Now you can affectionately call me Mr. MPD (multiple personality disorder). Because I go to sleep defending BAMN, and wake up asking why is CUM (Citizens for a United Michigan) advocating BAMN's don't sign campaign? Now fundamentally, I do not take issue with a don't sign campaign, the issue I take is a strategic one. The opposition will be garnering signatures in the whitest of White locations, places like Livonia, etc. Which means they are gonna stay out more racially-diverse areas if they want to get the most bang for their buck. For the sake of argument, let's suggest BAMN is effective at organizing .... Detroit, I said for the sake of argument- follow me, the MCRI would just side-step Detroit completely and hit the suburbs for their signatures. I cannot foresee middle aged White women meeting up with BAMN foot soldiers and saying, "Why wait a minute, this initiative is bad. I'm not gonna sign." Having gone door to door in Metro Detroit (city and surrounding areas) I can tell you that its amazingly hard to get in the door, literally, and people will likely not be open to hearing you suggest an initiative against Affirmative Action is racist. Feel me?

"Thus the highest realization of warfare is to attack the enemy's plans; next is to attack their alliances; next to attack their army; and the lowest is to attack their fortified cities." -Sun Tzu Art of War. Does anyone else feel like we missed the first three levels? Ugh!

And as you can see from the article, people are now beginning to attack CUM's alliances ... Come on General Rice!

And on another sad note, Carol Mosley Braun has decided to drop her campaign for president. She'll be backing Dean too.

Okay, okay, I have no idea why I am still await, and even less idea why I am reading Jason Pesick's editorial entitled, "Please give liberals back liberalism." The piece starts with some valid points about the roots of BAMN and immediately problematizes some of their tactics, but soon there after Pesick loses me. First, may I suggest that Pesick, nor anyone at the Daily invoke the Black Student Union's name, in defense of your issues with a group. I doubt that you are fully aware of the history, and including the BSU name will not offer you a cloak of amnesty from being a racist. Actions define racism, not affiliations. But then again ... The first thing Jason has to realize is that "liberalism" is not a static ideology. I'm sorry, but liberalism can not be quaintly defined as, "A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority." Being liberal is a relative ideological positioning, if the center shifts, so does liberalism. With that said, at some point, the terms Marxist and Communist will cease to scare people. Wow, attempting to enact a code that limits the proliferation of symbols of hate in times of heated racial tension, boy of boy, you might as well be a conservative ... oh wait, don't they want less government intervention? I'm so confused, was that liberal or conservative? It's a game of semantics. If you don't like Bamn's tactics, then suggest alternatives. Last year, SSAA was really successful at doing this. Oh wait, maybe liberalism comes from sitting behind a desk at the Daily writing editorials.

Wednesday's Daily features an article on David Boyle, U of M Law School Alum's, petition to end alumni preferences (and yes this is a real preference*) in the state of Michigan. Boyle faces the same hoops that Connerly and croons have jumped if he wants it on the November ballot. The acronym is darn hilarious, MERIT, but I am a little worried that too many people will take it the wrong way and endorse this initiative as part and parcel with Ward's initiative. I can see people in Midland, Michigan saying, "Why yes I do believe in merit and I do not like discrimination." Then we end up in a sick-sad world where the meagerly informed vote yes on both. Boyle is pretty outspoken and usually stands in favor of Affirmative Action.

*I say this is real preference, note the difference in wording and tone on the U of M page on factors considered in admission:

"Will alumni ties still be considered?
The University values the relationship it has with current and former students. These students are part of the Michigan community. Alumni serve as a vital part of that community both as lifelong ambassadors for the University, and as lifelong learners who are encouraged to continue to be involved in the life and programs of the institution after they graduate. Accordingly, we will continue to consider-as one of many factors, but not as a determinative factor- a direct relationship, or stepfamily relationship, with someone who has attended the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor as a degree-seeking student."

"How will race factor into the new process?

Academic factors are the first and overriding criteria. Other factors will be considered, but the applicant must, under all circumstances, demonstrate the ability to succeed at and contribute to the University. Race will be only one of many additional factors taken into consideration during the review process, as will socioeconomic factors, geography, and special or unique experiences, skills and talents. All the factors we will use in the review process will be in the overall context of individualized consideration of each application. Furthermore, every student will have the opportunity to highlight his or her own special and unique qualities that will contribute to the overall diversity of the class. Multiple reviews by different staff members and validation by management staff will ensure that no single, nonacademic factor has a disproportionate impact on the overall admissions decision."

