Developing Diversity 2018

Dialogue • Inclusion • Multiculturalism Alike • Growth • Equality • Compassion Discussion • Family • Social • Culture

+ • Kindness • Open Diversity • Language Acceptance • Comfortable • Humility PRES ENT

Conversation • Community • Traditions

Love • Understanding • Environment Perspective • Empowerment • Tolerance Dialogue • Inclusion • Multiculturalism Alike • Growth • Equality • Compassion Conversation • Community • Traditions Discussion • Family • Social • Culture Diversity • Language • Kindness • Open Acceptance • Comfortable • Humility Conversation • Community • Traditions Love • Understanding • Environment

B R O U G H T T O YO U I N P A R T B Y

H O W D I VERSE ARE W E? a l oo k a t t h e C h i p pew a Va l l ey 's r a c i a l a n d e t h n i c m a ke u p words by TOM GIFFEY

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i l l u s t r a t i o n b y TAY L O R M CC U M B E R

SO HOW DIVERSE IS THE C H I P P E W A VA L L E Y, A N Y W AY ?

The answer to this question depends on your perspective – and your definition of diversity.

Figures for the racial and ethnic background of Chippewa Valley residents are relatively easy to track down, courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.

They show a region that is growing more diverse, but that (unsurprisingly) remains largely white.

According to five-year estimates (2013-17) based on the annual American Community Survey, 88.9 percent of the City of Eau Claire’s 67,945 residents describe themselves as “white alone.”

This leaves 11.1 percent as people of color – whether that’s AfricanAmericans, Asian-Americas, Native Americans, or Hispanics. (The Census Bureau treats Hispanic origin as a heritage, nationality, or lineage, not a race, so Hispanic people may describe themselves as of any race.)

For those familiar with the decades-long influx of Hmong refugees to the Chippewa Valley, the relatively large number of Asian-Americans in Eau Claire isn’t a surprise. Of the 3,223 people identified as Asian-American alone in the 2013-17 estimates, 2,258 were listed as “other Asian” (i.e., they aren’t Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese).

Presumably, most of these people are Hmong.

Looking at the Chippewa Valley as a whole, the total number of people of color grows, but the percentages of individual minority groups decline. To put it more bluntly, the rest of the Chip-

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THE CHANGING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MAKEUP OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY IS MOST CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE CLASSROOM. NEARLY ONE-QUARTER OF EAU CLAIRE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

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pewa Valley outside Eau Claire is whiter than Eau Claire itself. According to the same 2013-17 five-year estimate, the Eau Claire metro area (which encompasses all of Chippewa and Eau Claire counties) is 91.9 percent white. This shouldn’t be a surprise: Nationwide, urban centers tend to be more diverse than rural areas.

Yet across western Wisconsin, demographic shifts have created pockets of diversity in communities that were once homogeneous. Consider Arcadia: More

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than 1,100 of this city’s 3,000 inhabitants are Hispanic, according to the latest estimates. Meanwhile, because of an influx of Somali immigrants, more than 13 percent of Barron residents have African ancestry. While these communities remain the exception rather than the rule, but they represent nationwide shifts: As of last year, the U.S. population was estimated to be about 38 percent people of color.

So how have the local figures changed over the years? A glance at the results of the 2000 U.S. Census shows a region moving toward greater diversity.

That year, the national headcount found that nearly 93 percent of Eau Claire residents (and 95.6 percent of metro area residents) described themselves as white alone.

The changing racial and ethnic makeup of the Chippewa Valley is most clearly visible in public schools.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, nearly one-quarter of Eau Claire Area School

12.3% SHARE OF EAU CLAIRE RESIDENTS WITH A DISABILITY

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District students were people of color in the 2017-18 school year. (The figure was 23.9 percent, to be exact.) Nearly 10 percent of the district’s students were Asian-American, while more than 5 percent were Hispanic. Dialing back a decade to the 2007-08 school year finds that only about 15 percent of students were people of color. While the share of Asian-American students remained relatively steady over the 10-year period, the number of Hispanic students more than doubled, from 189 to 615.

