Staff Report
About a dozen students marched through campus Monday, shouting slogans in support of diversity and unity on campus.
The march was in response to incidents of intolerance that have happened at UNM in the past few weeks, said student Travis McKenzie, who helped organize the march.
"We weren't demanding anything from the administration," he said "We were just hoping to inspire students, faculty and the administration to create that living dialogue."
On Sept. 17, a student took a Mexican flag from a flagpole outside Scholes Hall, tore it and took it to the Air Force ROTC office, according to UNM Police.
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Another incident occurred at the football game against NMSU when a man mocked Miss Native UNM in the University Stadium parking lot.
A man has been charged with battery after more than 20 Indian students reported being assaulted on or near campus in the past several months.
The march ended with a rally near the SUB.
Student Andrew Marcum said he participated in the event to speak out against prejudice.
"I was appalled when I heard what has been happening," he said. "As a gay man, I feel unity with people that are facing discrimination. It's just the kind of thing you have to stand up against."
Student Damiana Miller, who didn't participate in the march, said it is important to tackle issues of intolerance at UNM.
But marching won't do much to help prevent incidents from happening on campus, she said.
"I definitely think they're important issues to be addressed," she said. "But I don't think the march is going to be effective, because there are only about 12 of them (marching), and everyone's in class now."
