8A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, February 21, 2000

QESNOT CONDO UNE
CUL TU RAL RIDCULE
-Sri :wAn Open Letter To The University Community
r, Native American archival items forcibly extracted
h ' r I'from their storage in the Union Tower and staged
' in mockery throughout Michiamua's meeting
space represent an Irresponsible misappropriation
of cultural history and are, frankly, offensive to all
of us. As alumni of the organization Michigamua,
k we recognize that historical usage of these archival
ti items was deemed offensive in a modern context.
' r 3 As such, in a 1989 agreement with the Native
T V% 11, ,r American community Michi gamua ended refer-
ence to and usage of this synmbolism and all
archival items purchased from Native Americans
~.decades ago.
Mcigamua exists to foster student leadership and
service to the University of Michigan through quiet
4~~-44.-.. ~~-.hum ilit in our activities and without attention. It is
k----------k from the University that we have reshaped our cultural identity and bor-
-- rowed sybolism over the last 10 years so that we may continue to
1901, lead andsrve Michigan. Michigamua does not condone cultural
Michi~mua i ridicule or racism, but rather, as a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse
asen i student organization itself, is actively engaged in generating solutions to
,P. : e~G Yd ';; b § R FFreco~ itio v the same issues, ironically, for which other groups on campus are also
o- y- on in 0,u u 5r aC -entude fighting in much more public ways.
at he ~rders~ Mc ian ho avereahed We embrace the words of a fellow alumnus - "Racial discrimination in
~ vareW - - - any form and in any degree has no justifiable part whatever in our
~~ - - democratic way of life. I is unattractive in any settin but it is utterly
- ~ ~ --p-- ~revolting among a free people who have embraced the principles set
j~~$44~w4~yj~~~~ forth in the Constitution of the United States." U.S. Supreme Court
} - Justice Frank Murphy's dissenting piion, Krmtuv ntdSae
k, xt nl~setsolfe tth nvrty of A(1944) -Michigamua member (191 ) Krmas v nie'Sae
T~ dvek Iat~ngftincih~psanfnduing enr n and--Regardless, the alumni of Michi gamua wish to express our deep regret
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~tf akia~ h ~hrsemyno aekononknte. - for allowing several boxes of arc iva items to remain in storage in the
- - -~i-~be torn open through this sensational, staged publicity. We take full
-;iliana and responsibility for the failure to store properly these valuable archival
ic~e~I~;. , ~, -- --, items, and we express our sincere condolences to the Native American
community. However, the exaggerations and accusations levied by the
X protesters do not represent the principles of Mc ma nor do they
= ~~ represent the values espoused by the University o Michigan.y
-- Furthermore, we apologize to the current student members of the orga-
-~ iand~theNatie mecannization, whose respect and honor have been challenged, and their
~e~&~ herjietNti A rcn, integrity compromised, for leaving them vulnerable to this form of radi-
~a~sth wn~ e~mspr~ cal, aggressive, and obviously illegal attack. These historical items will
be properly relocated such that they will never again be subject to this
- ~-~ ~ ~--~ - -'form of theft or misuse.
The alumni of Michigamua recognize that historical usage of its now
. archived items was deemed offensive in our modern context, however
rr we resent Mvichi amua' s current portrayal as a racist organization that
- - - _practices cultura ridicule. This is simply untrue and nothing less than
' an elaborately planned and egregious distortion meant to inflame sensi-
3 ~ -- ~ ,,tivities, create division, and hype sensationalism in support of an other-
:aa ~- wise very worthy cause.
~~4e~denie~ffe~Wee nzed Unequivocally, Michigamua.:.
~re~eciv~of~hi ~a W I~ath~ *WILL NoT accept racism
rectf - t DOES NOT condone cultural ridicule
~'. ~ ~ anct " RESENTS these false accusations, and *
~ aridaptly*Absolutely Will Not Tolerate Threats of
n t edeso Violence Against Alumni or Students
("cav r ii I krliardracIally. Members in our organization :are drawn romthe lead- o

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OUR HISTORY
1901 Student Leaders with President Angell form Michigamua
1904 Michigamua memnber generates idea for Union as way to bring together students -
1904-1907 University Alumni & Michikamua Members raise money for the Union___