Black Students Find New Role, Identity in University
Editor's Note: This is the first of a five part series dealing with the state of five KU ethnic minorities today. The series will cover blacks, Mexican-American, Oriental, Arabs and American Indians. By PHYLLIIS AGNUS
By PHYLLIS AGENT
In 1966, Robert Sanders became the first black faculty member hired on a continuing basis. Sanders in an assistant professor in biochemistry.
According to Philip Gary, director of the Office of Urban Affairs, there are about 20 schools in New York City.
School Becomes Junior College
Haskell Program Matures
The date was Sept. 17, School was starting for a group of youngsters in Lawrence.
But this was the first day of a new school, the year was 1884 and the children were Indian boys, whose knowledge of English was slight.
Probably none of the boys, the school superintendent, nor the four women teachers present, guessed on that day that they each made up part of a seed that would eventually grow into one of the oldest government-supported schools in the nation.
WALLACE GALLIZU
Superintendent of Haskell High College ...
Photo by Quimby Quimby
THAT SCHOOL, which since 1970 has been known as Haskell Indian Junior College, and which now maintains an enrollment of some 1,200 young men and women representing 34 states and 100 tribes, was cited in a 1968 speech by President Kennedy as the one exception to the rule that "Indian schools are not what they should be."
FROM 1835 to 1890 the school's official name was the United States Indian Industrial Training School.
After these years of existence, the school's official name became Haskell Institute, in honor of Lawrence's Rep. Dudley C. Haskell, who had proposed that a non-reservation school be located in Lawrence, where it would have the advantage of being close to the University of Kansas. He died a year before the school opened, but the name endured even after Haskell became a junior college last year.
When the school opened, its curriculum chiefly included the teaching of agriculturally oriented manual labor. The children were enrolled in grades one through five.
Specifically, the girls learned homemaking and sanitation. They learned dressmaking if they wished to make money. The boys were taught adptress at harness-making, farming, wagon-making, painting and blacksmithing.
BY 1894, academic training had been added up to and through the eighth grade level. In that same year, the school began training teachers in a "Normal Department," so that they could teach in their home communities.
In 1895 the commercial department was created. It offered business training. Two years later there were three graduates from this course
By 1899 the curriculum dealing with agriculture had grown to form a number of specialized areas. These included dairying and fruit culture.
A uniform course of study was introduced in 1901 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, And, with the coming of the new century, there were so many students who sought vocational as well as academic training at Haskell, that it was decided not to allow enrollment of students under age 14. By then, enrollment had grown to over 600.
EVENTUALLY, IN 1927, the state of Kansas had accredited the secondary curriculum, and Haskell, as well, was offering post-high school courses in various areas.
After World War I, many students had been taught, without being graded, to learn a skill for the sake of mastering it alone. By the early 1930's,
training emphasis shifted from declining trades to those that were coming into demand. These included electricity, auto mechanics and various other types of industrial skills.
At this point, academic emphasis is growing, along with vocational training. High school level course offerings grew in number until, eventually, the lower grades were eliminated.
BY 1935 Haskell High School graduates were being recruited to remain at the school for further training.
Then, in 1962, the secondary program began to be phased out and by 1965 the last high school class had graduated.
Haskell became a post-high vocational-technical school.
By 1966 the school was investigating the higher educational necessities of its students and whether junior college status would be possible. In 1968 concrete steps were taken to achieve Kansas State Junior College accreditation. Final state accreditation was formally received in 1970.
NOW, A STUDENT has the option of pursuing a trade or technical skill, a junior college degree, or of combining both areas.
The 1970 change meant that 54 additional courses were offered in the areas of mathematics, communications, speech, English, history, art, music, theater, arts, anthropology, sociology, psychology, government, health, science and physical education.
Culturally oriented courses at the college include Indian history, contemporary Indian affairs, American Indian folkkore, Indian languages, Indian dance and Indian music.
Haskell, in its growth from grade school to junior college, has represented what one Associated Press writer referred to as "the Mecca of Indian education in the United States" for 86 years.
Language Links Past to Present
Indian language and tribal culture are probably two of the most vital links in the attempt to retain the dignity and pride of Indian America at Haskell.
Approximately 100 different tribes, from 34 states including Alaska are represented at the school and each tribe has its own separate culture, language and traditions.
