In a move intended to make the University community more hospitable for prospective American Indian students and faculty, members of the American Indian Student Union circulated a survey to gauge demand for a Native Studies minor. This is only the first step toward fulfilling the University's requirements to create a minor; the AISU must receive 250 completed surveys before moving forward in the process. Students should recognize the importance of supporting this cause to further embrace diversity at the University.
AISU Programming Chair Chelsea Hicks said it is "particularly embarrassing" that the University has lagged behind its peer institutions in implementing such a program. Other schools like Randolph Macon College and Virginia Tech offer similar curricula, both through majors programs.
Located in one of the United States' most historically significant regions, the University is especially well-suited to house this kind of program. Furthermore, a Native Studies minor could make the University a more attractive destination for American Indian students interested in studying their heritage. More attention to this culture in the curriculum may encourage members of these communities to enroll in greater numbers.
Instituting a Native Studies minor would be a positive addition to a course catalog that administrators tout for its breadth. The AISU must continue its efforts during this preliminary period to encourage student support.
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