University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson and other campus officials today condemned a stabbing that occurred in the city of Boulder in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, but said the CU-Boulder campus has taken safety precautions with the start of the new academic year and is prepared to welcome its largest freshman class ever.
In that incident, a 21-year-old man, whom authorities have not yet identified pending notification of family members, was stabbed on the Hill area across from campus. His alleged assailants were taken into custody by Boulder Police.
The victim was rushed to a Denver hospital where he is recovering. The man is not a registered, degree-track student at CU-Boulder, but is a Boulder-area resident taking a single evening course through CU-Boulder's Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. Continuing Education courses are open to all members of the general public.
"Violence of this nature has no place in our community, and whether its victims or perpetrators are CU students or not, we absolutely condemn it," said Peterson. "Our hopes for a speedy recovery go out to this young man, and to his family and friends."
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Julie Wong echoed Peterson's sentiments.
"With our largest-ever freshman class moving in this week, I want to encourage our entire student body to do its part in rejecting violence, avoiding needless confrontations and taking all measures to avoid harm and harmful situations," Wong said.
Wong said it is vital that students "work always to take care of each other and secure each other's safety" and "negotiate conflicts and disagreements peacefully while being responsible residents on campus and off."
"That is the baseline expectation embodied in our Code of Conduct, but it is also our philosophy," she said. "Violence of any kind works against the values of scholarship, research and community service that define our reputation and our legacy."
Vice Chancellor for Administration Frank Bruno said the campus was taking the appropriate security measures for move-in week this week and the first week of classes beginning Monday, Aug. 25.
"We will have a strong, multi-agency law enforcement presence on campus and around Boulder, and we are working with our Residence Halls to heighten safety practices in and around student housing," said Bruno.