The Humboldt Spirit or a corporate campus?

Times-Standard 3/29/07

By David Cobb

The importance of Humboldt State University (HSU) to our community can hardly be exaggerated. It is one of the largest employers in the entire county, and more importantly it has served as a beacon for excellence in higher education for the North Coast since it received university status in 1972.

When I first arrived in Humboldt, I often heard the phrase “The Humboldt Spirit” used to describe the unique perspective and culture of HSU. In a nutshell, the Humboldt Spirit embodies creating a higher education experience that cultivates a commitment to social and environmental responsibility towards creating a more equitable world with less prejudice, discrimination and oppression.

What a beautiful and inspiring vision.

Unfortunately, recent events at HSU are calling into question whether the current administration is dedicated to that vision.

I am reminded that even as the current budget crisis was looming, the administration authorized spending over $350,000 a few years ago on the out-of-character 30-foot stucco gateway entrance to the campus. The construction began over the summer, and construction workers even had to work overtime to meet their deadline -- the first day of the next fall semester.

At the time, many folks expressed outrage that such a decision would be made and implemented without any student (or faculty) input. The more jaded argued that the construction happened over the summer to ensure that student opposition could not stop the project.

The same criticism was leveled last year when the administration authorized the cutting of grove of redwood trees at the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT). The irony of destroying a grove of trees at the CCAT facility was compounded by the fact that the destruction was made to accommodate a new Behavioral and Social Sciences complex touted as HSU's first “green” building project.

But even deeper, many staff and students allege that the administration violated years of dialogue and negotiations by simply destroying the grove in an authoritarian manner.

And even as the budget crisis unfolds, many are criticizing the administration for addressing a critical missing part of “the Humboldt Spirit”--- a diverse student body.

California currently has a majority-minority population. And although African-American, Latino and Asian populations are booming, HSU is still overwhelmingly white. Frankly, the institution is having difficulty in attracting students of color.

This is especially problematic considering that HSU's own Strategic Plan commits that “Humboldt State University will increase the diversity of our students, faculty, staff and curriculum.”

But an informal group called the Staff of Color Collective (comprised of both staff and faculty) claim that the university's commitment to diversity is insincere, and that the administration is unwilling to commit time and resources towards diversity. A big part of their complaint has been an unwillingness to involve students, faculty and staff persons in the overall decision-making process.

So as students. faculty, and staff are organizing to save HSU, let's remember that honoring the Humboldt spirit requires a commitment to democratic process through these difficult times.