By Sophia Chakos-Leiby
Daily Bruin Contributor
The campus government met with concerned students Monday to
discuss a cartoon depicting an American Indian next to a
“Wanted” sign which sparked controversy earlier this
month.
Both members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council
and the American Indian Student Association have voiced grievances
with the winter film calendar cover distributed by USAC’s
Campus Events.
“I take issue with using groups of people as mascots and
symbols, and this is not just a Native American thing,” said
Academic Affairs Commissioner Bryant Tan. “It de-humanizes
people.”
AISA members, who recently launched a campaign to raise
awareness of American Indian mascots, also said they found the
calendar degrading.
“When people are being depicted in a way that’s
false and de-sensitizing, their power and control is taken
away,” said AISA member Crystal Roberts, a third-year
psychology student.
The image reminded her of an Old West “Wanted”
poster offering a reward for the capture or death of an American
Indian, Roberts added.
Campus Events Commissioner Ryan Wilson said he did not see the
final version of the calendar before it went to print, but he
realized afterwards that it could offend some students.
“Maybe that’s not the best thing to have on
there,” Wilson said after seeing it.
But because the cover had already been printed by the time he
saw it, he said he decided to distribute it anyway.
Internal Vice President Kennisha Austin brought the issue up at
USAC’s Jan. 15 meeting.
“I felt justified in bringing it up as someone who
represents the whole student population,” Austin said.
“I wanted to bring these concerns to attention for future
relevance.”
Though USAC and Campus Events are both more aware now, Wilson
said, the processes used to review material will not change.
Tan agreed, saying it is not in his interest to look over the
material that comes from Campus Events.
“We should try to make people more aware of what they
represent to the student body,” he said.