By Michael Samano, Ph.D.
1967
September 15, 1967: Letter from the City of Eugene, Office of City Manager Hugh McKinley to Dale Parnell, President Lane Community College regarding a September 14 city council meeting where the Eugene chapter of CORE demanded the following:
“We know that the educational facilities have failed the majority of the black people of the Eugene area. We find Eugene Public Schools and their curriculum to be racist and unemployment practices for black people to be deplorable and intolerable in all areas of school life. We demand that black people be employed in all areas of employment in the Eugene Public Schools and in Lane Community College, and that a curriculum be developed for black and white children in the Eugene School System that includes a comprehensive history of Black America, and its role in creating and building this country.” (CORE spokesman).
December 15, 1967: LCC Office of the President Dale Parnell Memorandum to Social Science Chair, Carrol deBroekert. “During winter term, 1968, would you develop a position paper with regard to broadening the scope of the Social Science Division to include programs normally defined as community services.” “Ideas to be pursued should include, but not limited to, the following: New careers for the poor; Poverty programs and community action groups; etc.”
1968
January 19, 1968: Letter from Dr. Clyde DeBerry Director, School Desegregation Training and Research Institute, University of Oregon to Mr. Richard Eymann, Assistant to the President, Lane Community College. Describes meeting held with, “Fifty White Welfare mothers,” and another meeting with “35 Black families,” regarding, “recruitment, training and in general Upward Mobility and New Careers.” Letter suggests a collaboration between the University of Oregon and Lane Community College. An emphasis was made to extend an invitation to “Mr. Willy Mims, Manager of the Eugene Area Service Center (A.S.C.), to become a third partner in this training adventure.”
“May I also add, without being too offensive, that both the U. of O. and Lane Community College, with their air of superficial superiority, scare the hell out of 2 both white welfare mothers and the community of black people. The A.S.C. would serve as a bridge between the two worlds, until confidence is built with participants.”
April 17, 1968: Race Relations Council meets for the first time on this date.
“The council is commissioned by the College President of Lane Community College to act in advisory capacity on the total subject of race relations for LCC. The term race relations to be viewed by the Council in the broadest possible sense, including internal student-staff relations as well as external education and Community relations.”
April 17, 1968: LCC Board of Education meeting. Race Relations Committee Report: “Mr. Ackerman asked that the administration advise the Board on the final recommendations made by the newly formed Race Relations Student-Staff Committee. He also asked that the following areas be reviewed by this Committee: (1) To what extent is Negro history or culture part of our curriculum and if not, what course offering steps should be made? (2) Is LCC including the predominantly Negro learning institutions within its recruitment effort?”
May 1, 1968: Two documents written by Nancy S. Prichard sent to Lane Community College Language Arts faculty member, Karen Lansdowne who was a member of the “Pac. N.W. Regional Conference on English in Two Year College.” These communications have to do with a Summer training opportunity. Cazenovia College, located in Cazenovia, New York planned to host a “1968 Summer Institute on Curriculum Development: Resources on the Negro in American Literature.”
May 6, 1968: Letter from Assistant Professor Karen Lansdowne, Language Arts to Mel Krause Chairman: Race Relations Committee:
“I notice that the Board of Education asked what our immediate plans are for including courses on Negro culture in our curriculum. As a member of the Pac. N.W. Regional Conference on English in the Two Year College, I received the enclosed information about an institute on this subject planned for this summer. Perhaps L.C.C. would pay expenses for one of the staff members to attend.”
May 15, 1968: LCC Board of Education meeting. Motion passes to, “authorize the administration to send a representative of LCC’s English Department to the Summer workshop to study the topic of the Negro in American literature and bring back recommendations for inclusion of this area of study in the LCC curriculum.”
October 8, 1968: Memorandum from Chairman, Social Science Department, Carrol deBroekert to Dean of Instruction, Lewis Case regarding the development of four courses under the headings of “minority problems” and “race relations.” Memo points out that it might be best to hire a “Negro historian.”
November 19, 1968: LCC Curriculum Committee minutes for November 14, 1968 meeting. “John Klobas indicated to the committee that he would like some advice on how to institute a new course on race and cultural relations. The committee suggested that he bring a proposal to the committee, requesting that the course be offered as a non-transferable credit.” (John Klobas, Sociology faculty member, Social Science).
December 31, 1968: From Lewis Case, Dean of Instruction to the Curriculum Committee members regarding the agenda for the Curriculum Committee meeting scheduled for January 9, 1969 in the Board Room. Of the new courses to be discussed: “Language Arts: The Negro in American Literature, Social Science: Sociology of Race, Social Science: Psychology of Racial Prejudice & Conflict”
1969
January 9, 1969: Curriculum Committee minutes for January 9, 1969 meeting. Agenda Item #4: The Negro in American Literature, Sociology of Race, Psychology of Racial Prejudce and Conflict:
“John Klobas read a memo from Gerry Rasmussen suggesting that a black person be included in planning the above mentioned sequence. The committee discussed the need for the courses and suggested that the need and cost implementation be looked at more thoroughly. The race relations courses were deferred until another time.”
