CU Boulder’s rescinds visiting scholar John Eastman’s speaking and outreach duties after claiming election fraud

John Eastman, a visiting scholar at the University of Colorado in conservative thought and policy at the Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization, gained attention over his participation at a Trump rally on Wednesday, Jan. 6 in Washington D.C. Hours before the Capitol riots occurred, Eastman spoke at the “Save America” rally where he stood beside Rudy Guiliani, former President Trump’s personal attorney. 

“We know there was fraud, traditional fraud that occurred,” Eastman said in reference to the presidential election. “We know that dead people voted.” 

The Washington Post reported on Jan. 11 that Eastman was in the Oval Office the day before the Capitol riots and was part of a meeting with former Vice President Pence, discussing the idea for Pence to object to the counting of electoral college results declaring President Joe Biden’s victory.

Eastman quickly came under fire following his rally speech, including from stakeholders at CU Boulder and Chapman University, where he was a tenured professor. Eastman has agreed to resign from Chapman University, yet CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano didn’t have the same plans.

In DiStefano’s initial statement on Jan. 7, he condemned Eastman’s conduct but announced he won’t dismiss him from his visiting position.  

“I will not violate the law by removing a visiting professor from a position that he will occupy at most for only a few more months, as his contract will expire in May,” DiStefano said in the statement. 

In the proceeding weeks, CU cancelled Eastman’s classes for the Spring 2021 semester, citing low enrollment numbers as only eight students signed up. Then, CU rescinded Eastman’s outreach duties on Jan. 21, declaring he would no longer speak as a representative of the Benson Center but can carry on with scholarship at the university. CU continues to pay his academic year salary of $185,000, the Daily Camera reported. 

Some students and faculty disapprove of the university’s decision, since many faculty members have received pay cuts and staff have been laid off, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angie Chuang, CU Boulder associate professor of journalism, tweeted in response to the university’s resolution saying, “Anyone at @CUBoulder who’s taken a pay cut, foregone a merit raise, has been furloughed or laid off ‘because COVID,’ or is struggling to make rent on an adjunct or GPTI salary, should be outraged by this.”

Like many professors, CU students took to social media to express their concern with allowing Eastman to remain part of the CU community. New Era Colorado, a young voter mobilization organization, advertised a petition on Instagram, stating failure to remove Eastman goes against the university’s mission to “positively impact humanity,” and states all members of the community should “act with honor, integrity, and accountability.” The original post has gained over 5,000 likes and over 170 comments. 

Several students of highly respected organizations have been vocal about their dissatisfaction. Mia Rodriguez, junior Leeds School of Business Senator and candidate for 2021 CUSG Tri-Executive with the Transform CU campaign, spoke with The Bold about how Eastman is affecting the university reputation and character. 

“I think that not removing him from campus sends a message to prospective students of color who are considering CU and it sends the wrong message,” Rodriguez said. “If I were CU, I would’ve used the Capitol attack as the perfect reason to dismiss a professor who participates in preaching hate. Actions speak louder than words and CU’s true color shows with their inaction.”

Students like Rodriguez are worried about CU’s failure to side with minority groups and populations, in spite of the copious amount of diversity and inclusion advertisements from the University. 

Frustration also was expressed by parents of CU students. Susan Gaylord, a parent of a CU junior, contacted The Bold to express her concern and addressed a letter to Chancellor DiStefano. “I am quite outraged that you would consider Eastman’s spread of lies and conspiracy theories a right of free speech and a reason to keep him on staff,” Gaylord wrote in her letter to Chancellor DiStefano.

Members of diversifyCUnow, an organization devoted to magnifying BIPOC voices, have placed their support with fellow students pushing for change. The alliance is made up of all levels of CU affiliates including undergraduate, graduate, staff, faculty, administration and research associates. 

“As an immigrant and student of color, I would never feel comfortable in Professor Eastman’s class after his actions and the lies and racist remarks,” said Suvu Singh, an undergraduate student of journalism and political science and an organizer of diversifyCUnow. “His article about vice president-elect Harris reeks of xenophobia. He shouldn’t have the platform of a classroom to further spread his baseless lies and conspiracies.” 

Ruth Woldemichael, CU junior and president of Black Student Alliance, provided her opinion in a statement to The Bold. 

“We clearly see CU refusing to remove Eastman as a visiting professor, even after his participation in the white supremacist riots in the capital, in the name of ‘freedom of speech,’” Woldemichael said. “This is a continuation of CU’s violence and complacency. Chapman took action, so should CU, but it seems like they don’t mind having a white nationalist associated with the university.”

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, executive members of the Graduate and Professional Student Government brought a resolution to their Assembly about Eastman, in addition to a statement, condemning his actions.  

“Instructors at CU whether they are faculty, graduate students, whatever it may be, if you’re a public educator in the state of Colorado, there’s a state law that says you have to affirm that you’re going to uphold the constitutions of the U.S. in Colorado,” said Anthony Pinter, GPSG vice president of external affairs. 

Several petitions and letters demanding Eastman’s dismissal have called upon the CU Board of Regents to take action. The Board of Regents do not assist in the selection of visiting scholars, as it is autonomous with each campus and most centers are privately funded, including the Benson Center. Glen Gallegos, a Republican from the third congressional district on the Board of Regents, explains he “is very satisfied with how the university handled it.” 

He claims, “People have the right to say and to do things, much of this wasn’t tied in to the university, he wasn’t working on behalf of the university or speaking for the university, so he has his first amendment rights and it’s very important that we work very hard to protect those, those first amendment rights.” Gallegos feels “very, very, very good,” about how the Boulder campus has handled the situation overall.