University of New Mexico to vote on seal amid racial fears

The board of regents of New Mexico’s largest university is considering revising its half-century old seal amid concerns by Native American students.

A University of New Mexico committee on Thursday voted to accept the recommendation to change the seal after months of forums and public input.

Native American student groups want the University of New Mexico to scrap the seal that depicts a rifle-toting frontiersman and a sword-carrying Spanish conquistador. They say it represents the frontier’s violent era.

But some Hispanic activists oppose removing the conquistador since they say it represents the state’s Hispanic heritage.

The altered seal would feature on diplomas and lecterns.

The full board of regents will consider the measure at its Nov. 15 meeting.