The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, November.18, 2011- 5
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, November18, 2011 - 5
BAMN rallies for
affirmative action
Dan Nemser, an assistant professor of Spanish at the University, gives a speech in C.C. Little during a teach-in meeting
about the Occupy movement yesterday.
Members of local' Occu"py
groups hold teach-in meeting
Organization
encourages
students to get
involved
By CHELSEA HOEDL
For the Daily
With this year's rollercoaster
of rulings by the 6th Circuit
Court of Appeals regarding
Michigan's ban on affirma-
tive action, members of By Any
Means Necessary aren't sure
what to expect.
But in an effort to garner stu-
dent support for the organiza-
tion's cause - which includes
advocating for affirmative action
and other civil rights issues like
the fair treatment of immigrants
- BAMN members held a rally
on the Diag yesterday for their
Day ofAction to Defend Affirma-
tive Action.
Through the event, BAMN
hoped to get students involved
to influence the 6th Circuit
Court of Appeals decision to re-
evaluate Proposal 2 on Mar. 7.
Proposal 2, which Michigan vot-
ers approved in 2006, "prohibits
public institutions from using
affirmative action programs
and the. consideration of race in
college admissions and employ-
ment," the legislation states. The
6th Circuit Court of Appeals
ruled the state law unconstitu-
tional on July 1, 2011.
BAMN members circled
the Diag handing out flyers
and informing students of the
issue. Though some members
of BAMN said they are worried
about the re-evaluation of the
proposal, other members were
more optimistic.
BAMN member Joseph Sema-
na said the group frequently
travels to college campuses
across the country since college
students are affected by affirma-
tive action.
"Our main goal is to one, raise
awareness about affirmative
action, two, heat up this campus,
try and get a movement going
and show students that we must
fight," Semana said. "We must
build mass action in order to win
affirmative action. Law deci-
sions have never been based on
how good the arguments are or
else we wouldn't have had a cen-
tury of Jim Crow."
University alum Kate Stenvig,
an organizer for BAMN, agreed
that winning a case is not just
about having the best argument.
She referred to the 2003 U.S.
Supreme Court ruling in support
of affirmative action in Univer-
sity admissions.
"In order to win we need to
build a mass movement," Stenvig
said. "It's not going to be enough
to just make the best arguments
in court. In 2003, everyone told
us we were going to lose, but we
mobilized 50,000 people to the
Supreme Court, and we won."
Stenvig echoed Semana's sen-
timents, noting the importance
of student involvement at the
University.
"We have an opportunity
here at (the University) to lead
in restoring affirmative action
on this campus and across the
nation," Stenvig said. "The stu-
dents should be determining the
character of the University. We
need people who are prepared
to tell the truth about racism
and basically be leaders who are
prepared to inspire other people
and give a voice to the anger and
aspirations of millions of young
people."
LSA freshman Simon Mar-
golis, who was on the Diag
watching yesterday's rally, said
affirmative action is a good thing
for the country and campus and
stressed how affirmative action
can spur economic growth.
"I believe (affirmative action)
is an economic necessity because
there needs to be reinvestment
into the urban communities, and
I think the best way to do that
is to provide opportunities in
minority areas," Margolis said.
At
stui
of
Un
Ann A
maven
of bre
Me
Arbor
Wash
Team.
a class
ence F
speak
room-
motiv
moven
dance
with
annou
in Ann
state.
LSA
Ian M
py Ann
event
in was
"Tho
complE
in thi
discus
tendees discuss to the people here at U of M,"
Matchett said. "This used to be a
dent debt, future really radical campus, the campus
movement in A2 that led the nation in changing
this country, and we want to make
it that way again."
