March 28 — Convocation, homecoming, and graduation, among other college hallmark events, are missing from the Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) academic calendar for the 2021 fall semester. The university released the academic calendar exactly one week after an announcement that they would have in-person classes in the fall. Despite the return of students on campus, many in-person events did not return to the calendar while new in-person events were added.
In the past, the university would kick-off the semester with a convocation speaker like past-speaker, HINU alumnus, and actor Leroy “Buster” Silva, but Convocation was not listed for this upcoming semester. Instead, listed at the start of the semester is a “President’s Welcome Dinner” for faculty and new, transfer, and re-admitted students, which excludes returning students. Similarly, Homecoming is not listed on the calendar, but a “President’s/VPA’s All School Mixer” will be held on Oct. 22. Following final exams, the calendar moves on to the semester break without a graduation or commencement ceremony — neither in-person nor virtual.
Several first-time events have been added. An “All Campus Progressive Breakfast” will be held the Friday after students return. The “Haskell Gathering of Eagles” will take place the Friday before Sept. 11. A “President’s Assemblage” for Veterans Day will continue to be held after current University President Ronald Graham created the event last fall while students were off-campus. Additionally, a “Midnight Pancake Breakfast” has been added to the calendar, which will take place the Friday after fall classes end and before final exams begin.
While several new events have been added to the calendar, community events like Highlight Night and the Welcome Back Powwow were not among them. But, the calendar says, “[It] is subject to change.”
Note: This Article references in-person events; Haskell Indian Nations University has not released any information on pandemic safety precautions for students’ return in the fall as of publication.
CORRECTION: Haskell Gathering of Eagles was incorrectly associated with The Gathering of Eagles Foundation during publication, this has been removed.
