Grand Junction, Colorado — Controversy surrounds an upcoming event at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) where Jared Taylor, a speaker known for his divisive views, is scheduled to speak, prompting discussions about campus safety and inclusivity. The event is organized by the Western Culture Club, a group recently founded by Maxell Applebaugh, a junior in the business program.
Taylor, who has opted to forgo his speaking fee, will receive financial backing from Texas-based lawyer Jason Lee Van Dyke, known for his connections to groups considered white-nationalist. Van Dyke, who has previously aided similar organizations, mentioned the sponsorship is a gesture of giving back to the activist community that supported him during his student years at Michigan State and Dallas.
Van Dyke’s involvement extends beyond financial contributions. He is currently on retainer for the Western Culture Club to provide legal services amid threats and harassment directed towards the club. Van Dyke has represented controversial groups like Patriot Front and the Proud Boys, and the Southern Poverty Law Center has noted allegations of his membership in these groups as well.
Applebaugh insists that his engagement with such figures does not reflect any deeper affiliations. Despite visible connections, such as being seen wearing merchandise from organizations with troubling reputations, he claims these do not signify formal ties. Applebaugh has also made efforts as a correspondent for Campus Reform, though he notes his article pitches have so far been rejected.
The event has sparked significant concern among the student body, especially among those from diverse backgrounds. Business management freshman Avivah Smith-Ivory, from a mixed-race and mixed-faith family, expressed her worry that the event confirms troubling regional ideologies, which had already been a concern for her family. Similarly, Andrea Montiel-Lastiri, a freshman in criminal justice, criticized the university’s decision to host such a speaker, feeling it contradicts efforts to create an inclusive environment for students of color.
The student body’s reaction extends to the organizational level, with the campus chapter of Turning Point USA showing interest in the event, though the national organization declined involvement. This led to Applebaugh’s decision to dissociate from Turning Point USA, instead forming the Western Culture Club with an emphasis on Western European culture, as distinct from themes traditionally associated with the American West.
Further complicating the organizational efforts, plans for the event initially included a debate between Taylor and a campus professor, which did not materialize. Taylor expressed a willingness to share the stage only with CMU President John Marshall, who did not respond directly to this request. Instead, his response was communicated by Leilani Domingo, president of the Associated Student Government, indicating that Marshall will attend an alternative Campus Unity event.
Despite facing organizational and public relations challenges, Applebaugh remains determined to proceed with the event, emphasizing the importance of dialogue on sensitive topics and the protection of free speech rights. However, the controversy has made garnering broad support difficult.
As CMU and the Western Culture Club navigate the fallout and prepare for the event at the end of March, the campus community remains alert to the implications of such engagements, which test the balance between free expression and maintaining an inclusive academic environment.
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