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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1980)
Minorities try to avoid American melting pot Editor’s note: The following is the third in a four-part series examining the problems of racial minorities at the University. ByDOUGFICK Of the Emerald “Ha men loses anything and goes back and looks carefully for It, he will find It.” - Sitting Buff "And that's what the Indians are doing now,'' says David West, a Potawatomi Indian who co-directs the Native American Student Union. Upholding eth nic heritage in the white man’s world has become a primary concern of American Indians, he says. But Indians aren't alone in their effort. Many minority peo ple are fighting to avoid the American melting pot and as similation into the white man's world. “Most of us try to maintain our educational vision and to balance that with our cultural and spiritual vision,” West says. Because of the significant differences between minority and white cultures, maintaining that vision in Eugene can be difficult, he adds. The University has failed to “acknowledge and adjust to the individual needs of American Indians,” says George Wasson, an Indian who works in the Of fice of Student Services. “They’re stepping on Food Service SALAD (small .50, large 1.00) FRUIT CAT A FY (small .50, 0/lL>nL/ large 1.00) CHEF KAI An 1.25 Page 8 Section A someone's cultural toes." He says he’s seen many toes stepped on since he came here as a student in 1953. “I’ve watched young Indians who can’t make it at the University because there is no give, no take, no room for their other part, which isn’t part of this culture,” Wasson says. The University’s cultural in flexibility also affects Wasson, he says, adding that occasion ally he feels the need to return to his people, "but that doesn't cut shit with the University.” Janet Crawford, a black University law student says, “It’s harder to maintain your culture without people around you to remind you of it. “If you stick me in a white community, pretty soon I'm go ing to start trying to speak more property, and I'm going to stop saying' Ya’ll’ and ‘what is it’ and what's happening,’ because I don’t constantly hear it. What I constantly hear subtly brain washes me into forgetting what’s natural to me. Pool issue floods council More than 100 people crowd ed into the Eugene city council chambers to hear testimony on the fate of the city pool system, especially the Jefferson Pool, at Wednesday’s city council meet ing. The city would like to fund every program, but it doesn’t have the money, said councilor Gretchen Miller. Faced with a $1.6 million deficit, the council cut program budgets by an average of 6 per cent to ensure Eugene would make it through the current fis cal year, which ends June 30. City pools were closed on a rotating basis, ball field main tenance dropped, and library hours reduced by the budget cuts, but everything was hurt, Miller said. “It is exceedingly important that an aquatic program happen in Eugene,” said Jane Wilson, a member of Citizens for a City Center Pool Committee. “The issue needs to be addressed by citizens, not sent off to the joint parks committee." To increase the funding of the pool program and reinstitute ball field maintenance will require budget cuts some where, Miller said. “It’s only fair to people that we let them know where the cuts are going to be made. “But can we afford to keep on keeping the pools open,” said Bob Martin. “Looking at it from an economic point of view, you’re asking too much to keep the pools open.” The city council requested that City Manager Charles Henry itemize possible areas the city could cut to obtain funds for the three projects. The council will review the sugges tions Wednesday at 11:45 a m. in the council chambers. "Not only are there few min orities (in Eugene), but the min orities here have brought very little culture with them," she says, adding that many minority people in Eugene are content to abandon their cultural identity. American-lndian students of ten do the same thing, says Bucky Minthorn, co-director of the NASU. "Half the problem, once they (Indian students) get here, is to keep them in focus of what they are doing here so they don’t get sucked up into the mainstream," Minthorn says. “Because everything here is geared toward perpetuating the white society." Education in a white-domin ated environment has tradition ally been a way to destroy In dians’ heritage, Minthorn says. “That’s a subtle way of assimilation. Their argument is to educate these pagans and set them on the road to Chris tianity and the Republican way of living. They want to do that so they can steal what we have. “They’ve tried to kill us off and move us and throw us into the melting pot, but we still keep popping up,” he says. Cultural events and educa tional programs at the Universi ty can help Indians keep their cultural vision and help whites better understand Indian ways, West says. Indians at the University can uphold their cultural tradition if they stick together and maintain a strict sense of purpose, West says. “I’ve lost something and now I’m back on the path to find ;t — keeping my eyes down that path toward my Indianness, toward my spiritualness, toward my be ing one with the rest of humanity and the rest of creation.” KAPPAS: You topped off our mystery exchange with a secret Monday night party Champagne and the Kappas, what more could we ask tor. Thanks, Sig Ep's The University of Oregon declares that no person shall be denied partidaption in or benefits from any of its programs/and or activities on the basis of age, sex, race, marital status, religion, handicap, or national origin. If you think you encountered acts of discrimination, contact the Affirmtative Action Office, 472 Oreqon Hall 68&-3123. DESTITUTE FOXHOLLOW male wishes any sort of animal to converse with. Hey, I'm inter ested but not interesting. Send your cage to Matt, Apt 11 Foxhollow. ONE MORE DAY!! UNTIL THE PHI PSI SMOKER We ll see which fraternity knows how to box Trophys for the winners, beer for the losers Campus Interfaith Ministry presents DR. LINDA OLDS MOSES TO MARY From the Frying pan into the fire? Integrating the masculine and feminine into theology today. Feb. 22 - 23 Fri 7:30 pm Sat 9:30 pm Wesley Center Students $10 General Public $15 Scholarships available 1236 Kincaid 344-4219 ANDERZ: Belated birthday wishes to the most handsome, witty, fantastic man I know. Have a wonderful day. lover. GOONERZ Earth to ANNICK: Mission accomplished -wait ing for intake Meet you at the Gut Pretty Boy Floyd TO THE GUY who has turned twenty-one today To the guy who insults "boat people" in Bend To the guy who thinks he's getting pretty hot on skiis To the guy who gives me a basketball game ticket and then take it back To my big bro who helped me out while I was just a meager puke. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOAT Sammy KEVIN DANE GERNHART Happy Late 21er! 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