10D = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OFFTHEHILL
MONDAY,AUG.20,2001
She completed her bachelor's degree in American Indian Studies from Haskell in the spring and will be entering KU's Indigenous Nations Studies Program this fall. In addition to her studies, Yeahquo Reyner wants to work with University Theatre. History
Yeaquho Reyner, too, is looking forward to the University.
Haskell began as "The United States Indian Industrial Training School" on Sept. 1, 1884. It was founded by the U.S. government as a training school for Indian children. Assimilation to the white culture was the goal, as students donned uniforms, put on shoes and cut their hair.
The 28-year-old Navajo grew up on a reservation in Crown Point, N.M., and is proud of his deep roots in his culture.
Their native customs, religions and languages were to be left at home.
Haskell: change takes time
Many changes have occurred through the years. The biggest change came in 1995 when the school became more than a two-year junior college and changed its name to Haskell Indian Nations University. It is now a fully accredited university that celebrates the diversity and culture of more than 500 federally recognized tribes. One hundred fifty tribal nations are represented at Haskell.
Manny King, Haskell registrar, said the school recently added American Indian studies, environmental science and business administration to the education degree, boosting the number of degrees offered to four.
Haskell continues to offer associate's degrees in 15 areas of emphasis. He said one of the school's strong points was that it continued to weave American Indian culture into all of its curricula.
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King said most of the 140 graduates of 2001 - 35 with undergraduate degrees and 105 with associate's degrees - wanted to go back to their tribes after graduation and make a productive
"It's an awesome place to go, even though it's just across town," Flores said about the difference in size between the Haskell and KU campuses. "Financially, it is difficult because Haskell students have not had to seek financial assistance before."
Cornel Pewewardy, an assistant professor in the School of Education, volunteers for the Haskell Mentoring Program. He said he recognized the financial challenge of attending the University. The only tuition required to attend Haskell was a $150 activity fee. The remaining costs are paid by the U.S. government.
"In return for land altering their livelihoods, Indians received promises of money, goods and certain services, such as health care and education," Pewwardy said. Different point of view
for with human lives - Indian lives. When white settlers moved farther west, the U.S. government began to obtain legal titles to the land by signing treaties, he said.
But Powewardy said he thinks the meager tuition is hardly a free ride. He said the tuition was paid
Flores said there were nine undergraduate transfer students last year, and she expects eight of them to return for the fall semester. The problems incoming Haskell students face may vary, but two are common: the size of the student body and financial pressures.
"We really strive to produce the most professional and quality-educated Native-American students, who can then go out into the work force and be successful - because they are the future of our Indian people," King said.
Some of the services the program provides are enrollment and advising on the Haskell campus in April, a one-time $150 book grant, student mentors, faculty and staff mentors and a special orientation program in August when students are introduced to former Haskell students and Native-American faculty members.
The University of Kansas is trying to make the transition as comfortable as possible. Gloria Flores, associate director for the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center, said the Haskell Mentor Program, a volunteer-based service, was designed to anticipate and address the needs of Haskell students.
impact on their political systems, schools and communities.
Dire recommends that Haskell transfer students think about their career path, see how credit hours transfer and think about what they want to do after college. He said Haskell was more conducive to his personality and what he wanted to do after finishing college.
Although KU's efforts to improve conditions for Native-American students continue to grow and expand, some students feel their needs are yet to be met. Dan Dire, a fall 2000 Haskell undergraduate transfer student, became disillusioned with the University of Kansas after one semester. He returned to Haskell.
He said he wants to teach others that there is a way out of the reservations and a way back.
"The program isn't as cool as they say," Dire said. He was disappointed because much of his course work transferred only as electives, the class sizes were too big and professors' teaching styles were very different from Haskell teachers. He said that his history professor, in particular, wasn't willing to see his view. He said he felt as if he had no place at the University.
"I only got one letter from my mentor - at the end of the semester," he said.
Michael Begay also knows what he wants to do after he gets his bachelor's degree. He hopes to pursue a graduate degree in computer science and then return to the area where he grew up.
Dire said the mentor program let him down.
North can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com