DESPITE THE wide diversity in backgrounds and the problems of overcoming language and custom barriers, the fact that they are all Indians takes care of these differences and binds them together.
According to Rayford Gray, Cheyenne from Oklahoma, this unique situation proves to be rather amusing at times and has both advantages and disadvantages. He said, "An Indian language can be better than any code. Students who can speak their native tongues fluently find it rather amusing to be able to carry on a conversation only they and their fellow tribesmen understand."
On the other hand, a limited knowledge or the English language can become a hindrance for the student in his school work. This is often the case if one didn't begin speaking English until he started school.
However, the Haskell English department is developing special English classes with emphasis on grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary to aid in overcoming the problem. A reading laboratory has been established for the students to use.
DESPITE THESE individual attempts to retain Indian language and culture, Gray said, unfortunately much of the use of Indian languages is dying among the younger generation. He said this lack of interest could be partially caused by the increase in the number of young people living away from reservations.
Ralph Earl's instructor of language arts at Haskell, said this about reservations. "It's a different world altogether, each with its own controls and regulations. For the most part the areas are extreme examples of poverty, where the incoming salary might not even be $1,500.00 per year per family."
WE CAN SEE a hint of the variety of backgrounds represented at Haskell and despite the resulting problems, Haskell is again attempting to preserve the Indian language tradition. Courses in Creek, Cherokee, Hopi and Kiowa are offered and are specifically oriented to the American Indian and culture. Credit can be obtained and transferred to other colleges in Kansas.
Another step toward unification was taken with the creating of the Indian Club. Gray said, "It's a popular club on campus and gives students a chance to exchange cultures with one another and the white community. It shows their pride and desire for preserving their Indian cultures."
senior and secretary of the council.
She said students could sign up in all residence halls and some scholarship halls for the meals, but by not preparing meals for the students, about 60 cents, would be given to the council to aid Douglas County's poor in paying for rent, utilities and perishable foods.
She said the money would be paid directly to the utility companies, land lords and merchants and that the only administrative cost involved would be a small amount for the printing of posters and brochures to aid the Council's fund drives.
SHE SAID THAT she hoped the fast would raise between $500 and $1,000 for the council. She said a fast held earlier this semester by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War raised about $500 for the blacks boycotting white business in Cairo,
The council has recently joined a group
MANY PEOPLE, she said, are faced with paying their utility bills to keep the utilities from being cut off or buying food. She said that the cost of heating the homes of poverty families was high because of poor quality of the houses.
She did not think people in Lawrence would starve to death as a result of the legislature's across the board cut on food donations, because of people being "hoorribly malnourished."
She said that the council's fund raising activities were temporary and that the council was trying to help the families make it through the winter.
3
The group hit hardest were the people receiving old age assistance. She said there was a 68 per cent cut in this category of welfare assistance payments.
leader of the Kansas House of Representatives, will speak at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the B 8 Room of the Kansas Union on the welfare budget cuts.
She said that aid to dependent children recipients' payments were cut by 24 percent and that aid to the blind, aid to the hearing impaired, enabled and other categories were also cut.
SHE SAID SHE did not know how long the temporary measures would remain in effect. A petition requesting Gov. Robert Docking to call the legislature into special session was circulated by the League of Women Voters and produced no results, she said.
Miss Carlson said one woman who called for assistance from the council said "Don't rush, I still have two slices of toast left." The woman actually had only two slices of bread in her house and was planning to live on these for another day, she said.
A WOMAN TOLD William Nesbit, service supervisor of the Douglas County Welfare Department, "I am going to have any children to go out and steal," she said.
The cut first showed up in welfare checks in September and the council started collecting money in mid October. She said the cut averaged 24 per cent per family and amounted to a loss of £20,000 a month to the Douglas County poor.
See FAST, Page 2
submitted to a United Nations' body by the Peking delegation. It accused India of launching a large-scale attack on Pakistan and urged all people to support the Pakistani. It also called for a cease-fire and forced troops from the Indian-Pakistan borders.
Secretary-General U Thant asked for a temporary cessation of hostilities "in, around and over" Dacca, East Pakistan, to permit aircraft to evacuate United Nations' and other international personnel. He proposed that the cease-fire extend from 10:30 p.m. Dec. 6 to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 7.
The 15-mission council had before it a new draft sponsored by eight of the council's 10 nonpermanent members. Poland and Syria did not join in backing the proposal.
