0 0 8B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazine - Thursday, January 30, 2003 The history of the affirmative action suits The Michigan Daily - Weekend.Magazine JEFF PHILLIPS - AI WRONG? LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH DATING SHOWS' By Jeremy Berkowitz Daily Staff Reporter With the University in the national spotlight, many critics of its admissions policies have directed their criticism toward what they call a liberal bastion: Yet despite the University's proud histo- ry of activism, it has a mixed past in regard to minority enrollment and treat- ment of minorities. Former President James Duderstadt wrote in his book "A University for the 21st Century" that "the history of diver- sity at Michigan has been complex and often contradictory. There have been too many times when the institution seems to take a step forward, only to be fol- lowed by two steps backward. Nonethe- less, access and equality have always been a central goal of our institution." Although the University was founded in 1817, it was not until 1868 that the first black student was admitted. Eleven years later, during a com- mencement speech, longtime President James Angell called on the University to give equal educational opportunities to everyone regardless of race or gender. "The most democratic atmosphere in the world is that of the college. There all meet on absolutely equal terms," Angell said. "Nowhere else do the accidents of birth or condition count for so little." Yet, it would be almost another 90 years before the issue of minority enrollment would again be seriously addressed. As late as the 1960s, blacks and other minorities would account for less than 1 percent of the campus population. On top of that, minorities were sub- ject to discrimination and segregation on campus. Several stores and restaurants, including the Union Barbershop, would refuse to deal with blacks. In the 1950s, the infamous dean of women, Deborah Bacon, would main- tain separate residence halls and hous- ing for whites and minorities. In 1958, The Michigan Daily investigated Bacon and showed she had abused her powers by attempting to break up interracial relationships. Due to grow- ing pressure from the administration and students alike, Bacon sent her res- ignation letter to President Harlan Hatcher in September 1961. "I personally am not in tune with some of the changes which seem inevitable in the years ahead," Bacon wrote. BAM Eight years later, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare accused the University of discriminating against minorities in hiring practices and demanded the University develop an affirmative action program. In the win- ter of 1970, in the midst of student protests over the Vietnam War, a group of black students formed the Black Action Movement, demanding higher enrollment of minorities. They led an eight-day strike of classes resulting in a 25 percent attendance drop. In the end, President Robben Fleming agreed with BAM to aim at raising minority enrollment to ten per- cent by the 1973-1974 academic year. Although the black enrollment rate rose from 3.5 percent to 6.8 percent by 1972, the campus was still a place of many racial tensions. The University did not reach its 10 percent goal in 1973 and minority enrollment began to drop. In 1975, another group of students formed BAM II and requested that Fleming help improve the racial climate on campus through support services. Fleming refused and minority enrollment contin- ued to drop throughout the 1970s and the early to mid 1980s even after the 1978 Univesity of California Board of Regents v. Bakke decision, which said race could be used as one of several fac- See HISTORY, Page 31B I 'm obsessed with dating shows. There. I said it. I'm not talking about the typical shows that everybody else in America loves, like "The Bachelorette," "Joe Millionaire" and "American Idol" (although I watch these also). The games that I can't stop watch- ing are the aforementioned shows' raunchier, trailer park cousins: mid- day dating shows. Shows like "Elimidate," "The 5th Wheel," "Blind Date" and "Change of Heart" all have more hot tubs, more drunkenness and, best of all, more embarrassment for the contestants then any of the primetime shows. They make Monday night's slurp- ing scene from "Joe Millionaire" look like child's play. Plus, they don't have to get married at the end, so there is no tinge of guilt that you are watching somebody ruin their life - that sort of thing is only good in small doses. What's best is that they combine to make midday television watchable. As a second semester senior on Injured Reserve, I have a fair amount of time on my hands. Specifically, in the time between waking up at noon and "The Simpsons." Before the dating show explosion, your best hope for midday entertain- ment was to catch "Son in Law" on a Showtime - but not anymore. Now you can tune into the WB (channel 20) from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for "Blind Date" and "The 5th Wheel," then find something to do for an hour while "Street Smarts" inexplicably finds its way on T.V. (Side note: I can't believe that this show is on not once, but twice! They took a poor premise of asking idiots questions like, "What is a car?" and "How many fingers am I holding up?" and drove it into the ground. It's like "Celebrity Jeopardy," except with real people. We all know there are idiots out there and if they aren't making out with each other, then I'm not watching.). At 2 p.m. you can switch to WGN (channel 26) where you will enjoy another hour-and-a-half as "Elimidate," "The 5th Wheel" and "Change of Heart" are played back- to-back-to-back. Then the block ends with a whimper with again, "Street Smarts." I think what makes these shows so attractive is that each of them takes the same basic idea of getting people blitzed in awkward dating situations and following them around with cameras and put its own spin on it. Whether it is forcing people to compete for attention amongst a group of four or installing a 15- minute room (similar to seven min- utes of heaven in the closet of your youth) the shows are kept fresh. That isn't to say that everybody doesnit steal ideas from everybody, but there is enough of a difference to make sure viewesr stay tuned until "Street Smarts." ' So if you are hot, single and are planning on being in the New York or Los Angeles area and are thirsting for the spotlight, I will catch you up to speed with what show you should be on, what you should expect and how you should act. In "Elimidate," a single guy or girl has the choice of four other people of the opposite sex and must decide on one by the end of the night. It's like "The Bachelor" on speed. If you are one of the group of four, make sure you get noticed. For example, consider being better look- ing that everyone else. If you are the decider, immediate- ly get rid of the conservative one that says they don't kiss on the first date or don't drink too much or whatever. They have no business being on the show and it's just bad television. Also, after every round, make sure you say, "The name of the game is Elimidate." This apparently lessens the blow. For "The 5th Wheel," two couples are initially set up on a date and get to know each other over the course of the day, and then a fifth person is added to the mix - who is always better look- ing - hence "The 5th Wheel." Then at the end, everybody's choices are revealed. If you are on this show, and the fifth wheel is the same sex as you, you need to be the fifth wheel. If you are not the fifth wheel, your best hope is to pick up the person the fifth wheel doesn't choose. Otherwise, you will be left talking to the camera at the end, saying things like, "I didn't like either one anyway, so I don't care," or worse, "They don't know what they are missing." In "Change of Heart," a formerly happy couple goes on the show to test the strength of its relationship via dating other people in front of television cameras. The couples rarely stay together because one of the pair almost always mess around a little too much for the other. The one nugget of advice I can give is to beware of the Datecam. The Datecam knows all and sees all. And if you think you are getting away with something you will think you are in the clear until the Datecam reveals some juicy bit at the end. For us at home, this is great. For "Blind Date," I really don't know what to say. As far as I can tell, it is impossible to avoid the ridicule of clever editing and ani- mated overlays. Better stay at home for this one. If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that it is better to laugh at someone than have someone laugh at you. If you decide to appear on a show, you've been warned. If you decide to stay at home and waste your day, grab a seat, because "Street Smarts" is almost over. - JeffPhillips would like someone to send him the "The Blind Date Guide to Dating," in bookstores now. He can be reached atjpphilli@umich.edu. i t PERLMAN PLAYS BACH J TRY OUR WINTER SPECIALS 4)k- Thank you students for voting us #1 in town Szechuan, Hunan & Mandarin Specialties Dine-in or Carry-out W. UBERTY z * 4 SZE * CHUAN uo BIG M WEST StaoKMn CAR WASH- W. 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