By 
allowing 
Richard 

Spencer to speak on campus, 
the Editorial Board believes 
the University would offer 
a 
platform 
for 
Spencer 

to 
spread 
legitimate 
hate 

speech. Spencer advocates for 
the establishment of a “white 
‘ethno-state,’” 
“peaceful 

ethnic cleansing” and has 
adopted 
Nazi 
terminology 

for 
the 
press. 

Though 
hate 

speech is hard to 
define, we believe 
Spencer’s speech 
poses a reasonable 
threat to public 
safety. 
Spencer’s 

speech has incited 
rampant violence 
in 
the 
past, 

most notably in 
Charlottesville, 
Va., last August, 
when 
Heather 

Heyer 
died 

protesting 
at 

a 
Unite 
the 

Right 
rally 

which 
Spencer 

organized. 
Furthermore, 
Florida Gov. Rick 
Scott 
called 
a 

state of emergency 
when 
Spencer 

spoke on the campus of the 
University of Florida in October. 
Allowing Spencer to speak 
would also be contradictory 
to the University’s diversity, 
equity 
and 
inclusion 

ideals. We cannot condone 
the 
immorality 
(and 

irresponsibility) of providing a 
platform for white supremacist 
views at our University.

Due to the protections of 

free speech under the First 
Amendment, simply denying 
Spencer an opportunity to 
speak will likely spark a 
legal battle. Other prominent 
public universities, such as 

Michigan 
State 
University 

and Penn State University, 
currently find themselves in 
lawsuits initiated by Spencer 
after denying his request to 
speak. His behavior can be 
categorized 
as 
attention-

seeking, and until firm legal 
precedent is established, his 
tactics will continue from 
university to university. 

Therefore, not only is this an 
opportunity to take direct 
action against hate speech, 
but to fight alongside other 
universities 
in 
developing 

a legal weapon to prevail 
against 
these 
reactive 

lawsuits. 
The 
University 

can work to set new legal 
precedents 
that 
would 

likely help protect smaller 
universities that may not be 
able to afford hefty legal fees.

We 
acknowledge 
that 

even if the University were 
to forcefully fight to keep 
Spencer off campus, he may 
still prevail. The lawsuit is 

risky, as the University could 
relinquish all control they 
may have over scheduling 
Spencer’s 
visit. 
Measures 

like 
scheduling 
Spencer’s 

potential speech during a 
restrictive time — such as 
over a school break — and in a 
less central venue on campus 
may not be possible in the 
case of a lost lawsuit.

However, as 

the 
Editorial 

Board 
has 

written 
about 

in 
the 
past, 

the 
string 
of 

racist 
actions 

on 
campus 

has 
harmed 

the 
perception 

of 
campus 

safety 
and 

inclusivity, and 
the 
University 

should 
show 

unrelenting 
solidarity 
with 
minority 

students in the 
current political 
climate. 
The 

University 
needs to match 
its 
rhetoric 

of 
student 

solidarity 

and inclusiveness with its 
actions. Accepting Spencer’s 
speaking request will only 
add fuel to the fire of a 
troublingly hostile climate. 
Regardless, the University 
needs 
to 
be 
proactive, 

whether by legal measures 
or security, in protecting 
our 
campus 
and 
our 

students from intentional 
and degrading hate speech 
and an inf lux of dangerous 
white 
supremacists 

organizing on campus.

I 

suffer 
from 
Raynaud’s 

disease, an autoimmune 
disease in which blood 

vessels 
in 
my 
hands 
and 

feet 
spasm 
due 
to 
cold 

temperatures, 
causing 
a 

temporary decrease in blood 
supply. 
With 
Raynaud’s, 

sensitivity 
to 
temperature 

varies from person to person. 
Typically, I can experience 
symptoms at temperatures 65 
degrees or lower if I am not 
bundled up. There is no cure 
for Raynaud’s disease, but if 
I wear appropriate clothing 
and am careful about touching 
cold objects, I can live a fairly 
normal life. 

In my early teens, I began to 

lose my hearing. Being hard of 
hearing is difficult, but because 
I don’t need an American 
Sign 
Language 
translator 

and my hearing aids are not 
very 
visible, 
most 
people 

don’t realize that I’m hard of 
hearing. Once I was diagnosed 
with these two ailments, I did 
not have much of an idea as 
to what to do since I had not 
learned about these issues in a 
health class or at home.

Raynaud’s disease and being 

hard of hearing are examples of 
a larger spectrum of illnesses 
called “invisible disabilities.” 
An 
invisible 
disability 
can 

be 
described 
as 
primarily 

neurological but encompasses 
all disabilities that are not 
seen 
by 
others. 
They 
are 

often incurable. In addition 
to 
autoimmune 
diseases 

and 
visual 
and 
auditory 

impairments, 
an 
invisible 

disability can include mental 
health 
problems, 
sleeping 

disorders or chronic pain.

Among 
college 
students, 

invisible disabilities are more 
common 
than 
one 
would 

think. 
Seventy-five 
percent 

mental health disorders begin 
before the age of 24, making 
college a trying time for some. 

Additionally, 
mental 
illness 

is prevalent among college 
students. Twelve percent of 
freshman students said they 
were 
frequently 
depressed 

in 2016. For these reasons, 
increasing 
awareness 
of 

invisible disabilities, especially 
among teens and young adults, 
is exceptionally important. 

Invisible 
disability 
narratives 

are not represented enough in 
current conversations. Taboo 
surrounds invisible disabilities, 
especially in regard to mental 
illness. This stigma prevents 
personal narratives from being 
displayed. Unfortunately, this 
leads to those with invisible 
disabilities not getting the care 
and treatment necessary to 
maintain good health.

