PERSPECTIVE S The Michigan Daily Thursday, April 6, 1989 Page 5 ' Anti-anti-racism: A tournament not worth competing for BY DONNA IADIPAOLO I would like to play a game. We should all be in the spirit of games after winning the National Champi- onship. However, this game in- volves a subject that is slightly taboo for most people: racism. I will make five statements. I as- sume that, being a reader of the Daily (not including those readers who are taking notes for the FBI or those Bush-whacking anti-liberals who read the Daily to work them- selves into a frenzy), you will not be offended by what I say. But when I do make a statement you disagree with, you will stop reading this "propaganda," jolt your neighbor and chuckle about high-strung ideal- ists; or perhaps you will paste racist flyers on kiosks; or if you're a fac- ulty member you will continue to argue against anti-racist education here. In other words, make some gesture to indicate how you feel. Ready? Let's tip-off. 1. Racism within the "diversified" University of Michigan has reached an all time dangerous high where many students now live in a climate offear. Yesterday a flyer stating "Faggots, niggers, spic lovers be- ware! You have gone beyond ac- ceptable criticism. Never again will you go unpunished," was slipped under the Baker/Mandela Anti-Racist Education center. Last weekend, fly- ers were distributed on campus call- Ding for people to remember "Bernhard Goetz Day" by bringing "your handgun and shoot(ing) the first five moolies you see who look like they might ask for money." This is not unfamiliar to the University. Last year similar vi- cious racist flyers were circulated around campus. In November five students were leaving a fraternity party when a man in the doorway said,"Oh, look, the chinks are leaving. Ah-so," and proceeded to clasp his hands together and bow. The burning and tearing down of the anti-apartheid and pro-Palestinian shanties have become a favorite and more frequent ritual of the campus community this year. Anti-Jewish, anti-Arab, and other anti-human being graffitied slogans have become part of the day-to-day artwork plastered on this campus. The list goes on ... What? No lynchings or cross- burnings? It's quite surprising that this hasn't happened. Remember, words such as "nigger" and "Jew" have led to lynchings and mass murder before. It could be that his- tory is in fact repeating itself, but that the violence is just begin- ning.... 2. "Diversity" is used as another double-speak word by the Univer- sity administration for no action. When the University administra- tion issued its 1987-88 minority af- fairs report which contained numer- ous errors and omissions, President James Duderstadt said the corrections must be submitted by minority stu- dents who discovered the errors. Some of the errors include: -reference to a non-existent "Committee on Hispanic Studies" -no mention of Native American student programs or resources; -omission of Latino student group scholarships and events; -numerous errors in the events calendar - for example, the sci-fi film Brazil is labelled an "ethnically- oriented cultural event;" - the omission of many minority alumni associations. More recently, this administration has skirted the issue of the manda- tory class issue. President Duderstadt did, however, attend the pep rally at Crisler Arena Tuesday. 3. Students need classroom ex- perience to address issues of racism. At March's faculty meeting, one professor read misconceptions about Blacks and whites written by her English students. One of the state- ments said that, "whites as a group are destructive." "They're just less intelligent than us" is another fre- quently heard phrase. Who are "they" anyway? Why are "we' so afraid to learn? [Hint: If you disagree with any statements during the game don't forget to rebound with polarizing statements like: "Those are all iso- lated incidents, I'm not like that."] 4.Arguments about "politicizing the curricula" is often used to in- hibit all rational discussion concern- ing an anti-racism requirement One of the more obvious Mc- Carthy-esque arguments was used against the graduation requirement at Monday's faculty meeting. A professor warned his colleagues that they should not support the require- ment because "only in the Soviet Union do they have mandatory requirements". [I wonder if the col- lege's language requirement and the ECB writing requirement were ar- gued against because they were also a path to communism?] Of course, the next faculty mem- ber who spoke was then obliged to affirm his "politically-correct" stance. "I support the graduation re- quirement, but am in no way affili- ated with the Soviets," he said mockingly. The laughter that arose from this statement was somewhat refreshing. But such elation was also a frightening affirmation of the "red- scare" tactic being used to deter the requirement's acceptance. The proposed graduation require- ment on race, ethnicity and racism failed 140-120. 