February 18, 1969: Editorial by Dave Norris and Linda Rodrigues in the LCC student newspaper, The Torch titled, “The Blacks: Not to be Pacified.” Article discusses Artie Cox, and “several other black militants at LCC” who are advocating for equality, both socially and through education. “As John Klobas, an LCC Sociology prof., said, in a lecture on the racial problem, ‘The white man has a God, the white man has a hell, but the white man has no soul.’”
March 24, 1969: Acting LCC President Robert Hamill writes memorandum to Gerry Rasmussen. In the memo, Mr. Hamill is considering, “…I am considering thanking the Race Relations 4 Committee for their work and dissolving the committee in favor of the formal recognition of the Curriculum Committee now working in the area.”
April 22, 1969: LCC student newspaper, The Torch, reports on the front page that the LCC Student Senate voted to approve the creation of a Black Student Union (BSU) at a student senate meeting on Thursday, April 17.
April 22, 1969: LCC student newspaper, The Torch, contains an article on page 5 titled, “Searl and Edwards Provide Special Presentation.”
“Joe Searl, geography professor, and Bobby Edwards, LCC student, have combined their talents to provide a swinging presentation to groups in the area.” “The presentations, while covering every aspect of Negro life…” “Edwards and Searl have held the presentation-discussions at Churchill High School, Cottage Grove High School, and will be at EOC at the end of the month.”
April 24, 1969: A memorandum from W. J. Beals, Chairman, Social Science, to Gerald Rasmussen, Associate Dean regarding the “Development of Course on Race-Specifically Psychology- Sociology of Race.” The memo talks about a Psychology instructor and a Sociology instructor attending a training in Cedar City, Utah:
“They will attend the Higher Education Lab section. This program involves, specifically, the race problem. They will interact with and be living with teachers and students who are from minority groups, particularly Blacks. In their sessions, they will deal with the problems of teaching race related courses at the level of higher education. This will better enable our white instructors to understand and present the Psychology of the Black and the problems of minority groups.”
April 29, 1969: LCC Student newspaper, The Torch, editorial on page 3 by Bobby Edwards titled, “Black Are Excluded From White System.” The article focuses on institutionalized racism and the need for BSU to have a physical space, as well as changes to the curriculum. “If Lane Community College had a Black Studies Department we (students) would not have to concern ourselves, or have to come begging for closet space or for an information desk for the students and LCC and the community.”
May 1, 1969: Memo from the Black Studies Curriculum Committee to the Curriculum Committee, regarding the adoption of Black Studies courses (three courses listed and identified). The members of the Black Studies Curriculum Committee: “Bill Beals – Acting Department Chairman Social Science; Ron Mitchell – Instructor Social Science; *Bob (Bobby) Edwards – Teacher’s Aide Social Science; John Klobas – Instructor Social Science; Gerald Rasmussen – Associate Dean of Instruction; John Howard – Department Chairman Language Arts”
*Bobby Edwards, older non-traditional student. Air Force veteran. Very involved in all aspects of advocacy for African American students during his time at LCC.
May 6, 1969: LCC newspaper, The Torch, article on page 6 titled, “Rap Meeting: Why Students are Revolting.” Instructors John Klobas, sociology, and Ronald Mitchell, psychology joined 20 students and staff. “The group discussed the pros and cons of the present educational system in America and why students are revolting.”
May 8, 1969: Curriculum Committee Minutes. Agenda item #4: Black Studies Sequence. “Black Man in American History, Hst 210; The Negro in American Literature, Eng 210; Complexity & Change in American Racial Patterns: A Social Psychological View, Psy 210. Motion: Ray LaGrandeur moved that the Committee accept the Black Studies sequence. Howard Bird seconded the motion. Motion carried.”
May 13, 1969: Memo from Lewis Case, Dean of Instruction to President Hamill titled, “Proposed Courses.”
“The following courses are hereby recommended to you and the Board of Education for consideration and adoption: The Negro in American Literature (English 210), Black Man in American History (History 210), and Complexity & Change in American Racial Patterns: A Social Psychological View (Psychology 210).”
May 21, 1969: LCC Board of Education approves Black Studies curriculum. According to the documents, this board meeting was filmed.
May 24, 1969: Clipped article from the Eugene Register-Guard announcing that Lane Community College has established Black Studies.
July 16, 1969: BSU presents a letter to the LCC Board of Education.
“A token effort toward the development of a Black Studies Program has been made at Lane Community College. The philosophy behind this program should be re- examined and the development and implementation of it should be accelerated.”
