For the Record

April 29,2010

So because you signed on the dotted line this woman has the legal right to do this to you??
Have you faced her? Have you been given the platform to speak to her class?? The Dean of
the school does need to be addressed.
I will forward to my friend Cheryl Franks who left Columbia because of their policies and procedures.
She got tired of fighting...and has a better job. Actually several people left that INSTITUTION.
I just got out of a family team decision making meeting...and have to contact Karina Walters at the U.W.
to get Cheryl's information...I will talk to her soon...then let you know what I find out ok??

Deborah J. Guerrero MSW

April29,2010

Dear Anu,

The dean has asked me to email you to let you know that we are unable to move her calendar around. We will be back to you.

Thank you,
Sheryl

--
Sheryl Nelson-Sodohoue
Executive Assistant
Columbia University School of Social Work
1255 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
sns14@columbia.edu
(212) 851-2324 (phone)
(212) 851-2323 (Fax)

(Community Members & Allies),

We write to you asking for your support for a serious breach of ethics that has recently emerged at the Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW).

As you may or may not know, graduating students at the School of Social Work have been assigned to complete a "Capstone Project" that crosses serious ethical boundaries with respect to the "human subject" of their study. Over 400 graduating students have been asked to conduct a multilevel analysis on the narrative of Eli PaintedCrow, a woman veteran and co-founder of the Service Women's Action Network. Ms. PaintedCrow was never asked permission nor gave consent to be the subject of analysis for this project, and only came to know this when students contacted her directly, only a week and a half before the assignment was due.

Concerned students hosted a town hall meeting this past Tuesday (4/26), gathering 186 CUSSW students. At that time, students had the opportunity to converse directly with Ms. PaintedCrow who urged that out of dignity and respect for her narrative and service to the United States, that the microanalysis portion of the assignment (where students were initially asked to diagnose and treat Ms. PaintedCrow) be removed altogether, and that the school deliver an apology to both her, to SWAN, and to students. Members of the CUSSW administration has yet to deliver on these asks. As a result, Ms. PaintedCrow has flown to NYC to address students and members of the administration directly.

Concerned students are appalled that CUSSW continues to be complicit in the exploitation of both Ms. PaintedCrow and SWAN for the purpose of a mandatory assignment required for graduation, yet is in shocking violation of the NASW Code of Ethics.

We urge you to stay in touch with student organizers for activity in the coming week and support concerned students' efforts.

Hello Eli,

We are a part of one of the capstone groups and have been so impacted by this project and issue. We would like to honor you and refuse to answer the micro section of this project as it has been assigned.
Instead, we would like to feature your voice in place of the micro section. We'd like to offer this space to you to express your feelings in a statement. We are open to suggestions about how you would like to do this.

Thank you so much. I was at the meeting last night and I have been so impacted by this.

In Peace,

Hello Dear Friends,

Many of you know that the faculty and administration at the Columbia University School of Social Work recently committed a grave offense to our beloved sister, Eli Painted Crow.

Eli has been sucked into a whirling storm of ethical wrongdoing, traumatization and exploitation. She has offered to fly herself out here to meet personally with students, faculty and administration to address these wrongs. As I have observed the back and forth miscommunication by the faculty to Eli and the 400 students in the MSW graduating class, I cannot find the words to express how much harm the university committed to Eli, and by default, the larger community of women veterans. The students have been valiantly organizing all week to resolve and remedy the injury done to Eli--she will be here any moment, and will be staying in NYC for several days if we are lucky.

Sasha, the student president for the graduating MSW class, has graciously invited us to attend this potluck and welcome celebration for Eli tomorrow evening. I cannot express how meaningful it would be for you to attend. Eli needs our support and love more than ever right now.

Eli was largely the inspiration behind SWAN. Many veterans, myself included, would not be alive today without her. We owe her our lives.

In solidarity and with a deeply heavy heart,

Anu

Ms. PaintedCrow,

I'm so sorry I wasnt in touch yesterday. Yes, things are stressful here but moving! I will give you a call shortly.

Here's where we are:

After Tuesday's town hall, students compiled a list of demands and launched a massive outreach campaign to gain even further momentum.

The demands and survey results are as follows:

What are your thoughts on the above demands? Are there any that we should omit and/or that you have suggestions on?