5. Students have been and will continue to be the strength and force for social-change on this campus. The idea for a course on racism was one of the original 12 demands to combat campus racism the United Coalition Against Racism (UCAR) presented to the administration in 1987. Along with UCAR, many other student organizations have worked together to defeat inequities at the University. "A people united will never be defeated" may be thought of as a slightly abrasive rhyme for some of our pampered ears, but it is a cry of strength and determination which continues to grow louder as more join the chant. Well, the game is over. But it's more serious than a game isn't it? What statements made you express disapproval? I would assume state- ment three. That's usually the one where mind-closing goes on. I often close my mind too. It's rather scary to admit to being racist in some way or another. It's such an ugly term: racist. Probably because many ugly things derive from it. Probably because it identifies most of us. But it can also be dissected to teach us something about ourselves, and then to bring us together to fight against it. Things are possible when work- ing as a team aren't they? Monday was a good example for the basket- ball team. Not for LSA faculty. The University of Michigan Turkish Students Asscoiation is proud to present TURKISH CULTURAL SERIES Anatolian Mysticism: Rapture and Revolution (Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes, Yunus Emre, Bektashis and other Islamic Sects) The philosophy, poetry, and rutuals of Anatolian Sufism Documentary film: Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes Produced by Marc Mopty Winner of "The Best Short Docu- mentary Film of Europe Award." 1981 Performance of the Ney - a Turkish Woodwind Instrument Thursday April 6, 1989, 8:00 p.m. Rackham Amphitheater, Free .1 Thursd April 6 Thursd Saturda April 6- Thursda Sunday April 6- Friday April 7 The University of Michigan SCHOOL OF MUSIC ay Contemporary Directions Ensemble- Richard Rosenberg, conductor, with soloists William Bolcom (piano), Richard Hawkins (clarinet), Harry Sargous (oboe). Works of Verrell, Bolcom, Rosenberg. Rackham, 8 p.m. FREE ay- The $5 Revue- y Joan Morris, director. Musical Theatre 8 students in a 70-minute review, a benefit for the Bolcom-Morris Musical Theatre Fund. Tickets $5 at MI League Ticket Office; phone 764-0450. The Arena (Frieze Building), 11 p.m. (Also Thursday-Saturday, April 13-15.) ay- Ann Arbor Dance Works Spring Season. Tickets $7, general admission; $5 students 9 with ID, available at MI League Ticket Office; phone 764-0450. Dance Studio A, Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Carillon Recital-Margo Halsted, University Carillonneur. Music of Mozart, Barnes, Franco, andothers. Programs available at the Tower entrance. Visitors may enter the bell chamber during the recital and may view the carillon afterward. Burton Memorial Tower, 7 p.m. FREE Chinese Music and Dance (Hsiuhui Tsai-Balaz)- performed by student instrumental ensemble. McIntosh Theatre, 8 p.m. FREE Chamber Choir- Theodore Morrison, conductor; Nancy Hueber and Steven Gathman, pianists; Karl Schrock, harmonium. Rossini, Petite Messe Solennelle Hill, 8 p.m. FREE Wind Ensemble- Donald Schleicher, conductor. Mozart, Serenade No. 12 in c minor (K388), Ned Rorem, Eleven Studies for Eleven Players, Robert Kurka,The Good Soldier Schweig Suite Rackham Assembly Hall, 8 p.m. FREE y Men's Glee Club- Orient Tour Sendoff Concert. Jerry Blackstone, conductor, with guest soprano Martha Sheil. Music of Verdi, Schubert, Copland; folk songs; Michigan favorites. Also featuring The Friars. Tickets $2-$7, phone 764-1448. TIME TO MOVE? DON'T PANIC! Prof. Talat Halman Founder of Turkish Cultural Ministry Dr. Karl Signell Director of Center for Turkish Music by 4 Look for the "Moving Soon?" pages April 7 in' Weekend Magazine So the For more information, call, 764-4789 Sponsored by: Center for Near Eastern and North African Studies, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Institute for the Humanities, Michigan Student Assembly, Program in Comparative Litera- ture, Progam in Linguistics, Rackham Student Government, The University of Michigan Turkish Students Association, Turkish Studies Colloquium. __ _.. - . . - - - - -. . . . . . . . . .. .. "' *''' fN. . . .- - .- : **** .: .--- --. ~K" r j %, it ' I I ( I .J - Saturday April 8 If you know your way around a keyboard-typewriter, word processor or computer- we know a way to make your knowledge pay off this summer. just register with us at Kelly Temporary Services. We've got the kind of summer jobs you'll love to get your hands on. Choose your own assignments. Work as much as you want. 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