A group of students has submitted a petition to Dickinson administration requesting the instatement of a full-time tenure track position for Native American studies, an initiative the American studies department has also taken up. 

Rachel Gross ’19, Julia Ormond ’19 and Nomi Small ’19 spearheaded a petition to hire Visiting Assistant Professor of American Studies Nikki Dragone past her current two-year contract, which ends at the end of this academic year. Dragone currently teaches all of Dickinson’s offered Native American Studies courses. 

Small, Ormond and Gross wrote and submitted letters advocating their position to the All-College Committee on Academic Program and Standards (APSC), along with a supporting petition that received upwards of 120 signatures, said Small. 

Ormond also sent a letter to the American Studies department on Oct. 12, coincidentally on the same day the department was about to submit a proposal to APSC to fill a soon-to-be vacant American studies position with a Native American studies professor. Professor of English and American Studies Sharon O’Brien will be retiring at the end of this academic year, which will leave an open space in the department that will not necessarily be filled next year. 

Chair of American Studies Claire Seiler explained that the student petition to hire Dragone for a tenure-track position is separate from the reauthorization request put together by the American Studies department, but that the petition had been mentioned in their report as evidence of student interest. 

“Basically, it seems like there are two different issues that are being addressed right now that are related to Native American studies,” said Small. “Those two things would be fixed by one solution, in my opinion.” 

Seiler said that “By institutional standard, and it must be this way, the renewal of a tenure line is separate from the question of hiring,” which is the case for Dragone. 

As for the question of instituting a Native American Studies position, “I don’t know anyone who’s opposed to it,” said Seiler, “which tells you a lot about how deeply we need it.” 

Neil Weissman, provost and dean of the college, makes the final decision on APSC deliberations on position requests, he said. Weissman said ten positions will be opening next year, and “eight or nine will be funded, with the others potentially delayed.” 

“Right now, the APSC committee is reviewing the proposals from involved departments to make recommendations on priorities,” said Weissman. 

“We are very certain that we could not have made a better argument,” said Seiler of the reauthorization request. “If this line doesn’t get renewed, that tells us a lot about where the college is in every sense.” 

“Something I think that’s special about Dickinson is its size is small enough that there are opportunities for students to engage with the administration,” said Gross. “I think the administration often prides itself in that communication and accepting students’ opinions and trying to incorporate them. So, if Dickinson is going to advertise that, I really hope they would follow up on that.” 

Ormond said “I think there is interest from the student body,” evidenced by high enrollment in the Native American Studies courses she has taken. She said a position in this concentration important to the department.

“I think that the way that American society is constructed is to deny any reference to Native American struggles and genocide,” said Ormond. Dragone “brings that into the light. I think especially for American Studies as a department, it needs that… It’s kind of absurd that American Studies existed for so long without having a core Native American studies lens.” 

None of the students involved or Seiler know when a decision will be made by APSC. “It would be nice to have some transparency from Dickinson about what they’re doing,” said Ormond. 

“To bring in a Native American Studies professor, I personally think is an essential use of funds,” said Small. “I don’t know what comes next.”