Early Bird

Sharing in the array of holiday traditions

Celebrating the season also means celebrating one another and our MSU Denver values.

By Larry Sampler, chief operating officer

November 30, 2021

Dear Roadrunners,

As we enter December, our campus community prepares to observe a wide variety of end-of-the-year holidays. In the spirit of the season and of our ongoing efforts to practice inclusion in all we do, I invite you each to celebrate the upcoming holidays in ways that are true to our Metropolitan State University of Denver values.

One of the things I’m most proud of at MSU Denver is our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. These are important attributes of any organization that wants to be successful and create a positive work experience, but our support for these values must be more than superficial. It requires thoughtful attention at the institutional and personal levels.

There is a quote, often misattributed to Edmund Burke, that says, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” While we’re not dealing with “evil,” and the gender pronoun was a product of the times, the principle still applies. I’ll turn it around and make it mine: “For MSU Denver to successfully become the great and welcoming place we desire to be, everyone must be involved!”

So my challenge to all of you is this: As you practice your personal holiday and religious traditions, view your celebrations at MSU Denver through the lens of diversity and inclusivity. Let your holiday flag fly, but consider how you might honor other traditions as well. 

As you plan celebrations with colleagues and decorate your workspaces, consider meaningful ways to display or incorporate the symbols of other year-end holidays and traditions. Personally, I enjoy seeing Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and other faith traditions celebrated across our diverse campus community. If you have a colleague who observes different traditions from your own, invite them to work with you on how to represent both. This way, we can all feel seen, recognized and celebrated for the talented, thoughtful and empathetic team that we are, and we can truly celebrate these holidays together as an MSU Denver community.

Irie, y’all,

Larry Sampler, chief operating officer and vice president for Administration