No group is a monolith, of course – even the white majority. More than 40 percent of Eau Clairians report they have German ancestry, and one in five claim Norwegian heritage. About 10 percent are Irish, while Polish and English make up 6 percent each. All told, the 2013-17 American Community Survey identified 64 distinct ancestries in the city of Eau Claire alone, from Armenian and Arab to Welsh and West Indian. All have added to the diverse cultural quilt that is the Chippewa Valley.

4.3%

SHARE OF EAU CLAIRE RESIDENTS BORN OUTSIDE TH E U N ITE D S TATE S

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SEEKI N G A N EW H O M E o r p r og r a m s, g a t h e r i n g s H m o n g a s soc i a t i o n se a r c h i n g f o r l a r g e r s pa ce f words by TOM GIFFEY

FORT Y YEARS AGO, HMONG IMMIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR SOUTHEAST ASIAN HOMELAND FOUND A NEW HOME IN THE C H I P P E W A V A L L E Y . Now, the Eau

Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association needs a new home as well.

The organization, which serves the estimated 5,000 Hmong families in the region, has outgrown the two-story brick building it has occupied at 423 Wisconsin St. in downtown Eau Claire since the 1990s. The group is currently seeking to buy a new location that will give it more space for offices as well as expanded programs and room for cultural events for the Valley’s vibrant Hmong community.

“The facility is not adequate for the programs we have,” explained Vincent Xiong, who became executive director of

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photo by ANDRE A PAUL SETH

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the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association earlier this year.

Over the years, the association’s programs have evolved. Originally, for example, translation services were critical. Today, the association still deals with issues such as translation and housing but it also provides outreach programs for young people, the elderly, and sexual assault victims in the Hmong community.

In addition to lacking room for the association’s programs, there is a critical need for a large gathering space for Hmong residents.

“A large part of the Hmong community still practices traditional rituals,” Vincent Xiong said. Hmong families are often large and tightly knit, so ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, as well as graduation parties and other

“THE (CURRENT) FACILITY IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE,

gatherings, can draw large crowds.

In particular, traditional Hmong funerals are large-scale gatherings.

They often draw between 500 and 1,000 people and last from Friday morning to Monday evening. Very few funeral homes are willing to accommodate such long, large services. A new building could include a large, flexible gathering space that could accommodate such events.

A new, handicapped-accessible facility would provide space for older

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Hmong people to socialize and exercise.

It would also offer a space for young people, such as those who take part in the association’s Building Bridges for Youth program, which offers mentoring and tutoring for about 80 kids between the ages of 10 and 16. Many Hmong youth – pulled as they are between the dominant culture and Hmong traditions – feel an identity crisis, Vincent Xiong explained.

Providing a new facility can help these young people learn more about their history and culture through classes and displays of cultural artifacts, clothing, and other objects, he added.

Pao D. Xiong, president of the association’s board of directors, said the group has been looking at finding a new home for about four years. While the association has raised some money for a down payment, Pao Xiong said additional efforts are needed because a new building may cost between $600,000 and $1 million – or even more.

Several months ago, the association had its eye on a 20,000-square-foot former warehouse on North Clairemont Avenue, and even received approval for a site plan from the city of Eau Claire’s Plan Commission. However, the deal later fell through, in part because the purchase was contingent on the association raising funds by selling its current building, which it was unable to do. For now, the group is back at square one.

“We are actively looking to sell more assets to use as down payments and we will need to go back to regroup and build our project plan,” Pao Xiong explained.

The group is working with several banks to obtain loans is actively seeking additional community support. “Anyone that is willing to help us is welcome to join our project team,” Pao Xiong said. “We are always looking for fresh ideas and a helping hand.”

Learn more about the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association a ecahmaa.org or facebook.com/eauclairehmaa.

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TH E PRO FOU N D VALU E O F CO M M U N I T Y E a u C l a i r e wo m a n u se s h e r voi ce t o s u p po r t t h e l oc a l L a t i n o po p u l a t i o n words by LAUREN FISHER

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I T WA S O N LY T H R E E M O N T H S AGO TH AT FE DE R A L IMMIG R A TION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS FROM ILLINOIS M O V E D I N T O W I S C O N S I N , ar-

resting 83 people in 14 counties between Sept. 21-24 – just four days. Of the people detained, 44 had criminal convictions in the United States, according to an ICE press release issued the day after the arrests. Sixteen had no previous criminal convictions, and 21 others had re-entered the country after being deported.

