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Students Fight to Save Native American Studies at the College of St. Scholastica

The administration of the College of St. Scholastica is considering eliminating, or merging into another program, their Native American Studies program.  This program, which began back in 1978, currently offers a Minor to students, as well as hosting a Native American Studies Center with a full-time director, Native student recruiter and an Ojibwe language instructor.

Diversity has long been an issue at the College of St. Scholastica.  An overwhelming white campus, there have been a number of disturbing incidents over the years, including the drawing of swastikas on the car of a Black student, and dorms of Native students. 

In 2020 Students of Color on the campus drafted 31 demands, and circulated a petition aimed at the Administration, calling for, among other things, and an official apology for the mishandling of discrimination complaints over the years, and making a more serious commitment to providing resources and services to Students of Color.  Some of this student struggle for change was documents on the facebook page CSS Ain’t Saints.

The College claims that it takes inclusion seriously.  It prominently lists a Land Acknowledgement statement on its website, lists “Native Initiatives” as one of the four pillars of their “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work”.  But this commitment has been called into question by the ax now hanging over the head of the Native American Studies program.

Students have responded to this threat by rallying in support of the program.  On April 7 the CSS Student Government Association unanimously passed a resolution calling for the program to be saved, and for the College to make good on its commitment to understanding, respecting appreciating Indigenous cultures.  

The text of the resolution can be viewed here.

Prominent among the students supporting the resolution are activists from the CSS Native American Student Association, Black Student Union and International Club.  And they have also received support from UMD student groups, like the Indigenous Student Organization.

We salute the College of St. Scholastica students who have organized to try and save this important program, and we urge all of our readers to support their efforts.  You can reach out to the College administration at 1-800-447-5444.  And you can stay in the loop about possible future actions and campaigns by following the CSS Native American Student Association at https://www.instagram.com/css_nasa/.

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