Calling into question the legacy of the explorer whose place in the American psyche is evident even in the University’s namesake, student groups held events on Monday underscoring opposing perspectives on Christopher Columbus Day.
While the Columbia and Barnard’s Native American Council hosted its Rethinking Columbus Day event on Low Plaza, the College Republicans set up their annual Columbus Day Barbecue on Van Am Quad across College Walk. The holiday’s legitimacy has come under fire in recent years, particularly from human rights groups who charge the famous explorer—whose discoveries in the Americas helped to trigger, according to popular perception, further European conquests in the area—with genocide.
At the council’s event, students advocated for an Indigenous People’s Day to honor the Native Americans living in the western hemisphere before Columbus’ arrival and to shed a more glaring light on the scars of disease, slavery, and environmental destruction prompted by his expedition. With two large signs, a smattering of fliers, and several speeches, the council’s demonstration caught the eyes of passers-by.
Members of the College Republicans said that while they were not against the council’s demonstration, the historical significance of Columbus is worthy of annual recognition.
Aarti Iyer, CC ’11 and deputy of communications for the Republicans, made the case for Columbus Day, saying that “having a holiday to someone does not mean you condone all of his actions.”
Those involved in the council’s activities also aimed to bring attention to their presence on campus. “Today we’ll be focusing on awareness inside this community,” Maxine Paul, CC ’10 and co-chair of the Native American Council, wrote in an e-mail.
While many of its peer institutions schedule their fall breaks around Columbus Day, Columbia does not grant students the day off. In 1968, when protests took the University by a storm, fall break was moved to Election Day to encourage activism.
Though no visible clash manifested between the two events, a feeling of tension was in the air.
“History is written by the winners,” said Alen Trubelja, SEAS ’11, who attended the barbecue. Trubelja added that he is against abolishing the holiday.
Johnson expressed concerns with the Republican barbecue.
“It’s a little misguided,” she said. “If people read more, they might be less inclined to support nationalist propaganda.”
Reading from a speech delivered in 1991 at the American Indian Movement protests in Denver, Paul said that students can be victimized by an education system that dehumanizes indigenous peoples and distorts history. At a candlelight vigil that night, Paul, who identifies as Native American, voiced her frustration. “Five-hundred years later,” she asked, “why is it still okay?”