Change U.
Indeed, judging by the claps, smiling nods and thank yous after some of the Change Cabinet members’ speeches on Monday, things do seem to be looking up. Although, there were notes of caution that also received applause.
Marlon Sherman, professor of Native American Studies, told the cabinet that while they aimed to look to the future, they also needed to look back and heal the wounds from years of infighting and organizational collapse.
“Remember, there are people on this campus, the walking wounded, and you need to acknowledge them,” he said.
After the forum, Sherman said he hasn’t seen any “sweeping effort” at the university to really nurture diversity. “There’s been no effort to teach people how to communicate, or to teach sensitivity training,” he said. His own program, which fits squarely in with diversity goals, was middle ranked by the prioritization task force and targeted to be maintained as is — and, as it is, the department is short two and a half instructors, with just two full-time professors and a part-timer to teach the 40 majors in the program and other students, Sherman said.
“Our program has not been supported for eight years,” he said. “I’m afraid this means business as usual. And [so] we don’t teach the depth that we want to do.”
But, stepping out into the spring-blossom air Monday afternoon, Sherman turned hopeful. His program, he said, really needs a Native American House on campus, where students can meet each other. Such students struggle, across the country, to stay in college — they miss the close community they had growing up, Sherman said.
“The ranking will hinder us,” he said. “So we’ll just have to step outside and look for private funding and do it on our own time. But I don’t mind that. It’s for the students. We are going to have a building.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent news story
May 17
Safe Solar Watching
May 10
Trees, Please
The beauty police keep a sharp eye on Caltrans as it studies ways to make Broadway safer
May 3
Super Pay
For super work, say the county's five supervisors
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By Beth Weissbart / March 23, 2009, 4:08 p.m.
I was happy to see our CIC event in the journal. Look foward to more! HSU is going to need everyones collaboration and participation if this is going to work! Beth