HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY GETS AN AUDIENCE

Or at least part of HINU will get an audience. "Select administrators, faculty, and students" will have an opportunity to visit with Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk. Senator Pat Roberts call for somebody to investigate the alleged mismanagement of funds at Haskell will no doubt be topped by a literal smorgasboard of food in the Dining Facility.

We always knew when somebody "important" was visiting Haskell because the food suddenly looked foreign and plentiful. Just once I'd like to see an "important" somebody show up early or unannounced to see what the students are forced to accept from the dining facility. You know that is a tradition that dates to Haskell's early years in the late 1800s. Somebody important comes, and the kids suddenly have steaks on their plates. An unfortunate history that has crawled forward into the present day (meaning as late as 2004 anyway).

There has been no confirmation of any Open Forum for all the students and faculty to address their concerns. And in a boarding-school-generation of administrators and faculty, that means that many students will be forced to accept a grade demotion for a willful absence from classes, or suffer through knowing the Assistant Secretary is there on campus while they are forced to remain in session.

Not a complaint, just the reality of a boarding-school-trained staff environment to which the student population is subjected. I wonder if Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk will inspect the daily room inspection logs. (oh but such clean rooms!)

The point is this: there is an environment that students are subjected to that means that if they disagree, they are classified as rabble-rousers by the boarding-school-trained staff. So a "select group of representatives" does not guarantee that the general opinion of the entire staff, faculty and student population will be presented. At the very least, one can hope that Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk will hold the meeting during the evening hours when anyone who wants to or that needs to attend will be able.

The most important thing to ask yourself if you are the Assistant Secretary is how did things get to the point where an Assistant Secretary has to be called in? And where is the President of Haskell? Who is left to answer for what has happened? Where is the Bureau of Indian Education leadership in the midst of all of this? Has it come to this?

Let's hope Pat Roberts' call for a visit from Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk goes well, is transparent, and is open to all suggestions in the spirit of our Native traditions and the community spirit where each voice is equally heard.