Attend the UMF Regents Meeting this Thursday at 3:00pm -Please Pass Along- To: In 1971, University of Michigan-Flint’s student organization, Students for Black Action expressed severe concerns over the lack of racial representation in the faculty body, student admits, the curriculum and in the ranks of decision makers on the campus in general. This movement, helped to spur the creation of the Department of African-American Studies, currently known as the Department of Africana Studies. As those students graduated and moved on to their lifeclong endeavors, attention to matters of racial equity quelled and things settled back into their normal routine. In 1990, a group of students representing the campus group, Students for Black Achievement, approached the University administration to articulate their frustration over the lack of racial representation in the faculty body, student admits, the curriculum and in the ranks of decision makers on the campus in general. (Please see attached) The resultant of these discussions was the creation of the Alvin D. Loving Cultural Center on campus and the initialization of “Student Ambassadors” to visit local schools with University recruitment officers. As those students graduated and moved on to their lifelong endeavors, attention to matters of racial equity quelled and things settled back into their normal routine. In 2014, a group of students representing an array of multicultural student organizations, engaged the University administrators to tackle social justice issues such as lack of representation in the faculty body, student admits, the curriculum and in the ranks of decision makers on the campus in general. The outcome of this dialogue was a trip for a number of students to attend a national conference on social justice and the creation of a post for an intercultural director. Many of those students are on the precipice of graduating and moving on to their lifelong endeavors. We could anticipate that the institutions’ attention to matters of racial equity will quell and the University will, once again, settle into their normal routine… …Unless, the community calls the University out on this pattern of giving the “illusion of inclusion”, and picks up where generations of students have left off. Systemic changes in the culture of the UNIVERSITY REQUIRE more than band aid fixes to critical wounds. Unfortunately, words of promise, however well intentioned, have historically served to assuage the knell of systemic change until the furor has passed. Chancellor Borrego has verbally acknowledged an understanding of the shortcomings of the institution and has pledged to make the University a better place for students of color, students from low socio-economic backgrounds and other challenging circumstances. Yet, the words of any institution must be balanced by action. It is the responsibility of the community that the institution resides in and utilizes resources from, to demand and check for this accountability. The statistics below emphasize the point further. Students in the districts that comprise most of the city are not accounted for in ADMISSION, retention or completion. Likewise, professors and high-level administrators of color are like purple flying unicorns; wished for but never seen. We are demanding a tangible commitment from the University system to: 1. Strengthen recruitment and admission efforts in Flint, Beecher and Westwood Heights by 10% yearly until the demographics of the campus more closely mirror those of the city. 2. IMPROVE retention and completion rates by 6% yearly for African-American and Latino students until they are on par with their white peers. 3. Institutionalize the Department of Educational Opportunity Initiatives by investing financially in its maintenance and growth while seeking their expertise on matters of student inclusion and support. (EOI relies on outside grants and funders for 70% of its operational and programmatic budget). 4. Recruit and maintain more faculty of color in EVERY department. 5. Seek out and obtain executive level administrators of color 6. Stabilize the Department of Africana Studies so that it may continue to serve students well into the future. 6. Make cultural competency and student equity the way the University does business by requiring social justice trainings and community engagement through all levels of institutional hierarchy. 7. Prioritize community engagement and cultural competency by including it in the tenure process for Professors in EVERY department. 8. Convene a community liaison committee comprised of grassroots leaders and everyday residents to advise the Chancellor on a consistent basis (monthly or bi-monthly). Please continue writing and copying the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor President on your correspondence. Also, join us on Thursday, October 16th@ 3:00pm in the Riverfront Center in Flint for the UM Board of Regents meeting. (If you have not already REGISTERED to comment at the meeting, you may do so by visiting the link below. Deadline line to REGISTER is 9am on Wednesday Oct. 15th.) regents.umich.edu/meetings/publform.html A display of community solidarity will speak volumes to those in charge of the institution and show our children that we believe in unfettered access to opportunities and supports for their success. We don’t have the luxury of letting these matters fade quietly into the distant night wind. Sincerely, Dawn Demps, c/o 2009
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 23:43:30 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015