During yesterday's outreach, Marion Riedel came up to students and told us that we were essentially creating a more polarized situation than we needed to, that we, the students, had allies in the Capstone Committee, and asked why we hadn't "just come up to her office and talk." Enraged by (but expecting) what felt like irrationality and disrespect, a number of us went to see her immediately after this encounter but did not find her in her office. We left a note on her door letting her know that we had responded to her "request" that students come speak to her (although we had put in this request both early in the game AND immediately after the town hall meeting.

Late last night, the faculty sent out a note to the Capstone students with the assignment modified (both the announcement and revised case guide are attached). The language in the announcement is horrendous. I am shocked (although not so shocked based on both my experience here and how this has been going) that this situation has been reduced to " We learned very recently that it appears that Ms. PaintedCrow has had a change of heart about her narrative as published in The Lonely Soldier (Benedict, 2009) and its public use."

The revised assignment does ask that students " removed her identifying information from the Capstone Project and ask that all Capstone Groups do the same in your final papers and presentations. Furthermore, we request that no Capstone paper, images of Capstone posters, or any other products related to the 2010-2011 Capstone Project be published in any manner (e.g., websites, Facebook pages, blogs, articles, etc)."

However, our main issue is that the micro section is still essentially taking place, there is NO mention of a serious breach of ethics or moral responsibility, and there is ZERO mention of the harm done to all of us, but most of all to you, in this. The Capstone Committee has called a forum tonight, at which point we plan on presenting the demands (as listed above - with any of your edits/modifications), in addition to grilling the committee about what they AREN'T doing.

I personally have also been dealing with a load of ignorance and negativity from fellow students who are critical of the organizing, because, like you articulated in your earlier letter to me, are not prepared to rock the boat and STAND UP. I am deeply saddened that these are my colleagues; these are the individuals who are going to be sent into the world to uplift communities, including mine and yours.

Ms. PaintedCrow, students are prepared to fly you out and host you in NYC. We have raised over $500 and can easily double that. Please tell us how we can bring you out here faster, with more ease, more comfortably, etc. Myself and student organizers are dying to meet you!

April 27,2010

Hi Jeanette, so glad we are on a first name basis. I received your email I'm
sorry it took so long for you to get it. Marion has had the email all along so I
find it interesting that it took 24 hours to get it. I was wondering why Marion
didn't call back as she said she would but instead the question of ethics became
a legal issue and I was embarrassed for the students at the cynical tone your
letter presented. I feel dehumanized as a research subject and I can see that
your priority is not my best interest. Your priority is proving me wrong
forgetting ethical moral issues and guidelines. Instead you are taking a
legalistic approach to whether a public figure signs her life away trying to
do something good for women veterans.


I never agreed to have 400 people diagnose me and plan my treatment. I can
imagine that you have probably written a book or two and as an author you have
become a public figure. You probably are known for your work somewhere and may
even have a video of two made of you. Would you want to be the subject of this
study? Of course students wouldn't have to ask your permission because you are a
"public persona".

Your concern for me is patronizing. I asked you in my first letter not to
patronize me and I will say it again. I know it’s hard for academics to see me
as an equal human being. As for re-traumatization I can honestly say that
it is coming from the faculty’s failure to communicate with me when this
project was formulated. I am comforted that the students have a conscience about
this conflict.


I can see your intention to keep me at a distance from this issue by skyping me
in as an alternative to flying me there. I told Marion that I was taught to
handle things most directly. For me that means in person. Rather than
communicating with me you have attempted to route all student communication
through you. You have attempted to marginalize me but your students understand
my conflict.


Thank you for finally contacting me directly. I see that as the most
professional thing that has been done. I have been waiting for Marion's return
call. Are you contacting me instead?

I will get back to you on a meeting time and date very soon.

Eli PaintedCrow

April 27, 2011

Dear Students;

I have read the letter from the Dean and I am painfully aware that my mental distress is unimportant and that her only comment about it was that it was unfortunate. Her cynical tone is subjective and dehumanizing to my existence.  What I interpret is what matters most to her is the work being on women at war, (is such a hot topic and research worthy). It’s just too bad. The lack of respect and dignity by the author in authorizing this knowing my feelings about writing my story continues to keep me in survival mode. Helen knew that the sole purpose of financially supporting the service women’s action network not only went unheard and dismissed, she continues to perpetrate me and others because she has a release to further exploit us. What is unconscionable is that the Dean approves of it.

