Show Supports Ethnic Studies

Halle Berry, Harvard Foundation's cultural Artist of the Year, joined hundreds of students by wearing a green armband expressing support for ethnic studies at Cultural Rhythms on Saturday.

The Ethnic Studies Action Committee (ESAC) passed out nearly 800 plastic, green armbands to students who attended Cultural Rhythms. Performers and audience members were asked to wear the armbands in support of ethnic studies.

Michael K. Tan '01, a member of ESAC who helped plan the event, said that the armbands were "more for visibility than [for] impact, per se. We wanted to remind the Harvard community that ethnic studies is still an important issue on campus."

Another ESAC member, Kamil E. Redmond '00, also stressed the importance of making students aware of the status of ethnic studies at Harvard.

"ESAC passed out armbands and information about ethnic studies because a lot of students think, 'We have an East Asian Department and an Afro-American Department, [so] what's the need for an Ethnic Studies Department?'"

Student reaction to the armbands was for the most part positive.

"It makes a big show to the administration that it's not just an isolated group of students that are interested in ethnic studies," said Belinda J. McIntosh '99, who wore an armband. "It has broad support."

But some students questioned whether thearmbands would have much effect.

"I think it's a valiant effort to try to drawattention to the need for ethnic studies. Howeffective it'll be is another story," said JasonD. Williamson '98, president of the Black StudentsAssociation.

ESAC members also expressed disappointment atthe lack of progress on ethnic studies at Harvard.

"Since I've been here, I haven't seen muchprogress [on ethnic studies]. The Committee onEthnic Studies (CES) was raised from ad hoc tostanding committee status, which was good, but interms of concrete progress there really hasn'tbeen any," said Mina K. Park '98.

Michael Hsu '98, former chair of ESAC, did notethe committee's recent efforts. "[CES]actually...made progress and sponsored a forumlast fall," he said.

This fall, ESAC submitted a proposal to the CESwhich would make ethnic studies a concentration.The proposal cited courses offered at otheruniversities as examples of where Harvard'scurriculum is lacking. The CES has yet to reviewit, according to Doris Sommer, acting chair of theCES and professor of Romance languages andliterature.

Sommer said CES will bring in two distinguishedvisiting professors next year with expertise inethnic studies.

ESAC's goals also include the formation of adepartment, or more realistically, a committeewith curricular responsibilities, like history andliterature or social studies. However, Sommer saidit is unlikely that ethnic studies will become anindependent program.

"What probably makes sense for us is to developour existing disciplines to incorporate ethnicstudies," she said.

ESAC members are currently working on buildinga coalition with other student groups and planningdebates about ethnic studies. In the past, ESAChas sponsored rallies over junior parents'weekend, held panels and organized teach-ins. Italso passed out armbands at last year's CulturalRhythms

But some students questioned whether thearmbands would have much effect.

"I think it's a valiant effort to try to drawattention to the need for ethnic studies. Howeffective it'll be is another story," said JasonD. Williamson '98, president of the Black StudentsAssociation.

ESAC members also expressed disappointment atthe lack of progress on ethnic studies at Harvard.

"Since I've been here, I haven't seen muchprogress [on ethnic studies]. The Committee onEthnic Studies (CES) was raised from ad hoc tostanding committee status, which was good, but interms of concrete progress there really hasn'tbeen any," said Mina K. Park '98.

Michael Hsu '98, former chair of ESAC, did notethe committee's recent efforts. "[CES]actually...made progress and sponsored a forumlast fall," he said.

This fall, ESAC submitted a proposal to the CESwhich would make ethnic studies a concentration.The proposal cited courses offered at otheruniversities as examples of where Harvard'scurriculum is lacking. The CES has yet to reviewit, according to Doris Sommer, acting chair of theCES and professor of Romance languages andliterature.

Sommer said CES will bring in two distinguishedvisiting professors next year with expertise inethnic studies.

ESAC's goals also include the formation of adepartment, or more realistically, a committeewith curricular responsibilities, like history andliterature or social studies. However, Sommer saidit is unlikely that ethnic studies will become anindependent program.

"What probably makes sense for us is to developour existing disciplines to incorporate ethnicstudies," she said.

ESAC members are currently working on buildinga coalition with other student groups and planningdebates about ethnic studies. In the past, ESAChas sponsored rallies over junior parents'weekend, held panels and organized teach-ins. Italso passed out armbands at last year's CulturalRhythms