The AS Board poses on Friday, Sept. 27. Joe Addison // AS Review
By Jack Taylor
Correction issued 10/8: The AS Review has made some fact checking errors in this story. The original interview with AS President Lani Defiesta will be in a future story.
The first Associated Students Executive Board meeting of the academic school year started on Sept. 27 and the meeting started with a lively public forum.
Meeting every Friday during the school year at 3:00 p.m., the executive board is one of Western’s student government boards and is comprised of seven individuals that students elected last spring.
During the public forum, Michaela Budde, the co-chair of Students for Ethnic Studies, spoke and asked for the support of the board.
“We recommend the adoption of an ethnic studies program at Western,” Budde said. “Students, regardless of their background, should have a solid educational foundation in understanding the experiences of different ethnic groups in the U.S. including the historical injustices they have endured.”
Budde elaborated on what exactly ethnic studies is.
“Ethnic studies is the critical and interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity, with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of people of color within and beyond the United States,” Budde said.
Budde spoke about the difference between ethnic studies and American cultural studies.
“As opposed to American cultural studies, ethnic studies is not divisive and requires dismantling and critical thinking,” Budde said. “It allows for students to develop a critical understanding of the problems in their world.”
Budde also spoke about how many students of color find a hostile climate at Western due to the pattern of race based discriminatory and violent incidents that have occurred. Budde believes having an ethnic studies program will help students feel more safe.
“With a pattern of race-based discriminatory and violent incidents that have occurred, we believe ethnic studies is vital to addressing problems regarding campus climate for students of color,” Budde said.
Budde requested a formal letter of support from the board.
In an email to the AS Review, Trever Mullins, VP for Sustainability, clarified that the board is in support of writing a letter of support or resolution for Students for Ethnic Studies.
“I just wanna know your plans for the upcoming year, and how we can support that,” Battsengel said.
Budde said that the group needs help in getting funds for trips to Olympia to advocate as well having more student-based events in order to grow the Students for Ethnic Studies club.
From here, the board will decide on what their letter will look like. The Students for Ethnic Studies club will host a general meeting on Tuesday, October 8 from 7 to 8 p.m. in Miller Hall 239.
More information on the board can be found on their website. More information about Students for Ethnic Studies can be found on their Facebook.