Helen Benedict is also “public domain” as she is a public figure. Perhaps the class should have written about a journalist who catches traumatized soldiers in their most vulnerable state to obtain this information and what the macro, mezzo and micro affects are on a veteran or soldier. I can tell you that I am not the only one in the book who has this issue, and have asked another participant of the book to write me a letter about her experience with Helen Benedict. As a journalist, Helen’s task is to get the story, I see now that her intentions were to get the word out first so that she could be seen as the expert. Now you all know why it is so hard to find veterans to talk to. This is precisely what happens. The author loses regard for the human aspect of the individual they interviewed and go on to promote their work. I hope that any of you who may have to do this in the future will remember that people should know all the implications of being interviewed before you interview them. As I said I had one reason alone to do this.

If I had known Helen’s true character, I would not have allowed an interview—If I had know that (1), Helen would not keep her word and lose her integrity with me, with SWAN members and many veterans  oppose her way to get “the word out”; (2) that she would allow further wounding after coming across so concerned and caring, making me believe this to be a worthy cause.   She seems unconscious of the consequences of her actions in her allowing this book to be used this way. Had I realized it, I would not have proceeded with the interview. Maybe Profit on the pain and suffering of a war veterans who haven’t been home all that long and  were not in treatment, wasn’t her concern because she wanted to get the raw version of what had returned.

The Capstone Committee knew that would impact me, and their excuse for not telling me was that they didn’t want to traumatize me further (according to Marion the person who originally called me). She also stated that she was concerned over my reaction to the posters and the diagnosis that I might learn. 400 students can share this knowledge but not me. If she is so concerned then the committee needs to re-think this. How can anyone who learns they are being subjected to this not be able have a say so in the project without consultation. What does that say about their intentions? Helen Benedict knew that I wanted nothing more to do with the book and with her, yet when she is out speaking she uses my story to read from. How respectful is that? Then she takes it to her own university to further the damage.

I am in total P.T.S.D. mode right now and I am not sure what my next step will be. She is my commander all over again. Helen’s thinking about me is very small; she fails to see the big picture of what I am speaking. It is not about racism although I see this as another experiment on a Native Woman, colonialism again showing up in my face. That’s right-- sign on the dotted line-- we make promises we never intend to keep. Ask any Native brother or sister and they will answer the same.  Rather, the larger picture in this issue concerns trust, integrity and honoring commitments, none of which are happening or have happened since the book was published.

If it is indeed the  social worker’s responsibility to consider part of your code of ethics whether I am considered public domain or not, I find it indeed troublesome that this part of the law would allow pain and suffering to continue on such a level that the committee cannot see or care what this is doing to me. Should the law’s potential gray areas override the pain and suffering of a human being?(although I am seen as a subject) Does that feel right to continue?

Perhaps a court of law needs to set a new precedent regarding returning military personnel, and needs to decide whether a story that constitutes further injury by taking the stories  into a micro analysis of the person’s life to such a magnitude of invasiveness.  After all public domain is anyone who has ever blogged, written an article or has a utube video on the web. Is it okay to psychoanalyze any individual knowing it causes further trauma? Isn’t there and ethical responsibility? Do we confuse the law with the moral obligation to protect those being researched? Perhaps the question is about what is really public domain. I am not a movie star who expects to be intruded on. I shared a story to support a cause that didn’t get supported.

You have all heard me speak what is true for me in my life. My intention is to seek legal counsel on what can be done with Helen and to retract my approval for her published story. I was under duress when she interviewed me, just barely seeking therapy, and I am under duress again and in therapy again, due to her disregard for the humanity of my life. She continues to cause me pain and suffering and all anyone can say is “It is unfortunate”. Is that social work at its best?

 I invite you to look in your hearts to give me back my dignity and my humanity not because a law is broken, but because my spirit is shattering every day I have to deal with this. I have a mental disability and at this rate I’m not sure that I will ever recover from this continuous battle with Helen that has now included the Department of Social Work at Columbia University.

