The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 8, 1988 - Page 2i IDENTITY Institutional racism: BY JIM PONIEWOZIK The word "racism," for many people, conjures up images of hood- ed Ku Klux Klan mobs and racial epithets. But in recent years, people at the University and elsewhere have be- gun to speak of a new, subtler type of racism. One that flows down from societal institutions rather than out of the mouths of bigots. One that oppresses minorities by keeping them down rather than putting them down. THIS TYPE of racism is known as institutional racism. It is a term with which many are unfamiliar and few feel comfortable defining. But those who do feel it is prevalent within the University - whose structure, they say, hinders the ad- vancement of minorities, and whose academics overemphasize the teach- ings and culture of white Wester- ners. "We can all think that we live in an institution that is 'color-blind' - yet that same institution could be making assumptions... about' what is 'classic literature,"' said Law Prof. Alex Aleinikoff, a member of Fac- ulty Against Institutional Racism. FAIR was founded in summer 1987 by a group of University fac- ulty who sought to fight what they saw as a University system that sends a message to minorities - through elements such as its curric- ulum and disproportionately small representation of some minorities on staff - that they are not welcome. This message is also delivered in less obvious forms, FAIR members say. ALEINIKOFF TOLD of a classroom in the Law Quad whose walls are adorned with pictures of famous Law School alumni. "Al- most all of the pictures hanging in the classroom are white males," Al- einikoff said. "To a white male stu- dent, this may seem trivial." But to a woman or a minority student - who sees these faces ev- ery day in class - the effect can be demoralizing, and in combination with other subtle cues sent by soci- ety every day, ultimately defeating, he said. A more serious signal is the lack of minority faculty on campus. Cur- rently, 3.2 percent of University tenured and tenure-track faculty are Black. This figure, while higher than at many of the University's peer in- stitutions, is still only slightly more than one-quarter of the percentage of Blacks in America. Several student groups and faculty members have demanded the University intensify its recruitment of minority faculty. "THERE'S SO few role models that the image of the faculty says (to minorities) that 'there's not a place for people like you in this group,"'" said Barbara Ransby, a graduate student in history and member of the United Coalition Against Racism steering committee. Ransby said colleges also dis- criminate by using standards estab- lished by - and biased toward - the white middle class. One exam- ple, she said, is the University's re- liance on standardized test scores, which have been criticized by some educators as being culturally and ra- cially biased. Tests such as the SAT, Ransby said, "measure not some intrinsic thing called 'smartness,' but how much a test taker resembles and thinks like those judging the test... white, middle-class males." Thus, they place minorities at a disadvan- tage, effectively imposing a "color barrier" in admissions, she said. BUT INSTITUTIONAL racism is rooted more deeply than systems of testing, more deeply than curr- icula, even more deeply than the colleges themselves, Ransby said - our very concept of teaching is bi- ased. University classes are based on a system in which teachers dissemi- nate information to students, who passively receive it. This, she said, differs from the approach taken in Black cultural institutions - such as Black American churches - which place greater emphasis on input from the learner, and thus forces Black students to compete in an un- familiar environment. University Vice Provost for Mi- nority Affairs Charles Moody said changes within the University will have to go deeper than changes in curriculum or faculty to combat in- stitutional racism. "YOU HAVE TO change the norms, the heroes," Moody said, "so it becomes the norm... to view plu- rality and diversity as the norm of the institution rather than something outside the framework of the insti- tution." Members of FAIR plan to issue a report this fall on institutional ra- cism on campus. But although the report will include a "shopping list" of issues the group feels need to be addressed - such as minority facu- lty recruitment - FAIR member' Mark Sandler, a University librarian, said the group will probably stop short of making direct demands of University administration. But other members of the Uni- versity community have taken the fight against institutional racism further, pushing for changes in the institution through protest. While civil rights protests in decades past focused on fighting more overt discrimination, such as racial segregation, students involved in recent University protests have broadened the scope of their attacks to the establishment's structure, ra- ther than its acts or policies. LAST YEAR'S furor over re- marks made by LSA Dean Peter Steiner exemplified this wider focus. During a Sept. 17, 1987 speech to a group of LSA department heads, Steiner addressed affirmative