May 2001 - November 2001
October 2001:
Resolution on the Search for a New University President
Whereas, The University of Michigan Regents are presently conducting a search
for the University's next president.
Whereas, students' concerns and interests should be of vital importance in the
selection of the next president.
Whereas, defending the University's affirmative action policies will be a
major responsibility of the next president.
Whereas, the President of the University of Michigan plays a role in
administering many University departments that affect student rights,
including the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Student Conflict
Resolution, University Housing, Information Technology Division, and others.
Whereas, the President of the university is expressly charged with approving
amendments to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, formerly
the Code of Student Conduct.
Therefore be it resolved, the Michigan Student Assembly calls on the Regents
to conduct a search process that includes genuine and full student
involvement. The search process must be open to the full involvement and
participation of MSA and all student groups.
Therefore be it further resolved, MSA calls on the Regents to consider only
those candidates to succeed President Lee Bollinger who maintain the
commitment of the Bollinger administration to defending the University's
affirmative action policies all the way to the US Supreme Court.
Therefore be it finally resolved, MSA will send copies of this resolution to
the Regents and to the Michigan Daily.
Sponsors: Jessica Curtin, Agnes Aleobua, Suzanne Perkins-Hart, Leena Soman,
Monique Luse, Robert Goodspeed, Michael Simon
September 25, 2001:
Resolution to Support the Green Armband Campaign
Whereas, the Green Arm Band Campaign was initiated at a mass anti-war meeting
at the University of California Berkeley this last week to show solidarity
with Arab-American, Muslim and Middle Eastern Students.
Whereas, this campaign can help reduce the hostility of the environment at the
University of Michigan for Arab-American and Muslim students.
Whereas, the Green Arm Band Campaign includes green arm bands and the
following two-point pledge:
I oppose scapegoating—I stand in solidarity with Arab, Muslim, and Middle
Eastern people. I will speak out against scapegoating and offer to escort and
come to the aid of any Arab, Muslim or Middle Eastern person facing racist
harassment or attacks.
Therefore be it resolved, the Michigan Student Assembly will officially
support the Green Arm Band Campaign and provide $100 to the Community Service
Commission for green cloth to University of Michigan students who wish to
participate in this campaign.
Sponsors: Jessica Curtin, Suzanne Perkins-Hart
Failed 3-20-4
September 25, 2000:
Resolution to Sign on to the “Petition to Support the University of Michigan
Affirmative Action Cases”
Whereas, the Michigan Student Assembly has stood by the University in the face
of this legal attack, has supported the student defendant interventions and
has supported various forms of student involvement in these two historic legal
cases. Many member of the University community attended part of the Law School
trial this past winter, including some MSA representatives. Senior LS&A
representative Erika Dowdell was the lead witness for the student intervenors
in the trial.
Whereas, the appeal of the two University of Michigan affirmative action
lawsuits, Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger, will be heard Tuesday,
October 23, 2001 in the Federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati,
Ohio. The 6th Circuit includes Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. A loss
in the U of M cases at the appeals court would mean the immediate banning
affirmative action in higher education in these four states.
Whereas, a “Petition to Support the University of Michigan Affirmative Action
Cases” is being circulated on campuses and in communities across the country
to express the public support for affirmative action and integration in higher
education. (see petition language attached) The petitions will be presented to
the court on the day the appeal is heard.
Whereas, many local, regional and national student, civil rights and labor
organizations have signed on to the petition. The petition has already been
supported by thousands, including: leaders at U of M, Lee Bollinger, Jeffrey
Lehman, Royster Harper, and many UM department heads; national political,
civil rights and labor leaders, Jesse Jackson, Congressman John Conyers, David
Bonior, (AFL-CIO president) John Sweeney, (UAW International President)
Stephen Yokich; and national entertainers such as Tavis Smiley and director
John Singleton.
Whereas, the legality of any and all measures designed to offset patterns of
inequality and discrimination in our society will likely be determined by the
outcome of the two cases against our University.
Therefore be it resolved, the Michigan Student Assembly signs on to the
“Petition to Support the University of Michigan Affirmative Action Cases.”
Sponsors: Jessica Curtin, Suzanne Perkins-Hart
Failed 11-12-4; Roll call—Yes: Reza Breakstone, Jessica Curtin, Erika Dowdell,
Rob Goodspeed, Nisha Kapadia, Suzanne Perkins-Hart, Priya Sehgal, Emina
Sendijarevic, Chris Sheehan, Chris Wilcox, Edgar Zapata No: Peter Apel, David
Goldman, Greg Hayes, Fadi Kiblawi, Alexis Marz, Rich Mestdagh, Josh Samek,
John Simpson, Zach Slates, Francesca Vitale, Dean Wang, Matt Nolan Abstain:
Sarah Boot, Jacqueline Chavis, Ken Stewart, Brandon Suever
September 25, 2001:
Resolution Against War Hysteria
Whereas, in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon, there is a general tendency toward war hysteria in
the news media and on the part of some politicians.
Whereas, this war hysteria has included threats of “going to war with” and
“real war” with Afghanistan, Iran or Iraq, Arab or Islamic nations in the most
volatile region in the world.
Whereas, a retaliatory escalation by the US military will escalate the hate of
the US and worsen an already bad situation.
Whereas, this context of war hysteria inevitably means the threat of Attacks
on Arab, Islamic and Middle Eastern students at the University of Michigan.
Whereas, the news media have already begun actively promoting discussion of
the supposed desirability of abridging civil liberties in the US.
Therefore be it resolved, the Michigan Student Assembly declares its
opposition to war hysteria in response to the attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon.
Therefore be it finally resolved, MSA will send letters to both the Michigan
Daily and the Ann Arbor News to do our part in opposing this potentially very
dangerous kind of response to these attacks.
