UT President Jim Davis announced the consolidation of the University’s ethnic and gender studies departments a month ago. However, faculty and students haven’t received information from the administration as to how the consolidation will occur. 

Even in the absence of concrete information from administration,  students and faculty continue to support one another to uphold the future of their academic careers. 

Rachel Gonzáles-Martin, associate professor of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, said the recent news prompted communication to open between students and faculty, allowing them to “commiserate” about both their fears and the potential to continue education in a department that no longer exists. 

“Even if we disappear, there are bits and pieces, things you can follow,” Martin said. “Build community around it.” 

Yani Ayala, international relations and global studies major, as well as a race, indigeneity and migration junior, did just this, finding solace in Students for a Democratic Society, a student organization at UT heavily populated by impacted students.

“I feel like it’s not only a place where I feel like I’m heard, but also a place where students can actually feel like they have people on their side,” Ayala said. 

Ayala said moments in SDS, like the recent consolidation rally, help uphold the feeling of community during this uncertain time, allowing him to use his voice to stand up against UT’s administration. 

“The consolidation rally … was pretty big,” Ayala said. “I was one of the speakers, so I actually got to feel like I gave my two cents to the administration.”

Within the classroom, Karma Chávez, professor of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, said faculty continue to work to provide comfort to students and each other, even without answers. 

“I tried to communicate to students right away,” Chávez said. “I think faculty are offering that same support to each other, at least within my department.”

Although assurance in certainty remains mostly unavailable to students at this time, Chávez said faculty also continue to offer support to each other, having shoulders to cry on and inspiration to tell, remaining steadfast in their shared commitments. 

Despite attempts to dismantle these departments, many remain optimistic for the future of their academic careers. 

“We know that in the past, these departments were fought for by students to even have them,” Ayala said. “So my hope is that students will start fighting again.”