The newly founded Western Culture Club at Colorado Mesa University invited openly white-supremacist author Jared Taylor to speak on campus.
Taylor founded the New Century Foundation in 1994, most commonly known for publishing his magazine, American Renaissance, which contains numerous racist ideals about anyone who isn’t white.
“Blacks and whites are different. When blacks are left entirely to their own devices, Western civilization — any kind of civilization — disappears,” Taylor said in American Renaissance in 2005.
Another event called the CMU Unity Fest was organized in response to take place on March 27 from 3-8 p.m. It will occur at CMU’s Plaza and will have food trucks, bump and jumps, and music. The CMU Unity Fest will be available to students, faculty, and staff. Free food will be provided to anyone with a Mavcard.
Many students at GJHS take concurrent classes on the CMU campus and will be able to participate in the CMU Unity Fest with the presence of a Mavcard.
Taylor will be speaking to a limited crowd of 80 people at CMU at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, despite heavy pushback from students and Grand Junction residents.
“It’s freedom of speech, I don’t agree with him at all, but it’s our great American experience to talk about what we want,” GJHS junior and CMU concurrent student Jerrik Wingerter said.
Jody Diers, the CMU Vice President for Student Services, said in an email to all students that the 80 tickets to the event have been quickly distributed and attendants will be required to present a valid ID.
While Taylor’s beliefs are widely considered hateful and contradictory to the school’s values, the club has been permitted to host him. Tension over the event has been present at the University, with the possibility of students protesting being apparent.
“Alongside providing for free speech, open expression and academic freedom, CMU has an obligation to ensure presentations, demonstrations and student events happen in an environment where security and physical safety is a priority,” said Diers.
