Social Justice
Our College community takes to heart the University's call to be a private university dedicated to the public good. From elevating incarcerated people's voices to supporting underrepresented creators in the digital-art landscape, our faculty are active in promoting social-justice causes. Faculty, staff and alumni in a variety of areas do research and invite students along for the journey through critically-engaged and service learning opportunities. Labs, centers, institutes and organizations in the College do this work on an ongoing basis and bring this work out into the Denver community.
Social Justice Research News
Criminal Justice
- DU’s Prison Arts Initiative Launches Statewide Radio Station
- DU Senior Aspires to Serve Some of Society’s Most Vulnerable
- Artwork and Performances from People Inside Colorado's Prisons
- The Death Penalty: Who Dies and Why
- Cross-disciplinary Team Gets Grant to Tackle Prison Reform in Colorado
- Q&A: What You Need to Know About Calls to Defund the Police
Social Justice in the Arts
- DU Alumna Wins Second Emmy Award
- CAHSS Sponsors “Traitor, Survivor, Icon” at the Denver Art Museum
- Pandora Papers: Art Trafficking Exposed
- Alumni Build Music Education into Underfunded Schools
- DU Alumna Uses Shakespeare to Prevent Bullying in Colorado Schools
- Myhren MASK Exhibit Celebrates Expression During Pandemic
- How DU Alumnae Are Making Art More Accessible
Indigenous Research and Activism
- Q&A: Tommy Orange, Author of "There There"
- Exploring the Ethics of Native American Collections
- New Faculty Explores Contemporary Issues in Native American Communities
- Native American Scholar Brings Important Perspective to History Classrooms
- The Sand Creek Massacre Took Place More Than 150 Years Ago. It Still Matters
Gender and LGBTQ+ Equity
- The Economics of Abortion Rights: Beyond Morality
- DU’s Provost Brings Women’s Rights Advocacy Experience to the Classroom
- English Alumna Serves Denver’s LGBTQIA Community
- The “Motherhood Penalty”: COVID’s Impact on Working Women
- Q&A: Building Healthy Masculinities at DU
- Q&A: What Paid Family Leave Means for You
- Student Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence Goes National
More Social Justice News
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan for CAHSS
- Q&A: CAHSS Launches Middle East Studies Minor Program
- New MFJS Class Explores Homelessness and Access to Water in Denver
- Q&A: Gentrification, Transit Development and Denver’s Public Schools
- Successful First-Gen Mentorship Program Plans For Expansion
- Q&A: How Effective Are Suicide Interventions?
- Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Program and Major Plans
Research Projects
Programs, Labs, Centers and Institutes
In the Community
Holocaust Remembrance Day: Local Survivors Share Stories on New Educational Website
Witness to History, a project of the Holocaust Awareness Institute in the Center for Judaic Studies, supports the recently passed education mandate for Holocaust and genocide studies in Colorado public schools (HB20-1336).
New MFJS Class Explores Homelessness and Access to Water in Denver
When the coronavirus pandemic put a halt on international travel, an MFJS professor decided to bring her water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) research from Africa to DU’s backyard.
DU Archaeologist Examines the Gardens of Amache
Anthropology Professor Bonnie Clark’s latest book, “Finding Solace in the Soil: An Archaeology of Gardens and Gardeners at Amache” (University Press of Colorado, 2020), describes how gardeners cultivated community in confinement.
Featured Courses
EDPX 3725
Activist Media
About this Course
Today’s alternative cultures use internet and mobile technologies to access and circulate mainstream information, but also to exchange rapidly information that exists outside mainstream media channels. Activist movements today with access to digital tools and networks are no longer dependent on newspapers and broadcast networks to represent them and to disseminate their message. We are, however, just beginning to see how the proliferation of alternative networks of communication, and the content, practices, and identities they facilitate, interact with traditional political and business organizations as well as with traditional media products and practices. This course focuses on media activism over the past half-century tied to various social movements with an emphasis on contemporary protest movements and their use of new and old media tools and strategies. This course satisfies a cultures requirement for emergent digital practices majors and minors.
PLSC 2820
Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties
About this Course
This course addresses major ideas and principles of U.S. constitutional law, with a focus on equal protection of the law, fundamental rights, and freedom of speech and religion. Within each of these areas, we will consider the development of court rulings over time, economic and political influences on court decision-making and policy implications of these rulings. While PLSC 2860 complements this course, it is not necessary to take both courses. Satisfies the department distribution requirement in law. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
ANTH 3500
Culture and the City
About this Course
Examines the past and future of the city as a human built environment that reflects and reproduces social, political, economic, and cultural forces and ideals. Begins with the origin of cities in antiquity and ends with contemporary urban landscapes. Analysis is sensitive to both the technologies and aesthetics of urban form. Emphasis is on the possibilities for urban redesign to meet the problems of 21st century city life.