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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| University of New Mexico students denounce official seal as racist | University of New Mexico students denounce official seal as racist |
| (4 months later) | |
| The University of New Mexico’s official seal, which depicts a Spanish conquistador and a frontiersman, is drawing accusations of racism. | The University of New Mexico’s official seal, which depicts a Spanish conquistador and a frontiersman, is drawing accusations of racism. |
| Native American students in the Kiva Club as well as members of advocacy group The Red Nation call the seal offensive, the Albuquerque Journal reported. | Native American students in the Kiva Club as well as members of advocacy group The Red Nation call the seal offensive, the Albuquerque Journal reported. |
| The seal is stamped on all diplomas and is present at most school events. | The seal is stamped on all diplomas and is present at most school events. |
| Oceti Sakowin tribe member and UNM doctoral student Nick Estes designed his own version of the seal, with the conquistador and frontiersman standing atop a pile of bones, in protest. | Oceti Sakowin tribe member and UNM doctoral student Nick Estes designed his own version of the seal, with the conquistador and frontiersman standing atop a pile of bones, in protest. |
| He spoke at an organizing meeting for students against the current seal, saying it represented racism at the school. | He spoke at an organizing meeting for students against the current seal, saying it represented racism at the school. |
| “To have this on my diploma is an insult of the highest order,” Estes said. | “To have this on my diploma is an insult of the highest order,” Estes said. |
| University president Bob Frank said he would be open to discussing the students’ ideas. He earned degrees from the institution in the 1970s. | University president Bob Frank said he would be open to discussing the students’ ideas. He earned degrees from the institution in the 1970s. |
| “It’s a seal I have always known,” Frank said. “I certainly understand that people may have different points of view. If they want to talk about it, I am open to the conversation.” | “It’s a seal I have always known,” Frank said. “I certainly understand that people may have different points of view. If they want to talk about it, I am open to the conversation.” |
| The university’s diversity council and Jozi de Leon, its vice-president for equity and inclusion, are taking steps to work with the concerned students. De Leon attended a meeting where students talked about their problems with the seal. | The university’s diversity council and Jozi de Leon, its vice-president for equity and inclusion, are taking steps to work with the concerned students. De Leon attended a meeting where students talked about their problems with the seal. |
| “This is a university,” de Leon said. “This is the place where we should be having this kind of dialogue. We should be open to listening to the concerns of the students.” | “This is a university,” de Leon said. “This is the place where we should be having this kind of dialogue. We should be open to listening to the concerns of the students.” |
| The students have started a petition opposing the seal, but no official complaint has been filed with the university. | The students have started a petition opposing the seal, but no official complaint has been filed with the university. |