An Open Letter to Callie Rennison: Remember YOUR OATH - Do not make Ken Montera the chair of the Board of Regents!

Dear Regent Rennison,

I met you in late 2018 at a gathering of CD2 progressives. I remember your excitement about making college education accessible for all. So many of us - progressives - enthusiastically supported you; and while the state of politics has certainly shifted over the last five years, certainly, the bold progressive who won a seat on the CU Board of Regents cannot be so lost as to hand control of Colorado's flagship university system over to the party of Donald Trump.

From your oath to protect and uphold the constitutions of the United States and that of Colorado to your duty of care as a regent for CU's financial well-being, your willingness to simply anoint an individual who has carried the Trump agenda throughout his tenure is outrageous at a minimum and negligent at worst.

Since Donald Trump moved back into the White House, he has ceaselessly punished the people of Colorado and our University system. Mr. Montera has remained deafeningly silent as Trump has stripped CU of over $75 million dollars, costing jobs and weakening Colorado's role as an innovator in sciences and technology (including the decision to shut down the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research facility in Boulder).

Further, we have seen the Trump administration and its supporters run roughshod over civil and constitutional rights, destroy diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and run rampant over reproductive rights and research programs. Mr. Montera has been silent regarding the protection of CU students from ICE agents; he has opposed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, and he has supported an effort to end stem cell research by former regent Heidi Ganahl.

At a time when democracy hangs in the balance, we need our leaders to hold their oath of office above personal relationships. This is why we are standing with progressives across Colorado and asking you not to hand control of the Board of Regents over to those who would carry the Trump agenda.

On behalf of ProgressNow Colorado, CU alumni, and everyone who cares deeply about the future of CU and Colorado's educational institutions, please do not nominate or support Ken Montera's bid for chair of the Board of Regents.

Thank you,

Sara Loflin,
ProgressNow Colorado Executive Director

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