A Win for Standing Rock Tribe
The Wallace Global Fund has awarded $250,000 to the Standing Rock Tribe in recognition of its “unyielding courage in the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, and its dedication to transitioning to renewable energy.” The Wallace Global Fund has also promised up to $1 million for the tribe’s renewable energy program.
We are all under the rule of an administration in Washington, D.C., that has been performing acts that violate our government’s primary concern, which is to make human welfare a priority over corporate benefits and to protect the environment rather than following corporate greed. The goal should be protecting the common man rather than the wealthy few.
The original treaties that were formed between the Native Americans and the Europeans allowed the Europeans to occupy certain pieces of land in this country. Soon the tables turned, and the Europeans broke those treaties, forcing the Native Americans to give up or move away from their homelands, causing much hardship and damage to the cultures. Despite all efforts, the government continues to disregard treaties. How would the government respond if the Native Americans moved onto land claimed by U.S. farmers, city dwellers or on state parks? We already know the double standards that are in place today. The oppression is not only against the Native American but also against any citizen of any race. One such act against the common man is the continued pursuit of fossil fuel when alternatives are available, even when those profits are not directed toward U.S. citizens. Human rights are denied.
Too often small groups give up under corporate pressure, feeling that their struggles are useless. But at the standing Rock Reservation we see “extraordinary courage demonstrated by ordinary men and women,” in their resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Might they be an example for all of us. This is a critical time in our history. The integrity of our democracy is at stake. We as a people must act, demand, that our democracy be reinforced while it is still possible.
Eliida Lakota, Pekin, Ill., and Carol Lakota Eastin, Mt. Vernon, Ill.
Editor’s Note: At press time, a federal judge ruled approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline violated the law, and he ordered further environmental review.
In Response to “Student loans: immortal” by Terry Bibo in the June issue
Over 2,000 recent graduates earned degrees and certificates at Illinois Central College and now share in the bright future a college credential enables. What most of these ICC graduates don’t share with the average Illinois college grad is the burden of student debt.
American students now owe over $1.3 trillion in outstanding loans, second only to mortgages. While the average student loan varies greatly ($29,000 to $37,000 or more), only about 10 percent of ICC students take out loans, thanks to grants and lower tuition rates in general. The ICC Educational Foundation also offers more than 600 scholarships. The possibilities this affords students can be life changing.
What can a new grad do with extra money? The possibilities are endless, but the potential is there to help finance their final two years of college, buy a car or even make a down payment on a house with the savings realized over attending a four-year university in the first two years. The community college system is the most efficient and affordable educational model, bar none, and can be the key to a socioeconomic revival for its students. By empowering our citizens with a college credential leading to a family-sustaining wage, communities can enjoy as powerful of a return on investment as ICC graduates do.
This fall, ICC begins a year-long commemoration of 50 years. Thank you for your support as we continue offering students an accessible, affordable and innovative educational experience. With ICC’s online, in person, hybrid, and now evening college program options, students of all ages can complete a high quality education at a life changing cost structure.
If you are interested in furthering your education or enhancing your skills, we invite you to explore all ICC has to offer at icc.edu.
Sheila Quirk-Bailey, DM, President, Illinois Central College