Linda Warner, the new president of Haskell Indian Nations University, is ready to make changes – something not taken lightly at a 123-year-old school where tradition runs deep. She said the university had become “old hat” about how it accomplished things. “I think people thought it would be business as usual, and I think it is business as unusual,” she said, laughing.

lmm

What are the requirements as a native American to attend Haskell?

sc88636

Why do you believe the tuition should be raised? If it is raised don’t you anticipate students leaving the institution because they cannot afford to go to school? The thought behind Haskell was to bring the Native people out of the shadows and claim representation in higher fields of study, how is this going to be possible when they cannot afford to go and get the education that is needed in today’s society?

useta

Is the faculty/staff dealing with “but we’ve always done it this way” feelings, and if so, I hope they can see that growth is change. ( I used to work there so I know how it can get)

samurai_5

How do you feel about the city’s decision to build the South Lawrence Trafficway and what effects do you forsee on how this will impact Haskell?

haskellgrad

As a Haskell graduate, it’s disappointing to see controversy follow you into office. If any of your new ideas fail, are you willing, as a leader, to admit defeat and look for different answers? Also, while I understand the students and staff need to meet you halfway in bridging any differences, what do you personally and your administration need to do to help things on your side of the table?

geekin_topekan

Do you feel that the Haskell Students Body could play a greater role in their school’s future and direction than they are currently playing?What can they do to make an impact?I have heard grumblings of Haskell closing in the near future which I am seriously hoping is mearly hearsay and disgruntled speak.But,how would you advise the students and others to react if such rumors are actually true?

Grump

Why should Native American students attend a segregated university. Is this good for them?

lmm

Does Haskell and KU work jointly for an Indian Student to receive early credits from KU? Do Haskell’s classes transfer?

ksbeast

If the school district pays to install artificial turf at Haskell’s stadium, will the district still be charged a per game rent? Also, will Haskell be able to improve things such as restrooms and parking? Thank you.

Moderator

Good afternoon. This is Karrey Britt, Journal-World assistant assignment director. Our guest today is Linda Warner, president of Haskell Indian Nations University. Welcome President Warner. She is here with her executive assistant Lori Tapahonso.

Linda Warner

Thanks for the opportunity to visit with you this afternoon.

Moderator

We have several questions and a short amount of time. So let’s go right to the readers.

bearded_gnome

Dr. Warner. welcome back to Lawrence! does your experience working at KU prepare you to be a better school president and will you increase partnerships between Haskell and KU?

Linda Warner

My experience working at the University of Kansas provided me the opportunity to make lasting professional and personal friendships that I believe will work to benefit Haskell. For example, we have expanded our Inter-instituional taskforce with different employees from Haskell so that there are more opportunities to make connections with KU. Also, our RED Center (The Research Evaluation Dissemination Center) has made several new partnerships with colleagues at KU.

KansasPerson

Could you please outline your plans for the on-campus preschool at Haskell? Thank you!

Linda Warner

The Little National Academic Center will move under the supervision of the Dean of the School of Education at the beginning of the new semester. This will allow Haskell to institutionalize some of the resources needed to deliver a quality early childhood program. The Dean of the School of Education will be able to coordinate both the LNAC parent committee and the School of Education advisory committee for program development.

ecorunning

Dr. Warner,
The Haskell student newspaper mentioned the possible installation of a fence – 10-foot with barbed wire – that would surround campus and then I read about Haskell creating only two entrances to campus. When will the Homeland Security site visit report be completed and what will Haskell do with Homeland Security’s recommendations? Is Haskell required to implement whatever the report states?

Linda Warner

The report by the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ office of homeland security should be available to Haskell administration before the end of the calendar year. It is likely that the report will suggest several recommendations to improve our ability to safeguard our students and our employees. Each of the those recommendations will need to be weighed with regard to the cost-benefit for implementation and each of those recommendations will require resources. To my knowledge there are no additional resources attached to the initiative that requires this safety report of all Bureau of Indian Education facilities. Without knowing the specific recommendations from the report, it would be difficult to respond to the last question.

New2Lawrence

Dr. Warner, what can your average Lawrence resident do to show our support for Haskell?

Linda Warner

Thank you for the opportunity to invite the Lawrence community to many of the volunteer activity and general public events on our campus. We offer many events similiar to those at the University of Kansas that are open to the public and free of charge. Those can be located on our website under This Week @ Haskell. We invite the Lawence community to join us at our varied athletic events as well. We have a basketball game on Saturday at 2:30 with Waldorf College in the Coffin Complex. This weekend the Lawrence community is hosting the junior olympics cross country event at Rimrock Farm. We have approximately 50 guests on our campus who will be participating in that event. We have various art shows, theatre events, poetry readings, performances and seminars. Of course each month we have a major Healthier Haskell event and for December, this event is Saturday at 9 am. Participants are asked to bring canned goods and a special invitation is extended to faith-based communities. To date, Healthier Haskell participants and teams have walked over 35K miles and we expect to be close to 50K miles by the end of the semester.

fozzworth

There have been several reported cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on the Haskell campus. A lot of students are concerned that they will be exposed to the bacteria. What ever happened to those students who have MRSA? Did they get sent home, or are they still walking around campus and going to class?

Linda Warner

With each of the cases of MRSA reported on our campus the students were seen and treated in local medical facilities. Our staff has been in contact with the state and national Centers for Disease Control to determine the best course of action for warning our students and employees. We have broadcast the warnings and the preventative strategies on email and with posted notices throughout the campus. Students are following their doctors’ advice as to class attendance.

stopsign

How does Haskell compare to other tribal colleges and universities in terms of funding, graduation and retention rates, and recruitment?

Linda Warner

Haskell and SIPI are funded directly from BIE which is inside the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Department of Interior. The other tribal colleges and universities are funded from a different BIE revenue stream based on percapita enrollment. Then there are other tribal colleges funded totally by their tribe.

If you look at the statistics on enrollment, Haskell is the leader in terms of male enrollment within this group of tribal colleges and universities. Haskell has nearly a 50-50 enrollment for males and females; the other tribal colleges enroll more females by a significant percentage.

Our retention rates are impacted significantly by the few baccaleaurate degrees offered. Our students may choose Haskell for two years and then if there is not a four year program of interest, they would move to a regional college closer to home. It is difficult to get a real sense of our retention rate overall when we essentially have two different types of students who enroll (two year associate degrees or four year baccaleaurate degrees).

Recruitment activities are limited by available resources.

Moderator

That’s all the time we have. Thank you for coming in on this snowy day.

Linda Warner

Thank you for this opportunity; I look forward to visiting with you again and hope to see your readers on our campus. Onward Haskell!