Much confusion remains for the Haskell community after roughly three dozen employees were laid off last week, but students and staff intend to push back.
Positions in most every department at Haskell Indian Nations University were part of indiscriminate nationwide cuts ordered by President Donald Trump’s administration. It happened on Valentine’s Day — a striking instance of symbolism, in Sierra Two Bulls’ eyes.
“This happening on the day of love, there is an absence of love from the U.S. government,” Two Bulls said. “And of course, there was not just the absence of love, but also they’re not honoring the treaty and trust responsibilities.”
Unbeknownst to her, last Thursday would be the final day she’d teach a class. Two Bulls, Oglala Lakota, was one of seven Haskell instructors laid off Friday. She was verbally notified of her termination right before her afternoon class that day and had to notify those students who had arrived early or on time that the class would be canceled at the last minute.
Over the weekend, Two Bulls said, she and others thought maybe there was a chance the layoffs could be rescinded since they hadn’t received their letters of termination yet. But she received her official notice on Tuesday this week.
The Haskell Board of Regents announced Thursday afternoon it has called on two federal offices to exempt Haskell positions from cuts because the employees are performing legally required functions under treaty, trust and statutory obligations the federal government has to American Indian and Alaska Native people.
Indian Health Services employees were reinstated shortly after also being verbally laid off on Friday last week. But IHS is under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Haskell is governed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is under the Department of Interior. Adding insult to injury, Haskell employees received letters informing them — baselessly — that they had failed to demonstrate qualification for continued employment.
‘Confusion’ and ‘uncertainty’
Haskell sophomore Anthony Crowe, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, said he attended his American Indian Studies class like normal Friday only to later learn the professor of that class was one of those suddenly laid off.
His professor sent students an email the following Monday saying goodbyes and informing them their classes would resume without him, Crowe said.
Crowe’s adviser last semester was Julia White Bull, whom he called his campus “safe person.” He said when he found out White Bull was also among the instructors laid off, he cried.
“I’m sure a lot of the students are feeling the same way about their professors and advisers, because not only are those advisers there to help you along the way, they’re also there to make sure that you’re doing OK,” Crowe said.
White Bull, Standing Rock Sioux, was a retention technician, specifically a success coach in Haskell’s Student Success Center. Same as Two Bulls, she received her letter of termination on Tuesday. In her role, she helped freshmen and new students transition to college, hosted workshops, guided students through choosing or switching their majors and more.
She also taught a freshman seminar class, sponsored clubs and served on the planning committee for the Spring Welcome Back Powwow that’s postponed until further notice.
Most meaningful, White Bull said, students would visit her office every hour to talk and laugh. She said she wants students to know they can still reach out for support, such as recommendation letters for jobs.
“I came from a small community,” White Bull said. “And I wanted them to know that it is intimidating at first, but you can be successful. You can, in your own way. And the only way to be successful is really to have a job that you can relate to. And I can relate to a lot of these students. That’s why a lot of them came to me.”
White Bull said she patiently worked her way up through several other jobs to earn her position just to have it taken in an instant. She’s also mother of two children.
“I ‘lived, eat, breathe’ this job,” White Bull said. “I want my job back. I want to go back so bad, but with the confusion, uncertainty, we just don’t know. … The Trump administration has ruined lives and left a lot of broken hearts, especially the students.”
Hope for Haskell
When classes resume Friday, after a federal holiday Monday and three days of inclement weather closures, Crowe isn’t sure who will be standing in front of his morning American Indian Studies class.
White Bull, also an alum, said she’s concerned that Haskell is now even shorter-staffed than it was before. From her understanding, existing staff will fill vacancies where they can, even across departments.
Two Bulls taught four 100- and 200-level social sciences and social work courses and held an academic adviser role. But Haskell has been home for her long before today. Two Bulls is an alum of the university who had been an adjunct professor there for around seven years before going full-time in August.
“The future feels uncertain,” Two Bulls said. “We’re gonna try to pick up what was left off and keep going. I think that’s what’s going to happen for my students, fortunately. I wish I could speak with them in person one last time.”
But Haskell will keep fighting back. Two Bulls said the Haskell community is resilient. Students, employees and the community at large have been organizing and speaking out since the news broke.
“I think that’s the glue that kind of keeps us together is our shared — I don’t want to say trauma, but our shared experiences,” Crowe said. “Haskell is definitely a beacon of hope for a lot of us who want a good education, but also, allows us to see better futures for ourselves.”
Crowe said he’s shared updates with members of his tribe in his home state of New York and encourages other Haskell students to do the same. Tribal leaders can help amplify advocacy.
Additionally, Two Bulls and White Bull recommend advocates write letters to and call their representatives. Douglas Burgum is the U.S. secretary of the interior. The 5 Calls organization, which has information on its website and also has a mobile app, helps connect people to their Congressional representatives.
“You guys don’t realize how powerful you are,” White Bull said — a message to her students.
A Haskell-led meeting is set for Friday to discuss updates and advocacy. It’s scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, in the fellowship hall at the south end of the church.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
More coverage — Haskell Indian Nations University:
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
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