PERSPECTIVES The Michigan Daily Thursday, October 6, 1988 Page5 Maize and blue BY DONNA IADIPAOLO I remember applying to this grand old University as a senior in high school. Wow, I thought, I might be going to the same college where the Wolverines play football. You know, the college where the spirit of "brotherhood" and the team spirit of achievement live on. And then I was accepted to the University. I was so excited. To be a part of this great collegiate football history. "Let's go Blue!" Just like everybody else, I ordered my football tickets and left my Sat- urdays free so I could stand in Michigan Stadium and sing "Hail to the Victors". Such a rich tradition. My roommate and I even deco- rated our South Quad room in the patriotic colors. (I remember setting aside an entire day just to look in New York Carpet World for a piece of carpet the exact right shade of blue). And, of course, I dressed up on game day - complete with shoelaces with printed "M's" and my face col- ored with paint. But looking back, I am now dis- gusted by my blind patriotism. It's even hard for me to admit that I actually did all this. After attending a couple games as a first-year student I sold my tickets and vowed to never attend another game. I had overcome the Maize and Blue patriotism. I think many of you might be able to admit to it. Patriotism is that great self-righteous feeling we all hide behind so we can deny the exis- tence of all all those great evils. You know, let's not even talk in conver- sation about all those "-ism's." Shhhh - racism, sexism, elitism, classism... patriotism. Looking back, I think that's what disturbed me most as a naive first- year student. Certain absurdities at this University, and where the priorities always seemed to fall. Athletics. Specifically male-ath- letics. Specifically football. Of course, I'm sure most are aware of the exorbitant amounts of money spent on football compared to the support needed in the dying hu- nanities. And I'm also sure we can all rec- ognize how ludicrous is the fierce- -ness in our recruitment of athletes compared to the less intense efforts for minority students. But there is something even more disturbing. Something that can be categorized within those same "- isms-" Institutionalism. You know, all those brilliant minds that actually run this Univer- sity. The regents, the Dude... and the athletic directors. Perhaps this institutionalism can .be best understood if we can under- stand the mentality of one of the *current athletic directors here at the ,grand old University. And maybe even my reasons for no longer being so patriotic toward this University can be better under- stood. Monday I spoke with the As- gociate Director for the Athletics De- partment, Don Lund. . I was talking with him about Michigamua - an all-male "honor society" - which has been under some controversy for the past ten years. (By the way, this "honor society" is not academically orientated. Mostly athletes make up this group; at times some members have even been known to be on academic probation.) Anyway, the controversy with Michigamua stems from reports cit- ing the organization as depicting Na- tive Americans in a offensive man- ner. I was interviewing Lund about Michigamua because he is a member of their "Old Braves Council". (This so called "Old Braves Council" is supposed to serve as an advisory committee for the changing membership of Michigamua.) The group allegedly violated a 1973 civil rights ruling that stated Michigamua was to "eliminate all public rights on campus" because they were practicing "unlawful dis- crimination" against Native Ameri- cans. So I'm talking over the phone with Lund, and he starts to get off the subject a bit after I ask him whether or not alleged violations did occur by Michigamua. "Donna, have you ever even been to a football game?" he asked. He seemed irritated by the line of ques- tions and told me that Mike Dames was the current president of the orga- nization and Mark Mesner the current secretary. You know, all-star football players. I really didn't see the relationship to my question, or football. "Well no." I said meekly. "But, I used to," I enthusiastically answered back. "You used to. (pause) I see," Lund said. Suddenly I was made to feel in- complete. What was I missing? Was this some kind of required extra-cur- ricular activity I didn't know about? Why was it that I stopped going to these games which I once became so excited about? Why had I stopped wearing my maize and blue gar- ments. Why could I no longer re- member the words to "Hail to the Victors"... why didn't I care? Was he trying to make me feel unpatriotic? God, I hope so. Re- member, activism is one of those "- isms" that administrators would rather not deal with. You know, those damn idealistic students. Then I remembered some of the more immediate reasons following my departure as a patriot. "I stopped going because I was sick of the fights that always broke out around me," I told him. "I was sick and tired of people falling all over me." I remembered those days well. Coming home with beer and vomit spilt all over me and sometimes even bruises from people falling on me. Yeah, I was sure missing out on a lot of the fun. But now it isn't just my weak stomach and non-masochistic body that is keeping me from the games. I wouldn't go to many concerts if that were the case. It was much more. It's all those absurdities that occur at this University everyday. Its all those "-isms" that we all fight to re- main insensitive toward. patriotism about Who's Who in the Michigan r Athletics department. .You know, who all the rulers of this University are - like the Alumni Director and the Football Ticket Office manager. Lund said they were all members of the Michigamua "Old Braves" network, This all got a bit tiresome, so I f tried to direct the questioning back to Michigamua and asked him if he had informed the students in Michigamua of the 1973 civil rights ruling. What about this all-male group dressing up with war paint and "whooping"? What about the patriotism owed to the original Americans? What about educating your current members about why stereotyping is damaging, Mr epLund? His response was somehow not KAREN HANDELMAN/Doily Children show off their inherited Michigan spirit by wearing traditional fan attire. surprising. "I don't recall if anybody them about it or not," Lund "...they're well informedi though." told said now And where is all the money spent that could correct so many of the ab- surdities? Football. Enough to turn a naive first-year student away from Michigan Sta- dium. "Oh yeah, " said Lund in response to fights breaking out during the game. "I'm sure they were alcohol related - you've probably even had a part in it before." Lund said. I never even met the man. God, I resented that accusation. But things really do fall in place Mr. Associate Athletics Director, don't they? It be- came quite obvious to me that he'd rather talk about football than any of his organization's civil right infrac- tions. Next he proceeded to quiz me Hmmm. Could it be because they read something about it in the paper? Well, as expected the conversation began to deteriorate. "Donna, we seem to be two dif- ferent people who can't completely understand each other," Lund said. 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