By STEVE ZOSKI Matchett was followed by Dan
Daily StaffReporter Nemser, an assistant professor of
Spanish at the University, who
iversity students partook in spoke about how he witnessed
rbor's spinoff of the occupy demonstrations against tuition
ment yesterday with the aim increases as a graduate student
aking the status quo. at the University of California,
mbers of the Occupy Ann Berkeley. Nemser said he thinks
Occupy UM and the the Occupy Oakland movement
tenaw Community Action has a "unique character" since
held a teach-in meeting in it is closely connected to tuition
sroom in the C.C. Little Sci- increase and the lingering anger
Building last night, where over a white police officer who
ers educated the standing- fatally shot fatally shooting Oscar
only audience about the Grant, a black man, in 2009.
ation behind the occupy "If you take a step back and
ment. Students in atten- look at the Occupy movement as
discussed their grievances a whole, a lot of the language we
society, and event-goers use today that is becoming very
inced future Occupy events mainstream first entered the
n Arbor and throughout the discussion in 2009 with these
occupations that happened in
q and Art & Design junior California," Nemser said. "For
atchett, a member of Occu- example, the idea of 'occupy,
n Arbor, gave a speech at the everything, demand nothing' first
and outlined why the teach- were articulated in these occu-
held. pations in California a couple of
e Occupy movement has years ago."
etely changed the discourse Rackham student Brian Whit-
s country, and we want to ener then spoke about student
s the ideas of the movement debt. He said the movement is
planning to release a petition in
which signees promise they will
default on their student loans if it
reaches 1 million signatories.
"Student debt is not like other
debt," Whitener said. "These big
banks have pushed through leg-
islation in Congress to make stu-
dent debt a safer bet for them, and
the worst bet for you."
The event hosts passed out fli-
ers announcing the first general
assembly meeting of Occupy UM
on Nov. 30.
Attendees were also instructed
to write their dissatisfactions
with societal and economic issues
on signs.
"This group of people think
they own us. In a way they do -
on paper they do," Matchett said.
"The Occupy Wall Street move-
ment is about us stepping out of
that paperwork and saying, 'This
is fuckingours, you can'thaveit."'
Rackham student Wendy Sung
said she came to the meeting
because she was interested in
learning more about the Occupy
movement.
"I know there are lots of goals,"
Sung said. "It's this kind of amor-
phous movement. I'm interested
to see what concrete action has
been taken ... Michigan has been a
flash-bang historical kind of place
for political change."
SPECTRUM
From Page 1
nee, '98 MT&D alum and one of
the concert producers, said he
believes the importance of this
event lies in making the center
more visible on campus.
."It's important for people at
this school to know about this
Spectrum Center because I
didn't," Creel told The Michigan
Daily. "There are alot of students
who come from a lot of small
towns, and they come to col-
lege and it's scary to be here. ... If
(they're) questioning sexual iden-
tity or sexual orientation or feeling
ostracized for being gay, they have
a safe haven here at the school."
The Spectrum Center was
the first office of its kind in the
nation. The event tonight is
commemorating its longstand-
ing impact, according to Will
Sherry, the center's assistant
director and a member of the
event's planning team. This
weekend's events are part of a
year-long anniversary celebra-
tion that kicked off in January
and coincided with the Universi-
ty hosting the Midwest Bisexual
Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally
College Conference for the first
time in February.
Creel sees a connection
between the LGBT and the
Broadway communities, which
he said is one of the reasons the
performers are so willingto come
back to celebrate the occasion.
"It's not just gay people - the
majority (of the Broadway com-
munity) is gay-friendly people
- people who believe in equality
and being treated with respect
and dignity," Creel said. "We
have a loving, amazing, passion-
ate, outspoken community and
it seems like a perfect fit for an
event like this."
The event will be filled with
talent: All the performers are
graduates of the musical the-
atre department, which is well-
respected nationally and around
the world, according to Creel.
The audience can expect not
only great performances by the
alumni, but also jazz ensemble
pieces and an awards ceremony.
