Vicente Fox will not deliver this year's commencement address at UNM.
In a statement issued over the weekend, President David Schmidly said logistics problems and concerns about providing security for the former Mexican president led to the University canceling the event.
"Absent The Pit, there is really no venue that could accommodate the anticipated crowds, security and other logistical concerns," he said.
Due to ongoing renovations at The Pit, this year's ceremony will be held at the smaller Tingley Coliseum.
Last week, GPSA passed a resolution urging Schmidly to rescind his invitation to Fox. The graduate student government also opposed awarding Fox an honorary degree.
The resolution listed incidents of Fox's alleged human rights abuses and financial impropriety and his role in the disputed 2006 Mexican presidential election.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The National Human Rights Commission in Mexico and the U.N. Committee Against Torture accused Fox of turning a blind eye to the allegations of excessive force and torture by the Mexican Federal Police.
Graduate student Max Fitzpatrick, who opposed having Fox as commencement speaker, said he doubts logistics played a part in the decision.
"I applaud UNM for heeding overwhelming student and faculty sentiment on this issue," he said. "I would bet that the security excuse is meant to save face for Fox."
Schmidly said UNM plans for Fox to hold a weeklong series of lectures in the fall.
In addition to the commencement invitation, UNM has entered a partnership with Centro Fox, the former president's education and public policy center.
The partnership, which will not be affected by the rescheduling, is intended to allow joint research projects between UNM and other universities in Latin America.
Fox's departure now leaves the commencement ceremony without a speaker, said UNM spokeswoman Susan McKinsey.
With the ceremony scheduled for May 16, it may be too late to find a replacement on such short notice, she said.
"We're without a Fox speech, maybe without any speech," McKinsey said.
