The number of traffic stops is merely a symptom of a larger problem. No reasonable person would ask the police department to keep the racial quota even on traffic stops. That would be unsafe and ill-advised. But maybe this IS a symptom of institutional racism. Let's treat the disease, not the symptoms.

Here is an article by Angela Davis that if read with an open ( not necessarily, uncritical )mind, sheds some light on the situation: www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Prison_System/Masked_Racism_ADavis.html

Posted by: headless lucy at May 21, 2006 12:44 PM

COCC Bend Oregon charged with Institutional Racism
author: David Velasquez & Brent Henzi

The idea that Native American student retention and Institutional racism are linked often receives lip service from time to time. But the very real problems of representation of diverse communities in the faculty and staff of even the smallest colleges and universities, seems never to be addressed. Institutional racism is very real to most Native students who will almost never meet a Native American at the management, board, or tenured level. It is necessary to have representation for Natives and others in these roles where decisions regarding their economic and educational futures are decided. Case in point, the story below. Please post widely and forward to all who might possibly help the Native students of Central Oregon Community College in Bend Oregon.

Calls and emails will help I am sure, but if you could attend our Powwow on Saturday May 27th 2006 and meet the students of COCC, that would give us strength. Please visit us if you can, email and or call if you can't.

Dave
http://nativeamerican.cocc.edu
541-318-3787

*******************

Here is a link to the full article and the article text below. Please help the native students here at this school by emailing the people listed below with your sentiments and opinions. I know that it helps the students to know that others support them.

thanks again - Dave

COCC Statistics

2004-05 Ethnic Breakdown (Students)

African American/Black - 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander - 1.3%
Hispanic - 3.7%
Native American - 3%
Caucaian - 85%
Unknown - 6.7%

(NOTE : Since there is only 1 or two non-white employees in the
entire institution, there are no employment race breakdowns or
statistics. Any category such as African American or Native American
employees are statistically insignificant, and do not reflect the
racial make up of the student population, or the population of the
town of Bend itself. It is an essentially "all white" institution in
a community that is not "all white.")

http://web.cocc.edu/broadside/news.asp#story1

*********************

Student files racism complaint
By BRENT HENZI

In the first time of Central Oregon Community College's 53-year
history, the school is struck with a complaint of institutional
racism.

COCC student David Velasquez, a tribal member from the Tule River
Reservation, is the face for the complaint, but to him this is a
struggle of the minorities on campus and in the community, not just
a one-man crusade.

"This is not just an anti-Indian issue," says anthropology major
Velasquez. "The complaint is institutional racism, but I'm using
myself as an example of what I have had to endure and other
minorities have had to go through from every part of this
institution."

A full investigation is underway, handled by Sharla Andresen,
financial and contracts analyst for COCC. She is unable to speak of
the incidents because of the investigation currently taking place.

But Andresen did mention that in 2005, COCC passed a Civil Rights
Review conducted by the State of Oregon, actually exceeding
requirements in many areas.

But Velasquez is receiving substantial support from minority
students on campus.

Hispanic COCC student Enedina Lopez backs Velasquez's complaint,
saying "I couldn't believe it; I thought he was kidding, then he
told me he doesn't kid around." Lopez, a massage therapist major,
continues saying, "For me personally, I don't have any experience
with any racial issues, but I think there is [racism] here with
other stories that I've heard."

Leland George, COCC student and native from the Warm Springs
Reservation, is also behind Velasquez and his complaint,
saying, "It's about time; it's an action that has been needed for
awhile."

A number of Native Americans feel the same racial discrimination as
Velasquez, as strangers have come up to him, shook his hand, and
thanked him for bringing this out in the open, says Velasquez.

Tanayia White, an Apache/Navajo and COCC student, says, "I'm really
proud [Dave] is doing this. He is speaking for the people that won't
speak up. Speaking from one native to another is a lot different
then what he is doing right now."

For White, going to school full time and taking care of her two kids
leaves little room in her life to file such complex complaints.

The complaint filed by Velasquez in mid-April points out instances
within the college where he felt discriminated against both verbally
and physically.

In one instance Velasquez felt he was assaulted by a co-worker. (The
student/co-worker moved from the area shortly after the incident and
could not be contacted for comment.)

The incident occurred in the COCC library where both students
worked. While Velasquez was using one of the computers for research,
he left his coat on a nearby chair. The co-worker picked up the coat
and slapped Velasquez in the face with it, telling him to, "Leave
your shit off of my chair," according to Velasquez. The situation
turned into a heated debate and their boss, Jeff Richards, the
director of information technology (IT), reviewed the conflict.
According to Velasquez, "During my meeting with him [Richards] he
said that what I was studying - which was homework, required
material - was making my co-worker uncomfortable. Nothing was ever
mentioned about me getting hit upside the head."

The other incident that Velasquez documented in his complaint
involves his boss, Richards. During a staff meeting on job
harassment, says Velasquez, the subject of racial issues was brought
up. "Richards said that he prefers `separate but equal,' immediately
back-peddling when he saw me sitting there," Velasquez says. "Since
then he has never said anything to me ever again, not even said
hello to me."

Richards declines to comment and says he "cannot speak about that
right now," due to the investigation.

But for Velasquez the racism is obvious. "It is real clear there is
a lot of tension. He is the one who does all the hiring, so when my
boss feels free to say this then it is clear that he will never have
anything but WASPs working for him," he says.