Sponsors: Jessica Curtin, Suzanne Perkins-Hart
Failed 5-21-6
May 6, 2001:
Resolution in Solidarity with Student Struggles at Pennsylvania State
University, the University of Florida, Harvard, and Yale
Whereas, Over the past two weeks important student struggles have begun on
several campuses across the country, including Pennsylvania State University,
the University of Florida, Harvard, and Yale. The students are fighting over
issues of racism and workers’ rights. Students involved in the demonstrations,
marches, and building occupations on these campuses have asked for support and
solidarity from students on other campuses.
Whereas, On Tuesday, April 24th, thousands of students at Pennsylvania State
University rallied against racism in response to a series of racist death
threats. A letter sent to a lack Caucus leader threatened her personally and
said that the body of a young black man would be found in the nearby woods.
Since the receipt of the letter the bodies of two black men have been found.
Racist or threatening mail or emails have been received by black students,
athletes, the president of the undergraduate student government, a trustee
board member, and the parents of athletes. At least 68 students received a
racist email. Hundreds of students are currently occupying a student center
called the HUB in a show of solidarity. Demands of the students to change the
climate on the campus and increase minority students’ access to education
include establishing an “Africana Studies Research Institute”, hiring 10
tenured faculty members by 2002-03, increased scholarships, and a mandatory
course on race.
Whereas, On April 6th, 500 University of Florida students marched against
racism. The march was in response to several racist and bigoted incidents on
the campus including a white fraternity that held an “Asian Theme” party where
men dressed as Army GIs and women dressed Vietnamese prostitutes, the spray
painting of racial epithets on the side of the Institute of Hispanic-Latino
Cultures, and the theft and destruction of a banner put up by gay and lesbian
student for PRIDE Awareness Month. Organizers and speakers at the rally
included Latino, Asian American, black, gay, and white students.
Whereas, At Harvard, dozens of students have occupied the first floor of
Massachusetts Hall, the building where the university president has his
office. They are demanding a living wage of $10.25 for campus workers, some of
whom make as little as $7 per hour at one of the richest universities in the
world. The sit-in is believed to be the longest building occupation ever
staged at Harvard and is supported by dozens of other students camping in tens
outside the building. The sit-in follows a two-year long campaign on the
campus for a living wage for campus workers. The Harvard administration is
refusing to negotiate with the students sitting in. The students have also
received support from 100 faculty members at Harvard, both US Senators from
Massachusetts, and the City Council of Cambridge.
Whereas, At Yale, hundreds of graduate students are protesting the Yale
administrations’ opposition to their efforts to unionize. The graduate
students are attempting to form a union of graduate student instructors and
workers. They are calling on the administration to recognize their efforts to
unionize through a “card-count”, in which an employer recognizes a union when
a majority of the workers sign union membership cards. The students are
supported by members of Yale’s clerical, maintenance, and hospital workers.
Whereas, The Michigan Student Assembly has repeatedly taken stands against
racism and for workers’ rights.
Therefore be it resolved, The Summer Assembly stands in solidarity with
students struggling at Pennsylvania State University, the University of
Florida, Harvard, and Yale.
Therefore be it resolved, The Summer Assembly will help publicize the
struggles at the above campuses to students on the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, campus and other campuses nationally.
Therefore be it resolved, The Summer Assembly invites all students involved in
these struggles to attend the National Student/Youth Conference to Defend
Affirmative Action & Integration and Struggle for Equality and to discuss the
struggles on their campuses at the conference.
Therefore be it resolved, President Matt Nolan and Jessica Curtin will deliver
copies of this resolution to protestors and student government leaders at
Pennsylvania State, the University of Florida, Harvard, and Yale, and to the
Michigan Daily and the Ann Arbor News.
Sponsored by: Jessica Curtin
Passed, Summer Assembly, 5-2-1 on 5/6/01
April 2001:
Resolution in Defense of Integration and Affirmative Action at U of M
Whereas, On Tuesday, March 27, 2001 US District Court Judge Bernard Friedman
made a sweeping anti-affirmative action ruling against the University of
Michigan Law School’s affirmative action policy.
Whereas, A stay has been obtained in this decision, and the case will be
appealed to the 6th District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
Whereas, On Thursday, March 29, 2500 students rallied against the decision of
Judge Friedman and in support of affirmative action and integration. Jesse
Jackson addressed students at the rally, calling on them to take their
historic place in the fight for civil rights by fighting to defend affirmative
action.
Whereas, At the March 29 rally the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action,
Integration, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) and Jesse
Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition jointly announced a call for a National
Student Conference to be held at the University of Michigan this spring and
for a National March on Washington to be held next fall to defend integration
and affirmative action.
Therefore be it resolved, The Michigan Student Assembly reaffirms its
long-standing commitment to the fight to defend affirmative action and
integration and defend the University of Michigan’s affirmative action policy.
We support the appeal of this case to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in
Cincinnati.
Therefore be it resolved, MSA signs on to the “Statement in Opposition to the
Anti-Affirmative Action Court Decision” (see attached)
Therefore be it resolved, MSA will help organize for the National Student
Conference to be held at the University of Michigan this spring, and the
National March on Washington to be held in October 2001.
Therefore be it resolved, MSA representatives Erika Dowdell and Jessica Curtin
will send copies of this resolution and the “Statement in Opposition to the
Anti-Affirmative Action Court Decision” to Judge Bernard Friedman, to the 6th
Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, and to the US Supreme Court, to
President Lee Bollinger, the Regents of the University of Michigan, the
Michigan Daily, the Ann Arbor News, the Detroit News and Free Press, the New
York Times, and the Associated Press.
Sponsors: Erika Dowdell and Jessica Curtin
Passed—27 for, 7 against, 0 abstaining.