Campus Connection

Ethnic and Racial Studies 40-year history to be celebrated April 25

When History Professors Emeritus Marty Zanger, Bruce Mouser and James Parker arrived on campus in 1967 and 1968 there was only one course being taught about people of color — English Professor Jim Lafky’s “African American Authors.” Mouser began teaching African History in 1968 and the next year, Parker organized a forum on Black Americans. A year after that, Zanger added a Native American course, followed by Parker adding a course on Black history. All three History department members were among the faculty influx hired as the campus rapidly grew in the late ’60s. Most of the new hires came from campuses impacted by growing social tensions from the Vietnam War. They knew the world was changing — and UW-L had to become more inclusive to prepare students for the future. “We thought the almost perfect campus would include an ethnic studies major and department,” recalls Parker. That would take some more time. The minor in ethnic studies became a reality in 2000. And on March 22, the Ethnic and Racial Studies Department was formed. Faculty, staff and students are invited to the ERS 40th Anniversary meeting at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, in Port O' Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. The program will feature a brief history along with an introduction of those who helped establish the department. Refreshments will be served.

Academics, programs key for early ethnic offerings

Along with Zanger, Mouser, Lafky and Parker, other pioneers of the campus’ ethnic studies initiatives included History professors George Carter and Gary Kuhn. Together they formed the Institute for Minority Studies in 1972, which included multicultural programming, a forerunner of today’s Multicultural Student Services, and academic offerings, forerunner of the newly-formed ERS Department. “We all agreed that there needed to be more course offerings and campus programming that dealt with more cultures than only the Anglo-Saxon perspective,” explains Parker. In 1972, Carter and Mouser organized an interdisciplinary conference on national and international dimensions of ethnicity. The conference grew and for nearly a decade was one of the few diversity conferences offered for Midwest scholars. The conference drew prominent civil rights leaders such as Angela Davis. The campus institute and conference also sparked formation of the National Association for Ethnic Studies. The organization helped to develop ethic programming and studies in universities throughout the country, and remains a leader on diversity issues today.

Students expect to encounter a more diverse future

As the U.S. has become more diverse since the ’70s, each new generation of students realizes the growing need to expand what they know about diverse cultures. “There is a demand by students for this curriculum as they realize how important this knowledge is going to be to their careers,” explains Carol Oyster, ERS Department Chair. A recent survey conducted by the department with local employers shows that regardless of a student's major they will be asked questions about their knowledge of cultural diversity in job interviews. “Anyone who will work with people will need to be able to deal with those who are unlike themselves as the diversity in the American population continues to increase,” notes Oyster. Since fall 2009, the ERS minor has seen an increase in students jumping from 18 to 52 students. Oyster says now that the department is established, expanding the program to offer a major will be considered in the near future.

ERS Mission Statement

The Institute for Ethnic and Racial Studies offers a rigorous interdisciplinary academic minor, which fosters an understanding of the histories, cultures, and contemporary issues of ethnic and racial groups in their national context. The Institute seeks to affirm the identities, diverse experiences, and influences of ethnic and racial groups that have historically been oppressed in the United States. The Institute for Ethnic and Racial Studies is committed to providing curricular and other opportunities for UW-L students to develop the knowledge, skills, and personal dispositions that will enable them to live and function with intercultural competence in a diverse world. The Institute collaborates with other units to sponsor programming, which brings important speakers and events to the campus community to advance critical discussions of ethnic and racial issues.

Find out more about Ethnic and Racial Studies in this video