And the statement of the obvious award goes to the Michigan Daily for echoing Monique Perry's, VP of MSA, statement that the Trotter House is in need of renovation. Apparently the Daily missed that the facilities have been inadequete for the past .... 20 years. Good job Daily, it's only news if someone says it at an MSA meeting. By the way this in no way a diss to Monique, she is right-on for bringing it up again in public forum!

The transformation of the Trotter House from a Black cultural center to a multicultural center reminds me of the demands of BAM I (1970), BAM II (1975), and BAM III (1987):

BAM I -Demand # 7 "The establishment of a community-located Black Student Center."
BAM II- Demand- "The establishment of a Chicano Cultural Center;"
BAM III- Demand #2- The University of Michigan must grant the immediate endowment of $150,000 dollars for the William Monroe Trotter-House to insure that the integrity of African-Apreservedulture will be perserved in spite of the vile climate of racism that persists in the University."

Seems like the U has historically had trouble handling biz around Trotter and neglected other communities despite demands for address!!!

And on a much lighter and two completely unrelated notes:
1) I finally joined Blackblogz, you'll see it in the bottom left hand corner. Okay, I admit that I don't fully understand it, but it seems like a good thing.

2) I am really wondering is it possible to really dislike people, but really love friendster? I am now obsessed with friendster.

So apparently the editorial by Steve Cotner in Monday's Daily prompted quite a response. The editorial does really give BAMN a lot of credit, but the responses to the editorial are the most interesting. Penned by 2 sophomores- Jeremy Curtis and Kylie Burleson ... yeah wise fools... I'm looking for the wisdom still. Cutis suggests that Affirmative Action has, "I am not one for affirmative action. I think it worked back when it was first started, but as times change, so do policies." Kyle Burleson's editorial states "The University is funded by taxpayers, why shouldn?t those taxpayers be given a choice in whether their money is used to enact an inherently racist policy?"

Okay, maybe I missed the boat but here is why these two propositions are too commonly uttered and make no sense! On the Aff Axn was good once but it's out lived its utility.
1) We are at a time when more students of color are enrolled in higher education than ever before, but we are far below representative for most of these ethnic minorities.
2) What was the initial utility that has died? Increased opportunity- looks like it's still working to me.

On the idea that Aff Axn is an inherently racist policy. 1) Have these people even read the new system of admission? Is the consideration of race a preference? If that's the case, if so, everything on the application is a preference!!! 2) Do these people know what racism is? Do they know what discrimination is? Do they really care?

Okay, enough babbling, I'm just confused how people still utter these things but have backing!!! Can people at least argue with information and ideas that are relevant?

Lastly, the Ballot initiative from the MCRI has been launched. By the way, I will openly say, this is Ward Connerly initiative. If you notice the MCRI is trying to push that it is Gratz's. If that is the case, then why the hell does it look eerily like the initiatives that Connerly has pushed before? Okay, maybe Connerly is a consultant .... yeah, just like a puppeteer with a puppet, just giving the lifeless characters voice.

PS. Special thanks to Rob Goodspeed for providing me with the new MCRI page, I was wondering why the old one was dead!

Well this is news to me! On the eve of the Michigan Civil Right Institute's launch of their campaign for signatures on the anti-Affirmative Action ballot intiative the Detroit News reports that BAMN is now officially tied with Citizens for a United Michigan. I was under the impression that C4AUM was not dealing with BAMN, but clearly, I've been out of the loop!!!!

Before the MLK festivities go into full swing, I thought I would put a fake-o MLK site on BLAST! WWW.MARTINLUTHERKING.ORG is a page that attempts to tarnish King's legacy with half-truths and very poor argumentation (see for yourself). It appears the page is affliated with www.duke.org- David Duke's webpage. You'll see this if you try to download an adobe version of the flyers they want people to download.