The report indicated that four people were arrested in Eau Claire County.

Mireya Sigala, a board member with El Centro de Conexión de Chippewa Valley, estimates that the number of Eau Claire arrests is much higher based on her interactions with affected families following the raid. El Centro promotes multiculturalism and supports the local Latino community by hosting cultural events and connecting people with resources such as education, legal help, workshops, scholarships, and more.

After the arrests, Sigala worked with the organization to ensure affected families were taken care of.

“I do what I do because I love my community,” Sigala said. She was born and raised in the Chippewa Valley after her parents moved to the area as undocumented immigrants – they have since been granted citizenship – in the 1980s.

“I am so grateful to my family, that they came here, and they took that risk,” she said. She considers herself privileged to have been born in the United States, and that the benefits of citizenship have passed on to her own children.

“In that same respect, I cannot forget about those struggles and the risks my parents took,” she said. “To me, that drive and that passion to help out my community is because I can see and I know that it is my responsibility to be a voice for people who don’t have one, for people who are fearful.”

Sigala uses her voice to educate the Eau Claire community about Latino culture and about immigration in the United States. There are many miscon-

photo by ANDRE A PAUL SETH

ceptions about the immigration process and about who undocumented immigrants are, she said.

One such misconception is that Latin American immigrants take advantage of government services they don’t contribute to. State aid programs require recipients to provide a Social Security number, which undocumented immigrants don’t have. Many pay taxes out of their paychecks that go toward Social Security and Medicaid that they will not be able to receive without proper documentation. “They have to buy groceries, they have to buy gas, they have to pay the same utility bills that we’re all paying, so all of that goes back into generating our economy,” Sigala said.

Sigala wants to teach the Chippewa Valley the profound value of the Latino community. A UW-Madison study from 2008 showed that about 40 percent of hired workers on Wisconsin dairy farms are immigrants, 89 percent of them from Mexico. Without immigrant labor, the price of milk would increase by 90 percent, according to a 2015 study by Texas A&M Agrilife Research.

But it’s about more than milk. The presence of Latino culture in the Chippewa Valley is enriching for the whole community, Sigala said. “Any time that you get the opportunity to experience someone’s culture through their eyes, I think that there is nothing greater,” she said. “I think it’s important to have, even on a small scale, just to have those small interactive opportunities.”

There are about 1,600 Hispanic or Latino people living in Eau Claire, making up about 2.4 percent of the population. However, Sigala said, “I truly believe that the Latino community is thriving. She pointed to Latio-owned businesses as proof.

Sigala remembers how when she was a child, there was nowhere nearby to purchase traditional food ingredients.

Her family members would take turns driving to the Twin Cities to pick up groceries so they could all enjoy their cultural favorites. Now, she excitedly lists the local Latino-owned restaurants,

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ANY TIME THAT YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SOMEONE'S CULTURE THROUGH THEIR EYES, I THINK THAT THERE IS NOTHING GREATER.

the grocery stores that offer traditional foods, and the wide selection of Hispanic and Latino foods available at Woodman’s. The strength of the community is also shown in language exchange programs and in multicultural public education.UW-Eau Claire was host to a North Central Council of Latin Americanists conference in October where more than 60 Latin American Scholars explored a huge range of topics concerning Latin American culture.

After the ICE arrests, El Centro put out a call for donations for the families

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that were affected, many of which had their head of household removed. “It was amazing,” Sigala said. “Boxes and boxes, and clothing and diapers … This community is so giving, and when people are in need it doesn’t matter what your walk of life is, it does not matter what your situation.” Sigala knows that rebuilding confidence and trust within the Latino community will be difficult after the raid, but she's hopeful thanks to the outpouring of support she saw in the following weeks. “I was just blown away by what this community has to offer.”

B R O U G H T T O YO U I N P A R T B Y

ED U CATI N G EVERYO N E C V T C wo r k s t o e n s u r e i t s s t u d e n t bod y r e f l e c t s t h e r e g i o n’s p o p u l a t i o n words by TOM GIFFEY

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photo by MARK GUNDERMAN

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SUCH A S CHIPPEWA VALLE Y TECHNIC AL COLLEGE

exist to serve the workforce needs of their communities. If the Chippewa Valley needs more certified nursing assistants, CVTC will train them. The same goes for welders or sous chefs.