July 31, 1969: LCC President creates a task force to look into the demands made by the BSU. President creates a comprehensive concrete response and recommendations.
August 6, 1969: Task force report is agenda item #8 in the LCC Board of Education meeting.
August 1969: Handwritten date of “08/’69” found on top of course outline for PSY 210. Course outline developed by Ron Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Psychology.
August 15, 1969: Letter from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Office of Education, Washington D.C. Chairman Willa B. Player representing a Committee on Ethnic Studies, Division of College Support within the Bureau of Higher Education, requesting that LCC provide information concerning our program. In addition, included with the letter was a self-addressed, pre-stamped questionnaire.
August 20, 1969: A reply to the letter referenced above from Gerald Rasmussen, Associate Dean of Instruction, LCC.
August 22, 1969: First meeting of the LCC Human Relations Committee which was the suggested replacement for the Race Relations Council.
August 28, 1969: Three-page, (not counting enclosures), single-spaced, all staff memorandum from Robert Pickering, President, Lane Community College. The memorandum is a detailed history of the college’s efforts to support what we would now identify as students of color, hiring efforts of staff of color, and the creation of Black Studies curriculum.
September 4, 1969: Memorandum to Dean Lewis Case from Gerald Rasmussen and Bobby Edwards. “From August 25-29, 1969, Bobby Edwards and I participated in a workshop at Shoreline Community College, Seattle, Washington. This conference was designed to help individuals plan courses in Black Studies.”
“We both felt the conference was well worth while, although our needs were probably different than the majority of the participants. We are much further ahead in the planning of a Black Studies course than most of the schools represented at the conference.”
October 1, 1969: Internal memorandum to President Pickering from W.W. Cox Superintendent of Facilities & Construction. This memo is a summary of a September 30 meeting held with student Bobby Edwards, and employees Jay Jones and Jack Carter. The meeting was held to discuss the creation of a campus space,
“…served by a work-study receptionist or a part-time employee, with telephone service to the reception area and office modules for the individual club groups. This would include a conference area in the center or along one side.”
“Their request is for an area where this group of Black Student Union could meet with their own people, where they would have available such items as books, magazines and articles dealing with the Blacks and other minority groups on display.”
“At this point, Mr. Carter mentioned this involved more than just space, but a philosophy.”
October 14, 1969: The Torch student newspaper. Volume 5, Number 1. A column written by Bobby Edwards:
“To introduce myself to the new students, my name is Bob Edwards. I am a sophomore at Lane Community College. I am currently President of BSU and part- time instructor in our Black Studies Program. I am 24 and spent four years in the Air Force as an athlete. I have declared Eugene as my home, having been here for three years. Originally from Los Angeles, California, I have chaired various committees at LCC and will attempt to run for some office this year.”
November 13, 1969: Memorandum from President Robert Pickering to all staff and students at LCC.
“Cultural Exchange Program becomes a reality. At the November 12 Board meeting, the Board of Education approved the establishment of a Cultural Exchange Program, located in Room 235 – Center Building, to be managed by the Black Student Union. Tentative guidelines have been established, and a steering committee of three staff members and three students will be selected to give direction in the operation of the Center.”
1970
January 13, 1970: Office of Instruction communication from Gerald Rasmussen to Mr. Bobby Edwards: “It is with real regret that we accept your resignation as Coordinator of the Black Studies Program.”
May 4, 1970: Letter of response from the Office of Instruction to Robert Altman, Director, Special Higher Education Programs, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). An offer of money has to be declined due to the timing of the campus operating budget. But, still positive news:
“You may be interested in knowing that, assuming that Governor McCall releases the funds, our Afro-American program will be receiving a $20,000 grant, beginning this coming summer. If that money is not forthcoming, we will proceed with our regular Black Studies class based on the experiences we gained during this academic year.”
June 22, 1970: “Innovations in the Organization and Teaching of Afro-American Studies grant application.
September 20, 1970: Register-Guard, page 5d, newspaper article titled, “LCC program hopes to bridge black- white gap. Detailed article, with photos, detailing the “Afro-American studies program.”
December 14, 1970: Memorandum from Gerald Rasmussen to Lewis Case. A one and a half page, single spaced position paper reflecting on the first two years of the “black studies program.” In the memorandum, there is discussion of requests to expand offerings to include courses in, “Chicano Studies and Indian Studies.” As such, the argument is made for not only an expanded offerings, but also an expanded role in how to oversee the program:
“There is, it seems to me, a way to avoid the dangers of fragmentation and still offer the courses under discussion. That way is to bring all of the ethnic studies under the direction and guidance of one office which might be titled – Coordinator of Ethnic Studies.”
1970: Grant report “Innovations in Organization and Teaching Afro-American Studies Project (Project Number 2-136). Sent to Dr. Robert D. Peck, Assistant Director Educational Coordinating Council Salem, Oregon, from the Black Studies Project Co-directors LCC.
