CU regent claims conservative views aren't "respected" or "accepted" on campus

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by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

In a Facebook post last week, University of Colorado (CU) Regent Sue Sharkey stated that “conservative views on a college campus are not respected, and certainly not accepted.”

Asked by the Colorado Times Recorder if she stands behind her statement, Sharkey said, “Yes, of course. You see that at universities across the nation.”

And at CU in particular?

“All universities,” she responded. “CU is a public university, like every other one across the country. When a conservative speaker is at a university, whether it’s CU or UC Berkeley or anywhere, they are shouted down. You don’t see, when liberal speakers come to a university, protesters by the hundreds or conservative protesters breaking windows or setting fires or shouting down liberal speakers. It doesn’t happen.”

The issue came up on Sharkey’s Facebook page after she wrote that a Facebook commenter “represents many on the left who have no tolerance for differing opinions, and respectful dialogue.”

In response, former Denver Post reporter Lynne Bartels wrote on Sharkey’s Facebook page:

Bartels: Sue, wait just one minute. As a reporter, I got calls form both sides that were ugly, insulting and disrespectful. This is an American problem, not a left or a right one.”

Sharkey: “Lynn, possibly it’s because I’m surrounded by folks from the left that I’m hearing their hostility. Respect for conservative views on a college campus are not respected, and certainly not accepted.”

Asked why she’d say she’s surrounded by “folks from the left” when a majority of the CU regents are Republicans, and the CU President, Bruce Benson, is a well-known Republican, Sharkey stated:

Sharkey: “We have five out of nine Republican Regents out of thousands of students and faculty and staff who identify as Democrats. The statistics have shown faculty, by a large majority, are registered Democrats. The president [of CU] is not politically active. Period. He may be affiliated as a Republican, but he’s not a Republican activist by any means. He’s running the University. He’s not acting as a Republican. He’s acting as a university president, as he should.”

8 thoughts on “CU regent claims conservative views aren’t “respected” or “accepted” on campus”

JohnInDenver says:

May 17, 2017 at 10:20 pm

I am a escaped academic — taught for a number of years, including some at the U of Colorado Boulder.

While there may have been some "lean left" in politics among members of many departments, there also were a number of "lean right" members of others — especially the Business School.

I can't recall the last time I read of a conservative speaker being shouted down. I do recall the institutional reaction to Ward Churchill's left-leaning views.

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1. Voyageur says:
  
  May 17, 2017 at 10:37 pm
  
  In fairness, John, Churchill wasn't fired for his views but for research misconduct and plaigiarism as determined by his faculty peers. His history of domestic abuse didn't help.
  
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notaskinnycook says:

May 18, 2017 at 12:11 am

Benson's not an active Republican? He ran for governor, for pity's sake! I guess some people just don't keep up.

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Gilpin Guy says:

May 18, 2017 at 11:32 am

This is her priority? Making sure that Right-Wing views are 'accepted' on campus. Where is that plucky conservative superiority in the arena of ideas?

Why is this individual not talking about how to bring down the cost of a college education so that middle class Colorado families can send their sons and daughters to CU Boulder for a world-class education. Ms Sharkey is just another ideologue in a long line of Apparatchik's that infiltrate organizations to destroy them. No clue what is important for educating our children in this technological age with alternate realities.

What an odious failure of her duties to the students and taxpayers she serves.

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1. DawnPatrol says:
  
  May 18, 2017 at 12:03 pm
  
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DawnPatrol says:

May 18, 2017 at 12:01 pm

Sounds like she should be teaching "Pissing, Moaning, Bitching, Whining and Phony Eternal Grievance and Victimhood 101."

And these lily-livered, crybaby poofs have the unmitigated gall to call us "snowflakes"…

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1. Gilpin Guy says:
  
  May 18, 2017 at 1:52 pm
  
  She should be voted off the CU Board of Regents at the earliest opportunity.
  
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Diogenesdemar says:

May 18, 2017 at 2:09 pm

Cripes. An institution of higher learning and scientific research that doesn't have a chair, or even a department, of science denial???? How are we ever gonna' manage to educate students to function in a highly competitive global market if we can't compete with the likes of Liberty University, or even our very own CCU????

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