The University of Denver (DU) is dismantling critical programs that support students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and others from historically marginalized backgrounds—all in anticipation of threats from a the Trump administration hostile to diversity. But fear is no justification for abandoning the students who need support the most.

Chancellor Jeremy Haefner recently announced sweeping rollbacks to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programming, including the elimination of race-based scholarships, DEI trainings, affinity spaces, and even application prompts that asked students to share how they’ve overcome adversity. These changes go beyond compliance—they send a chilling message that DU’s commitment to inclusion is conditional, not courageous.

We understand the pressure facing universities. But DU has not been targeted by any federal investigation. These decisions are preemptive—and, for many students, deeply personal. For Black students like Camryn Gunter, DU’s own Black Student Alliance president, the message is loud and clear: support can disappear overnight.

These changes are not just administrative—they’re existential. For students navigating a predominantly white campus, DEI programs provide more than just funding. They create space. They create safety. They say, "You belong here." Stripping them away doesn’t make DU neutral—it makes DU complicit in the erasure of equity in higher education.

We call on Chancellor Haefner and the University of Denver Board of Trustees to immediately halt the planned rollbacks to DEI programming and instead recommit to providing visible, targeted support for all students, especially those most at risk of marginalization. We urge DU to lead with integrity, not fear.

This is a defining moment. DU can either join a growing list of institutions retreating from diversity—or it can stand firm and show that equity is more than a slogan on a website. Let’s show the university that students, alumni, faculty, and the Denver community are watching—and that we believe in a DU that stands up for all of its students.

Sign this petition to demand that DU keep its promises—and its programs—intact.