Here's some more stories on an oldie but goodie: Affirmative Action.
The Michigan Daily provides a pretty benign commentary on the Connerly Ballot Initiative, if you read yesterday's Ann Arbor News, no need to read this one. And suprise, suprise, the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) are going to support the ballot initiative.

Jay Greene, in a piece for the Washington Post, argues that improving the pipeline to higher education is crucial, more crucial than Affirmative Action. Point taken, but it's not a trade off, in the process of improving K-12 education (where we don't know a definite solution to creating equality) we must also still utilize Affirmative Action for those already in the system!

Lastly, I'm gonna need conservakids (Harris 2002) to get a new bag of tricks. They are really pressing on this "affirmative action bake sale thing." They just did one at Utah State University and this AP story covers some of the others that have happened nationally. In my old age, 25 ;) , I'm getting tired of the same tactics.

Lastly, because I like to laugh, and sometimes cry at the ridiculus, here is story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution on names, not just any names, special names based on brands, Stop the madness!!! A la Casper in Kids, "What happened?"

I'm back in effect mode... yeah.
So the Ann Arbor News ran a piece today on Ward's hustle to raise money for his ballot initiative to ban Affirmative Action in the state of Michigan. The article is fairly basic and doesn't lend much insight into the complicated discussion of how well citizens can or will be informed/mobilized on this issue. Last week, the A-deuce News ran a story on the EPIC-MRA survey that found 63% of residents are not in support of racial preferences. Note: I said racial preferences, not Affirmative Action. The wording of the question, as reported by the A-deuce News, asked if residents would be in favor of a ballot initiative to "prohibit government agencies or universities from discriminating against or granting any preferential treatment to someone on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin."
The language is critically important, dependent on the term used (affirmative action, racial preferences, discrimination, reverse discrimination, etc.) the findings of surveys and polls vary. Below you'll find an editorial by Doreen O'Donovan, a Ford School student, about the News' reporting of the poll. I don't think the Ann Arbor News ever ran her editorial. Boo them!
Dear Editor,

I am surprised that the Ann Arbor News would allow itself to be used as a tool
by the enemies of affirmative action. Your article "Affirmative-action
disfavor" fulfils their dream to confuse the public. The poll was written just
as anti-affirmative action supporters wrote the state ballot proposal: in a
perplexing manner.

The semantics involved in writing polling questions is no accident. Research
supports that the wording of the proposal is more important that the actual
content. Just look at your article. "Respondents were asked whether they
would support a state ballot proposal that would prohibit government agencies
or universities from discriminating against or granting any preferential
treatment to someone on the bases if race, sex, color; ethnicity or national
origin." What! How many times do you have to read that to figure out what
they are supporting?
University of California Regent Ward Connerly, who founded the American Civil
Rights Institute to end affirmative action policies, has learned from his past
mistakes. Affirmative action was upheld in Texas due to positive phases.
Negative wording was used in the California Civil Rights Initiatives of 1996.
It asked whether voters wanted to "eliminate" affirmative action programs. The
positive wording in the November 1997 referendum in Houston, Texas asked
whether the voters preferred to "retain" the city’s affirmative action program.

Results of vote to eliminate affirmative action in California: 55% Yes, 45% No
Results of vote to retain affirmative action in Houston, Texas: 55% Yes, 45% No

When the Board of State Canvassers approved the ballot proposal on December 12,
protesters primary concern was the wording. As journalist it is our
responsibility to report on the entire story, not just the words fed to you by
the out of state group that proposes to change our state constitution. Point
out the purposely-convoluted wording and how it might affect those who answered
the poll. Ask why Texas was able to control the wording of the ballot and the
Michigan Board of State Canvassers was not. That is the real story.


Don't forget to look at the ballot initiative language, which is located in the political corner!

Dress warm ya'll, it's gonna be a cold winter (in more than one way)!

Welcome back. Well you maybe saying to that to me since I haven't posted in a minute. I've been out of town, even on a Carribean vacation. Can you blame a brotha? But since I am still not back in Michigan this will be a short post that is all about me. Like to hear it? Here it go!

On December 28th, the New Haven Register, my local Connecticut paper covered a local club shooting in Milford, a suburb of New Haven. Their story, "1 man dies in Club shooting" was shockingly covert in its racial tones and messages. So on the way to the airport, to go on my fabulous vacation, I wrote a letter to the editor. The editorial is in today's paper. What do you think?

