REPORT: Colorado State dropped $107,000 to identify instances of racism, only to find none

Colorado State University spent $107,000 on a fruitless investigation into racism allegations within its athletics department.

According to the Denver Post, the university paid law firm Husch Blackwell $107,397.50 for more than 304.6 billable hours of services rendered, resulting in an hourly rate of $371.14. The invoice noted that the firm gave CSU a “discount” of percent.

In October, Campus Reform reported that the university hired the investigators to look into issues related to COVID-19 policy compliance and alleged racial bias. 

[RELATED: CSU finds athletics dept is not racist, will institute diversity training anyway]

“The investigators found that most student-athletes who participated in the investigation disputed allegations of pervasive racial inequities or harassment within their athletic team or the Athletic Department more broadly,” explained CSU President Joyce McConnell. 

“Few individuals alleged that such incidents were widespread or tolerated by current coaching staff,” she added.

In spite of the scant evidence for a continued problem with racism, Husch Blackwell recommended that the university “continue or supplement diversity and inclusion training University-wide, with a special focus on the Athletics Department, to advance empathy-building, racial sensitivity and cultural understanding.”

[RELATED: UVA employees form anti-racism union]

McConnell agreed with the firm’s assessment, announcing that the university “will work quickly to implement the recommendations made in the report and prioritize these issues across the institution as we have committed to do.”

The investigation into COVID-19 compliance likewise revealed no serious problems, as most students stated that they felt safe during team activities.

A Colorado State undergraduate, who wished to remain anonymous, told Campus Reform that the university “is investing more resources on issues that will grab the media’s attention and notoriety rather than using those resources for the needs of the students attending the university.”

The student told Campus Reform that Colorado State sends weekly emails about “positive changes” at the university. 

Nevertheless, “students are not pleased with the current administration.”

“Instead of spending $107K on a useless goose chase, how about they repair the windows in Westfall Hall so their students don’t freeze at night, or perhaps the asbestos in Clark C?” she said. “What we want is proper education, not left-wing indoctrination.”

Campus Reform reached out to Colorado State University for comment and will update this article accordingly.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @BenZeisloft