According to Spectrum Cen-
ter director Jackie Simpson,
Jim Toy, who co-founded the
Spectrum Center, will be hon-
ored with an award, and former
Michigan Student Assembly
President Chris Armstrong will
announce a new scholarship his
family is starting for students -
like Armstrong - who have been
victims of bullying. Armstrong
was targeted last year by for-
mer Michigan assistant attorney
general Andrew Shirvell, who
claimed Armstrong was pro-
moting a "radical homosexual
agenda" through his position on
MSA.
Sherry said the MT&D alumni
volunteered to take on the task
of putting together "Broadway
Comes Home."
"We have a deep love for
Michigan and the Ann Arbor
community and the Broadway
community and gay communi-
ty," Creel said. "Other perform-
ers could have come in, but it's
about community and it's about
family. And we have that bond
because we had those four years
in the trenches learning how to
do what we're lucky enough to
do on Broadway in New York."
The performers are not only
looking forward to reuniting
with friends, taking the stage
once again in Ann Arbor and
touring the campus, but accord-
ing to Creel, they are also eager
to come back to eat French toast
at Angelo's.
The visiting alumni have a
packed weekend. In addition
to the concert, the Spectrum
Center plans to hold a current
student and alumni luncheon
today, PRIDE afterparty tonight
and "Rainbow" football tailgate
tomorrow. The Spectrum Center
is also premiering "8," a play by
Academy Award winner Dustin
Lance Black ("Milk"), tomorrow
night.
REGENTS
From Page 1
the commute to and from North
Campus and upgrading more
residence halls, Harper said.
The regents approved the
$116 million East Quad renova-
tion in July. The project plans to
rework the infrastructure of the
300,000 square-foot building.
The residence hall was erected
in 1940 and received additions in
1948 and 1969.
The Residential College has
called East Quad home since
1967, but Harper said the space
the RC occupies was never meant
for academic use. The renovation
will add class space and common
areas while maintaining bed-
room numbers. Approximately
860 students currently live in
East Quad.
Harper said the update of
Baits II on North Campus is
especially timely because of the
recent announcement of the
upcoming Baits I closure. The
Baits II project will cost about
$12 million and will include
improvements to the fire safety
system, windows, roofing, Inter-
net service and individual room
furniture. About 575 students
currently inhabit the 175,000
square-foot residence hall.
"We have been working hard to
enhance the vibrancy and appeal
on North Campus," Harper said.
COLEMAN'S BUDGET
LETTER APPROVED BY
REGENTS
The regents approved a letter
signed by Coleman and Univer-
sity Provost Philip Hanlon that
laid out the University's fund-
ing suggestions to State Bud-
get Director John Nixon. The
regents unanimously approved
the document, but a few board
members suggested editing the
letter to include stronger word-
ing before sending it.
Regent Martin Taylor (D-
Grosse Pointe Farms) said he
wants the letter to contain
stronger language concern-
ing the University's misgivings
about formula funding - which
determines allocations for state
universities based on standards
such as freshmen retention and
graduation rates.
"This business of trying to fit
it into a cookie-cutter kind of
approach to evaluate just seems
like a disturbing development to
me," Taylor said.
Cynthia Wilbanks, the Uni-
versity's vice president for gov-
ernment affairs, said officials
will re-draft the letter to make
the language stronger as per the
regents' request.
Coleman said though the Uni-
versity is "financially sound,"
formula funding may not be the
best method with which to go
forward.
"I don't know of any state that
has found some magic solution
wvith formula funding," Coleman
said.
Coleman said the University
is happy to have the opportuni-
ty to give the state constructive
input about funding. She added
that she is concerned about more
budget cuts and maintaining the
University's AAA rating - the
highest rating a university can
achieve - under the formula
funding model.
Hanlon said the letter address-
es the University's reservations
about formula funding and its
efforts to cut costs and generate
entrepreneurial activity.
Inthe letter, Coleman cited the
University's accomplishments in
pioneering research and keeping
costs down during a 30-percent
decrease in state funding over
the last decade. She wrote that
the state needs to evaluate the
University by another means and
not compare it to other state uni-
versities if the state is to allocate
a sufficient amount of funding in
upcoming fiscal years.