The backers of the new draft apparently boped to get around Soviety objections by placing more stress on the need for restoring normalcy in East Pakistan and for repatriating the millions of refugees in India.
The Soviet Union, however, has thrown its full support behind India which, in turn, has expressed opposition to a ceasefire appeal.
In a statement before the council Saturday night, Indian Ambassador Samar Sen said he had seen some of the drafts being circulated. He said India was trying to help the people of Bangla Desh by giving them the necessary India was to be told to stop doing so. "India would deliberately and resolutely have to say no."
By JEROME ESSLINGER and CHRISE CARSTENSON Kansan Staff Writers
LEAVENWORTH-Sen.  Jens B.
Pearson, R-Kan, said Sunday night that a compromise between "public tolerance"
of immigration has prompted a reordering of national priorities.
Speaking at St. Mary College, Pearson said that the change was brought about by a reversal in public awareness of the country's decision-making process.
"There is a new light for reform and redirection." he said.
Pearson said that public response to repsuction in military spending and increases in expenditures for health, education, welfare consumer and environment. He also said there is a national appeal for government action to assure Americans a better quality of life."
"In 1963 defense spending consumed 48 per cent of the federal budget while human resources consumed 25 per cent, however, human resources led, 42 per cent to 34 per cent, with defense spending having assumed a lower proportion of the budget than at any time since 1900," he
Pearson said a new direction in politics had been produced by more responsible action on the international as well as on the national level.
"Hostility is being replaced by a sense of civility, of community and of reason" he
"The organization serves to help veterans in school and the community to realize the benefits they can obtain through the Veterans Administration Authority," said Monty Beckwith, chairman of the organization.
See PEARSON, Page 2
This year the organization co-sponsored a dance with the Ballard Center, and
; have worked with the Center on
ous fund-raising projects.
ack Greek Council serves to unite k fraternities and sororites on Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpa Alpha Omega Psi Phi fraternities and Cappa Alpha and Delta Sigma协会 are members of the fde.
are various academic
ditions on campus designed to help
k student in his particular major.
Among these are organizations for students in law, engineering and art.
There has been a shift in attitudes among some of the black students from one of isolation from the University to another, as an association with the University as a whole.
"I usually try to associate with all groups on campus," said Karen Sandra, Mendocino University.
"No one person should segregate himself to one group. If one segregates himself to just one group, he will not be forced to relate to the outside world," she said.
John Harris, Chicago, III, senior commented, "I would rather socialize with the entire University than just within my specific minority group."
Monday, December 6,1971
Minority Group Problems Discussed
See Page 3
iment Base Changed
n Activity Fee vn by Senate
- allocation of $2,500 to school s.
The school councils are to
the funds given within the
s subject by the Finance
dititute Committee.
allocations to the school councils based on the enrollment and the ed fee income from each school.
Jerry Slaughter, Salina senior and member of the Finance and Auditing Committee, asked that council allocations be subject only to the restrictions imposed by the Cancellor and the Kansas Board of Regents instead of review by his committee as was called for in the Miller-Smooth amendment.
enate Votes Allocation o Continue Bus Runs
By MARY WARD
Venture Staff Writer
total amount of money allocated by date for the bus subsidy was $15,184. mount was based on the cost to run uses for about eleven hours from lum Hall to Gertrude Sellards on Hall by way of campus and one
Student Senate voted Sunday night, idle the Lawrence Bus Company to some form of transportation for its during the winter months. The company had been scheduled to stop *t* to the campus area on the last day of school and to be in throughout the final period and kdays from January 17 to March 17 at to busiders will be 10 cents per which is half of the current bus fare. committee was set up to study the extent of extending the service beyond 17.
bus to run from campus to the Gatehouse apartment complexes and back for about twelve hours each day. There will be no room from campus to the downtown area.
The money collected from the fares will be deducted from the total amount of money paid by the bus company and the Senate, Dugge Ogle, president of the Lawrence Bus Company, said he thought enough people would ride to the city to pay the money the Senate would have to pay.
The Senate is paying the bus company at a rate of $8.00 per hour of service.
The Senate passed a bill requesting the Iranian Student Association to have its president submit evidence to the Senate supporting statements accusing the School of Engineering of discriminatory practices against foreign students.
See SENATE, Page 7
Kansan Staff Photo by GREG SORBER
Sen. James. B. Pearson . 'quality of life' is important . .