More to come later, I promise, for real. I know I've been slacking.

Since my last commentary on Hip-Hop culture and Black youth has sparked a little talk, I figured I would update on some more interesting issues and representations within Hip-Hop culture. The first, is the Cam'ron, Dame Dash, and Bill O'Reilly (yeah, the O'Reilly Factor) meeting. Many folks were impressed by the discussion on "the no spin zone," especially since O'Reilly is known to invite guests on the show to destroy them. Apparently, this was not the case on this episode. Black Electorate's hip-hop friday's commentary and transcript give the tale of the tape.

For "all the bad that rap music and Hip-Hop culture produce" there are really good contributions too. M-I- crooked letter's own, David Banner, will donate 50,000 dollars to 5 people hopeful of continuing their post-secondary education. In case you didn't realize, also, David Banner is an alumni of Southern University, where he was the Student Government Association president while there. He has a semester remaining in completing his masters in education at the University of Maryland where his gpa was a 3.9987. Just so you all recognize there's more to him than talking about Mississippi.

More to come later, when I feel moved to do so.

Here is a great column on mainstream journalism and hip-hop culture (read: Black youth) by Amy Alexander. It once again relays the importance of "watchdogs" and the need for diversity in journalism, which includes editorials. Freedom of speech was endowed by this country's "founding fathers" but equality was denied by these same men. Only differences in treatment are much more subtle than they have been in the past.

I'm working on finishing up the semester, so my posts will be real spotty from this time till January. Despite this, like Bartles and James, back in the 80s, "We thank you for your support."

So apparently the Klan delivered a letter to the VP of University of Louisville demanding time to speak, complete with spelling errors. Before anyone emails me, I can't spell, but I make sure letters to school officials are correct!

Brian Battaglia has apologized publicly for the pictures on his website, while still acknowledging his right to freedom of expression.

Now that race relations are no longer a problem, we should all be better off ;) More interesting stuff later.

Here's a little update from two other campuses regarding race relations stuff.
Remember last year when Bank One hired some idiots to give away free tee-shirts with credit card applications? You know the ones that read, "10 reasons why a beer is better than a black man." Well this year, they put in big money to bring Sistah Souljah to speak for a diversity series, but now the heat is on the University of Louisville's administration to sponsor the Klan to speak. That's right, the Klan feels they need to present a balanced perspective ... shouldn't the Klan be petitioning Bank One, or maybe the firm that made the tee-shirts? I'm sure they'd be an ally.

In other Klan news, the chair of Penn State's College Republicans came under heat for posting pictures of a halloween party which featured party goers in Black face, mock Klan garb, and other offensive costumes. Brian Battaglia's personal page featured a number of pictures with one caption reading, "He took a break from cross burning to drink a cold one." Tiffanie Lewis, no relation to me, of the Black Caucus called for his resignation. Doesn't he know that the Republicans were the party of Lincoln ...?

I've been under the weather, so there haven't been any updates in the past few days, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to mention!

First, Nathaniel Jones' death was ruled a homicide by the Hamilton County coroner. Now the caveat is that the coroner says that Jones had a number of health problems that contributed to his death. Though he would not have died at that moment, the coroner urged people not to take this as a case of "hostile or malign behavior." Okay, I am way too fed up to even comment!

The Daily recently had another Diversity explosion! This week the Daily looked at the new bill HR 333, which seeks to have APIA communities listed as one of the minority groups that would recieve federal grants in higher education. To complement their reporting of HR 333, the Daily also ran Lauren Strayer's piece entitled, "Racism among friends." This piece was really pointless, but it keeps ringing in my head, well at least one question does. Why can't you tell your friend not to use the term oriental now?

Also, this week, NASA co-sponsored a program on secret socities, apparently the session got heated. Now isn't the term "bashed" a bit prejorative?

