Hmong students who say the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse isn’t listening to them made their voices heard Monday.
Members of the UW-L Hmong Organization Promoting Education and their allies demonstrated at the university clock tower Monday afternoon, voicing concerns about the university’s Hmong heritage language program. The students brought Change.org petition with more than 530 signatures, addressed to UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow.
“What do we want? Our voices heard!” more than 50 students chanted as they marched to Gow’s office to deliver the petition. “When do we want it? Now!”
The petition demands the university listen to the students’ voices and meet their expectations, which include teaching Hmong language classes in the manner they want and a formal apology to the class’s instructor Bee Lo and the Hmong community. Gow was out of the office traveling on Monday. Reached by phone, he said he appreciated students exercising their free speech rights but that such issues regarding academic classes are best handled by faculty and administrators experienced in those areas.
Protesters called out the university’s other top leaders and said they were upset none appeared at the rally. In the crowd were affirmative action director Nizam Arain, Provost Betsy Morgan, outgoing Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Paula Knudson and others, including many staff members from the university’s Campus Climate Office.
The clash between students and the university started in December when UW-L decided not to offer the spring session of a two-part Hmong heritage language program. University staff cited low enrollment. Classes in the series have been canceled in the past due to low enrollment, but this year members of HOPE and the Hmong community have demanded action.
UW-L offered a distance learning Hmong language course in partnership with a Hmong language professor at UW-Stout. The La Crosse Area Hmoob Cultural and Community Agency also offers a number of Hmong language classes and cultural practices training throughout the year.
But Hmong students dismissed the compromise, saying they couldn’t learn the language this way, as Hmong was too hard to learn through distance learning. They also said they wanted to be able to take the class from instructor Bee Lo, and as a result, no students enrolled this semester for the course.
Hmong students took their case to the UW-L Student Association, which passed a resolution in December in support of the students and called on the university to reverse its decision. Students and Hmong elders also spoke at a public forum that month, repeatedly stating how important language is to Hmong identity and culture.
“This is about more than just a degree,” one of the Hmong students who spoke at the forum said. “It is about us as a people.”
Despite being open to the public, Julia Johnson, dean of the College of Liberal Studies, stopped any members of the public or the media from recording the event, which upset HOPE co-chair Linda Xiong. She said UW-L staff promised to provide a transcript of the comments made but has yet to do so.
“The university keeps talking about how they want to be transparent,” Xiong said in an interview. “This whole process has not been transparent.”
A UW-L task force, which includes Hmong faculty in its membership, has been working this semester on ideas on how to improve the language course as well as the campus’ Hmong cultural offerings as a whole. Morgan said the goal is to offer a Hmong Studies Certificate at UW-L starting next fall for those students interested in learning about the culture and language of the Hmong people, with the Hmong language courses counting toward the certificate.
Members of the HOPE organization have met with members of the university task force. HOPE member and former UW-L student senator Chevana Vang, 21, of Holmen said she was told the task force wasn’t looking for student input yet and were still working on curriculum for the university’s Hmong cultural offerings.
Students were also upset when they learned the university planned to offer any future courses to all students, not just those of Hmong heritage. While the university has said the Hmong heritage language courses never excluded non-Hmong students in the past, students have spoken of how the classes were treated as Hmong-only, giving the students a safe space where they could learn about the culture among themselves.
“There is absolutely no way this would happen,” Morgan said. “It would not be legal. Classes should be open to anyone who meets the prerequisites.”
At the protest Monday, Hmong students carried two large banners on white canvas proclaiming, “UWLAX is racist. Ask me, JGow@uwlax.edu” and “White supremacy is alive.” Speakers spoke about how they feel marginalized on campus for being Hmong and the struggles they face because of it.
Many said they believe the university, which they called an institution of white supremacy and privilege, has failed them, especially Vang, who spoke at the rally about her experiences and how she dedicated so much time to protesting institutional racism on campus she didn’t pass her classes.
“I did not fail this university,” she told the crowd assembled at the rally. “This university failed me.”
Earlier this month, HOPE members voted to have Xiong act as the group’s Hmong studies chair and be its representative to work with the task force. Xiong said she will start in the new role next school year and hopes to be the go-to person for the task force in providing student perspectives.
“This whole process has been really frustrating for students,” she said. “We feel constantly shut down. We feel that administrators don’t value the students.”
Lynette Prieur Lo, the staff adviser for HOPE, is also the wife of Bee Lo, the instructor who previously taught the language courses at UW-L. Morgan said the university has opened up enrollment for the fall heritage language course; so far only one student has signed up. It is unclear whether Bee Lo, listed as an office associate in Multicultural Student Services, will be the instructor of the language class.
The task force has welcomed student input, Morgan said, and the university’s curriculum committee has student members. But she said faculty and administration have the right to determine what classes are taught and by whom, and the ongoing debate over the issue was becoming a distraction from the larger diversity work the university is undertaking.
