Higher Education

Posted Up: June 24th 2005
I got into the higher education deal without knowing what I was getting into. I never got any coaching, or even warnings about how things go in 'college life.' I went in blindly and nearly paid the price. I showed up in an unknown spot (new mexico) and not only that, but was supposed to be doing the dorm bit. No cousin or friend there to take the knocks with me, it was a straight solo shot. I've never quite tested myself in this manner before. I got there, went through the motions of checking in, and when things winded down and it was just me before my roommates came, I doubted my choice. I was depressed bad. I missed my friends and family. I wanted out. So if you are heading out off the rez, be prepared for the shock of being away from friends and fam that could lead to some depression. Not saying it's a definite deal, but a real possibility.

I eventually met up with an unknown cousin, and made a couple friends. My goal was to get my degree and was going to do it alone. I got over the depression and started to wander about the place to see where things were. A mall was about a mile's walk away, and there were dollar movies and stuff that's not on the rez. My narrow minded outlook made it seem I had a chip on my shoulder, and in a way I did. I had it pretty good, but didn't think so. The mindstate was something has to be better.

SIPI is more of a southwest set up, so you see mostly southwest natives there as students, teachers and faculty. Not a shot at southwesterners, but just a fact. This one guy from home did a quick stint at SIPI, and has a tattoo of a cross on his arm. Someone tries stepping up aggressively about it and instead of getting at ole boy, my friend was questioned about the whole deal. Yeah, both the teacher and student were from the southwest. So there are also non natives teaching, and one in particular is a funny style guy since he's pretty much trying to snag up a native woman. He's pathetic too, but I don't see it that he'll be far off from eventually using his position to corner someone into hooking up with. There's also faculty and student sexual relationships in order for students to get 'favors' like doing their own thing in whatever area they want to without much interference from other faculty or first shots and being awarded scholarships before anyone else knows about them. There was also a new program that had funding to be able to get some students more funds, but in midst of all that, also in the middle of the trimester, the financial office reworks the financial needs of all students, so instead of qualifying for more money, they're denied it. These all go on in the background though, so most folks don't know, or even care to know.

My initial school of choice was Haskell, not SIPI, where I ended up going first. SIPI was in the dusty southwest, and Haskell was more east. I had friends down at SIPI, and wasn't frightened about not making any at Haskell when I eventually went there. I got there, but felt an eeriness as soon as I got off the airplane. I never felt that way before, so I was just thinking it was some jitters or something.

I barely even got enrolled right off the bat. Some lady felt a sense of empowerment by holding me down and not letting me enroll. It's like she lived off of deciding people's fates. I was going to call it quits because of this lady, but in the end got in. So, it's a matter of running here and there to see if I can even get classes I needed. Line after line I waited in, and they were at least half hour waits. A half hour wait was actually a quick shot, because it's nothing to wait an hour and a half to stand in line when registering. The system they use for registering is sorely lacking in getting it done as quick as possible. The teachers I had were for the most part caring enough about student's achievements, but like SIPI, there were those who wanted to snag. This time though, it was a fe trying to get her groove on. I saw her put out the vibe one time and it was gross, but ole boy didn't know he was in her sights.

I know SIPI had it's shortcomings, like an ex-cross country coach that was sexist (I saw firsthand), and a former president of the school who didn't handle business, but that was small pickings compared to what I saw at Haskell. Haskell uses the good ole boy routine that you usually see rampant in tribal politics. The student council is the same set of people, just shuffled around every semester to different positions. They had a controversy one semester, because the president wasn't enrolled as a student but still held his position. It helps to have the president of school be your aunt too. There's so much backstabbing within the school it's like a bunch of spoiled kids telling on each other. It's not just students getting some get back, it's teachers and faculty doing it to each other, and to students too. I know that some of the position holders in student senate, or whatever it is didn't take a shining to me, but instead of handling it, they whisper and spread rumors about me. Yet, these are the representatives of our students and ones we depend on to handle things for us. They handle things, but only if it involves their own well-being. Selfish, so selfish is how they are, but I guess that is a true representation of Haskell though.

There was also the rampant violence that mostly happened ON CAMPUS. No, not at parties off campus, because it seems there are hardly any off campus, but violence ON CAMPUS, in the dorm rooms or dorms. A stabbing takes place in one of the dorms, and the one weilding the knife only lost his housing rights. He was still allowed on campus, but only to attend classes. No charges filed, no kicking him out, but he can't stay in the dorms? Weak, so weak. Oh, and there was a guy jumped by others too, but he pulls out a blade to defend himself, so let's get him for using a weapon. Those involved in the jumping though, they only saw a loss of visitation rights for a li'l bit. Faculty and teachers were unmoved by the news of what happened, and even felt the guy who got jumped 'deserved what he got.' Yeah, really assuring of a safe persuit of education, right? So there's a calling of a li'l assembly for the dorm involved by the president of the school, but afterwords, like right after, there's a brawl that goes on just outside. Oh, there's not a problem with violence at all if you ask her though, even though she witnessed it firsthand. Whenever asked about the craziness going on though, the faculty and teacher just use the ole, "I'm just a (put in their position right here) I can't do anything about it" and that included dean of students. It's pretty bad if the local cops start making their rounds regularly around campus and comment that the dorm set up is "sad" in not so endearing sentiments. Yet, if you lose your dorm key, book, or anything of monetary value that the school presented you at the beginning of the semester, they're on you so quick and with such fury you rarely question their intent, getting money from you. If someone beats you up in your room, or if you're raped on campus, they shuffle their feet in doing anything to try and find any resolve or help you in any way.

when it comes to Haskell, the inmates run the asylum. I got out quick, and won't look back. I don't doubt that there have been people who benefitted from attending Haskell though, so it's not entirely bad spot. For me though, I know I don't want to be involved in such a spot that has so many shortcomings that students aren't looked at as a priority if you're not an athlete, or part of the good ole boy crowd.

As for SIPI though, I don't feel it's a good thing to go back. It's a far better deal then Haskell though, so it's not so bad I guess. It's just knowing what goes on there isn't all that good either. So from my stints in SIPI and Haskell, I'm just recommending for those natives looking into higher education beyond high school, look elsewhere. These two places are so in debt and in lack of actually educating that you're better off hitting up a junior college not run by natives.

Oh, and both spots don't seem to think natives are qualified for college level classes right off the bat most of the time. One gul told me she had calculas in high school, but when enrolling for haskell, they didn't think she could handle college algebra, so she was in some precal class, then business calculas right after that. She didn't get any algebra classes, which is supposed to be a prerequisite for Business Calculas, but had her 3rd class in calculas though. Instead of going into a degree program like I wanted, my math was low so I was bumped down to a cerficate program down in SIPI, which eventually led to some complications for me later on. So if you feel you should be in college level classes, but are being strongarmed to take non-college level classes, argue with them. They'd rather stick you in the lower level classes so they can keep you around as long as they can. My opinion that is. The upper level classes that you need for a degree are only offered every so often, so you're lucky to graduate on time most of the time.

Posted on 04 Jun 2006 by Windreamer