 |
Fri Jul 25 2008 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Dispatches from the FrontAmerican Indian Student Concerns at Ohio State by American Indian OSU Student May 12, 2003 I am writing this on the behalf of my fellow American Indian students and myself who are tired of being ignored, silenced, and dismissed with words of support that those in the position to help us feel we want to hear but do not follow through with positive actions. This year has been one of the toughest to be an American Indian student at The Ohio State University. Originally I was looking forward to this academic year. We had made a lot of progress in the previous year in having our first American Indian Month of events and all of our hard work to bring the Memorial Day Powwow to campus was met with success. Yet this academic year has been nothing but a slap in the face. I feel as though it is imperative to discuss how the American Indian Student Services office was formed at Ohio State before going into the current inexcusable issues that have taken place in the search for a new American Indian Student Services Coordinator. Ohio State established the office of American Indian Student Services after legal action was taken by the current American Indian students at the time to gain equal representation on campus. In actuality, OSU fought not to have the office because American Indians, to them, were too much of a minority to even be classified as such. The students took Ohio State to federal court on the grounds of overt racism, and won, forcing the university to ! establish the American Indian Student Services office. At times I am in shock that this happened, but what is really is hard to comprehend is that this all took place just 10 years ago. This year started as the last year ended, in a state of turmoil at the Multicultural Center. There has been an unbelievable turnover rate amongst the coordinators and the former director of ESS, Sheila. The American Indian students unfortunately were not able to escape this upheaval, and in the beginning of the academic year the former AISS coordinator resigned under questionable reasons given by the director. It cannot be stressed enough that the American Indian students have an intimate connection to the coordinator position because of the history of the position. Losing a coordinator is always hard, but to not have one at all was extremely rough, not to mention illegal in terms of the federal mandate, but we managed. It was at this point around the beginning of the month of November that we as American Indian students began to lose our connection to the Multicultural Center, the place that is supposed to be our support structure on campus. Last year, our hard work to bring the Powwow to campus was extremely successful; in fact it was so successful that at the beginning of this year the MCC had it labeled as one of its signature events. Throughout November and January we had dialogue with the MCC to express our need to reserve a space on campus for the Powwow, so that even more students, faculty, staff, and community members would be able to attend, in the hopes of reaching an even larger population that last y! ear. We had determined that the French Field House would be the best location, and an approximate cost for the weekend, $2,000-$3,000 dollars, was determined after speaking with building services. While all of this was going on it was the understanding of all the American Indian students that we did not have a coordinator. However when we suggested later that we could use the money that the MCC had saved from not having a coordinator to pay for the Powwow space, we were informed that from the start of the November that there had been an interim coordinator who was being paid half-time to fill the position. To our surprise the MCC thought it was a good idea not to support the Powwow, but to pay for the salary of someone who for the first two and a half months did not ever even bother to come to campus or to contact any student or community member, not even the leaders of the three student organizations that are supposed to be advised ! by the AISS Coordinator. Since we have found out that there is an interim coordinator she has been on campus less than 10 times since November when she was hired. She lives in Athens, teaches in Athens, and is going to school in Athens. The MCC decided that if it hosted four events for the year, it would meet the student’s needs, as was stated to us by our interim coordinator two and a half months after she had accepted the position. We are not so much upset with the interim coordinator, as we are disappointed that the MCC has such a blatant disregard for American Indian students that it would view this as serving the students. While we are not upset at the interim for only having four events what we have an issue with is the complete lack of consideration for what we deem important to us and our community. The events that have taken place are nothing more than a nod to cultural tourism and have not addressed any issues on how American Indian students are to succeed at Ohio State.! But I guess if she is not expected to even come to the office more than once a month we should not expect communication from her or for her to understand and address any of the real issues and concerns for American Indian students on campus. Another example of the complete disregard that the MCC has for its American Indian students was the accusation that the American Indian Council owed nearly $1,000 to the Multicultural Center in an expense from more than 3 years ago. We were not told what the expense was, who it was addressed to, or how it could be an issue as the bill was for a period of time that the American Indian Council was not even a student group on campus and there was not a coordinator of AISS at the time. However, this fact was ignored along with the fact we never had a budget over $300. Our concerns with the veracity of the bill were overlooked because the administration was positive that we were at fault. On top of th! is, it was pre-determined how we were to pay off this mysterious bill. We were to do a fundraiser at the Powwow the Multicultural Center had decided not to support. It was not until the bill was shown to us that we were able to show the administration that the bill was for the Indian American Association. All along they were looking for IAA and not AIC, but we were still not believed by the MCC. We had to show them the on-line information for the IAA, after which there was no apology made for the Multicultural Center’s complete ignorance of cultural student organizations on campus, and their unfounded accusations of debt toward the American