Note: The Lawrence Times runs opinion columns and letters to the Times written by community members with varying perspectives on local issues. These pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Times staff.
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On Friday, Feb. 14, nearly one-third of the employees at Haskell Indian Nations University were fired.
The firings targeted people across campus. Faculty, coaches, cooks, tutors, administrators and custodians were terminated with no employment performance reviews. These employees had probationary status, meaning they had not worked long enough to attain permanent status.
This irresponsible action has devastating effects on those fired and on all university staff and students. For those fired, the effect means an immediate loss of salary and health care benefits. For students and remaining faculty and staff, it is a disruption of course instruction and functioning of services across campus.
The Trump administration has used the probationary status of thousands of federal employees, including many in Douglas County, as a tool for diminishing the number of government employees, without regard for the quality or necessity of their work. Probationary employees are not eligible for some civil service protections and thus easier to dismiss.
Haskell Indian Nations University is an integral part of our community and an important higher education resource for our community, state and nation. It is one of only two U.S. higher education institutions focused on serving Indigenous students. It should be respected and supported.
We urge those who are concerned for Haskell Indian Nations University to contact our Congressional delegation: Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, and Reps. Tracy Mann, Derek Schmidt and Sharice Davids. Protest this action and ask that these employees be reinstated.
— Pat Willer (she/her), Lawrence, and Pat Kehde (she/her), Lawrence
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Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
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