2008 Woodie Awards
Flier criticizes Native Americans
No suspects in distribution of offensive material
By: Angie Favot
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Discriminatory fliers against Native Americans were found on campus earlier this month, said Denise Green, associate vice president for Institutional Diversity.
The fliers were reportedly slid underneath the doors of the Native American Program and Multicultural Education Center and Minority Student Services offices Oct. 7, and additional fliers were hung in Anspach Hall.
Colleen Green, interim director of Native American Programs, said there are no current suspects.
"It was very inaccurate, and unsigned, so I don't give credence to those who don't sign their names," Colleen Green said.
The fliers referred to Indians as uncivilized, scalping each other and spreading syphilis.
Denise Green sent an e-mail to all faculty and staff, informing them about the flier.
"Acts of this nature create a hostile environment for our Native American students, faculty and staff, as well as other members of our community. Although free speech is a protected constitutional right, this act of hate is unacceptable and has no place at Central Michigan University," she wrote in the e-mail.
Mount Pleasant freshman Joshua Hudson, a member of North American Indigenous Student Organization, said he disapproves of the flier.
"I'm shocked that people still think like this," he said.
Colleen Green said education is being used to remedy the situation.
"Some teachers have got a hold of the flier and used it in classrooms," she said. "We've addressed it to (University) President (Michael) Rao, we are also writing a letter to the Tribal Observer and Dr. (Denise) Green has sent out a mass e-mail to faculty and staff."
In addition, the North American Indigenous Student Organization will host a stereotyping forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Bovee University Center's Rotunda.
Colleen said the an open forum aims to encourages group discussion.
Sonny Smart, an associate professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, will speak twice Nov. 8 for an educational seminar. First, a workshop for faculty and staff from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium, and later Smart will be back in the auditorium speaking to students about Native American issues and culture from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
news@cm-life.com
The fliers were reportedly slid underneath the doors of the Native American Program and Multicultural Education Center and Minority Student Services offices Oct. 7, and additional fliers were hung in Anspach Hall.
Colleen Green, interim director of Native American Programs, said there are no current suspects.
"It was very inaccurate, and unsigned, so I don't give credence to those who don't sign their names," Colleen Green said.
The fliers referred to Indians as uncivilized, scalping each other and spreading syphilis.
Denise Green sent an e-mail to all faculty and staff, informing them about the flier.
"Acts of this nature create a hostile environment for our Native American students, faculty and staff, as well as other members of our community. Although free speech is a protected constitutional right, this act of hate is unacceptable and has no place at Central Michigan University," she wrote in the e-mail.
Mount Pleasant freshman Joshua Hudson, a member of North American Indigenous Student Organization, said he disapproves of the flier.
"I'm shocked that people still think like this," he said.
Colleen Green said education is being used to remedy the situation.
"Some teachers have got a hold of the flier and used it in classrooms," she said. "We've addressed it to (University) President (Michael) Rao, we are also writing a letter to the Tribal Observer and Dr. (Denise) Green has sent out a mass e-mail to faculty and staff."
In addition, the North American Indigenous Student Organization will host a stereotyping forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Bovee University Center's Rotunda.
Colleen said the an open forum aims to encourages group discussion.
Sonny Smart, an associate professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, will speak twice Nov. 8 for an educational seminar. First, a workshop for faculty and staff from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium, and later Smart will be back in the auditorium speaking to students about Native American issues and culture from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
news@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
andy austin
posted 10/28/07 @ 1:44 AM EST
just wondering if this story get national news coverage like all the other stories about racism have been lately ?
bp
posted 10/28/07 @ 8:50 PM EST
how did i miss this? this is extremely alarming, especially in this area. not to point fingers, but who could be behind putting up fliers saying Happy Columbus Day/these hate fliers? possibly a radically conservative group?
George Clinton
posted 10/29/07 @ 12:06 PM EST
The irony is that those same claims are made about Europeans during the age of exploration by every single CMU History professor on this campus.
Why not debate the points though. (Continued…)
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