Likewise, the student body at CVTC reflects the population in the Chippewa Valley as a whole, encompassing women and men of many racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.

“As our community becomes more diverse, we see that in our student body,” explained Margo Keys, CVTC’s vice president of student services.

And just as CVTC has to be flexible in providing the educational programs the community needs, it must work hard to recruit and retain a diverse staff and student body.

In fact, CVTC is the most racially and ethnically diverse college in the Valley. About 15 percent of CVTC enrollees are students of color, a figure that has grown in recent years, Keys said.

By comparison, as of the 2017-18 school year, the student bodies at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout were about 10 and 11 percent students of color, respectively.

CVTC means providing a broad array of diversity programming – and not just to ensure racial and ethnic diversity in its classrooms. CVTC offers services to students in pursuing occupations that are nontraditional

for their gender – for instance, women in automotive repair or men in nursing. The college offers such students customized career guidance, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

CVTC also provides services to students with disabilities, which may include accommodations with testing, assistance technology, sign-language interpreting or captioning, and much more.

And a host of resources are available for students from multicultural backgrounds who may face a variety of barriers in pursuing higher educations. Jennifer Anderegg, CVTC’s dean of academic development and services, explains that student success specialists help multicultural students with academic and nonacademic concerns.

These students are also invited to become part of EMPOWER, a group that meets weekly to talk about their experiences and concerns in college.

Much of the diversity at CVTC – at least in terms of languages – comes because the college offers noncredit courses for adults English language learners.

Some of these ELL students are also enrolled in specially designed courses, taught with dual-language instructors, to train to become CNAs. Ultimately, CVTC officials say, such efforts to foster a more diverse college environment help all students, whatever their background. “Preparing them for the workforce is our ultimate goal, and the workforce is becoming more diverse,” Anderegg said.

E N G L I S H L A N G UAG E L E A R N E R S AT C V T C

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G EN D ER & SEXUALI T Y d d ow n h e r e d ow n s u b h e a d d ow n h e r e s u b h e a d d ow n h e r e s u b h e a words by ERIC CHRISTENSON

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photo by ANDRE A PAUL SETH

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E A W M

o l p

'ALL STU D ENTS ARE W ELCO M E' B l a c k S t u d e n t A l l i a n ce o pe n s B l a c k C u l t u r a l Ce n t e r a t U W E C w o r d s b y N E A LY C O R C O R A N • p h o t o s b y A N D R E A PA U L S E T H AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR O F E F FO R T, U W - E AU C L A I R E O PE N E D A B L AC K C U LT U R A L CENTER IN NOVEMBER INSIDE C E N T E N N I A L H A L L . Members

of the UW-Eau Claire Black Student Alliance and UWEC Vice Chancellor Tamara Johnson worked together to provide a place for students to relax, study, and embrace their culture – a place where students can go for comfort and support.

Jeremiah Crisostomo, a BSA outreach coordinator who is studying criminal justice and integrated communications, describes the space as mainly a gathering spot for members of the BSA. “Throughout campus, we rarely get to see each other unless we have class, or are in an organization or sport together,” Crisostomo said.

“It always feels good to be around people that you can relate to and understand, but rarely get the chance to see during the day.”

According to recent statistics from the National Center for Education,

approximately 10,904 students attend UW-Eau Claire. White people make up about 88 percent of students, with only 1 percent – about 100 students – identifying as black or African-American.

In response to these statistics as well as feedback from students, UWEC has made it a central priority to celebrate diverse populations and to increase

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recruitment and retention of students and faculty of color and from all other marginalized groups.

The Black Student Alliance is open to all students, regardless of race or ethnicity. Their goal is to create a welcoming environment for all students and to improve the overall experience for African-American students at the uni-

IT SHOWS THE STRIDES WE’VE TAKEN AS A UNIVERSITY AND LETS US KNOW THAT EVEN MORE CAN BE DONE TO PROMOTE MORE DIVERSITY AND A GOOD SENSE OF POSITIVITY.” D E V E LO P I N G D I V E R S I T Y 2 0 1 8

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versity. Members hope to expand their presence at this university so that all students can benefit from being a part of a more diverse college experience.