1971
Winter term 1971: Second Quarterly Report to the Educational Coordinating Council from Gerald Rasmussen & Marilyn Waniek, Co-Directors Afro-American Studies. Under “Personnel Changes:”
“Mrs. Marilyn Waniek has recently been appointed co-director with Gerald Rasmussen. This change in the administrative responsibilities of the program has proved to be of great value since the duties and responsibilities of the program have become too great to expect the student coordinators to carry such a load.”
“Ron Mitchell and Peter Simpson who were originally associated with the program as applicants for the grant (with Ronald Mitchell also teaching during the first year of the classes) are no longer active in the program.”
“The three instructors who have been working during the 1970/71 academic year are: Marilyn Waniek – Literature, Lee Harvey – Psychology, and Sheldon Avery – History.”
February 23, 1971: Memorandum from Gerald Rasmussen to Mariam McCoy and Lewis Peters regarding future plans for the Black Studies Program for the following year. The memo contains a detailed operating budget for Summer 1971 and academic year 1971/72.
March 3, 1971: Black Studies Program summary of program, job descriptions and budget.
March 16, 1971: Curriculum Committee meeting. New course proposal: Minority Literature (Eng 211).
March 24, 1971: Memorandum from the Office of Instruction to a large group of college employees. Memo covers the Black Studies Project supervision moving forward.
April 24-25, 1971: Summary of the LCC Black Studies Program Retreat
May 3, 1971: Memorandum from Gerald Rasmussen to Eldon Schafer, President. “RE: The Recommendation for Special Assistant to the President in Minority Affairs.” A deeply reflective memo where it is clear that Mr. Rasmussen has been deeply influenced and changed from his years working with the Black Studies Program. He writes of his shortcomings of his whiteness and urges the President to consider making a strategic hire.
May 14, 1971: Cover letter and report from the State Intergroup Human Relations Commission, Oregon Board of Education to LCC President Schafer. The intent of the “Report on Community Colleges” was to, “assess what programs are available for minorities and disadvantaged students in community colleges, and how the Oregon Board of Education could be supportive of the efforts of community colleges.”
May 18, 1971: Unsigned “Lane Community College Black Studies Program Budget 1971-72” document. In addition to a budget, the document outlines future changes to be made to the program, as well as outlines of job descriptions for: Director, Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Instructor, Music Assistant, Librarian, and Group Leaders.
May 20, 1971: LCC internal document, “The Daily,” reports that the Black Studies Program is sponsoring a three-hour symposium. Lee Harvey, psychology instructor and counselor is the moderator and will be as follows, “Nine local Black athletes, educators and entertainers will discuss the opportunities and obstacles Negroes face in these fields during a Black Symposium on campus tomorrow.”
June 2, 1971: Memorandum from the Office of the President to Marilyn Waniek, Co-director of the Black Studies Program. This four-page detailed memo includes a budget on the last page, but mostly outlines two important directions moving forward: • The “Black Studies Program” name should be changed to the, “Ethnic Studies Program” beginning in the 1971/72 academic year. • A program manager be hired. This person, similar to a department chairman, should have an assigned budget, and given the authority to spend that money accordingly. Finally, “the program manager should report directly to an associate dean of instruction.”
June 1971: Continued back-and-forth memos between the Office of Black Studies and the Office of the President discussing the future directions of the program.
June 17, 1971: Memorandum from Marilyn Waniek, Co-director Black Studies Program to John R. McCulloch, LCC Social Science faculty, Law Enforcement Program. Argues that students taking law enforcement-related courses should take courses offered in the Ethnic Studies Program. Also, suggests that the Law Enforcement Program hire a “Black, Chicano, or Native American person…”
1971: The Concrete Statement “A literary-arts club sponsored by the Lane Community College Student Senate, receiving no public funds. The views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the college.” Pages 31-42 contain, “Black Writing” “Special Thanks to the LCC Black Studies Program.”
July 16, 1971: LCC Office of Instruction Job Description – Program Manager for the Ethnic Studies program.
August 4, 1971: LCC internal document, “The Daily” reports that, “Counselor Jonathan West will be one of several participants in a Portland television station feature on minority programs in the community college. It will air on KATU, Ch. 12, Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Sorry those of you not on the cable system will be unable to view the program.”
September 13, 1971: Letter from Gerald Rasmussen, Associate Dean of Instruction to Mr. Lee Harvey of Berkeley, California.
“Dear Lee, Please regard this letter of a statement of Lane Community College’s intent to hire you as a full time instructor and as manager of the Ethnic Studies Program for the academic year 1971-72.”
September 17, 1971: Letter from Gerald Rasmussen, Associate Dean of Instruction to Mr. William N. Powell of Eugene, Oregon.
