I

n the aftermath of the 2016 
presidential election, I, like 
many others, experienced 

an 
amalgam 
of 
emotions: 

frustration, anger, fear, guilt, 
shame. In particular, in a way 
more than ever before, I have 
felt the overwhelming presence 
of my privilege as a white man 
in the United States. As CNN 
reporter Van Jones put it, 
“This was a whitelash against a 
changing country.”

In my own processing of the 

result, one overarching theme 
was guilt and shame. I felt I should 
be apologizing without end to 
the people I love on this campus 
who witnessed, many without 
shock, hate — hate directed at 
them and their loved ones — win 
the most powerful seat in the 
world. I asked myself, “What 
can I do? Is there anything I can 
or should do?” In conversations 
about the election, I felt more 
than ever the weight behind my 
own voice. I felt my words, from 
the mouth of a white man, fill up 
the conversation space, newly 
empowered and looming ever 
more forcefully.

I quickly came to two key 

realizations. First, no one should 
ever be told how to feel. The flood 
of tone policing I witnessed in 
the aftermath of the election 
astonished me, as if there was 
nothing to grieve, as if there was 
nothing to fear. And the voice this 
came from most frequently was 
again from the mouths of white 
men. Astonishingly, this came 
frequently from liberal white 
men, calling on minorities to not 
give up hope and rally together 
to fight back while showing 
complete blindness to what a 

position of privilege it is to be able 
to feel better so quickly about 
what has just happened.

I would, with as much patience 

and kindness as I can express, 
implore my white male friends 
to please allow people to feel 
what they are going to feel and 
to validate those feelings. Allow 
the women in your life to feel 
what they feel in response to a 
self-described sexual predator 
living in the White House. Allow 
the LGBTQ people in your life to 
feel what they feel about Trump’s 
vice 
presidential 
candidate 

Mike Pence, who wrote on his 
campaign website, “Resources 
should be directed toward those 
institutions 
which 
provide 

assistance to those seeking to 
change their sexual behavior,” 
a euphemistic description of 
gay conversion therapy. Allow 
the people of color, Muslims 
and immigrants in your life to 
feel what they feel about a man 
who empowers and emboldens, 
through his words and actions, 
racism and xenophobia in a way 
not otherwise possible.

The second realization I had 

in the aftermath of this election: 
I am not doing enough. As I 
felt in the most tangible sense 
imaginable the weight of privilege 
surrounding me, I wondered why 
I had not used this strength for 
something positive. I have power 
as a white man. Undeserved 
power, but power nonetheless. 
I have felt complacent in simply 
ensuring that I mitigate the 
harmful effects it could have on 
those without it. A “do no harm” 
approach is no longer going to cut 
it for me. It is not enough for me 
to voice shock and outrage and 

wonder, “How could anyone vote 
for that man?” They did. And I 
feel it’s my responsibility to find 
out why. Why did they decide that 
their desires were great enough 
to justify that man’s rhetoric 
and the words and actions of his 
supporters? Why did they decide 
they had so much to fear that they 
would support this decision?

Finally, I know that I must 

also proceed with caution. Being 
an ally is a position that requires 
tremendous humility and care. 
I recognize that I am not a 
champion. I am not a hero. I do 
not deserve and in fact reject any 
credit whatsoever for any change 
I may contribute to bringing 
about. I am reminded of the 
words and attitude of Frederick 
Douglass when he was invited to 
speak on the women’s suffrage 
movement two decades before the 
passage of the 19th Amendment. 
I know that an ally’s role is to 
first and foremost “to take back 
benches and wrap themselves in 
silence.” It is not my role to preach 
to the choir when there are so 
many other members of that group 
more eloquent, intelligent and 
moving than myself who could 
speak instead.

However, I can contribute to 

the difficult work of showing 
those who refuse to listen the 
beauty of those voices. I can 
validate 
and 
recognize 
fear 

and pain and seek solutions to 
overcoming them in due time. 
And I can continue to recognize 
the weight of my own white words 
and continue to desperately seek 
ways to use their power to shape 
a better future. 

