The University of New Mexico (UNM) has found itself at the center of a growing national debate after it began rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This shift comes in response to new federal guidance aimed at dismantling discriminatory practices that, under the guise of equity, have promoted race-based preferences, undermining the American principle of equal opportunity for all.
Eric Rodriguez, a student at UNM, admitted to the Santa Fe New Mexican that he might not have made it into the university on merit alone. “Maybe none of this would have happened,” he said, reflecting on his admission, which was aided by policies favoring Hispanic applicants and scholarships based on race (a moot point since New Mexico is a majority minority state). Now, with these systems being phased out, Rodriguez expressed uncertainty about the future for students like him. However, the real question is why anyone—regardless of background—should feel entitled to admission based on race instead of merit and character.
UNM’s decision follows a February 14 directive from the U.S. Department of Education warning schools to eliminate DEI-based admissions and employment criteria or risk losing federal funding. UNM President Garnett Stokes responded to criticism by saying that “adapting to new legal frameworks is not submission; it is a mechanism … to identify new paths for meeting our mission and achieving our goals while remaining compliant with federal law.” Her stance underscores a basic reality: no public institution can expect to retain federal dollars while willfully violating federal standards rooted in fairness and colorblind equality.
While the change has provoked backlash from left-wing student groups and faculty unions, it is a necessary and commendable course correction. Hundreds protested outside UNM’s Scholes Hall during a “National Day of Action,” accusing the school of “capitulating” to conservative political pressure. But what they fail to recognize is that DEI, as implemented, has become a thinly veiled system of racial favoritism—one that punishes individuals based on immutable characteristics like race or gender while rewarding others under the false pretense of justice.
Steph Flores of the UNM Graduate and Professional Student Association demanded that administrators not just “say” they support minority students but show it. However, true support must come through fostering academic excellence and personal responsibility—not permanent reliance on identity-based handouts.
Notably, critics like Mark Campbell of Students for Justice in Palestine brushed off funding concerns, mocking UNM’s financial limitations. Yet, unlike billion-dollar institutions like Harvard, UNM’s endowment sits at around $500 million—hardly an excess cushion to risk over ideological posturing. Harvard may indulge in defiance, but UNM seems to be prioritizing fiscal survival.
Even allegations of visa revocations for international students have been weaponized by protest organizers without evidence, revealing how far the outrage machine will go to prop up failed DEI programs.
President Trump’s administration and its ideological heirs are not attempting to strip rights away—they are working to restore a system based on merit, equality under the law, and individual dignity. Programs that treat people differently because of their race are not progressive; they are regressive and unconstitutional.
Should send these Hamas loving people to Gaza so they can protest there.
Excellent idea.
I agree Gary
I agree. They should just live under Hamas rule there, and I’m sure they will appreciate them even more.
How many protests have there been this year ? I cant even keep track. Crybaby nation. a nation of sign carrying zombies
The students need the correct teaching.
Go woke, go broke.
A 500 million endowment fund?? Really, but yet they go to the state legislature every year and grovel and beg for money. And get it! They should be forced to use that endowment money till it is gone. Excuse my ignorance because I didn’t realize public schools were in the money making business. The university system in every state is a complete fraud. The only thing I have seen that most of these graduates do with any skill is operate a cell phone and smoke dope. They have no skills and no desire to learn one. This is the norm not the exception. A complete waste of our tax dollars. My vote is to shut them down completely for 10 years and then maybe they might turn out some useful citizens with skills and knowledge instead of useful idiots.
tthe UNM administration is filled with weaklings that roll over to the mob every time . easy to fix UNM. first, close UNM law. they produce subversives who use the state legislature to enrich their law practices. second, fire the professors and admin and replace them with military veterans who have served our nation and have pride, not shame in it. same goes for all other “learning” institutions, bring in vets and get rid of libs that poison our kids minds .
Dave is correct. UNM Law is controlled by radical leftists. Period. There is no other school of law in NM to counter balance it. Then nearly every department at UNM’s main campus is controlled by radical leftists, with overwhelming majorities that control the hiring process for new professors. This means that its a self perpetuating cycle that makes it impossible for any significant change. The fights that do occur over hiring professors in these departments is usually between a more radical faction who cannibalizes an older faction of leftists that has not kept pace with the newest leftist jihad.
Endowment, Athletics, Real Estate, UREDPA entities, foundations, all money making enterprises that inhabit the brackish waters of being ‘public’ when it comes to funding and public benefits while being ‘private’ when it comes to procurement and disclosure. That is the real business of universities.
Race is what they lean on for their victim card….many students, applicants have been denied their rightful places because of DEI…look at the attitude towards men.. so-called transgender participating in women’s sports. Maine governor says it’s only a couple in her state…that shouldn’t be an issue for the Trump administration to stop the funding…Ask any women who’s worked so hard for her scholarship to slip through her hands because some man could not make it in men’s sports.
Hopefully UNM brings back what their Mission statement should be…merit, honor and fostering charity, character development and community service .
Why isn’t anyone calling the protestors what they are — RACISTS!
Glad that they are getting rid of DEI. Now they need to get rid of the professors that are poisoning and brainwashing young adults. They need to learn to think for themselves not what a far left radical professor tells them how to think.
Science, engineering, medicine, nonpartisan education, are what should be taught. Al that hokie wokie useless made up lib crap should be eliminated. Law school privatized.
Special consideration for minorities infers that they are not good enough on their own to pass entrance exams for college. In the past , real Hispanics competed and went to college without any special programs that gave us advantage , we either deserved it or did not. When I was in school during the 60s there were many Hispanic teachers. My mother was a schoolteacher in the 50s . Now comes DEI and turns merit on its head, lowering standards and applying communist ideology to just about every competitive field guaranteeing that people placed there are inferior and need government “help”. Racial quotas and state policing of private companies and public institutions has give us some really bad managers in almost every area. We just have to wonder how many of our “elected “ officials started out as affirmative action hires??
Great points!!!
The DEI mentality only promotes the notion that the minority isn’t good enough to compete and that they are victims!!
It also raises the question every time a minority is hired or promoted with DEI in place, “are they qualified?” — and it’s a perfectly valid question! What a terrible position to be put into!!!!
My tax dollars that are forwarded to UNM need to be pulled!! I’m not interested in funding woke DEI nonsense! It’s a damned shame higher education is not focused on education!
Graduated UNM ‘79’ quit donating to them around 25 years ago due to the liberal ideologies they started perpetuating. We will see how this goes returning to a moderate slightly right agenda.
UNM also needs to get rid of awarding New Mexico lottery scholarships to non-citizen students. UNM does not ask for immigration status for those applying for the New Mexico Lottery.
If New Mexico was a business it would be bankrupt because it would reward the folks that show up late, not at all, that give the products away free to their friends, do a bad job at cleaning, stocking the shelves and then making those same individuals the manager of the store. Our schools are already the worst in the nation and then instead of of rewarding those that did well in school they reward the ones that did not because of their race. I was a poor white boy and I sucked in college, like a 1.7 gpa. If I was not white I would have received a scholar ship. Guess what anyone getting a 1.7 gpa needs to be in college. How about reward the folks that study not the folks that smoked pot with me in the parking lot.
My question is this: Why is Federal money even going to these schools??? No where in the US Constitution does it say spend money on education OR, for that matter, for paying peoples healthcare through Medicaid.