REGENTS SUPPORT
COLEMAN'S STATEMENT
ABOUT PENN STATE Italian government passes
Regent Denise Ilitch (D-Bing-
ham Farms) read a statement on
behalf of the regents, urging the
University community to learn
from the scandal at Penn State.
"The regents whole-heartedly
support President Coleman's
recent statement regarding Penn
State," Ilitch read. "Over the
coming months, we intend to use
this tragic situation as a catalyst
for thoughtful re-examination of
our institutional values, our cul-
ture and our community."
Coleman sent an e-mail to all
students, faculty and staff mem-
bers Tuesday afternoon, advis-
ing the University community
to act if an abuse or a crime were
brought to their attention.
Former Penn State football
coach Joe Paterno and Penn
State President Graham Spanier
were fired last week after devel-
opments in an investigation of
former Penn State defensive
coordinator Jerry Sandusky's
alleged sexual abuse of boys.
first vote of confidence
Mario Monti under
pressure to boost
growth, curb debt
ROME (AP) - Against the
backdrop of anti-austerity
protesters clashing with riot
police, Italy's new premier
appealed to Italians to accept
sacrifices to save their country
from bankruptcy, but pledged
economic growth and greater
social cohesion in return.
Mario Monti is under enor-
mous pressure to boost growth
and bring down Italy's high
debt, not only to save Italy
from succumbing to the debt
crisis but to prevent a cata-
strophic disintegration of the
common euro currency.
"Europe is experiencing the
most difficult days since the
end of the Second World War,"
Monti told parliament in his
debut address yesterday. "Let's
not fool ourselves, honored
senators, that the European
project can survive if the mon-
etary union fails."
Monti pledged to reform the
pension system, re-impose a
tax on first homes annulled
by Silvio Berlusconi's gov-
ernment, fight tax evasion,
streamline civil court pro-
ceedings, get more women and
youth into the work force, and
- in a move aimed at setting an
example for ordinary Italians
- cutting political costs.
The government will decide
"in the coming weeks" what
new austerity measures are
needed, Monti said.
The 68-year-old econo-
mist and university president
described three pillars of his
strategy: Budgetary rigor, eco-
nomic growth and social fair-
ness.
"This government recogniz-
es that it was born to confront
a serious emergency in a con-
structive and united spirit,"
Monti said, calling it "a gov-
ernment of national commit-
ment."
He was interrupted 17 times
by applause. But outside,
Rome's historic center was
paralyzed by student protests
and in the financial capital of
Milan, riot police struggled to
stop protesters trying to reach
the Bocconi University over
which he presides, signaling
the depth of the resistance the
new leader will have to con-
front.
Monti's one-day-old govern-
ment won a vote of confidence
281-25 in the Senate later yes-
terday, ahead of a vote in the
lower house today, on his gov-
ernment of experts, including
fellow professors, bankers and
business executives. He was
chosen to lead after Italy's spi-
raling financial crisis brought
down media mogul Berlusco-
ni's 3 1/2 year-old government.
Europe has already bailed
out three small countries -
Greece, Ireland and Portugal
- but the Italian economy, the
third-largest in the 17-nation
eurozone, is too big for Europe
to rescue. Borrowing costs on
10-year Italian bonds spiked
briefly over 7 percent yester-
day - a level that forced those
other countries into bailouts
- before closing at 6.81 percent.
SCHOLARSHIP
From Page 1
him.
Armstrong's scholarship
announcement comes while the
Spectrum Center is celebrating
its 40th anniversary.
Tonight, the center will honor
Jim Toy, who co-founded the
Lesbian-Gay Male Programs
Office at the University in 1971
- a precursor to the Spectrum
Center - and Armstrong will
formally announce his schol-
arship, according to Spectrum
Center director Jackie Simpson.
,8 '4
A a