By Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa, Daily Lobo
On Sept. 9, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression released their 2026 College Free Speech Rankings report, which ranks the University of New Mexico at 139 out of 257 universities. This ranking is up from last year, when UNM was ranked 219 out of 251.
This year, UNM received an overall score of 57.0 out of 100, and an “F” grade for free speech climate. Both scores are based on student surveys, campus policies and speech-related controversies, according to the FIRE website.
FIRE was founded in 1998 by University of Pennsylvania history professor Alan Charles Kors and civil liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate to advocate for the rights of college students and faculty on matters of freedom of speech and expression, according to the FIRE website.
The rankings come during a notable time at college campuses, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the “vigorous and aggressive” culture of student activism and the Trump administration’s scrutiny of higher education, a FIRE press release reads.
FIRE surveyed 180 UNM students in six categories — Comfort Expressing Ideas, Self-Censorship, Disruptive Conduct, Administrative Support, Openness and Political Tolerance. UNM ranks in the bottom 25 for Openness and the bottom 50 for Self-Censorship, according to the FIRE website.
In a Daily Lobo Instagram story survey asking students if they self-censor in campus dialogue posted on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 81 people responded with 69% of respondents reporting that they self-censor for certain topics, some referencing Christian religious beliefs and criticism of the UNM administration and president.
Senior Gillian Mulder said she feels comfortable speaking about challenging topics in class or conversation, but would likely censor herself at a campus demonstration.
Senior Julia Edwards said that students in her psychology classes are encouraged to engage in discussions about challenging topics and current events, and voice their opinions without fearing retaliation from classmates.
“I can definitely see why people would feel hesitant to speak up in class,” Edwards said.
UNM also received a “yellow light” for several policies that regulate student expression. Yellow light schools have at least one ambiguous policy that encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application, according to FIRE’s Spotlight Database.
The policies or measures that received a yellow light include LoboRESPECT: Report a Hate/Bias Incident, Policy 2720: Equal Opportunity and Prohibited Discrimination and Related Misconduct (Interim) and the Residence Hall Handbook: Bias-Related Incidents and Hate Crimes.
In a statement to the Daily Lobo, UNM Interim Executive Director of Strategic Communications Ben Cloutier wrote that UNM is firmly committed to the principles of free speech and values its role as a public square for debate, a marketplace of ideas and a place to test and challenge competing viewpoints and opinions.
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“UNM remains dedicated to protecting constitutionally protected expression while ensuring the safety of our campus community,” Cloutier wrote.
Of the students that FIRE surveyed, 31% responded that it’s sometimes acceptable to shout down a campus speaker, 9% say that it’s always acceptable, while 60% responded that it’s rarely or never acceptable. Students overwhelmingly voted that it’s never or rarely acceptable to block students from attending a campus speech or use violence to stop one.
Last year’s FIRE ranking report highlights UNM for having experienced three deplatforming incidents since 2020. A deplatforming attempt, as described by FIRE, is an attempt to prevent some form of expression from occurring on campus, such as a group of students pushing to have a speaker disinvited from the event, or an attempt to block the display or performance of art that a student or group finds objectionable.
According to FIRE’s “Student’s Under Fire” report, the most targeted or punished student groups nationwide from 2020-24 were Students for Justice in Palestine and Turning Point USA.
Mark Campbell, a UNM graduate student and member of UNM-SJP, said the student organization has experienced forms of intimidation from the University, citing when a UNM alum who was a senior during the Palestine Solidarity Encampment last year was barred from campus after using amplified sound at a pro-Palestine protest last summer, weeks after graduating.
“We have very strong morals, and this is what you have to do to make any kind of systemic change happen,” Campbell said.
UNM junior and SJP member Jillian Grandinetti also received “Disciplinary Probation (with Conditions),” she said, for allegedly violating UNM Policy 220, “Freedom of Expression and Dissent,” following the same protest last summer.
“In an educational and intellectual institution where students are encouraged to debate, to explore ideas, to involve themselves politically and otherwise, if students don’t feel comfortable doing that, you’ve kind of failed them as an institution,” Grandinetti said.
Turning Point UNM recently won a lawsuit against the University that alleged UNM’s now-former security fee policy was unconstitutional and violated the First Amendment after the UNM Police Department imposed $10,000 in security fees for an event on campus with conservative speaker Riley Gaines in 2024.
When reached for comment, TPUSA-UNM referred the Daily Lobo to Andrew Kolvet, the executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show.” Kolvet could not be reached in time for publication.
Leila Chapa
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
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