The Michigan Ballot Initiative is now upon us! Below you will find an email from Carl Cohen of the Residential College. Beneath his letter in bold is the proposed ballot intiative that will attempt to prohibit affrimative action, and yes that is the correct term, in the state of Michigan! Organized opposition has already begun. The struggle continues.
Colleagues and friends:

You will have noted that the battle over race preferences in
Michigan has begun. It is not a battle over affirmative action;
affirmative action, vigorous steps designed to extirpate all
discrimination by race and ethnicity, are untouched by the proposition
to be voted on. Ours is a country in which racism has penetrated very
deeply; one would be foolish indeed to suppose that there is no need to
continue the battle to uproot it. But that battle, in a decent society,
will certainly not involve the very discrimination that is to be
eliminated. The proposition on which the people of Michigan will vote in
2004 aims only to forbid all discrimination by the state and it
agencies, including the University of Michigan, and to forbid all
preference by race, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

If you come to believe that it is wise to oppose the Michigan Civil
Rights Initiative, that can only be because you believe that the State
or it agencies must be permitted to give preference by race, sex, or
ethnicity. I find it hard to believe that our university colleagues,
proud of the principle of equality that we universally profess, would on
reflection support such preference.

It is my belief that the people of Michigan, of every color and
kind, despise discrimination by race and national origin, and oppose any
preference granted to persons or groups on those invidious grounds. I
think, therefore, that this proposition, the Michigan Civil Rights
Initiative, will be adopted by the people of Michigan, overwhelmingly
and proudly, as Section 25 of Article I of the Michigan constitution.

To help our general understanding of what is at issue in this
matter, I include here an exact copy of the entire text of the
proposition that is to be on the ballot in the fall of 2004. The first
two sentences below comprise the whole of its substantive force. They
appear repetitive, but that is because the University of Michigan, like
some other public universities in Michigan, are constitutionally
autonomous. The complete text -- which I support with all my heart --
follows:
----------------

A proposal to amend the Constitution of the State of Michigan to
prohibit the University of Michigan and other state universities, the
State, and all other state entities from discriminating or granting
preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national
origin.

The proposal would amend the State constitution by adding a Section 25
to Article I.

Article I, Section 25

Civil Rights.
The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State
University, and any other public college or university, community
college, or school district shall not discriminate against, or grant
preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race,
sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public
employment, public education, or public contracting.

The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential
treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color,
ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment,
public education, or public contracting.

For the purpose of this section “state” includes, but is not necessarily
limited to, the state itself, any city, county, public college or
university, community college, school district, or other political
subdivision or governmental instrumentality of or within the State of
Michigan.

This section does not affect any law or governmental action that does
not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national
origin.

This section does not prohibit action that must be taken to establish or
maintain eligibility for any federal program, if ineligibility would
result in loss of federal funds to the State.

Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting bona fide
qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary to the normal
operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

The remedies available for violations of this section shall be the same,
regardless of the injured party’s race, color, religion, ethnicity, or
national origin, as are otherwise available for violations of Michigan’s
anti-discrimination law.

This section shall be self-executing. If any part or parts of this
section are found to be in conflict with the United States Constitution
or federal law, the section shall be implemented to the maximum extent
that the United States Constitution and federal law permit. Any
provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of
this section.

This section applies only to action taken after the effective date of
this section.

This section does not invalidate any court order or consent decree that
is in force as of the effective date of this section.
------------------------

"Can you relate? We living in a police state." -Dead Prez
Okay, there are way too many things going on the US around the police and communities of color that make me real concerned. Two recent events in particular. The first, is the beating of Nathaniel Jones last week. The tape has been made public and shows the struggle between Jones and Cincinatti officers. Jones' body has tested positive for narcotics. Many are asking, "is not really was the beating justified?" Rather the question is more about how much force is too much force?

The second issue with the police is the recent Supreme Court decision about the 20 second between knocking and door bashing. Okay, here's the rationale with drug suspects waiting longer than 20 seconds they can flush their product down the drain. Number 1, if police are going to kick down the door, wouldn't you imagine that the dealer would have more product than could be flushed in 20 seconds?

Aight, more local stuff later.