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(42) comments
If you think it's racism, paint yourself blackface. If mormons can learn it in 4 months why can't you?
I understand wanting to know about a culture and knowing about the culture of your ancestors. I think it's really great that they offer a class in the Hmong culture. I've been down in Veterans Park when they have had their annual celebrations in the past. It is a really neat culture and I've had many questions but I've never known anyone to ask and I didn't want to offend anyone by asking the wrong questions either. I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting a class or classes about their culture. What is too bad here is that nobody was signing up for the classes. I understand not getting a teacher that you want for a class too but sometimes that's just the way it goes. Why is there so much insistence to have that certain teacher??
The students are acting as they have been taught by the seemingly endless queue of aggrieved groups and individual snowflakes at UWL complaining and being appeased. The administration and faculty are teaching the students to blame others rather than except responsibility.
If my memory serves me right, the lesson plan teaches if they self identify as aggrieved, then they are aggrieved, as defined by the progressive dictionary.
Congratulations.
Both sides on this issue have merit. The University does not see merit to the Hmong language course due to its lack of enrollment in the class. Many universities do not have a Hmong language courses due to the simple fact of demand. However, It is clear that there appears to be interest in this course due to the rally and concerns being brought up by the student organizations, and HOPE. I hope that the university reconsiders its stance and allows a course to be provided given that there is a demand. The Hmong Student organization at UW-La Crosse should be the first to promote and recruit students to take this course. The second should be the local Hmong community here in La Crosse. This course would benefit not only the local Hmong community, which has a sizable population here in La Crosse, but the non Hmong as well. Learning a language, leads to learning a culture, which allows us to understand each other more in the greater La Crosse community. It is no different from learning German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. It's just that these languages reach a more global scale. I hope we don't take this rally as an outlet to discriminate, and show our ignorance no matter what race or ethnicity you are. The more we learn the more we grow.
"This course would benefit ....the non Hmong as well" -- you might have skimmed the article and missed that the students want it to ONLY be available to Hmong students. They can't have a "safe-space" if non-Hmongs attend the class. [crying] You just can't make this stuff up.
I'm hmong and these hmong student's have nothing better to do than complain. Please focus on your studies and not waste time on something so stupid. Don't use the race card and try to get your way. If you don't know about your culture and not speaking the Hmong language, the school did NOT fail you. Your parents failed you. Most of us are first generation, we have living and breathing elders that we can learn from and you want to learn from this university?? You're paying a ton of money to enroll in courses, please save your money and talk to your parents, grand parents, uncles and aunts. Don't blame white people or the school for you and your parents failure. smh. so stupid. kids these days have nothing good to fight for anymore.
The most eloquent statement on this board; thank you.
You're welcome man. These Hmong people on this board agreeing and the group that is protesting is VERY SMALL percentage. I know a lot of Hmong people who think this protest is just bull$ht. This has more to do with freakin millennials who feel they deserve everything in life. No one believes in hard work anymore. Every race has those with no common sense. And these are it for us. So I apologize for them.
I completely disagree with your comment. Most of us are first and second generation Hmong. But, that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a Hmong language course. That's short sided thinking. If that is the case then why are there other foreign language classes? The Hmong language course should be promoted to all and not just Hmong students. Is that even legal? You use an example of Hmong parents failing their children if they don't know Hmong. However, there are plenty of American's with children who can't even speak or write English correctly as well. Sometimes parents can't even speak or write their own native language correctly. Yet you want to put the sole responsibility on the parents? Why not just home school everyone then if parents have all the teaching answers. This is why we have schools and education. As a place of learning it is a responsibility to provide a diverse and well rounded curriculum. Especially if paying students are demanding particular classes. But, it should be done in a peaceful and orderly way. We all should keep our minds open and ears ready to listen so that we can all better understand one another.
Why wait until college to want to learn how to read and write Hmong??? Why wait until these institutions give us permission to teach us about our own culture? We live and breath the Hmong community. If they want this so bad, why can't these students put there time and energy into creating community centers where Hmong and all races of all ages can learn to read, write, speak Hmong and learn about culture and tradition. If you care so much, what are you majoring in? Is your future plan to teach? Once you're a professional are you planning to give back to your community?? You're the problem. We're the problem. Lets start being accountable. Let's not place the blame on "the white man". Let's not play the race card. What if every single ethnic group demanded their own course. Come on. Save the excuses.
Great advice to talk to grandpa or grandma about their lives and times regardless of your heritage. I wish I had talked more to mine.
"Many said they believe the university, which they called an institution of white supremacy and privilege, has failed them, especially Vang, who spoke at the rally about her experiences and how she dedicated so much time to protesting institutional racism on campus she didn’t pass her classes.
“I did not fail this university,” she told the crowd assembled at the rally. “This university failed me."
