The Campus Conservative

(Source: "Native American Rituals" by Pictoscribe - News Fatigue Syndrome via Flickr) When I was perusing the UT-Tyler website one day, I discovered the syllabi of Dr. Tiffany Larson (she/her/hers/Dr.). Her courses in The College of Education & Psychology, Children’s Literature in the Classroom (READ 3323) and Curriculum and Instruction for School Improvement (ELDR 5349), both possessed what is known as a “land acknowledgement” in the syllabi.  It read : “I want to acknowledge that we gather as Patriots in the UT Tyler community on the traditional land of the Caddo and Wichita Peoples— in the present and the past. It is important to recognize the history, culture, and heritage inherent in the land itself. Beyond simple acknowledgment, I want to give honor to those who have stewarded the land throughout the generations, even at great loss to their own communities. It is my hope that this is the first step in recognizing the current and systemic evils of colonialism in both...

("Money - Savings" by 401(K) - 2012 via Flickr) This week, I confirmed that the new Director of Student Diversity & Inclusion as well as the accompanying new Center for Unity both will receive their funding from The Student Services Fee. It is inappropriate for these to receive student funding because their content will be an issue of conscience for some students, because their inception appears to be an extension of administrative, rather than a student, interest, and because administrators should not rely on their own funding rather than students'. For these reasons, UT-Tyler administration should forfeit its use of student services fee money for these activities immediately. As of this essay’s publication, I do not yet have the full story of how the funding arrangement came about, so I will tread lightly and say that the administration’s activity would be inappropriate. However, should this prove to be willful acquisition of student services fee money to an admin...