One morning at Kyah State University, Alexia, the Student Life Coordinator, reviews campus event proposals and uncovers a troubling submission from a student organization seeking to raise funds for scholarships for Indigenous students. The event’s promotional materials perpetuate harmful cultural stereotypes, catching the attention of Xochitl, an Indigenous student who expresses alarm and disapproval. Although Brian, an Indigenous student leading the initiative, believes he represents the community well, Xochitl is doubtful. Now, Alexia must address these concerns and uphold the campus’s commitment to cultural respect.

Keywords/Phrases: Campus Events, Indigenous Students, and Cultural Appropriation

Characters

Alexia Ramirez (she/her) is the Student Life Coordinator at Kyah State University, having been in her position for 15 months. In her role, she oversees the implementation and processes involving campus clubs and organizations. As a practitioner in academic affairs, she practices a “by the book” leadership style but is learning to adopt an open-minded approach and is known for being a team player. While passionate about promoting student engagement, she has had few experiences handling conflict within major situations. She identifies as Latinx.

Brian Benally (he/him) is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in International Studies, and the current President of Global Neighbors, a community service organization centered on promoting peace and prosperity to cultures worldwide through acts of service on and off campus. He has held onto his current role for the past two years, demonstrating his reliability in advancing his organization’s agendas through persistence and passion. His leadership style has significantly influenced his organization’s members and fellow officers. Yet, he is recognized for his ambitious demeanor and controversial decision-making. He often makes these decisions without fully consulting others in the organization. He holds Indigenous ancestry but lives a more Eurocentric lifestyle.

Xochitl Mejia-Palacios (they/them) is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. They frequently visit the Native American and Indigenous Center, which provides a comforting environment that feels like a home away from home. Raised in their native culture, Xochitl strives to incorporate cultural elements into every aspect of their college experience.

Xochitl is actively engaged in activism, knowledgeable about their roots, and protective of their cultural heritage. They have friends involved in the Global Neighbors organization and are considering joining for their final year on campus.

Context and Case

Kyah State University (KSU), a public four-year institution in the U.S. Southwest. According to its mission statement, KSU is committed to serving a diverse population of first-generation students of color through community engagement and service. The student body is predominantly Latinx and White, with other minority populations also represented in significant numbers. Many students at KSU are actively engaged in student life, with approximately 70% participating in at least one club or campus-affiliated organization.

One popular student organization is Global Neighbors; a community service organization whose mission is to advance cultural wellness and prosperity through events and activities on and off campus. As one of the longest-running organizations at KSU, the group has considerable influence on student life. Global Neighbors excels at fundraising and event planning, furthering their popularity among other clubs and organizations who regularly collaborate with them.

It is an early Monday morning, and Alexia steps into the office, fueled by a sense of purpose and readiness to tackle the day’s assignments. Among her key responsibilities is reviewing proposals for various campus events submitted by student clubs and organizations, each with the potential to enrich the campus community.

As she sifts through a stack of proposals, one catches her eye: it is from Brian, a member of the Global Neighbors organization. His team has crafted an engaging flyer and a detailed outline for an event titled “Walk with the Warriors.” This event is envisioned as a fundraising initiative to

support scholarship opportunities for Indigenous high school students, aiming to empower the next generation.

With Halloween fast approaching, the Global Neighbors team has created an event where the students’ festive spirits could contribute to a meaningful cause. However, as Alexia examines the promotional materials, her concern grows. The flyer is overloaded with various stereotypes, not just in its visuals but also in its language. It encourages attendees to wear stereotypical clothing, to foster a fun and create an inviting atmosphere for participants.

Just as she begins to finalize her thoughts on the proposal, an email from Xochitl, a dedicated student who often visits the Native American and Indigenous Center on campus, lands in her inbox. Xochitl expresses deep concern over the rumors circulating about approving the Global Neighbors event. They fear that the proposal, rather than celebrating Native culture, could be exploitative and disrespectful, commodifying their heritage for profit.

In the email, Xochitl shares a recent conversation with Brian, where he reassured them, “The organization is relying on me to make this happen. As a Native American, I know how to represent our community properly.” However, Xochitl feels that Brian’s confidence may prevent him from noticing the potential disrespect embedded in such a portrayal, especially if the event is indeed framed as a tribute.

Understanding the gravity of Xochitl’s concerns, Alexia realizes she must engage Brian in discussing the implications of the Global Neighbors event. However, she is concerned, knowing that this student organization has a history of resisting constructive criticism from other students and staff on campus. Brian, who identifies as Indigenous, believes he is serving in the campus community’s best interest, and will likely dismiss attempts from Alexia to reconsider having the event. Additionally, Alexia wants to craft a considerate response to Xochitl’s email, offering support and acknowledging their worries about the event taking place.

With a blend of concern for cultural sensitivity and the challenges of navigating student dynamics, Alexia prepares for pivotal conversations that could influence the event’s outcome and its impact on the campus community.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can Alexia discuss cultural appropriation concerns with Brian in a way that acknowledges his cultural roots and promotes reflection instead of defensiveness?
2. What can Brian and Xochitl learn from each other’s perspectives? How can this help them agree on deciding what to do about this event?
3. What other resources, offices, or staff on campus need to be aware of the situation and/or who might help Alexia as she moves forward?
4. What can Alexia do to prevent this kind of situation in the future?

Author Biographies

Lazaro “Laz” Cardenas (He/Him) is a graduate student in the M.S. in Higher Education program at CSU Fullerton and works full-time as an Academic Success Coach at Cal Poly Pomona. His work focuses on supporting underrepresented students in navigating traditional spaces in higher education.

Jasmine Santos-Orozco (She/Her/Ella) is a graduate peer educator for TitanHEALTH at CSU Fullerton, a role she pursued through her M.S. in Higher Education (MSHE) program. She holds a B.A. in Communication emphasis on Organizational Leadership from CSU Channel Islands, where she developed a passion for Student Affairs, particularly in Orientation, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and Housing and Residential Life.