Ethnic Studies at Weber State Criticism directed against that they lack initiative conviction of the Institute of Ethnic Studies personnel that their most serious problem has been lack of opportunity. Providing the opportunity then becomes the goal of the work of the Institute. Many have said that Americas greatest resource is its people. If this is so then the fifteen per cent which constitute these minorities have been a waste of America’s most important resource. A successful WHY AND the ethnic minority has been and ambition, but it is the HOW upon attack this waste is necessary. The American public has long waged battles of every type in reaching for the goal of establishing the greatest society in human history. When the late President John F. Kennedy, early in his term of office, promised that we would reach the moon by the 1970’s, the technological capacity of America accomplished the feat five months before the 1970’s arrived. However, in 1954, the United States Supreme Court struck a blow at the unconstitutionality of segregation. Yet sixteen years later, we are still far from achieving victory over hate and prejudice. Until the American public determines to wage as stringent an attack by Dr. Richard O. Ulibarri upon the problem of race as it did to put a man on the Dr. Richard O. Ulibarri “To make it” in America, a person has had to either born rich, to have had influential friends, or has had earn credentials (education). Since it is gener impossible for these groups to reap the advantages of first two means, a greater burden is thus placed ug education to provide them with the credentials fe “chance.” This is the goal of ethnic studies: T these peoples in any way possible to gain the cre and qualifications. To that end, the Institute has hire Daily Oliver as a Black Instructor in Ethnic Studies In its June meeting, the Utah State Board of Higher Education approved a proposal for the creation of an Ethnic Studies Institute at Weber State College. With this innovation Weber State becomes the first public institution of higher learning to create an academic organization for the assistance of the disadvantaged ethnic minorities. The question of race is one of the great problems of American history. It will be the purpose of ethnic studies at Weber State to attempt to use its resources in dealing with this serious issue. The specific ethnic minorities, Black, Spanish/Mexican-American (Chicano), and Indian American (Native American), as well as poor white will be those to which the program will address itself for the most part. These three ethnic minorities share many problems in common. One of the more interesting is that they have all been captive peoples. The Blacks, of course, endured three hundred years of slavery in this hemisphere, while Native Americans were consecutively eliminated and then placed on reservations where they have alternately been ignored and paternalized. In its westward expansion, the United States absorbed more than half of what was then Mexico in what is known in our country’s history as the Mexican War. As a result of that conflict, the population which had settled the American southwest as early as 1598 was dispossessed of its native land and those people became aliens where they had been living for over two centuries. All other Americans of today came to this country by choice but these three groups either were here or were coerced into coming. As a result of their experiences, these people have been caught in a vortex of racism, a minimum subsistence existence and without the necessary self-concept to induce them to enter the competitiveness of the American way of life. Consequently, while many legal barriers to discrimination have fallen before the onslaught of Civil Rights reform, there is yet a major work to be accomplished in assisting these peoples to overcome the handicaps of their years of subjectivity. 4 UJ a provide for Black students an important link institutional structure and Mr. John Ulibarri to ¢ same for the Chicano students. A lack of funds has” far prevented our hiring a Native American. We hop rectify this situation as soon as funds can be located: extra counseling providec should make the minority students more at ease with the challenges. However, much remains to be done this beginning effort. a An area which will get immediate attention willl curriculum study. There is strong reason to believe courses in the cultural studies of each of these groups go a long ways in helping them to achieve a rele vibrant self-concept. As they can begin to appré contributions which their forefathers have mad American experience, they can wear with pre traditions. In addition, these fields of stuey undoubtedly uncover ways and means by whit unique problems which they face may be best 0 Another important benefit of a relevant curric be to provide for the larger society st understanding and appreciation of the ethnic people. Hopefully, in this manner, many of the prejudices of past generations will begin to ¢ Such fields of study as English, history, literature,# social studies, as they are now studies for those students instructed, whose ethnic moon, racial strife will continue to weaken America. Ethnic studies is at least a step in the right direction. As in other areas and at other times in our history the American public has responded in humanitarian ways to relieve the suffering of suppressed peoples or to correct injustices, a massive effort is now needed for enthnic minorities. Ethnic studies is a step of the larger society to assist the less fortunate but equally deserving. The Institute of Ethnic Studies is a new academic organization which is not related to any of the existing schools or departments. It is headed by a Director who answers directly to the academic Vice President. It will be the duty of the Director to advise the administration in all matters dealing with the ethnic minorities. In addition, he shall be responsible for all of the actions of the Institute which includes the counseling of students, the creation of meaningful curriculum, and developing means of financing the Institute projects. A special instrument to advise the ae created. It is known as the Ethnic been visory Board. This body meets at least once a aig ee ar time and place of their own choosing. It approximately fifteen members including a faculty e a, presentative from each of the academic schools Pus, a representative from the campus students ae “S Organization and one from the department of Project RESPECT which last year was located on Weber State College, but which was then a program of the State Vocational Office, has now been placed under Ethnic Studies. This program is designed for the employed and the underemployed to provide for the basic type skill training to place them at employable levels. This program is under the continued direction of Mr. George Campbell. He and his staff are busy preparing the curriculum and recruiting the students for the 1970-71 academic year. This program will provide 40 to 50 students of the ethnic minorities and poor whites the opportunity to gain those skills which will increase their value in the labor market. This program receives the benefit of the Ethnic Studies counseling staff and the basic elements of the Ethnic Studies philosophy. One of the main features of the philisophy of Ethnic Studies is that the program not become another one of the paternalism of these people by the larger society. All past experiences have shown that where paternalism exists, the initiative of the recipient is damaged. Consequently, it is important to its concept that the program involves minority members in all of its elements. It is for this reason that care has been taken for them to exercise representation on the above mentioned Advisory Board and that the program created be that which is most appropriate to the needs and desires of these populations. This requirement will of necessity cause some delay in the creation of a meaningful curriculum. That is, the involvement of the minority communities and students as well as well qualified minority ethnic faculty members will require more time, patience, and study than is normally required, but it is very important that the program be sensitive to this aspect. The most serious problem facing the program at the moment is the question of finance. While the College has attempted to provide meaningful support, the budgetary restrictions of the present have affected the resources which could be made available for this program. However, it is anticipated that this problem will not continue to be as severe as its needs have been considered along with other academic units of the College for the future development. In any case, the Institute, recognizing its many problems is optimistically anticipating its service to this College and this community. tics. In addition, there will be representation from Ogden Chamber of Commerce and a lay member of ae Chicano, and Native American communities. : Se ettation on the Board will be from the ; atge and one each from the three minority Board ®rganizations. The members of the Advisory ee” ented by the President of the College upon to advising - ation of the Institute Director. In addition Studies Prop; ag on all aspects of the Ethnic the appointmen, Director. oard will advise the President on and continued service of the Institute af” © European. As a consequence, minority students¥ been aliens in this country often do not relate 4 Consequently, the creation of Black Studies, Studies, and Native American Studies should new point of relevancy in American 1 learning. Mr. Dailey Oliver bee