-diversity-council-darby-boddi

6/6/23: Ron DeSantis loses big in court as judge issues scathing ruling on his anti-trans healthcare law: 'Gender identity is real'"- https://www.businessinsider.com/ron-desantis-loses-in-court-on-his-anti-trans-healthcare-law-2023-6?amp

6/8/23: "Asian Americans have mixed views on using race in college admissions: analysis"- https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/4041525-asian-americans-mixed-views-affirmative-action-schools/

6/9/23: "A Battle Over DEI in Central Virginia: Despite their differences, both the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia have defended diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the face of criticism"- https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/race-ethnicity/2023/06/09/two-institutions-two-different-defenses-dei-virginia

6/14/23: "DEI programs in universities are being cut across the country. What does this mean for higher education?"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/14/us/colleges-diversity-equity-inclusion-higher-education-cec/index.html "Greg Abbott signs law banning diversity offices in Texas higher education"- Not surprising since it is Texas the state that likes to say it's about freedom, but likes to step on the freedom of people. I keep hoping that Texas will leave the US, that way it can take all the people that like hurting others with them. Maybe that's what the world needs, one area Texas where conservatives go go and they can leave everyone else alone. For more information on this bill you can check out (https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB17/2023) https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/14/new-texas-bans-law-diversity-offices-state-higher-education "Cartoon Network to introduce they/them pronouns in 'LGBTQ inclusive episode' of kids' show"- Of course since this was a Fox article they try to turn this into a negative and love to throw in 'grooming' which they and people that talk about grooming know nothing about. Conservatives are just as guilty with grooming, but they call it religion. Any religion is a form of grooming and a strong case can be made about the negative influence that religions have had throughout human history when compared to any impacts that the LGBTQ community has had. Religion has been filled with hate and greed not to mention all of the sex scandals in the churches. This is an example where people really need to educate themselves on these topics. If kids are old enough to go to Sunday school and get brain washed then they are old enough for a cartoon introducing them to topics in DEI https://www.foxnews.com/media/cartoon-network-introduce-they/them-pronouns-lgbtq-inclusive-episode-kids-show.amp

6/16/23: "Meet the drag nuns caught up in the culture war over Pride events"- https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/meet-drag-nuns-caught-culture-war-pride-events-rcna89540

6/20/23: "Federal judge strikes down Arkansas' ban on gender-affirming treatment for trans youth"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/20/politics/arkansas-transgender-treatments-medical-ban-blocked/index.html

6/21/23: "Elon Musk declares 'cis' and cisgender' will be considered slurs on Twitter that can be punishable with suspension"- This just goes to show how little Elon Musk actually knows. He may know business, but when it comes to anything else he really needs to educate on what stuff really means and not just listen to politics. He is rich enough to actually hire unbiased advisors, but instead of that he just likes to show off how little he knows. This is a great example of how having money does not mean that you are smart or actually deserve it. https://fortune.com/2023/06/21/elon-musk-declares-cis-cisgender-slurs-twitter-punishable-suspension/amp/ "Blood-Quantum Laws Are Splintering My Tribe"- this actually shows the racist bias that some Native American tribes have and that they are trying to keep their 'race' as pure as possible while outing those they consider not desirable. Racism can be found in all places and is not just an everyone vs whites. Natives have also pulled this stuff on other groups that were either a part of the tribe through adoption or people the offspring of other raced groups. One interesting case study of this is Black Cherokees. I recommend that you do research on this topic if you are not familiar. I'll actually in the next couple months or so be posting a book review that addresses this topic. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/06/blood-quantum-laws-native-american-tribal-communities/674461/ "Disney's diversity chief reportedly exits after 'woke' policies controversies"- I decided to look her up and that before she got her first job at Toyota (in which she worked at US branches and not Japan) that she had no real experience working with different ethnic groups formally besides them just being part of the general population and even her education has nothing at all to do with the subject matter. I will full admit that this is a classic example of someone being thrown into a job that they know nothing about and just moving up warping things to their own personal views because they don't have a background with the subject matter. She can't even claim a knowledge of Title IX with a human resource background before she leaped into DEI. It is very disappointing that Disney would hire someone as inexperienced as she is, but I've been noticing this a lot when I have been looking at people in DEI at major companies. https://nypost.com/2023/06/21/disney-woke-diversity-chief-latondra-newton-quits/amp/

