UNM Community Joins Nationwide Call for Action
On April 17, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and community members at the University of New Mexico (UNM) participated in a large-scale walkout and rally in front of Scholes Hall. The demonstration was part of a national “Higher Education Week of Action,” aimed at protesting policies implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration that critics say threaten academic freedom, equity, and public funding in higher education.
Organized in part by the United Graduate Workers of UNM Community and United Academics at UNM (UA-UNM), the rally brought attention to a range of concerns, including restrictions on academic freedom, cuts to federal research funding, and changes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Speakers also voiced concerns about the treatment of international students and the defunding of graduate student support.
The protest was one of more than 170 similar actions held across U.S. college campuses, as reported by the Coalition for Action in Higher Ed. Ernesto Longa, president of UA-UNM Community , stated that these demonstrations aim to confront “unprecedented political attacks against higher ed by the Trump administration,” adding that funding threats are being used to push conformity to a specific ideological agenda.
Students and Faculty Voice Concerns Over Equity and Funding
Many students expressed frustration about how their tuition dollars are being spent and their growing sense of disempowerment on campus. Freshman Emit Brown said her participation in the walkout was fueled by dissatisfaction over tuition allocations and efforts to reduce DEI protections. “Why should I go to class if my tuition money is being put into things that don’t benefit us as students?” she said.
Faculty members also raised alarms over restrictive research guidelines and diminishing opportunities for international students. Engineering professor Manel Martínez said that while his international students are in the U.S. legally, they face growing risks, especially when engaging in political speech, such as protests in support of Palestine. He added that the institution is not taking a strong enough stand against what he described as “attacks on higher education.”
Martínez also noted that his grant proposals were being rejected due to the inclusion of terms like “DEI” and “climate change,” following a pattern of scrutiny from federal agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF). He reported receiving instructions to remove certain terminology to maintain eligibility for funding, reflecting broader federal enforcement of executive orders limiting specific ideological language in research.
UNM Administration Responds Amid Uncertainty
UNUNM Community President Garnett Stokes addressed some of the concerns in an April 14 campus-wide email. She acknowledged the recent termination of certain international student records, though the reasons for these actions remain unclear. “International students are vital members of our academic community and deserve clarity and fairness,” the statement read. Stokes reaffirmed the university’s commitment to compliance with federal laws while striving to protect inclusion and equity on campus.
Despite the administration’s assurances, many at the rally felt that more proactive leadership was necessary. “UNM is not doing anything as an institution to fight against the attacks on higher education,” Martínez stated. Longa emphasized the need for unity among students, faculty, and staff, saying, “We’re in a dangerous moment that requires us to really come together and face these attacks.”
As tensions between federal mandates and academic values escalate, members of the UNM community say they will continue to push back and demand a more inclusive, well-funded, and free academic environment.