Guess who's bizzackl, nah it ain't Face or none of those cats, it's me. So I've been running around the country so I've mised a lot of local dish, but here is my recap of stuff that mattered for the past week and change and or should matter in the near future.
An agreement between the University and GEO has been reached. Below is the snippet of the official GEO statement:
Sisters and Brothers,

I write with the good news that last night we ratified a settlement
on
our health care grievance. Under this settlement:

1. GradCare premiums will NOT be increased in 2004.
2. GradCare Level 2 (for people away from Ann Arbor) will cover
maternity care.
3. People choosing other plans (MCare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, etc)
will pay the increased premiums previously established by the U.
4. Those who wish to change to GradCare may do so by submitting a new
enrollment form to Benefits by December 15.
5. People who miss this deadline, but still wish to switch, will
still
be able to up to March 1, 2004, by a still-to-be-determined method.

Complete information, and updates, will be available at the GEO website .

But in case you missed it Aubrey Henrietta published an editorial entitled, "The union that cried wolf: GEO’s fairy-tale folly." The editorial though short, definitely ruffled some feathers. Today's Daily features a battery of responses. They pretty much cover all the bases, but I was more amused by the editorial by Jon Ochemanek. If I wasn't lazy and the editorial was well thought out I would respond by complining figures on undergraduate debt and then projected accumulated debt in PhD programs, which most GSIs are and then we can discuss what the compensation is for with GSiing. Now it is one thing for someone to work to pay for school, but working there remain a large number of privleged students whose only job is it cover beer money. Doesn't Michigan teach critical thinking anymore?

Now onto stuff that actually matters:
This week is Aids in Black and Brown Week at University of Michigan. The event concentrates on HIV and AIDS in the Latino and Black communities. A full list of events in provided below here from the CAAS website.
Check out some of these events, they are designed for our communities and will enlighten us about what we need to do throughout the diaspora to get this deadly virus under control!

There are also a number of events that will likely be of interest to people including the following:
"History of Native Americans at the University of Michigan"

Tuesday, December 2nd
Angel Hall Aud C
7:30-9:00pm
This event features commentaries and information on U of M's secret societies such as Michigamua, Phoenix, and the Vulcans.

Congressman John Dingell will hold a community forum on Tuesday at 7pm. The event will be held from 7-9pm and will be in the Pendelton Room of the Union. It is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Area Committee for Peace, The College
Democrats, and Anti-War Action.

On a national tip, Vanguard Media the company responsible for Savoy, Heart and Soul, and Honey filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy! This may not concern a lot of people but as far as magazines go these ones were pretty progressive and aimed at the expanding Black community concerned with health and upward mobility (for lack of a better term). The loss, or at best postponement of young good Black media, continues to occur.

And since I'm still stuffed on turkey from Turkey day I figured I'd include a commentary from Black Commentator on "Thanksgiving, " aka Thankstaking to some. It's a great long essay.
Aight, that's all for now!

The Black Slate (the list of candidates that the Black Student Union has decided to endorse) is as follows:
Katherine McGee
Paul Spurgeon
Laban King
Ashley Whitfield
Charles Adside
Breeana Hare
Jessica Perkins

Voting is not open online here.

The website for the upcoming LSA Theme Semester on Brown v. Board of Education: 50 Year Commomeration is up. Check it out here!

And while you are at it, check of the MLK Symposium site, which will be adding more stuff shortly, about the upcoming 2004 Martin Luther King Symposium entitled, "Still Separate? Still Unequal?: Brown v. Board of Education 50 years later..."

Well we know that the conservatives keep attacking admissions, summer programs, and now they have finally made it to outreach programs. This Washington Post article describes Amherst's process of recruitment of high-performing students of color and its recent decision to open the recruitment to low-income Whites. Don't they ever stop? Imagine had the people who quest for "civil rights and equal opportunity," please read as "civil rights advocating conservatives," had fought for King's vision of civil rights in the 1960s ... wait then who would have been there to fight against King? Hey, just wanted to remind all the conservatives, even Trent Lott now supports Affirmative Action and civil rights. LOL!

Speaking of admissions and the like, the LSA Admissions Advisory Committee has begun meeting. If you are like me, you are wondering what the heck the LSA Admissions Advisory Committee is, like to know, here you go:
CHARGE TO LSA ADMISSIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
October 2003

Preamble:

The Mission Statement of the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions declares that its goal is to “enroll and graduate applicants who will develop and grow educationally and personally and will contribute to the University community. To that end, the role of the Undergraduate Admissions Office is to recruit, admit, and encourage enrollment of applicants who are academically excellent, accomplished in extracurricular endeavors, and broadly diverse. It is the University’s experience and judgment that this mix of students will foster the vibrant educational atmosphere that provides the best educational experience for all students.”