The group meets on campus every other week to discuss upcoming events, fundraising opportunities, and improving the campus environment. Weekly General Body Meetings are held on Mondays 7:30-9pm, and students typically visit the center around 2-3pm.

“I don’t see it as a ‘Blacks Only’ type room,” Crisostomo said. “I feel that’s what some people see and get discouraged. All students are welcome to visit the center and find out for themselves.”

The new center is a place that provides a lot of motivation and good energy for black students on campus, he explained.

“It shows the strides we’ve taken as a university and lets us know that even more can be done to promote more diversity and a good sense of positivity.”

For more information about the BSA and the new Black Cultural Center contact list.blackstudentalliance@uwec.edu or visit facebook.com/uwecbsa.

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A HEART FOR FAMI LY, COMMUNITY Co u n c i l m a n M i c h a e l X i o n g g i ve s b a c k t o t h e c i t y t h a t we l co m e d h i m a s a r e f u g e e 34 ye a r s a g o

words by LAUREN FISHER E I G H T D A U G H T E R S A G E D 6 - 2 7, A GRANDSON, AND A LOVING WIFE ARE THE REASON WHY M I C H A E L X I O N G , who has served

on the Eau Claire City Council as an atlarge representative since 2013, will not pursue a third term of service come April.

Family and community have been central in Xiong’s life since he came to live in the Chippewa Valley in 1984. His family came by way of Thailand from Laos to be with one of his older stepbrothers, who suffered from leukemia.

He, his many brothers and sisters, and his parents were welcomed by area churches and support organizations, which helped provide food, funds, and clothes for them all while they found their footing in a new place.

Xiong pursued his college education at UW-Stout, earning a master’s degree in home economics with a concentration in Family Services in 1998. He applied his studies to a career in social work for Eau Claire County, where he still works as a case manager after more than 20 years.

In an effort to give back to the community that gave Xiong’s family the resources to build a home in the Chippewa Valley, Xiong has spent time supporting various area causes, including Lutheran Social Services and the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association. He served as the president of the association for two years before he was encouraged by a few City Council members to run for a seat on the council.

Xiong saw it as a new opportunity to

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serve the region.

Since he was first elected, Xiong has approached his duties as a council person with gravity and thoughtfulness. The choice of whether to fund the construction of the Pablo Center at the Confluence was a hot topic he joined the council.

“It put a lot of challenge on me, but I’m glad the other representatives kind of helped me out,” he said. Xiong weighed financial concerns, community input, and the desire to build Eau Claire’s reputation as a great place to live and visit, and voted to support the project. “I felt like Eau Claire needed to be better,” he said.

“Back in 1984 it was a very small town,” Xiong said of Eau Claire. “Every year from there until now has been a

MICHAEL XIONG, E AU C L A I R E C I T Y CO U N C I L

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I F ELT LIKE EAU CLAIRE NEEDED TO BE BETTER.

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huge improvement, especially the downtown area.” He has tried to keep avenues of communication open between the Hmong community and the City Council throughout his service in an effort to grow the city with an eye for diversity.

Both times that Xiong sought an atlarge council seat – in 2013 and again in 2016 – he received the most votes of any candidate. “They elected me because of my commitment,” he said. He believes his passion, as well as his efforts to be a good listener and respectful to all people, have built the community’s trust in him. He strives to be a positive influence on the community, a role model, and a loving person.

When Xiong has free time, he enjoys hunting and fishing, spending time outdoors where the clean air can clear his head and he can let his mind wander from matters of work. But even this is a family affair: He enters the woods with his brothers and stepbrothers, and they work together during deer season to bring home the venison. He’s not the best cook, he said, so he is thankful that many of his family are restaurant owners in the area, able to put together delicious venison soup.

During Thanksgiving and Christmas Xiong’s daughters visit from all over the state where they work, live, and attend school. They catch up with one another and play games, make sure that everyone is doing well. Xiong gives credit to his wife of 27 years, Jennifer, for bearing the brunt of their upbringing while he has worked and served on the council. “When I’m done I kind of need to put myself into helping them, too,” he said. “I want to love my children, so they grow to be a positive person.”

