| PRESS
RELEASE
POC:
CRST Public Relations
Rock
LeBeau
(605)964-8308
For
immediate release March 25, 2005
The Cheyenne River
Sioux Tribe has serious concerns for the welfare
of the students and employees of Si Tanka University.
(STU)
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) has serious
concerns for the welfare of the students and employees
of Si Tanka University. They remain our priority.
As, with any government when the first hint of
problems surfaced regarding Si Tanka and continuously
there after, the CRST took action to seek assistance
and relief for the University.
Si Tanka University was chartered under Tribal
Law in 1971 as a non-profit educational corporation.
In late 1970, a charter was also granted by the
State of South Dakota. The state chartered corporation
purchased Huron University in 2001. As with all
non-profit educational institutions throughout
the Nation, the University is under the direction
of a President and a Board of regents. The governance
of Si Tanka is very complex and as the Tribe has
gone through this problem solving process to assist
the University, much deliberation has taken place
on the authorities in place. The Tribe has monitored
the situation as this independent non-profit chartered
Institution as struggled to resolve overwhelming
problems.
Chairman Frazier and the CRST held many emergency
meetings to resolve the many problems connected
with Si Tanka. CRST designated two of our Tribal
Attorneys to devote time and attention to this
matter. The CRST set up a Task Force of Tribal
Council Members, educators and knowledgeable people
to review the situation and find solutions. The
CRST used its resources and contacts to set up
meetings with Washington Officials. Our Congressional
Delegation has been appraised of all the problems
and educated on all the circumstances.
But, these entire solutions pale in the reality
of what has happened to the students and employees
of Si Tanka University. The Tribe had hoped to
assist STU with corrective measures before students
and faculties were harmed. However, the best effort
of the Tribe to assist the University and to forestall
pending problems has only reached one hurdle after
another.
On March 3, 2005, Si Tanka U. notified the CRST
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs was denying 471
funds for students because of the confusion over
ownership of Huron assets and Indian student enrollment.
The CRST assisted STU in immediately seeking a
waiver to obtain 471 funds based upon documentation
of Indian student enrollment. The Tribe set up
meetings with Bureau of Indian Officials in Washington
DC to address 471 funding.
Immediately, upon hearing of this denial, on
Mar. 3, 2005, Chairman Frazier called a Special
Session of the Cheyenne River Tribal Council to
address STU. The CRST took immediate action and
authorized a loan to Si Tanka University in the
amount of $400,000. (Resolution #89-05-CR)
Chairman Frazier called another special session
of the Tribal Council regarding Si Tanka on March
22, 2005 to address further complications with
the University, the CRST modified the resolution
delineating specifics for the loan: to assist with
payroll, payroll taxes, utilities, student refunds/stipends
and health insurance for employees.
The Resolution further specified the following
conditions for the loan from the Cheyenne River
Sioux Tribe to Si Tanka: all financial documentation
be provided to the Tribe, authorization from the
CRST Treasurer on disbursement of funds from the
loan, Chairman and Treasurer to determine loan
funds to be paid, weekly financial and status reports
be made to CRST and the loan will be secured with
STU assets and a full financial report must be
made to the Tribal Council by April 1, 2005.
As the loan was being implemented, the STU was
notified on Mar. 24, 2005 that the waiver requested
by STU to receive 471 funding was denied.
On March 22, 2005, sometime after 5:30 p.m. the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) faxed a Notice of
Levy on the CRST for any funds the Tribe would
issue to Si Tanka University under a loan agreement.
The Tribe, as a lender has no right to appeal this
levy.
Chairman Frazier made immediate attempts to contact
the IRS offices in Washington DC, Rapid City, Iowa
and North Dakota. Finally, calls were returned
and Chairman Frazier was informed Si Tanka U. would
have to file an appeal of the Levy. The Appeal
was filed within the hour. As this notice goes
to press, no decision has been received from the
IRS on lifting the levy. Until and unless this
Levy is lifted, the Tribe cannot grant or loan
the University and funds under this IRS Order.
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council will
be meeting again in emergency session with this
latest development.
Chairman
Frazier said, “It is very upsetting
the students and employees have to go through this.
I know how hard everyone is working to receive
an education and the CRST will do all we can to
lend assistance. As with any government, the CRST
is seriously concerned about the welfare of all
the students and employees of STU and is working
very hard to find a way to assist this vitally
important educational institution to continue.”
Chairman
Frazier further stated: “On the
larger front, there is a government-to-government
relationship between the United States and its
agencies and the Tribe has a unique Trust Responsibility
with these agencies to assist this educational
institution, which serves the Indian people. The
Tribe through its government-to-government relationship
with the United States continues to request and
seek responsibility from these respective agencies
to provide assistance to the University.”
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