A

n open letter to the faculty 
of 
the 
University 
of 

Michigan:

Over 40 percent of students 

at the University of Michigan 
reported having felt so depressed 
that it was difficult to function 
at least once during the school 
year. Additionally, approximately 
11 percent said they seriously 
considered 
attempting 
suicide 

at least once in the last school 
year. There are now more mental 
health and well-being student 
organizations on campus than ever. 
Clearly, mental health awareness 
and resource availability are topics 
that resonate with many students 
at the University. It is for this 
reason that we, CAPS In Action, a 
new student organization within 
the University’s Counseling and 
Psychological Services that “puts 
the CAPS initiatives in action,” 
would like to inform you of some of 
the biggest mental health concerns 
that students face on this campus 
and what role you can play to 
combat these statistics.

The faculty at the University play 

one of the biggest roles in students’ 
lives. Mental health is shaped by 
a community, so it is important 
that students are able to turn to 
their professors and Graduate 
Student Intructors for support and 
understanding. The key to helping 
fellow students is accessibility 
and communication. Professors’ 
voices are important, and we will 
respect what you have to say. We 
know that you want your students 
to succeed, and we want to suggest 
ways to support our academics 
and health. School can be hard, 
and mental health often takes the 
back seat to final grades. In a highly 

competitive environment and with 
the pressures of multiple exams 
and papers bearing down over 
short periods of time, it becomes 
a challenge to balance studies 
with mental wellness. Without 
enough time to relax, some 
students develop a toxic mental 
health lifestyle.

Therefore, we seek campus 

resources. However, fear takes over 
as our issues remain unaddressed. 
The most common of these 
fears is that of authority. We are 
reluctant to open a dialogue with 
our professors about our mental 
health issues because campus 
is a professional environment 
and showing weakness is not a 
professional trait. When we work 
up the courage to seek advice 
and help from instructors, we are 
sometimes met with disbelief and 
requests for medical proof. Our 
mental illnesses and health are 
real, and CIA’s hope is to encourage 
faculty to not only become more 
aware of the prevalence of mental 
health issues on campus, but also 
to take part in addressing them. 
When professors offer support 
and 
understanding, 
students 

notice. CIA member Aaron Brown 
recounts such an instance: “My 
professor continually highlighted 
the importance of mental health 
issues, (and put) mental health 
ahead of grades and assignments. 
Her office hours were always open 
to students to discuss any problems 
they faced, especially in light of the 
campus climate after the election. 
It was comforting to know I had 
someone to talk to.” 

As an easy first step, we would 

like to encourage you to incorporate 
new mental health language in 

your syllabi, like that which has 
been proposed by Central Student 
Government. Incorporating this 
statement in your syllabi will 
demonstrate your support for 
students’ well-being.

Secondly, we would appreciate 

promoting an inviting environment 
in your courses. Actions such as 
friendly emails before and after 
stressful exam periods, asking 
how we are doing and letting us 
know that we can come to you with 
mental health concerns would 
go a long way. We ask that you 
emphasize the value of self-care, 
especially during times like the 
upcoming finals week. With that in 
mind, remind us that we are valued 
and perhaps recommend ways for 
staying relaxed. We would also 
appreciate you to continue your 
guidance a few weeks prior to final 
exam week on how best to prepare. 
These reminders are very helpful 
in keeping us studying long-term 
and not cramming last-minute all-
nighters in.

Finally, we ask that you treat 

mental illness the same way you 
treat other illnesses. Though we as 
students are doing our best to fight 
the shame associated with mental 
health topics, the stigma can still, 
at times, be debilitating. Your 
leadership and central role in our 
lives can play a critical part in our 
fight to break down mental health 
barriers, and we look forward to 
the achievements we can make 
together at the University of 
Michigan.

Sincerely,
The Students of CAPS In Action.