6/23/23: "Why Black Women Are the Most Educated Group in the United States"- https://blackgirlnerds.com/why-black-women-are-among-the-most-educated-group-in-the-united-states/

Global

6/5/23: "Nearly 80 students, mostly girls, are poisoned in Afghanistan, say officials"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/05/asia/afghan-schoolgirls-poisoning-intl/index.html

6/11/23: "A third of young men in Germany think violence against women is 'acceptable,' study finds"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/11/europe/germany-violence-against-women-study-intl/index.html 

6/16/23: "Japan passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill"- https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/16/asia/japan-lgbt-bill-passed-intl-hnk/index.html

6/17/23: "A South Korean mayor led hundreds of city officials to stop an annual pride festival but police intervened to protect organizers and allow the event to proceed"- https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korean-mayor-tried-to-block-pride-festival-police-intervened-2023-6?amp

Info on Latondra Newton came from her LinkIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latondranewton/

May 2023 News

Local News

5/18 or 19/ 2023: "Denver museum closing 'problematic' North American Indian exhibit"- For more detailed info about this situation check out our post that focuses on this topic. Basically in the little quote the museum acknowledges that Natives were a part of the building of the exhibit and that they have no problem erasing their voices for the voices of others instead of adding to the conversation. Big surprise that not all Native Americans agree on the same topics but people like the museum leadership thinks that all Native Americans are the same and that they agree with everything. This is a very biased approach and the museum needs to be held accountable for their silencing of Native voices. We are calling for a full boycott of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-museum-closing-exhibit-issues-healing-statement/amp/

National and World News

5/20/23: "Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon Is a Triumph"- If you haven't read the book that this is based off you should. I actually had to read it as part of my masters program and it was a topic in Native American history that I had not ran into before. This is a part of our Nation's history that everyone should know about. https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/05/martin-scorsese-killers-of-the-flower-moon-review/674125/ "DeSantis asks that judge be disqualified from Disney's free speech lawsuit"- With this whole mess I keep wondering when is DeSantis going to be held accountable for abuse of power in his personal dealings with the Disney company. This is very personal for him and he is abusing his power to try and attack them because of their values. https://apnews.com/article/disney-desantis-florida-lgbtq-orlando-ba2580a0677cfa4a9958dc828661cb88 "NAACP issues travel warning in Florida: the state 'has become hostile to Black Americans"- Actually this warning should be for most minorities and special groups. If you have any characteristic that does not fit DeSantis's standard you have a target on your back in this state. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4013835-naacp-issues-travel-warning-in-florida-the-state-has-become-hostile-to-black-americans/

5/22/23: "A transgender girl misses her high school graduation after Mississippi judge denies emergency plea to permit her to go in a dress and heels"- So I have a few problems with this. First the student shouldn't have needed to worry about wearing a dress and heels at all. As a cis-gendered women, wearing a dress and heels does not make me a women. To be truthful I don't ever really wear heels and dress only sometimes in the summer or weddings. She should not have allowed clothing to help define who she is. A person is so much more then the clothes they wear. She only hurt herself by missing her graduation and the people trying to stop her from attending got what they wanted. She should have worn pants and then just flipped everyone off as she walked off the stage. That would have been a statement. At the same time people should be able to wear what ever they want. It's just clothes and as long as all body 'parts' are covered. I'm actually more horrified by going to the pool and seeing girls and women showing off all their goods then a guy wearing a tasteful dress. Our society really has messed up values. Then what if a male wants to wear a kilt? It's still a form of skirt in its form. Just some food for thought...then what happens if they wear the kilt in true form...if you don't know what that means, look it up. We as a society are too focused on physical appearance and we need to move away from it because of how much it negatively impacts our lives.  https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/05/20/us/mississippi-judge-denies-transgender-high-school-graduation-dress/index.html "Fear of USCIS scrutiny deters many Indians from filing H-1B petition"- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/us-canada-news/fear-of-uscis-scrutiny-deters-many-indians-from-filing-h-1b-petition/articleshow/100423703.cms "More women sue Texas saying the state's anti-abortion laws harmed them"- https://www.npr.org/2023/05/22/1177425651/texas-women-sue-abortion