 I couldn’t follow up with Helen in 2009 due to a life threatening illness that has taken me over a year to recover from.  Shortly after our last interaction I became ill and couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t drive, eat, and walk for a whole year. I am lucky to be alive thanks to holistic medicine and my friend who is a medicine woman.  In 2010 I was walking again but shared my information about my illness to a few friends. I am told by my physician that I must have as little as stress as possible or face the fact that my illness will return and affect my quality of life. So I just want you to know why it’s taken so long to address this. Perhaps that is why this happened. I do not believe everything happens for a reason.  All of you, all the vets and journalists are the reason.

  Below is an excerpt of your ethics.  Whether I am a client or a subject for study because I am deemed a public figure, these ethics should be considered regardless of what is being done right according to those in power. Do things get done right or do we do the right thing? This is what I ask you to consider.

 http://www.socialwork.msu.edu/ethics/nasweth.html#502

Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should protect participants from unwarranted physical or mental distress, harm, danger, or deprivation.

Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, political belief, religion, or mental or physical disability.

I look forward to seeing you all as I have made arrangements to fly to NY within the next two days.  My passion is to help people, especially veterans. In fact, I house homeless veterans in my home constantly because systems don’t work well enough to help them. I am a stand for Peace and I am a stand for Justice. It is my life’s work, soon to be all of yours.

If I were dead or didn’t care about the exploitation of military people, I could let it ride. But it matters, just as your choices matter. I speak not only for myself, but for other veteran women wounded by journalists and now social workers; it just keeps growing. We haven’t been home that long and we are still raw in many places in our lives. The committee considered that and felt that not informing me was for my best interest. As you can see, it has done more harm than good. If they made that decision and found out it was causing me mental distress, then why can’t they change it now to reflect a less painful avenue as I have suggested. I am tired as being seen as less than. Having an elite attitude has no place in real social work.

Please consider my life, my work and my words. The Pillow has not been torn open yet. I believe I have suggested some rather easy options to continue with your work.  Perhaps you can change the name on the report and use Helen Benedict’s name instead of mine. After all she is a public figure. Let her name be on it. Not sure what the ramifications of that would be, but it would be justice. That’s just me being cynical.

Standing in my truth

Respectfully,

Eli PaintedCrow

Eli PaintedCrow

SFC US Army Ret.

Advocate for Peace

Advocate for soldiers

Dear CUSSW friends,

Thank you so much to the 186 students who were able to attend
tonight's town-hall meeting as well as those who were there in spirit!
We appreciate that you took time out of your busy schedules- during
finals- to come and be present for this important conversation. We
raised $394 tonight through your generosity and kindness.

We are in the process of compiling our notes and all pertinent
information in an email that will be sent later today, Wednesday,
April 27th. We will also include any information from administration
regarding a collaborative meeting.

There will be a tabling today from noon to 2:00pm in the lobby and on
the concourse level after 8:00pm. Please stop by to sign the paper
petition created during tonight's meeting and complete a quick online
petition. Additional donations will also be collected during this
time.

Ms. PaintedCrow charged us with removing the micro section of our
capstone project or from abstaining from the project all together. "I
was happy to be a part of the conversation tonight. I want to say that
If you cannot get consensus on doing the project this way or the
faculty doesn allow it, then I will have to say that I request the
project not go through at all." (Ms. PaintedCrow's response to
tonight's meeting and omitting the micro section of the project.)

Please step forward if you would like to take an active part in
organizing; assistance with tabling, initiating the discussion in your
capstone groups, collecting funds, spreading the word!

Thank you again!

To: Wen-Jui Han <wh41@columbia.edu>, Marion Riedel <mr108@columbia.edu>, fs2114@columbia.edu, mmo34@columbia.edu, Marianne Yoshioka <mry5@columbia.edu>, "Jeanette C. Takamura" <jct8@columbia.edu>
Cc:

Members of the Faculty and Administration,

I am writing you on behalf of many concerned students.

As you may or may not know, 186 members of the student body gathered on the evening of Tuesday, April 26, 2011, to discuss the serious ethical considerations and impacts that have emerged with regards to the Capstone project.

After speaking with Ms. PaintedCrow directly, students are eager to speak with all of you in an open community forum. We request that you make this space available to the student body as soon as possible. Please expect additional follow-up from the students as early as Thursday morning.

We look forward to working collaboratively with you.

Sincerely,
Concerned Students