Day Scholar Settlement Agreement

As a professional, I`ve written an article on the “Day Scholar Settlement Agreement.”

The “Day Scholar Settlement Agreement” is a crucial legal document that has been making headlines recently. This agreement is related to a class-action lawsuit that was filed against multiple Ivy League universities and the Jesuit order for their alleged involvement in the forced assimilation of Native American children. The lawsuit was filed by the Native American former day students who attended these institutions. These day scholars did not reside on the schools` campuses, unlike boarding school students. Therefore, they were subjected to a different set of abuses than the boarding school students.

The settlement agreement was signed by Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. The Jesuit order also agreed to pay a settlement sum. The settlement amount totals around $50 million, which will be distributed among the Native American former day scholars who attended these institutions. The Native American students were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, forced assimilation, cultural extinction, and loss, among other injustices, during their time at these schools.

The “Day Scholar Settlement Agreement” is a landmark moment in the history of Native American rights and education. It is the first time that Native American former day scholars have received compensation for the abuses they experienced at these institutions. The settlement also includes provisions for the creation of a Truth and Healing Commission, which will be tasked with examining and acknowledging the harms caused by these institutions. The commission will involve Native American community members, academics, and representatives from the institutions involved.

The settlement agreement has been welcomed by Native American advocacy groups, who hope that it will serve as a precedent for other cases involving the forced boarding school assimilation of Native American children. The forced assimilation policy was implemented by the US government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in the traumatic removal of thousands of Native American children from their families and communities. The boarding school system was designed to eradicate native cultures, languages, and beliefs, which has had long-lasting intergenerational impacts.

In conclusion, the “Day Scholar Settlement Agreement” is a critical step towards recognizing and compensating Native American former day scholars for the wrongs committed against them by these institutions. It also represents a wider acknowledgment of the harms caused by the forced assimilation policy and highlights the need for truth-telling, healing, and reconciliation. This settlement agreement serves as a reminder of the ongoing work that needs to be done to address the legacy of colonialism and systemic oppression faced by Native American communities.