Sandra Barron's List: Tuition Waiver

"When we first made treaties with the Government, this was our
position:  Our old life and our old customs were about to end;
the game upon which we  lived was disappearing; the whites were
closing around us, and nothing  remained for us but to adopt their
ways and have the same rights with them if  we wished to save
ourselves."
__ Chief Red Cloud, Oglala

Twelve hundred people rallied in front of the Capital in  Lansing
Wednesday, March 8, in protest of changes in the tuition payments  for
American Indians. The drums and chants filled the air as people ignored  the
cold winds for almost three hours. Governor John Engler now knows the  impact
of his decision to cut funds for the American Indians in the State  of
Michigan. There will be more to come.
Michigan residents who are at  least one quarter Indian qualify for
full tuition payments. This falls under  the Tuition Waiver program that was
implemented in 1976. Minnesota and  Wisconsin have similar programs.
John Truscott, Engler's spokesman said, the  governor opposes this
program because it is not based on financial need. It  was reported that the
Indians run casinos in Michigan are in the red, so they  feel that the
program is no longer needed. It was also stated by Engler's  spokesman, that
the governor feels that one minority does not deserve special  treatment.
The Indian run casinos benefit very few of the American  Indian
population of the State of Michigan. Native American People  interviewed in
Flint said that without the Tuition Waiver program they could  no longer
afford to get the education they need to improve their lives and be  totally
independent of any financial need in the future.
Sandy Smith, of  the Chippewa Tribe, said she felt like one of her
rights has been taken away.  She stated that Indians have asked for very
little from the government and of  all the things asked, an education for the
children has been the priority.  Animkee, of the Ottawa Tribe said this will
cause chaos.
Governor Engler  is also proposing to eliminate mandated curriculum
standards. Engler said he  also backs the elimination of certification for
Michigan teachers.
A  letter received from Roland J. Jersevic, State Representative of
the R-96th  District in Michigan, states, "The tuition waiver program was
established in  the mid-1970's as part of the budget, and is not included in
the state's  constitution." Mr. Jersevic sent a copy of the Governor's
proposal found in  the Executive Budget Book and highlighted the following
statement:
"The  budget recommends that a final payment be made on behalf of students
enrolled  in the Indian Tuition Waiver program and that no future enrollments
in this  program occur."
 

In light of all that the statements and actions taken concerning  the
eduction system in the State of Michigan, there will be more rally's to  come.