“Dear Mr. Powell, this letter is a statement of Lane Community College’s intent to hire you as a full time instructor in, and manager of, the Ethnic Studies Program for the academic year 1971-72.”
September 20, 1971: Letter from Gerald Rasmussen to 13 LCC staff members regarding the hiring of “Mr. Bill Powell as Manager, Ethnic Studies Program position.”
September 22, 1971: Letter from Gerald Rasmussen to members of the screening committee/manager of the Ethnic Studies Program regarding the selection of a manager:
“As you recall, the Screening Committee recommended that the above mentioned position be offered to Lee Harvey. The position was indeed offered to Mr. Harvey. In a series of telephone conversations, in one personal interview, and by letter I urged Mr. Harvey to accept. On last Friday I called Mr. Harvey in San Francisco and during the course of our conversation he indicated to me that he would not accept the position. On the following Monday, since it was imperative for the continuing development and success of the program that we find a qualified person to continue to work in the Ethnic Studies Program, I began to search for such a person. Mr. Powell had inquired about a regular teaching at Lane earlier and I approached him to ascertain if he would be interested in the Ethnic Studies position. He indicated that he would be interested and, since classes will be starting almost immediately and instructors must be assigned for classes and decisions made, I decided to offer him the position as instructor and manager. President Eldon Schafer had been consulted at all steps and concurred with this decision.”
October 11, 1971: LCC publication, “Black Talk!” announces the new Ethnic Studies Program on page 2:
“To my black, brown and red brothers and sisters in the community – let me tell you about the new Ethnic Studies Program at Lane Community College. The Ethnic Studies Program originated from the Black Studies Program, which was a year ago. This program will cover all minority studies: Black, Chicano, Native American. The Ethnic Studies manager is Bill Powell. This brother is completing his graduate studies at the University of Oregon. He has taught at the University of Oregon, Reed College and Willamette University. Brother Bill Powell said his primary goal is for each minority group to be able to create new ideas for this program. He hopes this program can alleviate the frustrations of students, and be helpful to them in finding their own identify and goals.” (Typos corrected)
October 12, 1971: Internal LCC document, “The Daily,” reports that “Bibliography Files have been set up in the library for two subject areas in which research materials are in high demand: Ethnic Studies (including American Indian, Black, Chicano).”
October 15, 1971: Memorandum from Leland Halberg, Chairman Curriculum Committee to Lewis Case, Executive Secretary Instructional Council regarding action items on three proposed new courses: “Political Thought of American Minorities (PS 210); Black American Music (Mus 210); Politics of Urban Minority Problems (PS 211)”
October 22, 1971: Memorandum to President Schafer from the Office of Instruction stating that both the Curriculum Committee and Instructional Council have approved the three new Ethnic Studies courses.
November 4, 1971: Memorandum from Jack Carter, Dean of Students to President Schafer regarding “Progress Report on Minorities.” Page 2 contains a summary of the Ethnic Studies Program.
November 10, 1971: Lane Community College Board of Education. Under item #16 “Minority Report” it states, “Mr. Earl Barrios distributed a position statement of Chicanos to the Board which questioned Lane’s acknowledgement of the Chicano students and their needs.” Board also approved new Ethnic Studies Program courses: PS 210, PS 211, and MUS 210.
1972
March 3, 1972: Memorandum from Lewis Case, Dean of Instruction to President Schafer regarding proposed new courses: Chicano History, Mexico (Hst 211) and Chicano History, United States (Hst 212). Attached was a February 14, 1972 memo from Leland Halberg, Chairman Curriculum Committee to Lewis Case. Under the justification for the creation of the two courses were these three factors:
“A student survey was completed by students in Sociology, Survey of American Literature, Minority Literature, and Psychology of American Racial Patterns. Sixty- two percent of the students who completed the questionnaire said they would enroll in the course if it were offered. “The developers also received a memo from John McCulloch, Social Science Instructor, which stated that upon the course being approved, he would recommend it as a suggested elective for the law enforcement programs. In addition a Chicano position paper was submitted to the LCC Baord of Education in which they recommended that more attention be given to the chicano culture and that courses be developed in order to do this.”
March 16, 1972: A letter from Gerald Rasmussen, Dean of Instruction to Dr. Norman D. Sundberg, Dean Wallace School of Community Service and Public Affairs, University of Oregon. The letter formally recognizes Dr. Richard Ingraham who conducted an “extremely subjective study of a highly controversial issue” (LCC Black Studies Program). This study helped LCC secure funding from the Educational Coordinating Council in Salem during the 1970/71 fiscal year.
July 17, 1972: Memorandum from Gerald Rasmussen to Eldon Schafer. In this memorandum, there is a discussion about taking the Ethnic Studies Program and transitioning it to become the Ethnic Studies Department. Further anticipated changes:
“I would also like to call your attention to the possibility that the Ethnic Studies Department could, within the near future, also become an Ethnic Studies and Interdisciplinary Department. Courses such as Science in Your Life or some of the other interdisciplinary courses might be placed in a department like this one.”
