UM vs. Duke--Symbolism in the NYTimes

Happy Shooter has obviously had a negative experience at best tangentially related to my point.  I think Blueintheface started to explain it but let me just break it down: 

1.  People in this thread have taken exception to the author of the article calling Michigan a "White school."  

2.  I thought it was funny that people would think that Michigan is anything other than a White school, seeing as how over 60% of the student body is White and the mainstream culture, campus and activities are all  geared towards things most likely to interest a White person.  

3.  I realize that the connotation of calling a school a "white" school may offend some people, but the reality is the reality.  Everyone else at Michigan is a minority by a large margin, with Asians making up the largest group with 11% of the student body.  And if we are specifically talking about African Americans, I'm too lazy to look up Ann Arbor, but I'd imagine that the communities surrounding the school are 90+% White until you get 10 minutes down Packard or out toward Ypsi.  

IMO, it doesn't take away from the efforts of the University or the students and student groups therein.  For me, going to Michigan was a HUGE culture shock.  And I love Michigan because through it all I felt that Michigan loved me back.  My White counterparts weren't always as welcoming as I would have liked, but the world isn't a cuddly friendly place.  Not to mention, more than the difference in pigmentation was the difference in culture.  I'm sure seeing me in Jordans, Girbauds and big jewelry was just as much of a shock for some of the students as it was for me to see everyone with Starbucks cups, Uggs, Northface jackets, thong sandals and cargo pants.  As I grew as a person and a member of the community, my experience changed.  I look in my closet and literally lol at some of the things I used to wear.  But it was all part of my learning process and I love Ann Arbor and Michigan for helping and allowing me to grow.  IMO, calling Michigan a White school should offend the non-white students more than the White students/alums.  I say that only because it effectively leaves us out of the equation.  But then again, a person of the majority culture may not realize just how dominant their culture is because they don't think of their culture as the other.  Imagine living in mexicantown as a White person.  For a minority, that is how Ann Arbor and Michigan are if they didn't grow up in majority culture except much larger.   I agree that the terms "majority institution" or "predominately white school" are more PC, but really, they all mean the same thing as "white school."  

I've enjoyed the discussion.  One thing I love about MGoBlog is the intelligence of the community and the ability to have all kinds of discussions.  As I said before, I've been reading for years, just never commented.