5/24/23: "'Bud Lighted': Target is latest to face boycott calls over support for the LGBTQ+ community"- I have told people to use boycotts and this shows what boycotts can do when used by the other side. We need to boycott businesses that are  or ran by hateful people, like My Pillow, and spend our money at stores that support diversity in all its forms. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/05/24/budlighted-campaign-hits-target-over-trans-lgbtq-support/70254454007/

5/25/23: "Target's surrender to MAGA rage shows how anti-wokeness really works"- https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/25/target-pulls-lgbtq-clothing-right-wing-maga/ "Orders surge for trans designer after Target pulls products"- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/orders-surge-trans-designer-target-133337941.html "Mural of Native American chief mascot going up near Massapequa High School despite state ban"- This shows that people do use Native American imagery to honor Natives and that not everyone agrees that images of Natives should disappear. https://abc7ny.com/massapequa-high-school-mural-native-american-mascot/13299378/

5/29/23: "Singer Paloma Faith Pissed at New 'Little Mermaid' Over Ariel Giving Up Voice For Eric, 'WTF Is This S***?'"- A lot of the older Disney stories do reinforce classic gender places and when they do remakes they are not making changes to take this into account. In this case Faith is correct that this film is about a girl willing to give up who she is to be with a guy instead of being who she is. In a way many of the old Disney films have lied to females for now generations about their place in the world and what love should look like. Disney is getting better about this, but their old stuff is problematic. Viewers need to keep this in mind and decided when it is ok to show children movies that have these older concepts in them. https://www.tmz.com/2023/05/29/paloma-faith-little-mermaid-movie-ariel-prince-eric-disney-halle-bailey/?fbclid=IwAR3tdeXjISFCJtCpVYPA8WQ5RhSp1L9JiS-2IIlx_KBpfoZsfcEdjk6dS-A

April 2023 News

 

International

4/20/23: "We're coming out: Tokyo Rainbow Pride is back, back, back, back, back again"- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/04/20/lifestyle/tokyo-rainbow-pride-back/

February 2023 Cultural News

Local

2/9/23: "Weld County library allegedly in violation of anti-discrimination laws"- https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/colorado/news/weld-county-library-allegedly-violation-anti-discrimination-laws/

2/16/23: "Tocabe Launches Direct-to-Tribe Ready Meal Program"- https://www.westword.com/restaurants/tocabe-direct-to-tribe-ready-meal-program-16178605?fbclid=IwAR2r86sfhF5tf6Lj0ZY9BRdQ6R56jFcCzQvg3DqjlrSDFmd9mdgpuia4Z58

National/International

2/3/23: "Hogwarts Legacy community reinstates three-year-old ban on discussing J.K. Rowling"- Her supporters use her to justify attacks against minority groups, specifically the trans community. https://www.gamesradar.com/hogwarts-legacy-community-reinstates-three-year-old-ban-on-discussing-jk-rowling/

2/10/23: "Hogwarts Legacy: Why are people boycotting one of the biggest games of the year?" - I'm surprised that people are even willing to work with JK after what she has done. It really tells you who are more into profits then social issues. The boycott should be fully supported.  https://news.sky.com/story/amp/hogwarts-legacy-why-are-people-boycotting-one-of-the-biggest-games-of-the-year-12790384 "Star Trek: Discovery's Anthony Rapp Vocally joins the Hogwarts Legacy Boycott"- https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-discovery-anthony-rapp-hogwarts-legacy-boycott/

2/20/23: "20 Books Like 'Harry Potter' To Read Instead of Supporting J.K. Rowling"- https://www.themarysue.com/books-like-harry-potter-to-read-instead-of-supporting-jk-rowling/

2/21/23: "Parents speak out against school canceling honors classes in the name of equity: 'It's not working'"- https://www.foxnews.com/media/parents-speak-against-school-canceling-honors-classes-name-equity.amp