Velasquez adds that his days of working as a computer lab attendant
quickly came to an end when the complaint was filed.

"About the same day I filed the complaint, I lost all of my hours,"
says Velasquez. "My boss has not spoken with me one single time; I
didn't even know that I was getting let go. I am a highly skilled IT
tech, with 20 years of experience, and for me at COCC it is hard to
keep a job as computer lab attendant."

For Velasquez this is an important issue to bring to the forefront,
with repercussions that follow just "things he will just have to
deal with."

But this is much more then just a couple of incidents, it is a
culmination of what he has seen at COCC and in the Bend community,
says Velasquez.

"When people come from the reservation only to see white people on
staff, they aren't going to feel very welcomed to come here," says
Velasquez. "There is a reason why you have a school 70 miles away
[from the reservation], but students would rather go to school in
Eugene," which is nearly twice as far.

George, a forest management major, also feels the lack of diversity,
saying, "It's a fact that most people from Warm Springs try to avoid
Bend."

"This is primarily from the reaction we get from people. You get the
feeling that you're not really accepted, which makes you not want to
come back," says George.

For White, this is also the case, as she says that the lack of
diversity is the reason why she is moving from Bend after spring
term.

"There is mainly just Anglo diversity here in Bend," says
White. "When I walk into the computer lab, no one will sit next to
me unless it is the only spot available. When people hand me my
change at the store, they always put it on the counter, never in my
hand. There are even some parks that my family and I don't go to
anymore. It's really a miscommunication between cultures."

Gordon Price, a financial aid advisor at COCC, feels the same type
of effects, as he is the only African American employed on campus.
"At times it is hard," says second-year advisor Price. "Sometimes
you feel isolated and stand out when you don't want to. You feel as
if you have to be the spokesman."

Price feels that institutional racism does not take place at COCC,
but he does feel that there is a need to bring in more ethnic
backgrounds to the college.

"There can be more emphasis to bring people of color," Price
says. "But look at Bend, if you don't have numbers then it won't
thrive. As the population grows, you will see a lot more coming."

For White, as well as Velasquez, this lack of cultural diversity is
a concern for the education that is provided at COCC.

"What COCC is going to fail to do is prepare people for diversity,"
White says. "When they leave to go find a job, how will they be
prepared for what the world is really like?"

White feels this couldn't be more apparent than with the leader of
the Native American program, Cody Yeager, at COCC.

"I was shocked to see an Anglo advisor," says White. "It's not
representative to have an Anglo as an advisor, this will only push
people out the door. How is she possibly going to help us when she
doesn't understand where we come from? Sure she worked on the
reservation, but what was the reason why she was there?"

Yeager says she was appointed the position while teaching COCC
classes on the Warm Springs Reservation. Due to her experience with
working in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, university teaching
experience, and four degrees, Yeager feels she is qualified for the
position.

But Velasquez feels the same way as White, as he "... couldn't find her
for anything while going through this, and she is our leader. I had
to find out everything by myself."

Yeager, who also serves on various campus committees and is co-chair
on the Diversity Committee, responds saying that her position
is "half time. I encourage students to make an appointment when they
need to see me because I want to be sure I am available to them as
much as I possibly can be." Yeager adds that her "phone number is
readily available and students feel free to call me at home."

At this moment Velasquez is not registered for classes because past
tuition money he owes the school, but he says that it was never an
issue until now, as he has been able to register with money owed in
the past. He adds that Yeager was unreachable when trying to get
help finding funding for the owed money.

"Cody has dragged her feet purposely to keep me from being a
student," says Velasquez. "She has ignored her responsibilities of
being the Native American advisor. I am taking a math class at COCC
and just now I am waiting for my funds to finally get through. I'm
an `A' student, but just not a student," he says laughing.

With everything that has been done, past and present, the point of
his complaint he says is to bring the issue to the surface, not the
outcome.

"I won't be surprised if nothing comes out of this," Velasquez
says. "The point is to bring up the issue."

Price says, "If he feels he was wronged, then he needs to bring it
out. Already I think it is a good thing to make people say, `What
can we do differently?' Whatever the issue, it is going to take
people to bring things up before the problem is ever solved."

White also feels that the complaint is a positive for the college,
as the outcome is not as important as the issue just being brought
up.

"He is not even trying to start a movement, he is just
saying, `Here, look at what is happening,'" says White. "He's
ignited something they will have to deal with. I hope they see it as
their problem, something that has always been a Native American and
other minorities' problem."

George adds that, "If this complaint goes through, people will see
it as a change is coming and more people will feel okay to move
here."

**************

Cody Yeager - Native Program Advisor - cyeager@cocc.edu
Jeff Richards - IT Services - jrichards@cocc.edu
Sharla Andresen - investigating complaints - sandresen@cocc.edu
Richard Thompson - Dean of Students - rthompson@cocc.edu
Jim Middleton - President - jmiddleton@cocc.edu

Please write to the people above or call them at 541-383-7700 Your support of our Native students who continue to do their best in less than ideal circumstances will be very much appreciated. I am sure any and all emails will help our students, and strengthen them in their resolve to better the lives of future native students.

Thanks again - Dave

homepage: http://nativeamerican.cocc.edu

Posted by: Pre-American at May 22, 2006 11:12 AM

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