Category: News

Donald Trump is like no other American President according to Distinguished Professor Dr. David Farber, History Department, University of Kansas.  Dr. Farber earned his advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and has written extensively on politics, social change and business in modern America.  He began with identifying the formula that propelled Donald Trump to a victory in the Republican Primary and electoral success in the Presidential election.  He noted that a primary has a smaller pool of voters, therefore, huge numbers are not necessary for success.  Donald Trump built his own unique brand that appealed to white ethnic nationalism.  He used Birtherism, the belief that President Barack Obama was not born in America and might not be a Christian, to appeal to people inclined to be angry ethnic nationalists.

Dr. Farber noted that polls indicated that 72% of Republican Primary voters believed the Birther arguments.  Donald Trump gambled that free trade and immigration would work with primary voters.  He used demagogue like techniques and arguments and won a surprising victory over the established leaders of the party.  He won approximately 50% of primary voters and once the choice came down to two Presidential candidates, the establishment Republicans “came home” and voted for Donald Trump. He also earned enough support from independent voters, primarily white males in key states, to win the Presidency.  Dr. Farber noted that the Clinton Campaign underestimated support from union members, Blacks and Hispanics and that contributed to her loss.  Regarding Donald Trump’s performance so far, Dr. Farber maintains that we have never had a President who knows so little about power and governing.

Jancita Warrington, Director of the Cultural Center and Museum at Haskell University, told the story of the Memorial Arch at Haskell University football stadium. Dedicated in 1926, the Arch was erected by Native American contributions in memory of the Native American soldiers who volunteered to fight in the First World War. Secretary of the Interior Hubert Work, a Haskell graduate, spoke at the dedication.

In 1924, Haskell high school fielded an excellent football team that competed successfully against a number of college teams. In recognition of the football program, Haskell students promised funds to regrade the football field and install 2,000 seats around the field. When tribes from all over the United States also contributed funds, the project grew to include the building of the stadium as well as the Memorial Arch.

The dedication of the Haskell stadium and Memorial Arch became an occasion for Native American tribes to gather, something that they were not allowed to do on the reservations at that time. Over 5,000 Indian people from multiple tribes came to Lawrence for the event, building a native village on the prairie just outside of Lawrence. Since each tribe had its own language and customs, it was a truly multi-cultural event. The powwow held at that time was the largest ever and began a series of inter-tribal powwows that still continues annually.

The gathering also attracted 12,000 tourists to Lawrence. Besides attending the dedication itself, tourists watched Indians perform the play “Hiawatha,” attended the powwow, ate barbeque, and enjoyed a parade on Mass Street.

Warrington earned her B.A. at Haskell University and her M.A. at University of Kansas. A Potawatomi, Menominee, and Ho-Chunk descendent, she has taught in various Native American institutions and has worked served as a Tribal Council Member and the Tribal History Cultural Preservation Director for the Prairie Bank Potawatomi Nation. She has been recognized nationally for her knowledge, leadership, and commitment to serving Indian Country.

“Namaskara!” Ranjith Madhana Gopal said hello to Rotarians in Kannada, his native language. He told club members about his home in Bangalore, India.

Bangalore, a city of 8 ½ million people, is the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state. It is considered the Silicon Valley of India, according to Ranjith, the location for many international technology firms. The city is also known for its parks and lakes. Ecological diversity and virgin forest can be found nearby. Multiple languages are spoken in the city. Ranjith commented that the city’s metros are notoriously and purposely slow, constructed to accommodate uneven terrain and sharp turns in established neighborhoods. Religious processions in the streets are colorful and common, stimulating a strong sense of community and history. Hindu temples are found throughout the city as they have served as economic centers as well as places of worship.

Ranjith first visited the United States in 2012 to participate in an Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems competition in Maryland. His experience there made him decide that he wanted to return to do his advanced degree. Now a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Kansas, Ranjith is pursuing his Masters’ degree in Mechanical Engineering. He says that the friendliness and the value that the Midwest places on extended family makes him feel very much at home. He aspires to be a technological entrepreneur in the field of medical devices. He enjoys swimming, playing cricket, and exploring cultures.