The campus chapter of Turning Point USA wanted to bring female athlete/activist Riley Gaines to the university to speak.
According to attorney Kimberly Hermann of Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF), UNM told the students that it would cost them $10,000 in security fees to host Gaines.
"This is completely unreasonable," Hermann told AFN.
The students fought back and got the fees reduced to around $6,000 to pay for every single campus police officer to be in attendance when Gaines spoke.
Viewing that as "absurd," SLF filed a lawsuit on behalf of Turning Point USA and Gaines. The judge agreed with Turning Point USA and Gaines and granted a preliminary injunction while the lawsuit plays out.
Happens all the time
Gaines said security fees are just one common tactic used many places to stamp out opposing viewpoints.
“Sadly, we see this all the time. Conservative student voices are silenced on campus through excessive fees blamed on security, like in this case, or other red tape that makes it harder for conservative students to use their voice on campus,” she said.
The court found with the injunction that the university’s handling of its local Turning Point USA chapter made the chapter vulnerable moving ahead. It was a reasonable conclusion that TP-UNM could have been prohibited from holding future events or face other negative consequences or discipline.
"They were absolutely overjoyed," said Hermann. "What's really ridiculous is that on UNM's campus they were allowing drag queen events with absolutely no security."
Special considerations for preferred views
The court considered the drag queen performances in granting the injunction, said Jonathan Gonzales, co-president of the chapter.
“The court clearly sees the double standard of UNM behind giving a $10,000 fee to our event and yet previously allowing a drag show to take place on campus with no security fee at all,” Gonzales said.
Conservative students across the country should be emboldened by the court’s decision, he added.
“We have to keep speaking up and fighting for what is right. That is the only way to protect our most fundamental rights as Americans. I hope this sends a message to college campuses everywhere.”