Ya, that doesn't sound like the universities problem at all, it sounds like you failed your class and are looking for somebody else to blame
Attention those under 50, those stupid, and those racist. Some of you would not be here today if it were not for the parents or grand-parents of these people. Part of their heritage is thst they worked alongside US troops in thr Vietnam war. In some cases they saved downed pilots or those in crashed helicopters. They fought for us and needed a place to escape when the Communists won and began killing anyonewho worked with us. So, if you have a Vietnam vet daddy or grandpa, hold your tongue.
You're a disgrace to Hmong people. Yes our parents and grandparents fought alongside the US against the communist. That was a fight worth fighting for. This here is not even close to that fight. This is just some petty protest from self entitled little Hmong brats who have nothing better to do than complain and play the race card. Make a difference brother and help the community. Don't wait for someone to provide for you. Don't blame others for your failures. You have the knowledge, You live and breath everything Hmong. Go out and teach the Hmong community, why you waiting for someone to tell you when and where you can learn about your culture. Come on. Stop it with the ignorance and do something positive for a change. Be glad you're here in the states. You wouldn't last one day in the jungle of Laos buddy.
clary ---I am a Vietnam vet as well and I totally disagree with your comment and totally agree with caseyvaj .Before you start calling me a racist know that I let several hmong grow large gardens on my farm -----FREE.
Next the blacks will want a class on jive, on the taxpayers dime, with Jesse Jackson teaching it!
Well that was a major just in thinking you made there must have really strained yourself.
Nitwit...[alien]
Wow, con. Not racist at all.
All of those below are true. We openly welcomed them into our country for what they had done in the Vietnam war and afterward, and we only asked that they assimilate into our country. They should appreciate their privilege to be in this great nation. What a slap in the face.
How is asking for a class a slap in the face. The Irish were viewed as second class citizens. This country welcomes them in and our culture mixes with there over decades. So they -want a class on there culture, how many classes are offered on western European history and culture. If there are not enough that sign up thats fine.
That's because Western Civilization and culture actually made an impact on the world and is the foundation of our nation, so of course students should not only be offered, but required, to take these courses. Sorry, but the Hmong culture basically made no impact upon human history, and in fact didn't even have a written language until around the 1950's. I know the non-PC truth hurts the leftist Trib lib minds, but those are the facts.
Nitwit...
Seriously, allcav? You expect them to completely forget and disavow their history and culture?
Why is it only the white can be racist?
Michael Richards said
“You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET.
If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) we'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month, we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives we'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that?
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.
If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships you know we'd be racists. There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US. Yet if there were 'White colleges' THAT would be a racist college. “
You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes .: You do not have the right to free health care. What would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care...You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.You do not have the right to a job... All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)
You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!! GET OVER IT !!!
You do know the NAACP has defended many people and groups including the KKK in the past correct? Also yes English is the common language of the United States but if you went to many parts of the country in 1900 you would find the common tongue to be German, Italian, polish, and many other languages. Many did not learn it but there children did. I had relatives who lived in the united states for years and only knew Norwegian.
but it isn't 1900 anymore, is it?
Still a nitwit, bozo...
We want Norwegian class. when to we want it? Now!
Nitwit...
Con, you're a racist, xenophobic, jingoistic idiot. The above post just makes you look like a fool.
'We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetter’s. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.'
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes .
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care...
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job... All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!! GET OVER IT !!!
You have the right to say what ever you want, and if someone is offended that I tell them what they just said was racist or sexist they need to stop being such a snowflake. Based on Article X my family would have been sent back to Europe due to some of them never learning English in the decades they lived here. If you are uncomfortable with people not expressing love for in god we trust, stop being so overly sensitive. Its a phrase, it means a lot to me but I don't expect others to feel the same.
Also still a nitwit...
Con, I suggest you make a careful reading of your Article II and apply it to your own life.
This is sooooo ridiculous, I don't even know where to start...reminds me of the girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who wants everything and she wants it now!
Nitwit...
Your response just radiates intelligence...
I'm confused. Was there more to the students' complaints? The students are complaining about the university not offering a class that none of them were signing up for? They are demanding that only a specific instructor teach the course? Why is that? The article doesn't seem to say the reason. The only racism seems to come from the students themselves in wanting to exclude non-Hmong students. They don't seem to be making their case very well...
You missed this request: "Students were also upset when they learned the university planned to offer any future courses to all students, not just those of Hmong heritage. While the university has said the Hmong heritage language courses never excluded non-Hmong students in the past, students have spoken of how the classes were treated as Hmong-only, giving the students a safe space where they could learn about the culture among themselves."
So, they also want a "safe-space", free from non-Hmong students (who want to learn the language and culture, too). When do we want it? Now!
Those poor hot house flowers!
for fooks sakes
fookn ridiculous
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