October 6, 1972: Memorandum from Gerald Rasmussen, Office of Instruction to Bill Beals (Chair, Social Science), Nancy Burian (Office of Instruction Scheduling Clerk), John Howard (Chair, Language Arts), Judy Piercy (Office of Instruction Curriculum Clerk), Bill Powell (Chair, Ethnic Studies), Verne Whittaker (Business Office Chief Accountant), and Data Processing Staff regarding “Department Status/Ethnic Studies.”
“Now that Ethnic Studies has been designated as a department we must take steps to move the following classes from the departments in which they are now located, to Ethnic Studies and schedule them accordingly. Those classes are: Minority Literature, Black American Literature, Political Thought of American Minorities, Chicano History: Mexico, Psychology of Racial Patterns, Chicano History: US, Politics of Urban Minority Problems, Black Man in American History, and Black American Music”
June 30, 1972: LCC Program Grant Number EO-4663-71-226 Ethnic Studies Final Report submitted by program Manager Mr. William N. Powell. Details changes to courses as well as personnel.
1973
May 17, 1973: Letter from Bill Powell and Gerald Rasmussen to Instructional Council Members. “The attached is a condensed review of a memo written in October of 1972. It establishes, not only the reasons for our request to change the name of the department, but the fact that the request is a logical and planned step in the development of the department. *The primary argument was that since Ethnic Studies is interdisciplinary in its’ approach, the department should be renamed, Interdisciplinary Studies, and all “interdisciplinary” courses should be moved under the new department.
June 18, 1973: Memorandum from Lewis Case, Dean of Instruction to President Schafer regarding the Ethnic Studies Department name change to Interdisciplinary Studies Department.
June 20, 1973: Memorandum from President Schafer to Lewis Case regarding the name change.
“I encourage the development of interdisciplinary courses and view the department name change as a positive step. In taking this position, I assume that the needs of minority students and others will be better served than in the past under Black Studies, Chicano Studies, Native American Studies or Ethnic Studies designation.”
June 27, 1973: Letter from Bill Powell (Interdisciplinary Studies) to Bill Beals (Social Science).
“I would call your attention, Bill, to the third paragraph where the President says I encourage the development of interdisciplinary courses. It would appear to me that the President views the interdisciplinary department as a place for the location of a variety of interdisciplinary courses rather than your assumption that it is interdisciplinary because the ethnic studies programs are interdisciplinary in nature. I am calling this to your attention so that you may be prepared for – or aware that – pressure may occur creating a department which will take in a variety of interdisciplinary courses from a variety of different departments.”
1973-1974: Report: Interdisciplinary Studies FTE by Areas of Study. Includes courses taught, faculty of record, and enrollment numbers.
August 23, 1973: Letter from the LCC Chicano Student Union to Associate Dean of Instruction Gerald Rasmussen charging “…one William Powell, Department Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, formally Ethnic Studies with discriminatory hiring practices, to wit; that even after it has repeatedly been brought to his attention he has failed to properly advertise and utilize existing resources in soliciting for Chicano teachers.”
September 5, 1973: Memo from the Office of Instruction to Angelina Romero, Presidente, Chicano Student Union regarding the August 23 letter. Uses institutional policy to explain adjust hiring practices.
1974
1973-1974: Lane Community College Accreditation Report: A Self-Evaluation Study 1973-74 prepared for Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools. Pages 54-55 on the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies.
1974-1975: Report: Interdisciplinary Studies FTE by Areas of Study. Includes courses, faculty, and enrollment numbers.
November 6, 1974: Memo from Gerald Rasmussen to Bill Powell regarding Mr. Powell’s informal grievance around his teaching load.
December 16, 1974: Memo from Bill Powell to Gerald Rasmussen regarding the prioritizing of cuts for Winter and Spring. “The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies has no courses or programs that it feels it can cut Winter or Spring quarters.”
December 18, 1974: Confidential memo to Joyce Hops (Associate Dean, Office of Instruction).
“What would you think of the idea of: 1. Abolishing the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies? 2. Assigning its chairman back to full-time teachers? 3. Replacing him with a coordinator of Interdisciplinary Studies with responsibilities across all departments to coordinate truly interdisciplinary subjects and disciplines, such as human sexuality, consumer problems, economics?”
1975
May 23, 1975: Memo from William Powell, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies to Mary Jeanne Jacobson (Instructional Operations Curriculum Specialist) regarding the proposed course “Social Control” (Soc. 212). *A Sociology course was developed within the Social Science Department. Since the course contains interdisciplinary components, Mr. Powell argues that the course should be developed and submitted through the department that he oversees.