Indian student leaders. While all of these concerns weigh heavily on us as students, it is the handling of the search for the full-time coordinator of AISS for next year that has pushed many American Indian students over the edge. From the beginning there was an extremely late start to the search, which led to a rushed search process with little time to develop a strong paradigm in which to structure the candidate selection criteria. It was highly encouraged to use the method of the Asian American search committee to judge the candidates. However the multitude of cultural differences between our two different cultural backgrounds and student needs makes their model difficult to restructure to our needs. The search committee did make changes to the qualifications, but we were forced due to time constraints,! to work within this improper framework. An additional issue is why did the Asian American search committee was allowed such an earlier start over the American Indian search committee. Most disconcerting is the new policy that the directors of the MCC decided, without any discussion with the search committee. The interviews will be held this week. The candidates were not informed of this decision until Thursday of last week. The MCC had not contacted any of the candidates since the candidates turned in their applications. They were given less than a week’s notice that they were to come to Ohio State to give a presentation and interview all day. Some of these candidates are traveling all the way from San Francisco, California, and less than a weeks notice is highly unprofessional. Not ! only were they uniformed about having to come to Ohio State, but also the presentation topic has not even been selected. There has been no time for the search committee to discuss the possible topics. The students and community members, who are an integral part of the American Indian coordinator position, were given half a week to rearrange their lives in order to be able to attend the presentations. The most pressing issue with all of this unilateral decision-making is that two of our top candidates have felt they could no longer pursue the position. This simply is not acceptable. Even if they truly cannot be considered for the position there has been no attempt to contact other possible candidates for an interview. If contact was to be made we would be giving them no more than a couple of days to prepare, which is a form of pre-selection and cannot be tolerated. This time frame simply does not fulfill the MCC’s stated goal of getting the most qualified candidate for the AISS coordinator position. As students at Ohio State we feel that we are entitled to all of the rights and privileges that! other students receive on this campus regardless of our racial or ethnic identity. It is extremely disheartening to me to be faced with the reality that my thoughts and concerns for the safety and well being of my person and my fellow students are completely disregarded by the very offices and people who are here to help me. I hope that this letter will be the beginning of the necessary steps that must be taken in order to correct the grievous acts that have been perpetrated upon all American Indian students at The Ohio State University. Email this article to a friend |
"How about a REAL Democracy University? "
Ralph Cole
December 28, 2003
"Job Announcement for those interested in Community Organizing/Justice Work: "
DART
December 19, 2003
"REPORT: Meeting with Governor Bush "
Abraham J. Bonowitz
December 19, 2003
"National Lawyers Guild praises second circuit Padilla v Rumsfeld decision"
National Lawyer's Guild
December 18, 2003
"Input solicitation for Media Conference "
CGC
December 17, 2003
"Al Sharpton in Norwood. CJC pushing recall petition"
Coalitoin for a Just Cincinnati
December 11, 2003
"Scouting for All Asks President Bush To Step Down as The Honorary President Of The Boy Scouts of America"
Steven Cozza
December 7, 2003
"Fitrakis speaks at WBAI alternative 9-11 forum"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Stonewall sponsors drive for Project OpenHand"
Kellye Pinkleton
November 30, 2003
"Who will tell the people?"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Bush, Bush, you can’t hide. We know you’re with the oligarchs inside!"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Local food at local restaurants"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Think before you pink!"
Kendra Klein
November 30, 2003
"Kucinich in Columbus"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"Playboy uncovers Rainbow Farm siege"
Free Press Staff
November 30, 2003
"ADC Applauds DOT's Settlement with United Airlines: United Airlines to Spend $1.5 Million on Civil Rights Training"
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
November 21, 2003
"The strike at Miami University of Ohio"
Bill DeVore
November 19, 2003
"Greater Ohio campaign seeks state project director "
EcoCity Clevland
November 19, 2003
"P.O.E.R. takes a stand"
P.O.E.R.
November 19, 2003
"Ohioans reject policies of Bushy the Job Slayer"
Dan Trevas
November 3, 2003
"Vandenberg Protest to Focus on Alternative Energy "
Peter Cohen
October 5, 2003
"Filipinos reclaim their heritage, history and culture with a weekend of performance and people power"
Riya Ortiz
October 1, 2003
"ADC Mourns Passing of Prof. Edward Said"
ADC
September 25, 2003
"Mourning Edward Said"
Mazin Qumsiyeh
September 25, 2003
"Report from Cuba -- Pastors for Peace in Central Ohio"
Bill Lewis
September 20, 2003
"Abolishing Capital Punishment"
Free Press Staff
September 20, 2003
"Bike Club"
Sarah Clark
September 20, 2003
"Free Press Editor Bob Fitrakis files petitions for Columbus School Board"
Free Press Staff
September 20, 2003
"The United “highway robbery” Way"
Gary Witte
September 20, 2003
""The WTO Kills Farmers:" In Memory of Lee Kyung Hae "
Laura Carlsen
September 14, 2003
"ODMR approves permit to undermine Dysart Woods"
Chad Kister
August 15, 2003
"God's Promise MCC Will Be There at the OHIO Lesbian Festival, Will You?? "
Marj Creech
August 12, 2003
"Stonewall Columbus Seeking Candidates for Board of Trustees"
Don Laufersweiler
August 7, 2003
"Third Hand Bike Co-op"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"Initiative Petition Drive to Restructure Columbus City Council"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"Protesting in the Belly of the Beast"
Connie Hammond
August 1, 2003
"Marijuana movement alive and smokin’ in Columbus"
Sarah Clark
August 1, 2003
"Progressives To Take Back America"
Cliff Arnebeck
August 1, 2003
"Green Party candidate nearly defeats endorsed Republican"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"Good news for abolitionists!"
