Colorado Advisory Committee

Antisemitism and Colorado's Auraria Campus

The Colorado Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Committee) seeks to examine the presence and/or absence of antisemitism at three Colorado universities and colleges, specifically at the Auraria Campus in Denver that hosts the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and University of Colorado Denver. As part of its yearlong inquiry, the Committee seeks to examine the nature, prevalence, and impact of antisemitism on college campuses in the current context. By disentangling overlapping issues, this study aims to contribute to more informed approaches to federal, state, and education policy in higher education and develop recommendations directed to the appropriate entities for consideration.

As part of this inquiry, the Committee will hold two additional briefings on: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to hear testimony from university and college administrators immediately followed by a Community Forum; and Wednesday, September 3, 2025, to hear testimony from student organizations and impacted individuals. 

Panel Briefing I

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Agenda

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Panel Presentations:

Susan Rona, Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League (Mountain Region)

Eugene Volokh, Thomas M. Siebel Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution

Deborah Hellman, Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Virginia

Kenneth Marcus, Founder and Chairman, Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under the Law

Q & A for Panelists 

Public Comments (3:35 pm) 

Closing Remarks and Adjournment



Panel Briefing II: University and College Administrators

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Agenda

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Panel Presentations

Skip Spear, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Auraria Campus

Chris Puckett, Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Government Relations & Managing Associate University Counsel, University of Colorado Denver, Co-presenting with Valerie Simons, Vice President of Compliance and Equity System Title IX Coordinator

David Fine, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Metro State University

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis, President, Community College of Denver

Q & A for Panelists

Briefing Closing Remarks and Adjournment; Followed Immediately by Community Forum

*audience members may join at 4:00 - 5:00 pm to participate during the Community Forum and are encouraged to sign up in advance to share comments with the Committee.



To participate by phone (audio only): Dial 1-833-435-1820 and enter Webinar ID: 160 768 4758 #

Community Forum

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Agenda

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

 Public Comment

 Closing Remarks and Adjournment

*to accommodate as many audience members as possible, the Committee encourages audience members to sign up in advance and join at the start of the Community Forum.

To participate by phone (audio only): Dial 1-833-435-1820 and enter Webinar ID: 160 768 4758 #



Panel Briefing III: Student Organizations and Impacted Individuals

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Agenda

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Panel Presentations:

Rabbi Yisrael Ort, Chabad of Auraria

Daniel Bennett, Executive Director, Hillel of Colorado

Asa Willett, Member, Jewish Voice for Peace

Brandon Rattiner, Senior Director, Jewish Community Relations Council

 Public Comment

 Closing Remarks and Adjournment



To participate by phone (audio only): Dial 1-833-435-1820 and enter Webinar ID: 161 151 3494 #



Closed captioning is available through Zoom by selecting "CC" in the meeting platform. Individuals requiring accommodations should contact Evelyn Bohor at ebohor@usccr.gov at least 10 business days prior to the meeting.

A public comment period was held near the end of each briefing, allowing members of the public to provide oral comments for up to three minutes on the topic. In addition, a sign-up form was made available for those wishing to provide public comments in advance at any of the three briefings. Public comments were also received from other individuals. Please note that the Committee is advisory in nature and does not have enforcement authority. As such, the Committee is unable to investigate or resolve individual civil rights complaints.

Written comments will also be accepted—members of the public may submit written comments to ebohor@usccr.gov or through an online form https://tinyurl.com/COWrittenTestimony due by October 6, 2025 to be considered by the Committee.

Each briefing is recorded and transcribed for the public record. Meeting records relevant to this project are available here:

For questions, please contact:

Evelyn Bohor, Support Specialist

ebohor@usccr.gov

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