Opinions • Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Arizona Summer Wildcat • 9
DIVERSITY FROM PAGE 8
not clear how large of a role it can play in emphasizing the Native American culture on campus. Secondly, there is virtually no attempt by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona to incorporate the UA’s cultural centers. ASUA has access to massive amounts of funding and resources on campus, but it does not bode well for the vision outlined in the Never Settle plan if ASUA exists predominantly for white upper-class students. A partial concession is in order: There are few students within the cultural centers that want to become a part of ASUA because of its image of being a white upper-class clique. This image exists, deserved or not, and as such all parties must work to resolve it. At this point, one might wonder: Why should Native American students receive extra help? College is a difficult place for everyone to adjust. Native American students are not special in that regard, so why do they deserve extra attention? This mentality assumes that all struggles are the same, which is simply false. The difficulty of a typical American adjusting to college life is not the same as for a Native American. To understand why, consider that there are few places in America, outside of a reservation, where Native Americans can practice their culture without feeling alienated. On the
other hand, American culture is rather ubiquitous at the UA and its norms are easily recognizable to the typical American. Such an explanation does not even begin to cover the well-founded mistrust some Native Americans feel toward American institutions, nor does it take into account that the university system is a European construct that is culturally foreign to many minorities. Culture shock is a very real thing for many Native American students and it makes the transition to college much more difficult. The UA has made progress toward increasing the graduation rates of its Native American population, but for progress to continue, it needs to do more. I have mentioned a couple of reasons for believing that we are not doing enough to promote the continued academic success of our Native students. Other reasons exist, and their complexity is such that a column cannot do them justice. That being said, I urge our administration to ensure that its promise of supporting diverse cultures, inclusivity and student success takes into account the needs of our Native American students, lest the progress we have made is left to stagnate or, even worse, deteriorate.
— Vince Redhouse is a junior studying philosophy, politics, economics, and law. Follow him @DailyWildcat
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