Our History

The Intertribal Resource Center was born out of the “Compton Cookout” incident and its subsequent backlash. On February 15, 2010, Pike, a fraternity on campus, organized the “Compton Cookout,” a “ghetto-themed” party intended to mock and ridicule Black History Month. Attendees were invited to wear costumes that stereotyped marginalized people living in ghettos, particularly African American/Black communities. The party gained national attention and was rightly criticized for its racist and harmful theme.

On February 26, 2010, approximately 300 students, staff, and faculty came together to protest the racist incident through a sit-in at then-Chancellor Mary Anne Foxe’s office. A broad base of students identified with and supported the movement because they understood the party was a racist attack on Communities of Color and that behavior had no place at UC San Diego.

The racial reckoning that ensued due to the “Compton Cookout” incident led to a call for student centers like the Intertribal Resource Center. Native American students on campus, namely Perse Hooper, Whitney Liera, Phillip Espinoza, Michael Cervantes, and others, sought to increase the presence of Native American students and to provide a resource to meet their unique and diverse needs.

Students fought with administrators to advocate for the importance of a center that addressed the unique needs of Native American students. Their activism and tireless efforts led to the creation of the Intertribal Resource Center in 2012.

The first iteration of the ITRC was a student-run space with no budget, professional staff, or administrative guidance. Despite this, students worked to make the space a home-away-from-home for Native American students at UC San Diego. However, because the space was student-run, there was little continuity once students graduated.

In 2016, the Center hired its inaugural director, Elena Hood, to remedy this issue and provide much-needed professional, full-time guidance. With over 20 years of experience working in the field of Indian education and serving Native American communities, Elena helped develop the ITRC into the thriving community space it is today. She championed increased resources and programming for Native American students through her tireless efforts and dedication. She also led the ITRC to foster relationships with local Native American communities, namely the Kumeyaay Nation.

Since the hiring of a full-time director, the ITRC has expanded to include an Assistant Director, Coordinator, and several Student Assistants. The ITRC continues to grow and develop each year but remains true to its original purpose of serving Native American students by advocating for increased resources, community, and belonging.

During the Summer of 2023, the ITRC moved into the Student Services Center Building after outgrowing its original space. The new ITRC space, which formerly housed the Raza Resource Centro, was significantly larger than the original space in Price Center, which was necessary because of the center’s growth, expanded programs, and significant community involvement. The new ITRC home will allow the center to better meet the needs of Native American students and communities for years to come.

In Spring 2024, the ITRC hired a new director, Timothy K. Topper, to take up Dr. Hood’s mantle after her departure in Summer 2023, and expand the work of the center. Tim’s leadership has allowed the ITRC to forge and sustain strong connections with tribal communities in San Diego County, advance equity and inclusion for Native students at UCSD, and champion diversity on and off campus. The ITRC’s future is bright as it begins 2024 with three professional staff members, four undergraduate student assistants, and one graduate intern.