When the Native American Student Association (NASA) brought a proclamation to the Student Senate asking them to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day, student senators Alison Malek and Katrina Willis crafted a resolution to support them.

When students feel like “they’re walking through the hallways as ghosts,” like “nobody sees them, or tries to befriend them or talk to them…that’s a problem,” said Willis. One that never should have been a problem in the first place. But since it is, this is a corrective measure, she added.

“If it pains NASA to observe people celebrating Columbus Day…(and) we can do something to make them feel that we recognize that pain that it causes them…” it just makes sense to do it, said Willis.

“I want everybody to welcome and inclusive on campus,” said Malek and “the Native American student population didn’t feel like they belonged here.”

According to Malek, survey results presented to the Diversity and Community Relations council showed “the welcoming-ness and inclusiveness, and safety of the Native American student population is way lower than any other group.”

“The information was absolutely depressing,” Malek added.

“We feel that Madison College should be a place where all students feel safe, secure, included, and equal,” said Willis, and “to me, this resolution…would actually help them feel like they have a place, and that Madison College has their back,” she said.

The resolution honors the indigenous people that inhabited the Americas before Columbus, the 11 federally recognized Native American tribes in Wisconsin, the Ho-Chunk people who inhabited the land on which Madison is located, and the fact that Milwaukee County, Dane County and the City of Madison already recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.

The resolution was passed on Oct. 5, at the Student Senate General Assembly Meeting.
For Willis and Malek, taking up this cause was nothing out of the ordinary. When asked how many clubs they were a part of, both women laughed. Willis replied with a quick “you don’t want to know” while Malek wondered at the seriousness of the question.

For both women, the list of clubs they’re not a part of is shorter than the list of clubs they’re involved in. Malek estimated that she’s involved in 15 different student clubs, organizations and mentorship programs while Willis is involved in at least 10 different clubs, organizations, committees and sub-committees.

“So yeah, we do a lot to try and be engaged on campus,” Willis said.

For Willis, it’s passion that drives her actions. Her passion for advocating and assisting others drives her to volunteer at her church, and donate up to 1,000 cupcakes to feed the homeless, in addition to all she does at Madison College.

For Malek it’s all about getting involved, and “being able to learn and understand the different cultures and how we can…unite with each other.”

For both women, crafting this resolution was a no-brainer. For them, it was just another ordinary day.