The College of LSA endorses and supports this view and has found the Admissions Office to be an important ally in its educational mission. Indeed, we are deeply impressed with the quality of students admitted to the College year after year. Nonetheless, it has been some time since LSA has taken a comprehensive look at the instructions the College gives to the Admissions Office regarding the criteria for admission to the College. It has been a similarly long time since the faculty have had an opportunity for thoughtful input into defining their own continuing role in this important effort. The need to revise our admission procedures provides us with an exciting opportunity to consider these issues.

The role of the LSA Admissions Advisory Committee, therefore, will be to:

• Develop an understanding of the incoming class we want to accept into LSA keeping in mind the wide range of disciplines we teach and, therefore, types of student we seek.

• Review previous and current admissions and recruitment policies, procedures, and documents to determine the areas where they did or did not produce desired results.

• Recommend means that should be used to achieve our goals and criteria to measure them.

• Recommend ways for faculty to be involved in the LSA admissions process.

The Committee will be expected to consult with the Admissions Office; receive comments from faculty, staff, and students in LSA, where relevant; compare our procedures, policies, and documents with those of our peer institutions; and take up additional questions and issues as needed. At all times the Committee will keep in mind our goal of a student body that is both academically outstanding and broadly diverse.

The committee should plan to prepare a report for the LSA Executive Committee on these issues by March 1, 2004.

The members of the committee are as follows:

Tania Brown, LSA Junior, Sociology
Stephen Darwall, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the LSA Honors Program
Philip Hanlon, Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean for Budget and Planning
Sharon Herbert, Professor of Classical Studies and Director of the Kelsey Museum
James Jackson, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies
David Matz, LSA Junior, Political Science
Maria Montoya, Associate Professor of History and Director of Latino Studies in the Program in American Culture
Esrold Nurse, Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs
Robert Owen, Professor of Geological Sciences and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Rebecca Scott, Professor of History and Law
Thomas Weisskopf, Professor of Economics and Director of the Residential College

Meanwhile....
This Friday at 7:30pm in the Rackham Auditorium Angela Davis will speak. Here talk is entitled, "How Gender Structures the Prison Industrial Complex." If you an be there, be there. I wonder are the conservakids who wanted Davis' name removed from the lounges in Markley going to be there talking trash? I would like to hear an exchange between Davis and a semi-informed agitator about her life's past!

Back to national, I have no rhyme or reason for the way I'm posting today. My Mets are in a heap of trouble, well actually Bill Singer! Singer, the new Mets super scout, made racially derogatory comments, if you can even call them comments, to Kim Ng of the LA Dodgers. This story still highlights how the APIA community is still considered outsiders, regardless of how deeply rooted in America they are.

The Washington Post has an interesting piece on the use of the term "lynching" as a political technique by Zell Miller of Mississippi and conservatives. I hadn't really thought about its continued use since Clarence Thomas' infamous "high-tech lynching" statement.

Ught oh, A Phi A, hazing is not a good thing. Good luck out of this one!

Yesterday, a protest in Philly was held to raise awareness about curriculum and African-centered studies. The protest called for a public school student walk-out, which it was unsuccessful in achieving, but obviously the issue got some visibility.

Aight, like Big Boi said, "...food for thought, now eat..."

For some reason, the recent incidents in Hamtramck have not been largely publicized, to my knowledge. On Wednesday, a African-American student was beaten by Arab-American students in a racial conflict that apparently has been brewing since the beginning of the school year. On Friday, the school held a closed meeting to discuss the racial tensions between African-Americans and Arab-American students. Note: I am referring to Arab-American students as a group because the incident has become racialized. The impetus for the latest clash was over Ramadan, which is Islamic, not practiced by all people of Arab descent.

Oh, I forgot Slick Rick is FREE!!!! MC Ricky D is back among the free, well at least those who are not locked in a cage. Like a wise man often tells me, Ellison once wrote, "When I discover who I am, I will finally be free.” One.