May 28, 1975: Memorandum from Paul Malm, Chairman, Social Science Department to Joyce Hops, Associate Dean regarding the course, “Social Control.” A meeting was held with the heads of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, and the two Social Science faculty who developed the Social Control course. There was not agreement on where the course should be housed.
June 18, 1975: Memo from Joyce Hops to Gerald Rasmussen and copied to Mary Jeanne Jacobsen, Paul Malm, and Bill Powell regarding Social Control (Soc. 212).
“I recommend that this course be placed in the Social Science department and taught by a qualified sociology instructor. If the objectives of the course can be best achieved by a team teaching approach, then I have no objectives. There are many courses on this campus that are team taught which are in no way coordinated through the department of Interdisciplinary Studies, and I don’t consider this as a relevant issue.”
July 17, 1975: Memo from Gerald Rasmussen to Joyce Hops regarding the dissolution of Interdisciplinary Studies department. After a long detailed historical analysis which included college-wide cuts due to budgetary constraints, Mr. Rasmussen concludes with the following:
“It is my strong recommendation that due to: 1. Financial constraints, and 2. Mr. Powell’s refusal to cooperate with the Office of Instruction with budgetary problems and blocking efforts on other departments’ course recommendations, that the department be disbanded.”
October 28, 1975: The Torch LCC student newspaper, page 4 and article titled, “Unanimous decision instates Richard Weber as new Veep. The article is a summary of a Student Senate meeting, including a discussion about a rumor regarding the the future of the Interdisciplinary Studies Department.
November 4, 1975: The Torch LCC student newspaper, front page article titled, “Interdisciplinary Studies on the road to extinction.” Long article on the history and performance of the department, including quotes from the chairman, Bill Powell.
November 18, 1975: Memorandum from John Howard Chairman, Language Arts Department to Dean Rasmussen regarding the Reassignment of Bill Powell and copied to Bill Powell, Joyce Hopps, Paul Malm, and Linda Danielson (Faculty, Interdisciplinary Studies). Summarizes the movement of courses to Language Arts and Social Science.
November 25, 1975: Letter from Susan Bennett (Faculty, Language Arts) and the Screening Committee to John Howard (Chairman, Language Arts) regarding “Absorption of Bill Powell and Linda Danielson.”
“Last week at our department meeting I asked that a discussion of the absorption of Bill Powell and Linda Danielson be scheduled for a meeting on December 3. References have been made to this transfer but our department has been given no information on just what this transfer would mean in terms of teaching duties.” The remainder of the letter discusses what would the screening process look like, as well as the criteria used for hiring procedures in order for Powell and Danielson to teach courses in Language Arts.
December 3, 1975: Memo from Gerald Rasmussen to President Schafer recommending the discontinuation of the Interdisciplinary Studies department effective Winter Term 1976.
December 10, 1975: Lane Community College board meeting agenda item #10 Interdisciplinary Studies.
“Mrs. Lauris moved to add to and incorporate the original motion, seconded by Mr. Perry, to maintain the programs in Interdisciplinary Studies Department until the end of the current fiscal year, and that the administration return with additional information and recommendations prior to that time. Motion carried.”
1976
January 28, 1976: Memorandum in the Office of Instructional Operations from Gerald Rasmussen to Joyce Hopps regarding the Social Control Course.
“The Social Control course, SOC 212, was approved on May 29, 1975. At that time a motion was made and seconded that the course be approved as a Sociology course. The motion carried. The course was developed by Professors Metzger (Sociology) and Kremers (Political Science) solely within the Social Science Department. It is their desire and the desire of the department that the course be retained in the Social Science Department. “
January 30, 1976: Memo from William Powell, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies to Gerald Rasmussen regarding the Social Control course. In the memo, Mr. Powell claims that the Social Control course (SOC 212) has significant overlap with Psychology of Racial Patterns (PSY 210). Therefore, the Sociology course should not be approved or taught.
March 24, 1976: Memorandum from Mary Jeanne Jacobsen to Gerald Rasmussen regarding Social Control SOC 212 and Psychology of Racial Patterns PSY 210. Per request by Rasmussen, Jacobsen reviewed the course outlines for the two courses in an attempt to discern overlap.
“It is difficult to compare the outlines owing to the fact that they are sketchy and that the outline for PSY 210 is substantially different than the one which was submitted for approval in 1969. I have, therefore, attached all three outlines for your comparison.”
May 6, 1976: Memorandum from Joyce Hopps to Dean Gerald Rasmussen titled, “Interdisciplinary Studies Department: Retention or Dissolution.
*Regardless of the title, this eight-page document is the case built to bring the department to an end.
May 7, 1976: Memorandum from Gerald Rasmussen to President Schafer regarding the report on Interdisciplinary Studies.
“At the December 10, 1975 Board meeting I submitted a recommendation that the Interdisciplinary Studies Department be dissolved. The Board wished to review this matter and have it brought back at a later date. I assigned Associate Dean Joyce Hopps to do an in-depth study and prepare a report. I have reviewed this report and concur with the recommendations that Dr. Hopps has submitted.”
