To the editor:

Haskell Indian Nations University faces its greatest crisis in its 142-year history. Several devastating factors drive this crisis. A year ago, the Higher Learning Commission sanctioned Haskell’s accreditation as “at-risk” given stark conditions at the university. Loss of accreditation would be catastrophic, and Haskell will collapse if accreditation is withdrawn.

Decades of neglect and underfunding by Congress and federal Haskell Trustees mismanagement by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education is the cause of the HLC sanction. Haskell represents a federal failure of the highest magnitude and a violation of treaties that provide for federal trust responsibility to Indian beneficiaries. 

Only Congress can save Haskell from closure and must urgently intervene and commit to uphold treaties and trust responsibility. Fortunately, the Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act, brought forth by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), would do just that. The act would remove Haskell from the “leadership” of the Dept. of Interior and place it in the Haskell Board of Regents. This transformation would ensure genuine Indian self-determination for Haskell. Haskell could ameliorate the Higher Learning Commission’s serious concerns and avoid closure.

I ask you to contact Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to recommend and advance the HINU Improvement Act through Congress. Haskell’s future – and that of current and future Haskell students – depend on it.

Steve Cadue,

Lawrence