AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas at Austin students marched across campus Tuesday to protest proposed changes to several academic programs, as a high-profile visitor spoke on campus.

Dozens of students gathered at the UT Tower before marching to Hogg Memorial Auditorium, where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas delivered a special lecture.

The demonstration was organized by the Austin chapter of Students for a Democratic Society. Students are opposing a plan to consolidate several ethnic, cultural, and language studies programs.

Students said they have spent months trying to reach university leaders, including President Jim Davis, to raise concerns about the changes and call for more transparency.

“All of these requests have been denied or ignored,” UT Austin sophomore Georgia Schmit said.

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Schmit also said students feel their concerns are being dismissed.

“We feel like we’re very kind of being put on the back burner right now,” she said. “He only has time for the things that benefit him and the money he wants to bring into the school.”

Students also say Davis has made time for campus events such as Thomas’ lecture, but has not met with them.

In an interview with The Daily Texan, Davis defended the consolidation plan, saying it would not reduce resources for the affected programs.

“Imagine this is like a pie divided into five pieces, and then you put the pie together again,” Davis said. “There’s not a difference in the scale or scope or volume of that, and nothing has changed in terms of the funding streams going into that particular group.”

He also acknowledged student concerns about the changes.

“I would invite people to recognize that in uncertainty, there are multiple possible outcomes and not to rest on a fear of what the outcomes could be,” he said.

CBS Austin reached out to the university for comment on the protest and student concerns, but had not received a response.

A representative from the Texas State Employees Union, who joined the march, also questioned the impact of the visit from Thomas.

“I immediately think of Anita Hill,” the union representative said. “I have questions about his understanding of the Constitution, but I also have that very ugly memory of his behavior towards women.”

Students said the proposed consolidations could affect course offerings, degree paths, and campus spaces they describe as essential to identity and community.