Join us for the second annual presentation in the Alumni Lecture Series:

So, you wanna be a soldier?
American Indian Warrior Tradition in the U.S. Military

Kimberly R. Huyser
Class of 2003

Thursday, October 20, 3:30 p.m.
Meeter Center Lecture Hall

Sponsored by the Sociology & Social Work Department
and the Alumni Association

Lecture Topic:

“I think they [Indians] can be made of excellent use,
as scouts and light troops.”
— General George Washington, 1778

American Indians are the smallest pan-ethnic group in the United States, comprising 1% of the U.S. population, but have a 33% or 1 in 3 per capita military participation rate. Knowing this statistic, questions arise on what contributes to having such an outstanding military record. Are they motivated by the opportunity to gain educational and vocational skills? If the motivation for entering the military is not for clear socioeconomic gain, what are the education and economic outcomes for American Indian veterans?

To date, research literature has focused on African American and non-Hispanic white outcomes; it has not explored the participation or the outcomes of the military service of American Indians. Using the U.S. Census 2000, I examine the concept of the American Indian warrior tradition as an explanation for high military participation and American Indian socioeconomic attainment. My exploration starts by examining the socioeconomic attainment and participation rate of three groups of veterans: American Indian, African American, and non-Hispanic white. The focus of my analysis is on comparing American Indian veteran education and income outcomes to African American and white veteran outcomes.

About the Lecturer:

Kimberly is a graduate student in sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests center on race and ethnicity, American Indians and religion, and organizational partnerships that advance rural communities. In summer 2004 Kim worked as an intern for the USDA Office of Community Development. That summer she completed a research project comparing the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and the USDA Rural Development Office of Community Development. Kimberly grew up in Northeast Arizona and received a B.A. in sociology from Calvin College in 2003.

Alumni Lecture Series:

This year marks the inaugural year for the Alumni Lectureship Series, initiated by the Calvin Alumni Board in May 2004. The purpose of the series is to establish an academic lecture series whereby (a) a recent Calvin alumnus/a attending graduate school who is a member of a minority group is provided with an opportunity to deliver a compensated academic paper and (b) current students are encouraged to consider pursuing graduate study. The lecture will occur annually during Family Weekend each October. The lecturer will be chosen by the Calvin academic department of the lecturer’s field of study. Departments interested in co-hosting an alumna/us for this series should contact the alumni office.