Ethnic Studies Fight Continues

Most Harvard students didn't notice the fluorescent green armbands worn by members of the Ethnic Studies Action Committee (ESAC) at the Cultural Rhythms performance in February.

But the armbands were one of the only signs that ethnic studies activism, a hot topic several years ago, is experiencing a rebirth on the Harvard campus.

Ethnic studies activists say the issue is less contentious today because students and faculty are approaching it from similar positions. However faculty and students are not yet in total agreement.

"How different ethnic groups interact is an important field of study for social and academic reasons and you can separate it from representative politics," says Michael Hsu '98, a member of the Academic Affairs Committee (AAC). "That has helped us touch base with the faculty on a common goal, which we didn't have four years ago."

In 1995, ethnic studies activists were disappointed when Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles rejected a proposal by the AAC which called for an increased focus on ethnic studies.

Knowles wrote in a letter to the AAC that the Faculty should not establish programs limited to "narrowly defined ethnic groups but [should] focus on ethnic studies generally."

The Faculty Council has not received any more proposals or discussed the issue since that time, Knowles says.

Although many other universities, including Yale and Brown, have developed ethnic studies departments in the wake of student activism, Harvard does not have an ethnic studies department or a degree committee.

Recent Developments

Both students and faculty say the University has shown a much more substantial response to ethnic studies activists in the past couple of years.

"I have seen a few more courses which deal with race and ethnicity," says Gonzalo Martinez '98, former president of RAZA. "It seems to me there has been more focus or at least lip service to ethnic studies."

In a recent interview, Knowles outlined the University's goals for ethnic studies.

Knowles says Harvard aims to "enrich the curriculum with visiting appointments" and to "recognize and encourage the appointment of Faculty interested in these areas."

"There will be an increasing number of faculty appointments, largely in the social sciences and humanities, of professors whose scholarly work is relevant to these areas," he says.

In addition, the Course Catalog includes a section on courses related to ethnic studies.

In 1993, the Faculty created a Committee on Ethnic Studies, which appoints visiting professors, organizes symposia and compiles lists of ethnic studies offerings at Harvard.

One visiting professor is appointed each term by the Committee on Ethnic Studies jointly with a department, says Werner Sollors, Cabot professor of English and professor of Afro-American studies.

Is Harvard Doing Enough?

Visiting appointments and related courses currently provide the basis of Harvard's ethnic studies program. But many professors, such as Michael JonesCorrea, assistant professor of government, say this isn't enough.

"Ethnic studies is an emerging topic and we need to pay more attention to it," he says.

Doris Sommer, acting chair of the Committee on Ethnic Studies, says more courses in ethnic studies should be incorporated in regular and existing programs.

Yet Sommer, a professor of romance languages and literature, says she does not believe Harvard needs an ethnic studies concentration.

"I don't favor an independent concentration, which would suggest that ethnicity is an issue separate from the general study of the Americas," she says. "I'd prefer to see the focus mainstreamed in ways that represent this hemisphere as composed of multiple and resilient ethnicities."

Sollors also says he does not think Harvard needs an ethnic studies concentration.

"Judging by the number of students who have tried to do Ethnic Studies as a special concentration, the answer is prob- ably no," Sollors says. "Students wouldundoubtedly like more courses, yet they have notalways flocked to the courses offered."

Seeing Eye-to-Eye

Hsu says he believes Harvard has increased itsfocus on ethnic studies in the last four years.

"When I came here," he says, "[the Faculty's]position was that Harvard already had enoughprofessors working in ethnic studies."

The focus of debate several years ago, Hsusays, centered around the way students and facultydefined ethnic studies.

The faculty committee perceived it as "thestudy of diversity." The student Academic AffairsCommittee modelled its definition on severalCalifornia universities, which have separatedepartments for Asian American, Latino American,African American and Native American studies.

"People on the [faculty] committee had theirown definition of ethnic studies and werereluctant to accept our definition," Hsu says.

According to Hsu the relationship betweenstudents and faculty interested in ethnic studieshas greatly improved since 1995.

Since then, he says the debate has moved awayfrom political concerns of representation and ontoacademic pursuits.

Sommer also says student activists and facultyare seeing eye-to-eye more than in the past.

"Students have been articulate, convincing,consistent in their pressure yet admirablyrespectful of the procedure," she says. "They arean inspiration.

Seeing Eye-to-Eye

Hsu says he believes Harvard has increased itsfocus on ethnic studies in the last four years.

"When I came here," he says, "[the Faculty's]position was that Harvard already had enoughprofessors working in ethnic studies."

The focus of debate several years ago, Hsusays, centered around the way students and facultydefined ethnic studies.

The faculty committee perceived it as "thestudy of diversity." The student Academic AffairsCommittee modelled its definition on severalCalifornia universities, which have separatedepartments for Asian American, Latino American,African American and Native American studies.

"People on the [faculty] committee had theirown definition of ethnic studies and werereluctant to accept our definition," Hsu says.

According to Hsu the relationship betweenstudents and faculty interested in ethnic studieshas greatly improved since 1995.

Since then, he says the debate has moved awayfrom political concerns of representation and ontoacademic pursuits.

Sommer also says student activists and facultyare seeing eye-to-eye more than in the past.

"Students have been articulate, convincing,consistent in their pressure yet admirablyrespectful of the procedure," she says. "They arean inspiration.