August 7, 2020

Dear CSU Community,

I want to share with you some news that CSU Athletics Director Joe Parker recently announced: having learned just today of some extremely troubling allegations of racism and verbal abuse from CSU’s athletic administration in the football program, Athletics Director Parker has paused all CSU football-related activities indefinitely. He has also asked me to expand the independent investigation I announced on Tuesday to include a comprehensive review of our athletic department and football program specifically related to allegations of racism and verbal abuse.

I am profoundly disturbed to hear of these new allegations, and I have already expanded the scope of the investigation. Colorado State University is an avowedly anti-racist university and an avowedly anti-racist community. We will not tolerate a climate that makes any member of this university community feel unwelcome or not valued. On the contrary, we will expose it and put an end to it immediately.

In keeping with my commitment to transparency, I want to further share with all of you the information I shared with our CSU Athletics staff and all student athletes earlier this week. This information and these assurances hold true even in light of the expansion of the scope of the investigation.

As you know, when I learned of the allegations that came forward on Tuesday regarding how CSU Athletics is handling public health precautions surrounding COVID-19, I determined that an independent, outside investigation must be immediately conducted. That investigation commenced [Wednesday, August 5, 2020].

The Office of the General Counsel has retained an outside law firm, Husch Blackwell, to conduct the investigation. The attorneys conducting the investigation are experienced in conducting investigations related to colleges and universities, including athletics. They are based out of Kansas City, Missouri.  [The same attorneys just completed an investigation of the University of Iowa football program which found a climate experienced by Black football players as racist.] At the end of the investigation, a report will be made publicly available.

My expectation is that everyone will fully cooperate with the investigation. The investigators have already begun conducting interviews, and staff and students who have information that they feel is relevant to their inquiry should feel free to reach out to them. Any attempts to retaliate against, pressure, or intimidate individuals who participate in the investigation will not be tolerated. Should that occur, I urge anyone aware of such behavior to report that conduct to the investigators or to my office immediately. 

I deeply regret that we are facing this situation on top of all the other challenges we are facing as we work together to prepare for the Fall 2020 semester at CSU. But I remain excited to welcome our students, returning and new, to campus in just a few weeks. I also remain confident that the resilience, compassion, and creativity that defines CSU will sustain us and that we will come through this difficult period stronger than ever. Thank you all for all that you do every day for CSU, for our students, and for our world.

Sincerely,

Joyce