I 

went to Counseling and 
Psychological Services two 
times this past month to sign 

up for counseling again. I saw a 
counselor last year, and talking 
to someone about my feelings 
helped tremendously 
with 
my 
anxiety. 

In 
that 
semester, 

I was able to love 
myself 
even 
more 

and understand how 
to better take care 
of myself mentally. 
This 
semester, 
I 

thought I could get 
by without seeing 
someone but came to 
the conclusion that I 
needed to return.

Each time I went into CAPS, I 

realized that there were at least 
five people signing up to receive 
their first session of counseling, 
which was mind-boggling to me 
because I was there for just 10 
minutes each day. How many 
more new people walk in each 
day coming for help, too?

After 
receiving 
my 
initial 

consultation 
appointment, 
I 

was told there wouldn’t be any 
open appointments until at least 
January. 
I 
wasn’t 
frustrated 

with the staff because they 
couldn’t do anything about it, 
but I immediately realized the 
problem here: It’s not that CAPS 
has too few staff members, it’s 
that the rigor of the University 
of Michigan itself is not healthy 
for students. Yes, college is not 
a walk in the park and gives 
virtually every student extreme 
difficulty, but the culture of work 
and competition is particularly 
burdensome at this school. CAPS 
conducted a study that shows 
one-fourth of the University 
population reported they’ve had 
thoughts of suicidal ideation. 
That number could be higher 
today, which is something that 
we cannot simply accept and not 
make changes.

CAPS does have a 24/7 hotline 

that students can reach out to 
for emergencies, but admittedly, 
the hotline can only do so much. 
Mental health can be a battle 
every day, especially with the 
consistent demands the culture of 
the University puts on its students. 
Students must act autonomously 
toward 
their 
mental 
health, 

though I recognize this is easier 

said than done. This would mean 
going to see a doctor to provide 
medication if you need it, seeing a 
therapist (they can be expensive, 
but insurance can help if you 
have it) or talking to a friend or 

family member. I had 
a hard time making 
this choice. I pushed 
it 
off 
further 
and 

further, but eventually 
my girlfriend helped 
me 
to 
contact 
an 

in-town 
counselor 

to talk about how to 
deal with my anxiety 
again. Students can 
tell a friend that they 
need help contacting 
someone 
or 
have 

conversations with someone they 
can trust. I recommend seeing 
a professional, but any sort of 
counseling that isn’t putting any 
pressure on an individual is better 
than not being able to talk through 
your feelings at all.

With CAPS not having enough 

time or people to take care of 
everyone in the way they need, 
those who need help cannot 
continue to wait. The pressures 
of meeting school deadlines, 
maintaining relationships and 
competing with the rest of your 
class are issues that do not go to 
rest. Those who have reached out 
for help have already taken a big 
step in attempting to get help and 
cannot get discouraged if they 
have to wait.

Mental health continues to 

carry a stigma — it’s important 
to recognize that seeking aid 
does not mean the individual is 
weak, but rather that they are 
strong. So many people keep this 
as a secret, but the odds are many 
have multiple friends who share 
this experience. I have felt alone 
at times in my anxiety, but have 
found care and felt understood 
in finding and talking to friends 
who have gone through the same 
anxieties as me.

I’ve 
had 
anxiety 
at 
this 

University 
over 
multiple 

things, including not feeling 
as competent in my studies 
compared to my peers. I’ve lost 
sleep planning my responsibilities 
and feeling stupid after I bombed 
an exam. These feelings are 
normal, 
and 
competition 
is 

bound to happen at one of the 
top institutions in the world. But 

the University can do to better 
address this culture and help 
those who are struggling to find 
support for their mental health.

It is not the University’s job to 

babysit its students, but it should 
emphasize caring for them as a 
top priority because it is an overall 
life priority. I have a professor 
who allows excused absences 
for mental health days. It meant 
the world to me. I felt cared for 
and understood. This is the type 
of culture that I hope the rest of 
the University, both students and 
staff, will embody. Mental health 
struggles are real and should not 
be swept under the rug.

