Educational Opportunities of Indigenous Studies

By Mohammad Barry

We should acknowledge Indigenous perspectives on holidays like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving by using them as days revolving around education of various topics of Indigenous studies. It is vital to our current culture to acknowledge and respect Indigenous perspectives. On holidays like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving it is even more imperative that we pay respects to these perspectives. These holidays should be used as educational opportunities of Indigenous studies.

Stereotypes of these holidays often perpetuate racism and harmful lies. Learning the real history behind these holidays will allow for the true Indigenous culture to be honored. Indigenous people showed generosity to Europeans and was met with genocide. On these holidays it is imperative that we acknowledge this. We celebrate these holidays without understanding what really took place and actually acknowledging what truly happened. Teaching younger generations the true history of Columbus Day and Thanksgiving will allow for them to grow up with a newfound feeling towards indigenous people. They will grow up knowing that these holidays are days meant for learning and teaching others about these cultures. They will be able to understand the true importance of these holidays and will be able to pass this knowledge down to future generations. For many years, Indigenous people were silenced and their stories were marginalized. On top of this many tribes were stripped of their lands and forced to relocate. This is the reason why it is important to learn the true histories and celebrate indigenous perspectives. Celebrating these holidays without Indigenous perspective is inconsiderate and cruel. These days should be made to honor Indigenous people and their cultures.

While learning history is important, it is not the only thing to be done. Listening to Indigenous voices today about their concerns and opinions is an important way to honor the culture. It will show how the wrongdoings of the past have impacted those of the future. Newer generations have a better understanding of things like oppression and racism and they will be able to put these complex feelings and/or thoughts together to explain to peers how their culture should be honored and remembered. As a people, it is our duty to help support the indigenous community. We should be doing a multitude of things such as supporting their businesses, listening to their concerns, acknowledging the proper history and so much more.

Research to support my claims can be found in an article titled “Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving” published by the National Museum of the American Indian. In this article it states that “Native perspectives are especially important to include when teaching the history of the "First Thanksgiving". Giving thanks is a longstanding and central tradition among most Native groups that is still practiced today. The First Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a friendly harvest festival where Pilgrims and generic, nameless "Indians" came together to eat and give thanks. In reality, the assembly of the Wampanoag Peoples and the English settlers in 1621 had much more to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and a pursuit of peace.” This excerpt alone shows the lack of knowledge from today's society about the Origins of this nationally beloved holiday where the concept of it is misconstrued into something friendly when in reality that was not the case. This Education would be relevant to Alfred State students, and students all over the world because It would help to bridge the gap between current day Indigenous peoples, and people who occupy indigenous land without even knowing how or why that came to be and how Indigenous people lost almost 99% of their land to the United States Unwillingly.

WORK CITED

Native knowledge 360°-rethinking Thanksgiving celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving. Home Page. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/rethinking-thanksgiving

Wade, L. (n.d.). Native tribes have lost 99% of their land in the United States. Science. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.science.org/content/article/native-tribes-have-lost-99-their-land-united-states

Inauguration Speech – Student Speaker

By Soumya Konar

Good afternoon to everyone present here for this elegant day at Alfred State College. Especially, President Mauro, because if he was not here it would be kind of awkward. On a serious note, it is an honor to serve you as the Student Senate President and to stand here in front of an extremely hardworking and talented faculty, staff, administration, delegates, and the student body. 

Nineteen months ago, you can say I felt like Nemo in the movie Finding Nemo, who wandered seamlessly to find a new cultural identity. My journey has emulated the same one Nemo encountered, we both persevered throughout life's ups and downs. My journey has led me to be the voice for Alfred State’s student body – a student body filled with talent, intelligence, and courage. But how did I find this voice? It wasn’t just doing well in academics or the late-night runs into town to get deep fried Oreos from Checkpoint! It was through the environment Alfred State continues to provide for their students, with the quality of education, dedicated faculty and administration and the colorful fall leaves.

The first time I met President Mauro, was not after he was chosen as the 13th President, but it was  during the open student forums when presidential candidates came to visit our beautiful campus. The only forum I had attended last Fall was President Mauro’s where we sat right in the middle of the Student Leadership Center. Fast forward, President Mauro is someone we all see in those Alfred State Instagram videos all across campus working passionately for the growth of our community.

Having been here for less than seven months, President Mauro has taken strides of leadership and community development for Alfred State students. He has continued to foster this surrounding where we can not only dream but also achieve those very dreams. I am excited to see new programs and watch several other initiatives grow and expand these upcoming years. 

Alfred State provides an environment of inclusion and belonging, something I have strived for eighteen years to find - and here I am eight-thousand miles and several oceans away from my home finding my place in Alfred State. 

We have the ability to operate in a diverse and interdependent world full of ideas and innovations. And, as we forge ahead into a year filled with many unknowns and ideas of what we hope to accomplish, I want us all to remember that at the end of it all, we gave our best as Pioneers do!

All we have to do is hit the ground running.

Fellow Pioneers, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the semester! Thank you.

Poetry Reading Personal Review

 Written by Miranda Fuentes

    When attending a poetry reading event, the experience is completely separate from one’s expectations. I certainly had not expected the atmosphere to resonate within me as it did: the calm lighting, the silence of the attendees and the loudness of their focus, and the poets themselves. They had certainly opened themselves up to the audience, not only through their poetry, but the way they had dealt with dozens of eyes on them. Some played off nervousness with humor while others masked it with confidence. There were few who did not hide their shyness at all. Getting a sense of the poet’s personality can play a part in a poem’s effect when read by said poet.

Campus Wind Turbine and Other Sustainable Activities

Written by Amanda Damon

Campus Wind Turbine- 

Many Alfred State students may not have noticed the wind turbine located at the top of campus. Installed in 2013, this 100-kilowatt grid-tied wind turbine was an effort to increase green, sustainable energy and decrease power costs for the campus. Recently, however, the turbine has been turned off. There should

Hot Dog Day Relaunch 2022

Written by Amanda Damon

    Hot Dog Day has been an Alfred tradition since 1972 and is typically held at the end of April. It was founded by two Alfred University Students, Mark O'Meara and Eric Vaughn, in an effort to bring together Alfred University, Alfred State College, and the village of Alfred itself. This event has always been a way to raise money for charities, such as the local ambulance company and the local library. The money raised from vendor fees and T-shirt sales is distributed among chosen charities and nonprofits. This event has typically raised between $10,000 to $16,000 split between 6 or 7 charities. There are often many events, including a parade on Main Street, a vendor fair, and a concert.  

Black History Month at Alfred State College

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Written by Demere Brave

       With the month of February being completed, people took the time to reflect on their past month. Whether it has been good or bad, we could all agree, that we have put it aside for the importance of Black History Month. We used this month to celebrate iconic African Americans and their impact on the world. Two examples are Barack Obama, as he was the first African American

Nothing Ever Lasts Forever - A solo exhibition by Jeremy M. Pelt

Written by Amanda Damon

Professor Jeremy M. Pelt has a solo exhibit titled “nothing ever lasts forever” on display from February 4th to March 4th in the Bret Llewellyn Art Gallery (room 312 of the Science and Engineering Technology (SET) building). While many of the pieces are oil paintings, the exhibit also features charcoal, ink, colored pencil, and pastels on a mix of paper and canvas.