Petition against future UTEP president surpasses 3,000 signatures with discrimination concerns

Just days after Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson was named as the sole finalist to UTEP’s presidency students are signing a petition to rebuke her appointment, citing Wilson’s past stances against low income students and LGBT people.

A Change.org petition has gathered more then 3,000 signatures asking the UT board of regents to withdraw Heather Wilson as the choice to be UTEP’s next president.

One of the main issues is Wilson’s voting record against students who depend on financial aid or loans to pay for higher education, a significant population at UTEP where most students work while studying.

The petition also cites Wilson as Air Force secretary allowing anti-gay discrimination after reversing a rule in 2018 that would recognize all spouses, including same-sex marriages, for their support during a member’s service – two issues students say go against UTEP’s interests, they plan to meet the appointment with protests tomorrow.

“On Monday there will be a peaceful protest outside the Geology building on the UTEP campus, it’s the geology green, it’s next to the big giant circle of grass and this will take place during the women’s history month conference taking place at UTEP,’ said Kaelin Walker, a UTEP student government Senator.

Paul Foster, El Paso’s member to the UT board of regents said he believes Wilson won’t let her political past affect her administration.

“After talking to Dr. Wilson I’m confident that she does not view this as a political job and political views are really not going to be part of what she brings to the program,” he told ABC-7.

Foster said she had the “the personality, the demeanor and the energy to carry UTEP to the next level”.