Editor,
As graduate and professional students and UNM community members, we would like to address statements made earlier in the Daily Lobo that GPSA has recently given too much attention to and been too politically engaged with world events and issues of diversity, equity and inclusion at UNM. Put simply, these statements do not reflect our position as civically engaged community members of UNM or citizens of a larger democratic society.
It has been argued in the Daily Lobo that budgeting and dispersing funds are the primary legitimate functions of the GPSA and that somehow GPSA should be apolitical. GPSA is a political body and, therefore, by definition, cannot be politically disengaged. Just as we students who serve GPSA do not exist in a vacuum, neither can it as an organization of our influence. It is a governing political body meant to address issues affecting its constituents.
We believe that social justice issues such as hate incidents, equity and inclusion have for too long been ignored by GPSA. Given recent incidents, these issues must be included in the scope of GPSA as a representative body. GPSA should play a central role in providing a space for dialogue about social justice and be proactive in fostering a climate of inclusion at UNM.
As world citizens and graduate students concerned about issues of equity, inclusion and diversity, we recognize the risks of institutions and political processes that have ignored the disparate material realities that exist between people. Certainly, with the verbal assault on Miss Indian UNM, the desecration of the Mexican flag and the attacks on campus of South Asian students, we have seen how seemingly small differences between people can breed hostility, resentment and violence.
As graduate students and UNM community members, we have a responsibility to create a safe, equitable and inclusive environment in which to live, learn and work. We are in agreement with President David Schmidly's statement that, "At its essence, diversity is about differences. As such, diversity, properly valued and cultivated can be the source of great creativity, innovation, insight and excitement."
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This is an important historical moment at UNM, and we embrace the challenge that has been put before us. We stand with Schmidly's commitment to ensure that we all "benefit from cultural diversity" by guaranteeing that one of UNM's core values remains a diversity of opinions and perspectives.
In many ways college campuses function as a microcosm of the larger society. When segments of our population are excluded, alienated, wounded or killed on foreign soil, we are all affected. We are deprived of their voices, perspectives and their humanity.
Christopher Ramirez and
Lisa Tsuchiya
Graduate Student Coalition of Diversity
