Uptown Notes

It’s been a long time…. since I’ve last left you: there have been no new wars (that’s actually a surprise), a failed Black Scholar House, my dissertation idea blasted out of water, packing for a move and the graduating of a tremendous group of seniors. So I’ll tell you about the stuff that you probably care about, you know the Black stuff happening at Michigan ;)

The Black Scholar House was conceived by Dhani Jones, a U of M Alum and current Philadelphia Eagle. While at U of M (1996-2000) Dhani was a member of the Alphas and one of the co-founders of HEADS. Upon my arrival, immediately after Dhani’s departure, I was told about the “Scholar House.” The Scholar House was to be a place of residence and academic excellence. A place where Black students, as it was told to me- Black males, who were serious about erudition would be located, an unprecedented occurrence at U of M. We all know the Trotter House is certainly less than what it needs to be- to say the least. I remember this was one of the things that I looked forward to as a new member of HEADS and a new member of the Black Community. Over the years, the discussion of the house faded from conversation, but I always waited to hear anything about it. Having never met Dhani, I gathered info second and third hand. During the month of March, word came down that Dhani was looking to close on a house near campus for this Black Scholar House. I immediately went over to take a look at it, didn’t get to go in, but it was really nice from the outside. The day that was talked about for all details to be finalized was May 1. Well somewhere between the end of March and May 1, a lot of issues arose.

To be as objective as possible, the interests of a number of folks came into play: campus organizations, teams, personal interests, and Dhani’s interests as a landlord. The end result is best summarized in the letter below that Dhani recently sent to be distributed to the Black Community at U of M. One day Dhani, we will carpe diem…

Dear Students:

I appreciate you all attending the mass meeting last Monday April 19,

2004 about the Black Scholar House. Taking time to understand the

dynamic of the campus, the students, the community and after pondering

over the discussions and some of the issues that were brought to light

at this meeting I have decided to postpone my purchase of the property of the

Black Scholar House, and put my efforts and energy into laying a solid

foundation for my vision for the house. Your suggestions have

prompted me to put together a student, faculty and staff advisory panel that

will help to shape and sustain my vision for the house. Also, I am researching

the house’s relationship to the University with respect to resources and

facility management issues. In addition, I will be pursuing outside financial

resources in order to have an endowment set up for the house so that

it will be able to be maintained throughout the years.

Carpe Diem…

Besides the Scholar House, the Black Community also held the annual Black Celeb. For all who do not know, this is not the Black graduation, this is a celebration of U of M’s Black graduates. Graduation happens earlier in the day, simple idea…okay, let’s move on. While graduates were having their names called, Philip Morgan did something that has never been done, he proposed marriage to his girlfriend on stage. Congratulations.