Uptown Notes

Thankfully, yesterday the Michigan House voted down the attempt to bring the Death penalty back to Michigan on the November ballot. The only way that this measure will get on the ballot is if they do a signature campaign and receive 300,000 signatures (sound familiar?).

Speaking of signature campaigns, you may have noticed emails yesterday going out about a cross burning in Macomb and an incident of racial intimidation at EMU in which a student was greeted at her door by someone in green klan regalia and these being a result of the Michigan ballot initiative. This may be a rare possibility, but of course this would mean that the KKK was really organized in the state, which maybe possible but still not likely in these cases. In Macomb there is rumor that the Macomb police were involved in the burning of the cross (also not that people are failing to mention that the couple is interracial) and at EMU whoever came to the door was most likely local. There is no one on security cams and no one has suggested anything suspicious who was on duty. These two possible Klan activities were likely more localized actions than coordinated in response to the MCRI. I really think assuming that this is the catalyst would be a leap of logic. And because I’m always interested in a good conspiracy theory, I could even go with them coming about in response to the police slaying in Detroit, speaking of which…After three weeks of hours arrest, the Joe Louis fist vandals Brett Cashman and John Price, are free until their trial goes to Wayne County Court. Let’s not forget that at the base of the fist they left picture of the slain officers and “courtesy of fighting whities.” Also, let’s not forget they allege it was a political statement, not racism …. uh, no comment!

And I gotta stop posting now, because I gotta do some work, but before I go. Yesterday the Regents meeting was greeted with a lot of protest and seemed to definitely impact some Regents views. I prefer Rob Goodspeed’s report of it, but you can also read this Daily article if you want. BE ALERT, MORE STUFF TO COME!

The Daily printed a letter that was speared by Monique Perry on the Trotter proposal that features a laundry list of names from the MSA President to lil old me!

Below is announcement for what looks like a great event!

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES

PRESENTS

FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES

ON AFRICAN AMERICAN

AND NATIVE AMERICAN

REPARATIONS

OPEN FORUM

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

ANGELL HALL

AUDITORIUM B

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

7PM – 9:30PM

SPEAKERS:

ADJOA AIYETORO, N’COBRA

PATRICIA ALLARD, N’COBRA

WILLETTA DOLPHUS (LAKOTA), BOARDING SCHOOL HEALING PROJECT

SARAH DEER (MUSCOGEE) TRIBAL LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE

ALISA BIERRIA, COMMUNITIES AGAINST RAPE AND ABUSE

ANDREA SMITH (CHEROKEE), UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

MODERATOR:

ANDREA RITCHIE, INCITE! WOMEN OF COLOR AGAINST VIOLENCE

This forum will address some of the analysis and strategies that might

develop when one centers African American and Native American women within

reparations struggle. That is, one of the human rights violations

perpetrated by state policy in the forms of slavery and boarding schools

has been sexual violence perpetrated by both slave masters and boarding

school officials. However, continuing effect of this human rights

violation has been the internalization of sexual and other forms of gender

violence within African and Native American communities. Can a reparations

framework speak to the specific types of harms that women of color have

suffered? If so, how? Are there demands around reparations for the types

of continuing effects of human rights violations that are evidenced by

violence within communities, but are nonetheless colonial

legacies? Furthermore, how can an analysis that frames gender violence as

a continuing effect of human rights violations perpetrated by state policy

challenge the mainstream anti-domestic/sexual violence movement to directly

challenge state-sponsored sexual violence as central to its work?

for more information: Andrea Smith, 734-231-1845

co-sponsors: CAAS, Native American Students Association, Institute for

Research on Women and Gender, Women’s Studies, Detroit Chapter National

Lawyer’s Guild, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, LSA Research and

Graduate Studies, Black Law Students Association, National Lawyers Guild (U

of Michigan Law School)

As a continuation of yesterday’s surreal editorial, the Daily today printsthe Trotter House badly in need of ‘U’-funded repairs. At some point, I still want to know if the Daily really thinks that the U is going to just decide to dedicate money despite the continued pressure from community members for years.

And the Daily continues on its tear of not providing solutions but suggestions resolutions are a bad idea. This time the resolution is about bias incidents. Geez, you know verbally or physically harassing someone is so “60s” good thing it doesn’t happen any more! Don’t allow anyone discretion, because they will certainly always err on the direction of overuse. For example, the woman at EMU, come on the man in Klan regalia could have just been trying out his Halloween costumes. Gosh, I hate political correctness. ;)

And here is a NY Times article on Brown and the search to examine the roll of slavery in their University. I know you had to jump through hopes to get to the other one.

Last Thursday at EMU, there is was an alleged incident of racial intimidation. Glennisha Morgan said she answered her door to find someone in something that resembled Klan regalia. EMU is looking into the incident though it is unlikely anything concrete will come of it. The same issues of permissible “hate speech” will remain.

In other news about free speech. A professor at my boy Andrew Van Alstyne’s alma mater Saint Lawrence University. Bob Torres, an untenured Latino Sociology professor, at SLU has recently come under a lot of fire and national attention for the views he expressed on his personal website (blog). He expressed issues with the College Republicans and Bush. He has now become a national case example of free speech and alleged attempts at “intimidation.”Here is one of his responses to the allegations. Here is a recent Wall Street Journal Op-Ed piece on it- warning it’s written by a writer for the conservative National Review. Lastly, here is the statement that the Department of Sociology released. Okay, that was a lot of links for one story!

On the local tip, the Michigan Daily publishes an opinion in opposition to the proposed 1 fee to be levied to work on the Trotter House aka the Trotter Multicultural Center. The editors reason that the resolution is simply a “stop-gap.” What they fail to mention is that the U has been “discussing” improving the Trotter House for years, but has made no significant moves beyond a consultation on revisions (NO $ HAS BEEN PUT UP). The MSA resolution would first demonstrate that students are serious about the priority of the revision and could be the start of a matched campaign for the TH. This editorial really frustrates me because they clearly did not talk to the sponsors of the resolution. How do they propose to finally get the administration to action?

Larry Elder strikes back at Aaron McGruder, creator of the Boondocks by creating The McGruder award for most outrageous statement by a black public figure. This response was spured by this McGruder comic. Well good try Larry, here’s a public announcement … you’re still not funny and young Black folks still don’t like you.

Boxes and Walls is back on! The exhibit will run from March 22-25 at Hillel. Check out the website. Tours are given priority, so find a bunch of folks and roll through!

There were two important things that occurred in Lansing yesterday. The first was the proposed gay marriage ban failed, and actually got support by 8 GOP members, miracles never cease to happen. Also, the death penalty was discussed more and the father of one of the slain officers announced plans to attempt to make the death penalty for convicted first degree murder a ballot question. Though Michigan was the first state to remove the death penalty, it is now considering running counter a growing trend of concern and opposition to the death penalty.

Daniel Adams argues that public opinion should not/will not be the harbinger of justice, especially not in the state of Michigan in his piecethe Tyranny of the Majority. Adams, though against Affirmative Action (I can forgive him. I like this editorial.), suggests that the public sentiments about race and equality have lagged behind the necessity for progressive policy. This is a really clear argument as to why letting people in “nowhere” Michigan who have no idea what “Affirmative Action” or “racial preferences” are decide on their existence. I must admit, like Saul Williams said, “Some forms of free speech make me nervous.”

Despite trouble with establishment of links between slavery and companies in earlier reparations suits, Brown’s President Ruth Simmons has opened a committee to examine Brown’s ties to slavery! The article is difficult to access because you have to register, but nonetheless it’s an interesting read!!!!