On Thursday, Feb. 20, speakers at a University of New Mexico Board of Regents meeting raised concerns about President Donald Trump’s executive actions on immigration, funding cuts, and diversity, equity and inclusion. The meeting, held at the Student Union Building, was the first open session of the spring semester and the first meeting for newly appointed regents Patricia Williams and Christina Campos.
Some student and faculty speakers also asked the Regents to consider divesting from Israel and the fossil fuel industry.
During advisors’ comments, Graduate and Professional Student Association President Michel Rivera Ramirez spoke to the Regents about his concerns related to Department of Education guidelines for schools to end race-based programs by Feb. 28.
“UNM should be mindful that we are not only a Hispanic-serving institution, but also we reside in a state with diverse people,” he said.
Speakers also mentioned the December 2024 amendments to UNM’s free speech policies during public comment.
“I am an absolutist when it comes to free speech,” Rivera Ramirez said. “That's the price we pay for being in a land that guarantees free speech to everybody, regardless of whether they support one side or the other.”
Rivera Ramirez referred to the students, faculty members and staff in the audience who have been involved in the divestment movement at UNM.
“These fine folks back here, they're meant to be here,” he said, pointing to a section of the audience filled with people carrying signs and wearing keffiyehs. “Regardless of whether it takes two hours, three hours of your time to hear them out, you should hear everybody.”
Faculty Senate President Cris Elder spoke about the lack of representation of faculty, staff and students at Regents meetings.
“Our experiences, our concerns, our expertise are often overlooked in times of crisis," she said. “President Stokes, I believe you'll support doing a better job of viewing faculty, staff and students as important resources on campus, and not just bodies, individuals to be left sitting what feels like at the kids table.”
Representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine, Faculty & Staff for Justice in Palestine, Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight, and Students for Socialism spoke during public comment.
Benjamin Abbott, a professor of women, gender and sexuality studies, spoke on behalf of FSJP.
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“Instead of sitting here in front of us every meeting, silent and fearful, please have a meeting. Talk to us,” Abbott said during public comment.
SJP member Jillian Grandinetti told the Regents that she lost family members to an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.
Jay Edwards, a political science student, spoke to the Regents on behalf of Students for Socialism about the Regents’ response to student demands for divestment.
“I do not know where our university stands in terms of its partnerships with the very companies that are making these unspeakable horrors a reality,” he said. “The only voice that I have heard speak on your behalf only talked about the importance of fiscally responsible policy and maximizing the return on the University's investments for the students; this response was ahistorical with respect to the University's actions against apartheid South Africa.”
After the meeting, Board of Regents Vice Chair Jack Fortner shared his thoughts about the public comments with the Daily Lobo.
“They were very respectful and I like that, and we listen to them and we take notes,” Fortner said. “We don't always agree, but we have to listen to them, and then sometimes regents will talk about what they said.”
Fortner told the Daily Lobo he would not speak on behalf of the Regents, but discussed his thoughts on Israel’s relationship with the United States.
“They've always been an ally of ours, and so I support Israel, and nobody likes the fight that's going on in Gaza,” he said. “Many innocent people are being hurt, murdered and displaced. No one supports that. I don't believe anything I say or do is going to affect what happens there.”
During public comment, Feleecia Guillen, director of communications and outreach for UNM LEAF, called for UNM to declare a climate emergency and divest from fossil fuels.
Fortner told the Daily Lobo that UNM can’t divest from fossil fuels.
“We're supported by oil gas money from the Permian Basin,” Fortner said. “That's why our budget has grown under this governor from 7 billion to 10 billion, so it's hard to say divest from fossil fuels when it provides us so much benefit here at UNM. I want clean energy, but we can't just divest like that.”
Representatives from SJP, Students for Socialism and LEAF said their organizations are uniting behind the cause of divestment from Israel.
After the meeting ended, student protesters chanted “Whose school? Our school,” and “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” as they left the meeting.
Some students said they briefly spoke with regents outside after the meeting, including UNM graduate student and SJP member Mark Campbell. He told the Daily Lobo that he left the meeting feeling “cautiously optimistic.”
“Being able to have even short conversations with the regents represents a difference from the past, where it seems like we were at a deadlock,” Campbell said. “Hopefully we can meet to have longer conversations, and I look forward to that.”
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
