!ay, October 2,
Thursday, October 2, 1SC3
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'Ethnic pride is very important
We hope to instill in our
members the pride of being an
Indian
Joey Bell
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jumbee are reported to be
.t the Mississippi River, he
2ve that all Indians ride
e," Bell said. "Some also
vations and don't come to
of thinking has been one
e low retention rate for
Jing to national statistics,
Indians who enter college
Ire is only slightly higher
The Circle has tried to establish close links with
incoming freshmen in an effort to raise the retention
rate. Through such programs as the Minority Advisers
Program and Project Uplift, Indians find someone to
relate with on campus. Bell said the Circle also works
with administrators in the recruitment of Indian high
school students.
The Circle was started in 1975. At
the time, there were only 10 to 15
Indian students on campus.
I believe that all
pfaacc and scalp
p think that we
itions-
Joey Bell
f,
up here are not used to
uestioning their Indian
i come up to me and say
ian, man. You look more
' Back home, no one
Sn- Inbn ctiHntc ic
.crcent Indian population.
:s return home after their
ry strong home ties, rather
ictor in the low retention
en last year who had grade
1 3.0. They all dropped out
'aid.
:nts maintain strong ties'
icm to get a full education
Some students handle the change of environment
well by realizing they are different and taking pride in
that difference, Bell said. Others feel there is too much
pressure and that they can't do the work.
Tanuel Kerns, a sophomore, said that the Circle was
a major influence in helping her to remain at Carolina.
"If they had not been here, I would have gone back
home. I still have real strong family ties."
H ERNS said the Circle must educate the campus
about the Indian culture. "Some people think
" it's neat to be Indian, while some people still
think that I live in a teepee. I tell them it's not like that."
While Krens' transition from one environment to
another has been relatively smooth, some Indians
experience a rough time. Ricky Oxendine, a senior,
said his past years at Carolina have not been trouble
free. "When I f irst got here, I found out that some phrases
that we use back home are not used here. I used to say
things like 'It bees rainin today.' I got embarrassed
when someone laughed. I began to laugh along with
them, but I hurt inside. "From then on, I changed some
of my ways. I was very careful when I spoke," he said.
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Lurnbca Indian dencers perform In th3 Pit .
- part of spring 1SS0 Indian Culture Week
UTHScott Sfwpe
Oxendine said he also experienced the feelings of
exclusion because of other cultural differences. "The
guys on the hall would be talking about things like
water skiing and snow skiing that they did over the
weekends. I couldn't identify with this."
During his freshman and sophomore years,
Oxendine said that he repressed his Indian identity
somewhat. But the Circle has helped Oxendine realize
that he is not alone in his attempts to stay in touch with
his heritage. Still, he does get angry when his
background is challenged.
"If you're black, every one knows that. I don't like
having to defend the fact that I'm an Indian just
because I don't look like one to some people. People
should treat you for who and what you are and let it go
at that."
'Some people think it's neat to
bean Indian, while some people
think that I still live in a teepee.
tell them it's not like that
Tammy Kerns
During the first weeks of each semester, the Circle
tries to contact incoming Indian students to ease their
transition to college life. According to the UNC Office
of Records and Registration, there were 82 Indians on
campus during the spring semester of 1CCD. Only 45
students belong to the Circle. Bell said some people
simply do not claim their Indian heritage.
"More than likely, they come from a predominantly
white community. It's all a matter of how you're
raised," he said.
"But there are also those who lay false claim to Indian
backgrounds. This poses a problem to the Indian
population on campus, sources said, as administrators
are convinced that they are improving minority
enrollment. Thus, there may be more students
registered as Indians at Carolina than really have
Indian blood.
The Circle is here for somebody
to lean on, to let them (Indian
students) know they can be a
vital part of this campus
Joey Bell
"It is something that occurs with some frequency,
but not to a great extent," said Collin Rustin, assistant
director of undergraduate admissions. "There is some
consistency."
One reason for possible inflated estimates may be
the wording of the ethnic identification portion of
matriculation cards. The cards list "native American or
Alaskan Eskimo" as an ethnic background. Many
students think that "native American" means that they
were born in America and check this option, said UNC
Registrar Lillian Lehman.
"According to federal government's definition, we
class people according to how they consider
themselves. We have to take what students put on the
matriculation cards," she said.
Bell said the Circle will work more closely with the
administration to increase future Indian enrollment,
and will advocate curriculum changes such as the
addition cf a course in native American studies. In the
meantime, the Circle will remain a source of personal
contact and advice for Indian students.
"The Circle is here for somebody to lean on, to let
them (Indian students) know that they can be a vital
part of this campus."
Mclod'jc jMvcs is a staff writer for The Dally Tar HecL