Free Press Staff
August 1, 2003
"CorpOrNation: The Story of Citizens and Corporations in Ohio"
Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee
July 30, 2003
"AIDS activists disrupt Karl Rove's speech at black tie College Republican soirée"
Act Up
July 27, 2003
"Not In Our Name at Lollapalooza"
Michael Gruber
July 25, 2003
"Kister on talk radio shows throughout the country "
Chad Kister
July 25, 2003
"The Golden Heart Award"
Free Press Staff
July 21, 2003
"Notes on the UFPJ Conference (June 6-8, Chicago)"
Yoshie Furuhashi
July 21, 2003
"Kroger Corporation and the Teamsters"
Columbus Jobs with Justice
May 21, 2003
"American Indian Student Concerns at Ohio State"
American Indian OSU Student
May 12, 2003
"Kids 4 Kucinich Goes to Washington"
Kids 4 Kucinich
May 4, 2003
"Reclaim Mother's Day as a Peace Day!"
People for Peace of Greater Akron
May 4, 2003
"Tradition of War Resistance Continues @ Kent State this weekend"
Patrick, cleveland imc volunteer
May 4, 2003
"Mid-Ohio Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Fifth Annual Fundraising Gala"
Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
April 4, 2003
"Arrests in DC"
Eric M. LeCompte
March 27, 2003
"Two upcoming events"
Marj Creech
March 27, 2003
"IRAQ: U.S. Bombs Trigger Protests Country-wide"
Akhilesh Upadhyay
March 25, 2003
"Columbus anti-war protest photos"
Larry Fairbanks
March 24, 2003
"Michael Moore press conference"
Free Press Staff
March 24, 2003
""Shock and Awe" - Kucinich Responds"
Kucinich
March 23, 2003
"Civil Disobedience at an American High School"
Lily Scott
March 22, 2003
"Central Ohio area Muslims pray for peace"
Jad Humeidan
March 20, 2003
"Ohio PIRG asks you to help protect the Clean Air Act "
Amy Simpson
March 20, 2003
"Activists demand Congressional investigation of peace worker's killing and U.S. funding of Israeli occupation"
Jews Against the Occupation
March 19, 2003
"War is Coming"
Perry Slone
March 17, 2003
"FBI's upside-down patriotism "
Bob Fitrakis
March 14, 2003
"Dennis seeks to menace the chickenhawks in Washington"
Free Press Staff
March 14, 2003
"In Requiem: John Michael Houser"
Nancy Fuller
March 14, 2003
"Nearly a demo a day in Columbus"
Free Press Staff
March 14, 2003
"Peace and Justice coalition holds first anti-war rally in Coshocton"
Nick Teti
March 14, 2003
"Marietta College mobilizes against pre-emptive war"
Brandon Sims, Co-founder Coalition for Social Change
March 14, 2003
"Letter from Dominican Sisters in Iraq"
Dominican Sisters in Iraq
March 14, 2003
"How Many Americans Said No to War?"
Yvonne Kimmons and Bryan Williams
March 13, 2003
"Israeli occupation forces kill 11 Palestinian civilians in Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip "
MIFTAH
March 6, 2003
"AFL-CIO criticizes Bush's approach in Iraq"
Free Press Staff
February 28, 2003
"Student Launches Kids4Kucinich Campaign"
Gwendolyn Hallsmith
February 20, 2003
"The Ohio State University Undergraduate Student Government Senate Passes Anti-War Resolution"
Dan Ramos, USG Senator and Chris Hempfling, Speaker of the USG Senate
February 19, 2003
"NO WAR: over 600 rally in Columbus, millions around the world"
Free Press Staff
February 16, 2003
"150 People attend the No War on Iraq Rally and March February 8, 2003, at Marietta College"
Brandon Sims
February 8, 2003
"Two gay men will apply for marriage license in Columbus"
Rev. Marj Creech
February 8, 2003
"Senators seek to repeal Iraq War Act"
Kristie Greco
February 5, 2003
"Madison prison demonstration"
Dan Cahill
January 26, 2003
"Alive abandons activist community"
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Fitrakis for City Council"
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Adopt-a-Minefield "
Central Ohio Minefield Coalition
January 26, 2003
"Ohio Mosque re-opens after attack by vandals"
CAIR-Ohio
January 26, 2003
"Human Rights Day with the FBI"
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Al-Awda dedicated to Palestinian human rights"
Al-Awda Ohio
January 26, 2003
" Thirty years of Roe v. Wade "
Free Press Staff
January 26, 2003
"Ohio JwJ coalitions fight for affordable prescription drugs"
Jobs with Justice
January 26, 2003
"Anti-War Protests Grow"
Katherine Stapp
January 20, 2003
"Ryan's Nobel Nomination Completed and Filed"
stopcapitalpunishment.org
January 19, 2003
Read Articles by Year:
2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
All content © 1970-2008
The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer