How do we 'get with the program' of ethnic studies?

by Natalie Park

Monday February 6, 2006

In order to reach a collective and consistent decision about Ethnic Studies, a new committee has been created. It will consist of three faculty members chosen by the curriculum committee, three coalition members, one student from curriculum committee, one student from general committee, and one staff member, Al Green, dean of studies and student life.

The members of this committee have yet to be absolutely determined, but Barbara Kaplan, dean of the college, says they will hopefully meet once before the end of the first semester. She said that she understands the Coalition to have two main tenets regarding Ethnic Studies—that there be more courses created and that they have permanance.

But trying to decide how these courses will manifest themselves in the catalog is especially difficult because Sarah Lawrence is characterized by the interdisciplinary nature of its classes. Furthermore, the college allows only a certain number of regular appointments, or those on the tenure track, at any given time in relation to its size. This number stays the same unless a tenured member retires or leaves.

There is more leeway with welcoming guest professors because they are replacing professors on sabbatical, and thus not affecting the ratio of regular faculty. Kaplan feels that though guest faculty members are temporary, it has been a good way to start new fields of study at the school.

The Ethnic Studies committee will submit its recommendations before spring break. The curriculum committee will then review the report in the beginning of April. SLC President Michele Myers will have no formal role in the process, but she will remain in the loop.

Kaplan, who has a plethora of responsibilities ranging from overseeing faculty to academic computing, affirmed that nobody at SLC has the power to "yea or nay" a motion. She adds that Myers may be the exception, but that she consults widely.

When asked how relevant the board of trustees, at whose meeting the Coalition did a walk-in for Ethnic Studies, will prove to be in the coming months, Kaplan replied that "they are responsible for everything that happens in the college, but on the other hand, doesn’t interfere with academic decisions." She went on to say that if a major change in the Sarah Lawrence educational structure were to be made for ethnic studies, it would have to be approved by the board. The most recent example of this was the establishment of a study abroad program in Cuba.

How the Ethnic Studies committee will choose to navigate these various concerns is important, but how well received their proposals are by the curriculum committee come April will also be crucial. The curriculum committee has access to the funding that will facilitate whatever will constitute ethnic studies.