UNM grads speak to Chicago Bar Association about Oscars proposal

Over a year after a group of UNM pre-law students initially submitted their proposal to the President and Governors Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences proposing the creation of an official task force to study desegregating the Oscars as part of a project originating from Professor Lawrence Jones' constitutional law class at The University of New Mexico, the group is still being recognized in the legal community for their work and efforts.

In early January, ahead of the announcement of the 2026 nominees, the Chicago Bar Association invited the group to speak about the final 99-page presentation they submitted to the Academy regarding potential social and legal flaws in dividing categories, such as best actor and actress, by gender.

From the initial group of 10, four made the panel presentation to the CBA, as UNM pre-law alumni Peyton Bowes, Isabella Storms, Almarina Sosa and Abigail McCoy served as the panel for the discussion on Jan. 12, which was a part of a broader panel on institutional bias across entertainment and government.

"I thought it was a huge honor to present before the Chicago Bar Association," Bowes said. "When the concept was first proposed to me, the idea of it made me nervous because, while I had done several interviews, I had never presented on a panel before, and I wasn't sure how it would be different or how many people would be watching."

"The unknown aspect was a bit nerve-wracking, as it always is, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity presented to share our work on the Oscars project. I think it is generally more of a benefit than a detriment to step outside one's comfort zone, anyway. "

The Chicago Bar Association is one of the oldest and most active metropolitan bar associations in the country. It has attracted a nationwide membership in part due to their educational offerings.

"I was truly honored that such a prestigious organization was interested in hearing our perspective, especially given that we are not lawyers" Storms said. "Despite that distinction, they treated our presentation with the same seriousness and respect afforded to those delivered by legal professionals. It was clear to me that they were fully committed to ensuring our presentation met the same high standards as the others that day. That commitment spoke about volumes about the organization's integrity and its genuine interest in diverse, well-considered viewpoints."

Storms shared that part of the reason she feels it's so important to continue to speak about this presentation is the lack of action from the Academy.

"It is my hope that if we continue to participate in formal and informal discussions such as the one with the Chicago Bar, we will be able to enact change from organizations such as the Oscars," Storms said. "Gender segregation within the Oscar awards may not seem like such a big deal to everyday individuals who are not involved in filmmaking. But I believe that there is a trickledown effect. If gender inequality at the most predominant awards in the film making industry can not only be allowed but broadcast and celebrated, how can sexism not be internalized systemically."

Jones, who created the pre-law students' Oscars project as part of his Fall, 2023 Constitutional Law class, stated that "I am very proud of the hard work that UNM's pre-law students put into the presentation, both to the Academy and to the Chicago Bar Association. As future attorneys who have not yet even started law school, their efforts and professionalism are remarkable and set a great example for other students who are ready to share their thoughts and ideas not only within UNM's Constitutional Law classroom, but with the world.

"In this particular case, hopefully the Academy President and Board of Governors of the Actors' Branch, as well as other Academy members interested in the subject, are willing to listen with open minds and will respond positively to the students' hard work, efforts and detailed analysis of the legal and social issues that are the focus of the presentation and proposal. These issues merit discussion both within the Academy itself, and by the Academy leadership with the public in an open, constructive and healthy way."

The Academy leadership has not responded to the group's presentation, and no changes have been made to the organization's Oscar structure, nor has a task force been formed to evaluate potential changes. The 2026 Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 15 on ABC.