May 7, 1976: Memo from William Powell to the LCC Board of Education requesting time to respond to Dean Hopps’ document for dissolution “no later than the June 9 Board meeting mailing.”
May 12, 1976: LCC Board of Education meeting agenda item #10 Interdisciplinary Studies. After a long discussion, the vote.
“Mr. Reid moved, seconded by Mr. Pitney, that the Interdisciplinary Studies Department be disbanded as a separate department beginning July 1, 1976, and endorse the recommendations as presented, with the understanding that these recommendations will take place. Motion carried.” “Once disbanded, the following actions would then be taken: 1. Assign the current department chairman to full-time teaching. 2. Assign presently existing courses to either Social Science or Language Arts, depending on the existing prefix. 3. Give presently existing part-time staff priority in teaching courses they now instruct. 4. Provide a ‘center,’ if it is desired, in terms of physical space for meetings of students to share common interests among themselves or with faculty.”
May 28, 1976: Memorandum from Joyce Hopps to John Howard regarding the transfer of courses within the Interdisciplinary Studies Department.
“This is to officially notify you that as a result of LCC’s Board of Education action on May 12, 1976 to discontinue the Interdisciplinary Studies Department, the following courses will be assigned to your department: Eng 196 Minority Literature Eng 210 Black American Literature Eng 211 American Ethnic Folklore Eng 212 Seminar in American Ethnic Folklore Eng 213 Folklore Collecting and Community Study”
1980s
No archival documents found related to Black Studies, Ethnic Studies, or Interdisciplinary Studies. Separate document with overview of courses offered holds references to Ethnic Studies-related campus presence.
1990s
June 9, 1995: Lane Community College Diversity Plan, Developed in Conjunction with the Western Institute Commission on Higher Education (WICHE).
“For the past year, a group of nearly 30 Lane Community College students, staff and community representatives worked together with the help of staff from WICHE to develop this diversity plan.” Of the five areas of activity, one was “Curriculum Development” with a primary goal, “To establish an interdisciplinary and multicultural department with an applied social science focus.”
July 12, 1995: LCC Board of Education meeting agenda item #7 Diversity Plan.
“The college Diversity Plan for 1994-96 garnered full Board support. Members were particularly interested in the development of a new interdisciplinary-multicultural department. Two faculty will be hired to set up the department, and job descriptions are now being written for those positions.”
June 11, 1997: LCC Board of Education meeting agenda item #4 Diversity Team Report. Submission of the “Diversity Team Progress Report for 1996/97.” There is a “Curriculum Subcommittee,” with seven goals. Goal #1 is “Review multicultural department.”
February 5, 1998: The Torch LCC student newspaper, front page article titled, “Diversity is LCC goal, but hirings are color-blind.” Article explores not only the lack of racial diversity among, “contracted faculty and classified, administrations, and management support…,” the article also details statistics provided by LCC Research and Planning that demonstrates the lack of retention of students of color.
June 10, 1998: LCC Board of Education meeting agenda item #4: Diversity Team – Multicultural Department. “After researching, reviewing, and studying this issue, the committee’s recommendations are:
- That the college establish a series of cross-disciplinary ethnic studies classes that would provide an ethnic studies focus;
- That Lane hire a faculty position to both teach ethnic studies and coordinate those classes;
- That the faculty person work with other faculty to develop new curriculum and infuse multicultural studies into existing curriculum; and
- That those activities then form the basis for a possible future ethnic studies program.
The board agreed with the Team’s recommendations to proceed with cross-departmental ethnic studies classes, including hiring a faculty coordinator.”
April 22, 1999: The Torch LCC student newspaper, front page article titled, “Black Students, faculty to meet with administration.” Summarizes racial incidents on campus aimed at African American Students. Includes comments by Bill Powell regarding ongoing issues of racial representation on campus.
June 30, 1999: Special LCC Board meeting agenda item #4 Consent Agenda Personnel: “To appoint Michael Sámano, instructor, Social Sciences, Level 2, Step 1, effective September 10, 1999.”
Fall Term 1999 Class Schedule – page 80: Lists two new Ethnic Studies courses under the course designator of “SSC 199” as the courses were too new to have gone through the curriculum approval process. Under the classes is an article titled, “Lane First Community College in Oregon to offer Ethnic Studies Program.”
September 23, 1999: The Torch LCC student newspaper, front page article titled, “New ethnic studies course examines root causes of racism.” Summary of new program with references to original program.
2000s
Winter Term 2000 class schedule – page 80: First official courses, ES 101 and ES 102, now approved and using the “Ethnic Studies” course designator.
Spring 2019: LCC Ethnic Studies Coordinator celebrates 20 years at the college.