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From: Ruth Dial Woods
Date: 22 Feb 2004
Time: 19:26:48 -0500
Remote Name: 172.149.39.95
AT THE INVITATION OF DR. M. COOKIE NEWSON, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, I VISITED WITH AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS TO DISCUSS SOME OF THEIR ISSUES RELATIVE TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT UNC-CH AND THEIR CONCERNS FOR AN INCREASED AMERICAN INDIAN PRESENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION. THIS GAVE ME AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL CONCERNS WITH THE WEAKNESS OF THE DIVERSITY PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA. I WAS ASKED TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1. Difficulties experience by Indian studens who arrive at the University from predominantly Indian communities and are expected to adjust as a "minority;" 2. Continuing frustration between and among the American Indian students with the lack of hiring of American Indian faculty and staff; 3. The concern among American Indian stuents that programming designed for special populations does not take into account the uniqueness of American Indian culture. The discussion focused on how students could work to develop a strong, sustained and unified voice for Indian issues, how they could work through unresolved issues with other ethnic groups, and how to continue to develop and promote Indian Pride. The Chair of the Faculty Senate has agreed to move the conversation forward with American Indian faculty at UNC-CH and to consider the role of the Faculty Senate in addressing some of the issues and concerns of the American Indian students. Last changed: 01/22/04