One of those persons will be a senior scholar who will chair the department, OSU officials say. An ethnic studies major has been approved, it's just not yet in place. The creation of the new department is timely, according to Kurt Peters, an assistant professor of ethnic studies and acting chair of the department. A number of these groups have been here for a long time, which many people don't realize. For example, Filipinos came to the United States in the 1600s.
Ethnic studies is largely about reconstructing their story.
Traditionally, conquerors write the history and subdued people have not. OSU's newest department will offer a pair of courses this fall. America's Original Inhabitants. Peters, who has a Ph.D. in ethnic studies from the University of California-Berkeley, said he anticipates the new program will draw a variety of students. Some students, he said, may enroll to learn more about their own histories, while others may seek to learn more about a variety of cultures.