There is a large need for 

mental 
health 
services 
at 

Michigan. 
We 
are 
students 

fighting hard to stay afloat in 
our 
classes, 
extracurriculars 

and postgraduate opportunities. 
There are so many of us with 
anxiety and depression, among 
other things, which can be 
triggered by the culture here, 
traumatic experiences or by a 
preexisting condition. Don’t wait 
for help. Keep fighting for it. Your 
mental health is yours to own, 
and you cannot shy away from it. 
You may not need a therapist, but 
at least talk to someone you trust 
to talk about how you feel, because 
you are not alone in your fight.

It’s 
on 
the 
University 

community 
to 
change 
this 

culture of competitiveness and to 
move closer to promoting a better 
mental 
health 
environment. 

Without so many pressures, many 
students may not be struggling 
with 
feelings 
of 
inadequacy 

and stress. The University is 
responsible 
for 
making 
the 

campus accepting of those who 
need help and to continue making 
the campus a more mentally 
stable 
environment. 
But 
the 

key to improving mental health 
lies within the individual. The 
student must attempt to take care 
of themselves because nobody 
can make the decision for them. 
They should ask for help if they 
can’t get to that point, but it’s 
imperative that they do, because 
the mental health problems will 
continue to mount if they’re not 
treated once they’re out in the 
real world. 

Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4A — Monday, November 28, 2016

My own white words

A solution for the refugee crisis

DAVID DONNANTUONO | OP-ED

L

aw Prof. James Hathaway, 
founder and director of 
the University of Michigan 

Law School’s Program in Refugee 
and Asylum Law, spoke earnestly 
to a group of Michigan students 
at a lecture on Nov. 9 about a 
situation whose urgency should be 
ubiquitous even in the wake of this 
month’s contentious election. The 
state of the global refugee system 
is in many ways egregious, marked 
with an unequal assumption of 
responsibilities by states, horrible 
conditions for asylum-seekers and 
specious incentives for a number 
of actors. The refugee crisis of 
the past five years has made this 
already dire problem far more 
salient in the Western world, and 
Hathaway insists sticking with the 
status quo is not an option.

The most prominent flaw in 

the current refugee system is 
the astoundingly asymmetrical 
distribution 
of 
displaced 

populations. 
According 
to 

Hathaway, given the lack of 
international 
cooperation 
and 

growing 
reluctance 
by 
many 

developed states to take in refugees, 
approximately 85 percent of global 
refugees reside in poorer countries, 
many of them contiguous to the 
conflicts from which refugees are 
fleeing. 
Consequently, 
Turkey, 

Jordan, Iran, Pakistan and others 
have been forced to shoulder a 
tremendous burden with Western 
support being more superficial 
than palpable at times. Hathaway 
pointed 
to 
one 
eye-opening 

statistic that is illustrative of this 
reality: Western nations spend 
more in processing the claims of 
the 15 percent of world refugees 
entering Western countries than in 
assisting the 85 percent of refugees 
living elsewhere.

Perhaps the greatest barrier to 

the West’s collective engagement 
with the world’s refugee problem 
is our effort to circumvent the 
issue itself. Between the European 
Union’s deal with Turkey to deflect 
refugees back to the Middle 
East and growing anti-refugee 
rhetoric from elected officials, 

many developed nations have not 
yet acknowledged that the global 
refugee crisis is a problem that we 
all have a responsibility to help 
solve. As it stands, the majority 
of the world’s refugees live in 
harsh conditions, uncertain of 
what the future holds, faced with 
ever-growing contempt from the 
countries with the greatest means 
to support them.

