Monday, 5/5/97 Proposal aims to integrate ethnic studies
Teaching, research would share resources under plan; critics say
changes threaten effectiveness of individual programs
By Gregory Mena Daily Bruin Contributor "Everything is still in
the talking phase and nothing has been decided," said Raymund
Paredes, director of the Chavez Center, addressing the possible
changes in UCLA’s ethnic studies departments, libraries and
publications. Students, faculty and staff are debating the future
of ethnic studies described in a recent proposal. Ethnic studies is
presently divided into two administrative structures, one focused
on teaching and one on research. Four separate entities of ethnic
studies focus on teaching: American Indian studies, Afro-American
studies, Asian American studies and the Chavez Center. These ethnic
studies programs report to College of Letters and Science. Four
corresponding ethnic studies centers, which focus on graduate
research, are included in the Institute of American Cultures and
report to the chancellor’s office. The rethinking of current
organization reflects a new trend in ethnic studies, according to
Claudia Mitchell-Kernan, vice chancellor of academic affairs and
dean of the graduate division. "Research directions have changed.
There is a prominence of comparative studies and international
studies. These are proposed as new areas of focus," Mitchell-Kernan
said. Following this curricular trend, the proposed organization
would integrate teaching and research facilities under one
structure. The new academic umbrella would be named the Institute
of American Cultures and Ethnic Studies, and would be headed by a
new dean. Students say that the new arrangement would weaken the
individual study centers. "This university supposedly prides itself
on diversity. When it does not support the centers and decides to
mix them up, the university takes away from the diversity," said
Nina Stanton, president of the American Indian Student Association.
The proposal could also possibly unify the four libraries, which
currently are run independently of each other. The current draft of
the proposal argues that libraries are technologically behind and
costly to maintain. According to administrators, a common library
would combine funds, reduce costs and encourage collaborative
activities. However, changing the library organization might
interrupt services and endanger valuable collections, according to
Stanton. "If the (American Indian) community does not have access
to do research or if the resources are lost or gone, then a
California Indian tribe will be at a loss," she said. In addition
to possible library changes, ethnic studies publications would be
rearranged. A new business platform would make center-based
publications more cost-effective, said Mitchell-Kernan. A combined
publications unit would save costs through common marketing,
warehousing, printing and distribution. Editorial decisions would
not be affected. Ultimately, the directors of each ethnic studies
unit will decide to make any changes, said Mitchell-Kernan. "Each
entity has to decide what it wants to preserve and what it wants to
change," she said. Library staff would also be giving input. "All
of these things are setting the stage for expansion and growth,"
she added. Paredes agreed that this is an opportunity for growth.
"We will do Chicano studies, but in addition to specific ethnic
work we will do comparative work. I am talking about adding a
comparative component," said Paredes, noting that some students are
uneasy about talk of restructuring. "When people hear talk about
change, the first thing they wonder is, ‘Is this a threat?’" said
Mitchell-Kernan. Students are not necessarily afraid of change,
explained Vy Nguyen, curricular reform coordinator. "Students are
not against positive change, things that will improve (ethnic
studies). But any umbrella plan has to really take into account the
different nature of the (ethnic) communities involved," she added.
On May 15, faculty, staff and students will gather at the Faculty
Center at a public hearing and continue discussions. There is no
deadline for the decision, and discussions should continue
throughout the next few months. Previous Daily Bruin stories Ethnic
studies centers expanding, January 30,1995