On Dec. 19, after public comment during the final University of New Mexico Board of Regents meeting of 2024, Robert Schwartz became the first regent to formally speak publicly about University divestment from Israel. Students, faculty members and community members in support of Palestine have been speaking about the topic at Regents meetings since February.
The agenda for the Dec. 19 Regents meeting initially listed “Consideration of Administration Analysis of Recommendations Regarding Divestment from Israel and Certain Companies” as an action item, but it was later removed, according to an email from the Board of Regents’ office provided to the Daily Lobo.
During the meeting, Schwartz said that the decision to remove divestment from the agenda was “cowardly,” and that UNM should take a neutral position regarding divestment.
“I don't know why the agenda item was removed, but everyone here deserves a discussion of this issue and a decision by the Regents,” Schwartz said.
He also suggested that UNM formally adopt the 1967 Kalven Principles, which were prompted by Vietnam War protests at the University of Chicago, according to the Chicago Maroon. The Kalven Principles state that a university should retain a neutral position in political movements out of respect for free inquiry and diversity of viewpoints.
“I'd spent hours looking at other university policies, so I just summarized what I thought were the most important points, because I'd reached in my own mind a settled conclusion about what the University should do, which is the same position that the president has taken and the (UNM Foundation) has taken,” Schwartz told the Daily Lobo.
Mitchell Freedman, a UNM graduate student who spoke during public comment, said he appreciated that Schwartz spoke up during the meeting.
“I think Regent Schwartz showed great courage in talking about the Regents’ failure to act and failure to really discuss this openly,” Freedman said.
Freedman said he disagrees with Schwartz’s stance on UNM not taking a position.
“I think it goes against what the Regents did in 1985 with South Africa,” he said.
Faculty members Jennifer Tucker and Justin Bendell read a statement on behalf of UNM Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine to the Board of Regents during public comment.
“We are demanding an orderly, transparent process toward divesting from Israeli occupation,
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
war crimes and genocide, one with a clear timeline that fully engages students, faculty, and
staff,” the statement reads.
UNMFSJP also said that UNM’s disclosure of its investments provided in August 2024 was “inadequate.”
“Transparency is a pillar of democracy and the foundation for trust between UNM
administrators and students, faculty and the greater community,” Tucker said during public comment.
According to the statement from UNMFSJP, the disclosure of the UNM Foundation’s investments listed securities but did not specify the individual investments or provide information about the companies.
The UNM Foundation has the obligation to invest in what will bring the “greatest return,” according to Schwartz.
“If the return is larger in a way that is politically unpopular — it involves an oil stock, the defense industry or any other political reasons — then we still have an obligation to maximize that return to students,” Schwartz said during the meeting.
The Daily Lobo asked Schwartz if it would be financially possible for UNM to divest specifically from companies like BlackRock, which owns shares in defense contractors including Elbit Systems Ltd.
“Of course we could — we have the legal right to do that,” Schwartz said. “I wouldn't do it as a matter of policy, just because I think that we should do whatever maximizes the value for students. That's the only thing I think we should ask, because otherwise we get entangled in political debates where we shouldn't be making decisions.”
On Dec. 31, 2024, Regent Schwartz’s term as a regent ended after he served for six years. He said he hopes his replacement shares his views on divestment.
“The University should be where debates are taking place,” Schwartz said. “Everybody should be on equal footing when they take on an issue. If we declare the winner first, we declare who's morally right, and we're discouraging that debate.”
About 50 people attended the Dec. 19 Regents meeting in support of Palestine. Some students, faculty members, staff and community members chanted “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” and “Free Palestine” when the meeting concluded.
Three people were removed from the meeting by UNM Police Department officers after speaking up during Schwartz’s statement. One of them — a student — was handcuffed.
In a Jan. 3 press release, it was announced that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham nominated Christina Campos and Patricia Williams to the UNM Board of Regents.
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