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C A L E N B E R G , K U E S T E R R E COGNIZED WITH UW-STOUT D I V E R S I T Y AWA R D S

A UW-Stout professor and staff member have been honored with 2018 UW-Stout Diversity Awards for creating an accepting environment throughout the UW System.

Paul Calenberg, director of University Theatre and chair of the department of com smunication studies, global languages, and performing arts, has spent 20 years working at UW-Stout. He has spent his career selecting musicals and University Theatre productions that emphasize issues of diversity. Calenberg directed “The Normal Heart,” a show that explored the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community, and “Suessical,” a musical that touched on issues of respect and confidence. Vicki Kuester has worked at UW-Stout for 36 years, recruiting and aiding the success of international students. Kuester’s efforts through the UW-Stout international education office has led her to work with host families of international students and conduct cross-cultural workshops. Along with overseeing the annual International Week, an effort that involves around 35 countries and attracts around 5,000 people to numerous events, Kuester is an adviser to the International Relations Club. The Diversity Bridge Team announced the

awards in an effort to promote an inclusive learning environment in the UW-Stout system by rewarding individuals who diversify campus climate.

I N S TA L L I N G T R I B A L F L A G S AT U W - S T O U T

BLUGOLDS COMPETE IN FIR S T A SS I S TI V E TECH CH A LLE NG E

UW-Eau Claire Students Blake Bomann, Kyle Wertel, and Joshua Peterson joined 21 competing teams in the first-ever Assistive Tech Challenge. The Assistive Tech Challenge is a pitch competition presented by Destination Medical Center’s Discovery Square in collaboration with The Arc Minnesota Southeast Region and the disABILITY Mayo Clinic Employee Resource Group to facilitate greater independence for individuals with disabilities, according to The Destination Medical Center. Bomann, Wertel, and Peterson had been working on developing a Bluetoothbased campus navigation system that could assist people with low vision when they were told about the Assistive Tech Challenge by a UWEC faculty member. In order to enter the competition, their software had to be used and assessed. In cooperation with the office of Services for Students with Disabilities, Erica Nerbonne, a senior Spanish major at UW-Eau Claire, saw the developing system as an opportunity to aid her loss of vision. After successfully

testing the system at UWEC, the students came together to apply and participate in the Assistive Tech Challenge.

The Blugold team shared their software with a five-minute presentation and became one of six teams accepted into the non-corporate division. Positive feedback has encouraged the ongoing development of their project. The competition was a learning experience and raised awareness about students with vision disabilities.

UWEC'S L ARSON RECEIVES U W S YS T E M O U T S TA N D I N G WO M E N O F CO L O R AWA R D

The 2018 Outstanding Women of Color in Education has been awarded by the UW System Jan Larson, professor and chair of UW-Eau Claire’s department of communication and journalism. The annual award is meant to recognize one woman on each UW System campus who

exemplifies advancements towards inclusive environments for people of color. Jan Larson has worked at UW-Eau Claire for 27 years, performing numerous roles throughout campus and securing grants for underrepresented students in the UW System.

FORMAN HONORED BY UW SYSTEM FOR LGBTQ ADVOCACY The UW System’s 2018 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ People has been awarded to Pamela Forma, professor and chair of UW-Eau Claire’s department of sociology. Forman is the co-founder of the Eau Queer Film Festival; an affiliate faculty member in the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies program; and interim chair of UWEC’s department of philosophy and religious studies. Forman has tirelessly contributed to a transformation in the well-being of UW-Eau Claire LGBTQ students, leading the university to national recognition as the No. 1 college in Wisconsin for LGTBQ students.

UW-STOUT STUDENT CENTER I N S TA L L S T R I B A L F L AG S

On Monday Oct. 8, UW-Stout hosted Indigenous People’s Day. Eleven Wisconsin sovereign tribal flags were installed in UW-Stout’s student center where various international flags are located. The event took place in conjunction with Indigenous People’s Day, a holiday meant to be an alternative to Columbus Day. The installation of tribal flags represented the integration of indigenous people into society.

With 92 native students, 851 undergraduate minority, students and 166 graduate minority students at UW-Stout, the installation encouraged an environment of inclusivity and recognition among minority students, according to UW-Stout’s Multicultural Student Services office. Event sponsors and donations from multiple organizations aided the collection and display of the sovereign flags.

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