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Show AROUND HE BEND We stole it fair and square." And in saying this, it also implies that past absolute white control was not entirety legitimate. Some Indian people believe they deserve more say and the college greater rights over the school's administration and operation. They maintain itself has been and is now being supported on the backs of the Indian peoples through the use of scholarship funds from their own trust funds. Now let me cover a few points in my vision statement: 1) We can overcome our past prejudices. To do fids, new goals must be looked at as cooperation is preferable to conflict. We must reduce the tensions that now exist between the cultures and individuals. The Campus can do this by taking the lead in seeing that further study and research of cultural and Intellectual issues are a major part of the program. AGAIN... Sporting from San Juan County We must involve the public more. Advisory board representation should be increased as fair representation should be a matter of course. And die meetings should be held on a regular basis and publicized. Other concerns deal with the need for improved education, the need for counselors, the need for jobs, and the need for student housing. There have been complaints about the service and policy of the school, and about the administration of scholarships and their funding These concents must be met. 2) We must revamp our curriculum to meet the needs and challenges of today and the needs of our culturalty-divers- e people. This college should be one that promotes thinking speaking writing and learning to listen and read with greater understanding This core curriculum is basic to any instructional program. educators within the Navajo Nation, the White Mesa Utes, and other tribes have the right to help determine the curriculum. There is a need for studies. Native American languages should be taught in special classes so that the language and the culture can be maintained. We must develop a teacher development program to teach students how to teach. It is reported that a successful teacher development program had once been directed by the Brigham Young University back in 1975. The program enlisted some 97 people (of which about 95 were Native Americans.) A third of those received teaching certificates. If it was successful then, why not again? The public school system and the San Juan campus are in dire need of Native American teachers. The campus could well develop teachers to teach in our county schools alleviating much of the problems that now exist During the past few years, student enrollment hovered between 500 or 600 or so students. It is reported that during most school terms, "between forty and fifty percent of the student body is Native American." Yet, of the 55 staff and faculty listed in the Anniversary program and directory, it appears that only two Native Americans are listed. Clearly, the Native American population is not being fairly represented. This discrepancy must be alleviated. 3) The college campus, to be successful, must be operated in a setting and environment We now know "that a person speaking a language of a structure entirety different from that of English may not even think the same thoughts as an English-speakiperson." There is indeed a dose relationship between language and thought Bilingual , teaching will help. Just as the San Juan County public school system has encountered legal problems education, so will this campus. This must be quickly rectified and can concerning done be teachers. by recruiting more Navajo-speakin- g 4) Financial and budget reports of the institution should be readily available on campus to the public, staff, students, and the media. The records should be in a format that reflect the San Juan Campus as a separate entity. Expense, revenue, capital and other accounts that pertain only to the San Juan campus should be listed separate and not combined with other parent CEU accounts. It would be nice to know the financial condition of the campus on its own merits. 5) Cooperation with the public school system is essential. Just as the public school system is considering Important changes in its program, the Campus should likewise consider important changes. The San Juan County district has the distinction of being at the bottom in the Utah Taxpayer Association evaluation of Utah's school districts. San Juan received a rating, a flunking grade. This situation of course throws a great burden on higher education if the students are to go to school at all The system allows the entry of students that are e linguistically not qualified to enter college. So there are a number of remedial courses that are sponsored by the college, but the expense and effort rightfully belongs to the public school system - not CEU. The Campus at Blanding should not be expected to be a glorified high school, but at the same time, students should not be punished because the public school system didn't do its job. So the Campus could undertake a special program (funded by the San Juan School District, state; and federal funds) to prepare students for college. 6) The Navajo Trust Rind should not be viewed as a place to raid money or as a "feeding Native-Americ- an multi-cultur- By Ken Sleight IN SAN JUAN COUNTY The San Juan Campus of the College of Eastern Utah in Blanding recently held its 20th Anniversary Celebration. "Close your eyes, keynoter Lynn Lee asked the sparse but supportive audience; he asked the audience to envision the future of the San Juan Campus - what it ought to be like in five years, ten years, or even twenty years. During that obligatory eye dosing, I formulated my vision. I agree with Lee, that during these first formative years (20 years), there were many problems, disagreements and mistakes. It was often painful and "without humor," as he said. Short-cuttiand acts of pragmatism often ruled the day as happens in the formative But by the same token, there were many accomplishments. of institutions. most stages These founding fathers did succeed and contributed much to the growing college. A number of those who stayed on in these formative years are now passing on the mantle. They are legend: Lynn Lee, Dr. Kay Shumway, Cleal Bradford, dedicated faculty, and others. The pioneer stage is over and the honor remains with them. But now there's a new beginning, a fresh breeze a'blowing. For one, the College of Eastern Utah has a new president: Dr. Grace Sawyer Jones who Beems very able and intelligent And she listens. Already she has begun reforming CEU into a broader community-base- d college system that includes the Price, Moab and San Juan campuses. And the San Juan Campus has a new Dean of Instruction, Dr. Don C Larson, recently recruited from Utah State University where he helped direct its Continuing Education program. His job is to meet with the faculty and to strengthen the relationships between the college and the community. They have big jobs to da They must interact with the Legislature, the regents, the Higher Education commissioner, donors, the faculty, students, the Navajo Nation, the White Mesa Utes, San Juan County, Blanding City, and others of the public domain. It's a big order. During the celebration, the speakers didn't labor the points of past disagreements, and why should they? This was an event to applaud their success. However, I feel mention must be made, in all fairness, to those people who also financially contributed so much the Indian peoples. If it hadn't been for than, the college campus wouldn't be there today. But by the same token, if it hadn't been for the white founders and administrators and a dedicated faculty, the college campus wouldn't be there either. No Indian leader, representing the many beneficiaries and donors of the Navajo Trust Fund, spoke at the opening ceremony. This omission may have been an oversight by the scheduling committee, but one that was so obvious. As to who in the future controls the college campus, time will tell. Some say that the white people alone ought to continue its control into perpetuity. Former Senator SJ. Hayakawa a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1976, once discussed the Panama Canal and said, "We ought to hang onto the Canal We stole it fair and square." This clever witticism could be adapted here to mean, "We ought to hang onto the Campus. THE NEW EDUCATION CHALLENGE ng bi-ling-ual bi-ling- ng bi-ling- ual bi-ling- us college-entranc- 121 East 100 PRINTS, South, Suite 108 (801)259-438- 4 Moab, UT 84532 (800)635-528- 0 the Footprints crew, may all of you be trampled with good fortune From We write custom software for the big people and in 1998. the little... making technology work for you. ,twnfytwo al |