action in minority hiring, saying: "Our challenge is not to change this University into another kind of institution where minorities would naturally flock in much greater numbers. I need not remind you that there are such institutions - includ- ing Wayne State and Howard Uni- versity." Student activists decried these remarks as racist and responded with massive protests, including a 26- hour sit-in at Steiner's office. But as the controversy over Steiner continued, the protesters be- gan to direct their complaints not merely at the dean, but at the entire University institution. Not only did the remarks reflect an anti-affirma- tive action attitude on the part of the administration, protesters charged, the predominantly-white University leadership fosters a pro-racist atmo- sphere. AFTER INTERIM University President Robben Fleming said Steiner would not be punished for his "poorly worded" remarks, UCAR member Lillien Waller said: "The fact that Steiner can proceed with impunity, if not the tacit approval of the administration, demonstrates the rampant institu- tional racism present among Uni- versity administrators." For many, the Steiner issue illus- trated a "Catch-22" of institutional racism: by the very nature of societal institutions, those with the most power to change the system are white - and thus benefit the most from the status quo. But some students, faculty, and administrators believe outside pres- sure can effect internal change. "Sometimes the impetus for change comes from outside the halls of power," said Moody, noting that student anti-racism protests in spring 1987 yielded several concessions, including the creation of the Office of Minority Affairs. RANSBY AGREED, but added it may be too much to expect to change administrators' attitudes about the institution's structure. "I don't think the present administra- tion was persuaded into making changes, I think they were pres- sured," she said. Motivating students to provide the pressure against institutional racism - as opposed to generating protests about specific issues, such as Steiner's comments - can be difficult, Ransby said. But she added that rallying students around specific causes, such as the push for a cam- pus-wide Martin Luther King holi- day, can help advance the broader cause. "The short-term campaigns will hopefully work toward that goal," she said, "...(But) that's obviously not something that's going to hap- pen next term." UM News in The Daily 764-0552 THE ECUMENICAL CAMPUS CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING -Are you interested in Global Understanding, Peacemaking and Ethics? -You are invited to visit the Ecumenical Campus Center and participate in its programs and activities including: " Fall Picnic-for new and continuing foreign students and scholars at Island Drive Park, Sunday, September 11 at noon. " Tuesday Lunch-Speakers and lunch at the Interna- tional Center, every Tuesday noon beginning Septem- ber 13 throughout the school year. Topics on current world, national and university issues. " International Dinner-Open to all foreign students and scholars on October 21 at First Presbyterian Church. For information call Nile Harper, Shirley Lewis, or Betty Cowley, at 662-5529, or visit at 921 Church Street (between Hill and Oakland Streets.) I __________________________________________ SAS ne foods Fresh ingredients Superb, Savor the possibiltie~s FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 665-0834 JACKSON RD. & 1-94 Locally Owned and Operated for Over 29 years BIG GEORGE'S Extends a warm Ann Arbor welcome to all students. . . come out and see us. Ann*Aztior H~oQLdaJN Discount Prices - EVERYDAY Supermarket of Appliance, Samsoite TV, Stereo, Video and Cameras QFF Hot Pot WEST BEND Corn Popper Seiko 40 %hes O OFF TRADITIONAL AMERICAN FOOD BLACK& Coffeemaker $11.88 2 to 6 cup heat and server, brews instant tea, cocoa, soup and other hot beverages. 0 Hot air corn popper, no oil, no mess, fast and compact, qs. inless than 3 minutes. $148 -.. iiunu in (f a; E E ( I Long life brew system, 2-12 cup capacity, easy fill from top, automatically keeps hot. DCM90. $1988 Two Slice Toaster Easy-to-use electronic control assures accurate toast color, pastry setting, snap down crumb tray. 20180. Compact Microwave '3 S V E Sharp Calculator Pocket-sized electronic calculator with memory and LCD readout. EL-233 Panasonic 9-inch 2-speed Oscillating electric fan $12.88 Space saving microwave with 15-minute timer, 475 watts, removeable glass tray, cooking guide on front panel. JE3. $77 00 Full feature telephone Wal mount* adapter - included N~i a .. - ,- Fine Photography Dept. 10% OFF Chemicals& Paper (also other selected photo items) NAME SCHOOL Pushbutton pulse dialing with audible feedback 2lighted keypad, busy number red ial button, extra long cord. 2-9100. $19.88 ACE Sardwars 1-) Big Gejorge's Reporda Call STUDENT ID# Stadium Blvd. . wGeo 19SW.STADIUM BLVD. ,: M-F 10-9; Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-5 4 -- * 665-8653 z Canon * Hasselblad * Kodak Minolta * Nikon * Olympus g McDonald's One button AutoCommand beeperless remote telephone answering system with electronic program center, two standard cassetes. 3000. $12500 I I I ~ D-,~.-A.. I