NCC’s Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) studies program was fairly unknown. Yet, recently the program has been drawing a lot of attention, although not for its coursework. Instead, discussions about potentially ending the program have shined a light on the topic.
During week two, students and faculty received an email from Claire-Naoma Klaisner, ’20, vice president of the Muslim Student Association. Klaisner stated that NCC’s end of the MENA program goes “directly against one of its core values” of being a “diverse, inclusive, and global community.”
“There isn’t a lot of diversity at this school,” said Klaisner. “Sometimes you may notice that, whether it be racial or ethnic and religious particularly. There isn’t a lot of religious diversity and MENA works on making sure that students are able to take classes on the Middle East and Islamic history, Islamic civilization and also in the Arabic class.”
NCC and diversity
Klaisner said NCC shows its investment in creating a diverse community with the MENA program. Fellow MSA member Serene Labadi, ’21, agrees.
“One of North Central’s biggest selling points is that they advocate so strongly for diversity and creating … a diverse and inclusive learning environment,” said Labadi. “So to cut a whole entire region like the Middle East and North Africa out of the curriculum entirely is just kind of mind blowing to me.”
Klaisner heard about the end of the MENA program when the only full-time faculty member, Esra Tasdelen, informed her that the program would not be running again next year.
Klaisner went to speak with Tasdelen to ask about continuing her Arabic and Middle Eastern studies after graduation. “I was hoping they would be offering something or if she knew of anybody in the area and she had mentioned that they were going to close the MENA program,” said Klaisner.
After several attempts to contact Provost Abiodun “G-P” Goke-Pariola with no results, Klaisner and other students of MSA created a petition.
Students create a petition
“I had started it … with the goal of raising more awareness about what the MENA program was (and) the school’s desire to terminate the program,” said Klaisner. “We’re hoping that, if the program stays, (Tasdelen would) be able to keep her job.”
Labadi said that in less than a week, the petition had garnered more than 600 signatures. Friends, family, community members, students, faculty and staff signed the petition.
After the creation of the petition, the provost of the college contacted Klaisner and Labadi, said Klaisner.
In an email to The Chronicle, Goke-Pariola wrote:
“I am unsure of the source of your information regarding MENA, but I can tell you categorically that the program has not been eliminated. Furthermore, while there is concern that the program has not had the demand we anticipated from students, there is currently no proposal to eliminate the program.”
Both Klaisner and Labadi acknowledge that the provost said the program would not end. However, they add that this was stated only after the pressure from the petition began.
“We were … told from Dr. Tasdelen that her job is being terminated. She won’t have a contract,” said Klaisner. “And then there are no MENA program courses, from what (Tasdelen) has told us, being offered for next year. So he might be saying that there is a program (but) where are the classes? Then where’s that professor?”
Labadi adds that just because the college doesn’t plan on ending the MENA program, doesn’t mean they’re doing enough to keep the program functioning.
“It’s more so that they’re cutting everything that it needs in order to thrive, in order to exist,” said Labadi.
Klaisner and Labadi will be meeting with the provost on Jan. 28. They say their ultimate goal will be to keep the MENA program and all of its resources in place.