Hathaway 
did 
recognize 
a 

silver lining amid the disarray: A 
solution already exists; we simply 
need to operationalize it. The UN 
Refugee Convention of 1951 — 
signed by the United States and 
146 other countries — insisted 
upon a collective system in which 
all participating countries take 
on a level of responsibility for the 
inevitable and dynamic surges of 
refugees. It declared that refugees 
are entitled to arrive to a country 
without permission, granted rights 
to empowerment such as work and 
mobility and called for measures 
to facilitate refugees’ eventual 
return home. Instead, the system 
that exists today is characterized 
by “10 countries doing 60 percent 
of the world’s refugee work simply 
due to geographic coincidence,” 
Hathaway said.

Instead, Western nations seem 

more concerned with the crime 
of smuggling and the dilemmas of 
cultural and economic integration 
than with the well-being of the 
world’s most vulnerable population. 
The now-commonplace political 
mantra 
of 
the 
“dangerous 

refugee” justifying a ban on 
their entry is suspect, as there 
is no indication that refugees 
are any more dangerous than 
American 
citizens 
or 
other 

migrants. Even then, our vetting 
process could hardly be more 
thorough. The West’s concerns 
are certainly legitimate but 
should not entirely supersede 
the responsibility we have 
assumed through our signing 
of the Refugee Convention, 
our continuous intervention 
abroad and our tremendous 
economic prosperity.

Hathaway 
proposes 
an 

“insurance-like” 
model 
to 

implement the framework laid out 
by this convention. Each country 
would take on certain financial 
and 
human 
responsibilities 

based on various characteristics 
(GDP, amount of arable land, 
demographics, 
etc.). 
These 

quotas would be agreed upon and 
distributed fairly in order to assuage 
the ongoing movement of refugees. 
In this model, refugees’ countries 
of arrival would not necessarily 
be their final destination, but 
rather their point of access to the 
international system. If states don’t 
believe that each and every new 
arrival becomes 100 percent their 
responsibility, they will be less 
inclined to unnecessarily lengthen 
their vetting process and hamper 
their transportation, which would 
simultaneously diminish the power 
of the refugee smuggling industry. 
Hathaway estimates that such an 
approach could lead to a third of 
refugees returning home within 
six years, another third remaining 
in contiguous countries and the 
final third finding a permanent 
home elsewhere.

Today, the Western world is 

yet to truly undertake a collective, 
systemic solution to the plight of the 
global refugee population. Instead, 
our discourse has centered around 
whether the refugee crisis should 
be our concern, rather than how we 
can ultimately resolve it. As a result, 
we have more or less perpetuated 
the state of limbo in which many 
refugees find themselves, while 
leaving a massive burden on less 
prosperous nations simply because 
of their geographical coincidence. 
A model like Professor Hathaway’s, 
which distributes this tremendous 
burden both sensibly and equitably, 
would lead to a more cooperative 
international 
community 
that 

lives 
up 
to 
its 
decades-old 

promises of bringing justice to 
the world’s most vulnerable and 
underrepresented population.

LAURA SCHINAGLE

Managing Editor

420 Maynard St. 

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

 tothedaily@michigandaily.com

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.

SHOHAM GEVA

Editor in Chief

CLAIRE BRYAN 

and REGAN DETWILER 

Editorial Page Editors

Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s Editorial Board. 

All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.

Carolyn Ayaub
Claire Bryan

Regan Detwiler
Brett Graham
Caitlin Heenan
Jeremy Kaplan

Ben Keller
Minsoo Kim

Madeline Nowicki
Anna Polumbo-Levy 

Jason Rowland

Ali Safawi

Kevin Sweitzer

Rebecca Tarnopol

Ashley Tjhung

Stephanie Trierweiler

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

David Donnantuono is an LSA 

junior.

Chris Crowder can be reached at 

ccrowd@umich.edu

Fighting for your mental health

CHRIS CROWDER | COLUMN

CHRIS

CROWDER

STEPHEN MITCHELL | OP-ED

Faculty must address mental health

STUDENTS OF CAPS IN ACTION | OP-ED

Students of CAPS in Action is a new 

student group at CAPS.

Stephen Mitchell is an LSA junior.

