Mitch Cumstein

March 20th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^

I don't think he is arguing that the University is not making an effort to make minorities feel welcomed.  I think he is arguing that the reality of the situation is that in a community where you are culturally and racially unlike the majority of the people, you don't feel as comfortable as when you are.  I didn't really take his comments as a slight against the University's efforts or policies, more toward the inherent tendencies of current society. 

One thing, maybe I'm just being oversensitive, but personally, I felt like the use of "white school" in the article was a negative term.  Basically I felt like it was an attack on the white people at the school almost lumping everyone into a group that is closed and bigoted toward minorities.  Like I said, maybe I'm being oversensitive, but that was my initial reaction to the term in the article.

Joined: 10/02/2009

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Hail2thavictors

March 20th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^

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.  

Joined: 03/19/2011

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rockediny

March 20th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^

I don't think Michigan is a white school and I'm black. I think it's more of an Asian school based on the general population. Whites make up a majority of the population so it is expected that they would make up the majority of most universities. Michigan has taken extra steps to promote diversity and you can see that in the Asian population. My point is Michigan is less of a "white" school than most other schools.
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Hail2thavictors

March 20th, 2011 at 2:18 PM ^

I see your general point though I don't know if I'd go as far as calling it an Asian school.  I had this conversation with a lady friend of mine who went to Mizzou for undergrad and we looked up their numbers.  81.4% White currently.  Back in 02/03 it was more like 87%.  Now THAT is a "White school"!  

I would have thought their were more Asians on campus at Michigan than 11%, but perhaps it seems that way because no other group even comes close to that number.  Not to mention, there are 12.6% non-resident Aliens and I would guess that at least a few of those are of Asian decent as well.  When the next largest minority group is 4.2%, that certainly affects the perception.  By contrast, Mizzou currently has 7.2% African Americans and only 2% Asians.  The girl I was talking to is Black and she was surprised it was only 7.2%.  She said it felt like there were tons of Black people.  Maybe that is attributed to them being the largest nonwhite group like the Asians are at Michigan. 

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