This significantly decreases 

quality 
of 
life 
for 
those 

individuals. 
A 
2017 
USA 

Today 
article 
found 
that 

students 
who 
knew 
about 

mental health resources on 
their campus chose not to use 
them because of the negative 
stigma associated with mental 
health problems. With studies 
showing that the risk for 
suicide decreases substantially 
once one begins counseling, 
this stigma creates a deadly 
problem for those struggling 
with mental health. Those 
with an invisible disability, 
like mental health disorders or 
hearing limitations, deserve the 
resources and care necessary 
to improve their health so they 
can participate in society to 
their fullest capacity.

A 
lack 
of 
awareness 

surrounding 
invisible 

disabilities makes the disability 
itself seem fake. Because my 
disabilities are not apparent, 
I feel as if I constantly have 
to justify the struggles I face 
because of them. There is a 
common misconception that 
I am making up the pain from 
Raynaud’s or that I can actually 

hear fine but am just bad at 
paying attention. Neither of 
these are true.

Other 
comments 
I 
have 

received 
regarding 
my 

disabilities are usually along 
the lines of how I should be 
grateful, because “I could have 
it worse.” I have always found 
this type of rhetoric extremely 
offensive. 
These 
comments 

are a thinly veiled attempt at 
invalidating the pain that those 
with invisible disabilities face. 
While it is true the majority 
of invisible disabilities are not 
terminal, these limitations can 
severely affect one’s daily life.

To 
combat 
these 

misconceptions, I feel the need 
to educate others on my invisible 
disabilities. While I am happy 
to answer questions, it is not my 
job to combat people’s ignorance. 
With information at everyone’s 
fingertips, the burden should 
not be on those with invisible 
disabilities 
to 
educate 
the 

general population.

Increasing awareness through 

conversation is an important 
step in decreasing these types of 
offensive comments. Education 
is 
key 
in 
creating 
positive 

change in the world of invisible 
disabilities in particular and 
disabilities in general.

Invisible disabilities and the 

struggles they entail are real. I 
want to remind those on campus 
who struggle with an invisible 
disability to remember they 
are not alone and they deserve 
respect 
and 
the 
resources 

they need to succeed. As a 
university, we can support our 
peers with invisible disabilities 
by including them in our 
discussions about disability. 
I 
would 
encourage 
those 

without an invisible disability 
to educate themselves to be a 
good ally to those suffering.

Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4A — Thursday, November 9, 2017

REBECCA LERNER

Managing Editor

420 Maynard St. 

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

 tothedaily@michigandaily.com

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

EMMA KINERY

Editor in Chief

ANNA POLUMBO-LEVY 

and REBECCA TARNOPOL 

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.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

From invisible to visible

EMILY HUHMAN | COLUMN

Carolyn Ayaub
Megan Burns

Samantha Goldstein

Emily Huhman
Jeremy Kaplan

Sarah Khan

Max Lubell

Lucas Maiman

Madeline Nowicki
Anna Polumbo-Levy 

Jason Rowland

Anu Roy-Chaudhury

Ali Safawi

Sarah Salman
Kevin Sweitzer

Rebecca Tarnopol

Stephanie Trierweiler

Ashley Zhang

Emily Huhman can be reached at 

huhmanem@umich.edu. 

BRETT 

GRAHAM

A

s a senior, sometimes 
it seems like talking 
about plans has become 

as mundane as talking 
about the weather. 
The 
question 

“Remind me, what 
are 
you 
thinking 

of 
doing 
after 

graduation?” 
with 

all its monumentally 
stressful 
implications, 
seems 

to weasel its way 
into 
conversations 

on a near-daily basis. 
To this point, one response has 
made me furrow my brow every 
time: “Consulting.”

Based purely on specs, its 

appeal 
is 
understandable. 

According to best estimates, 
the industry’s profits totaled 
over $71 billion in 2016, with 
projections 
promising 
even 

more growth this year. In 
terms of experience gained, 
salaries for recent graduates, 
job security and esteem, few 
other industries can compete. 
But work of this sort in one’s 
20s or 30s is the ultimate 
case 
of 
putting 
the 
cart 

before the horse. In the end, 
its rise is taking some of the 
most talented young minds 
graduating from this university 
and others away from making 
actual change in the world.

First and foremost, the idea 

that the thousands of young 
people who enter this industry 
each year are all 
experts 

in business, politics, public 
health, finance, strategy or 
management 
is 
far-fetched, 

verging on absurd. Platitudes 
aside, 
the 
difference 
in 

educational value between the 
classroom and the real world 
is substantial. Of course, they 
have something to contribute 
after four years of learning, 
but why would a client pay 
for 
advice 
from 
someone 

with absolutely no practical 
experience? Where do newly 
minted graduates fit into a 
field centered on connecting 
experts with companies and 
campaigns in need? The senior 
members of these firms did 
not become experts from years 
as junior researchers — they 
did so by doing first and then 
finding a platform to share 

their knowledge. Trial and 
error, not apprenticeships.

Some 
of 
the 
country’s 

best and brightest 
choose, 
oddly 

enough, not to set 
themselves 
up 
to 

start a business or 
run a campaign of 
their own, but to 
help someone else 
make change in the 
world. And why not? 
It’s not as though 
each of them lacks 
a potential million-

dollar 
venture 
they 
toss 

around in the back of their 
minds as they fall asleep, a 
cause they’d like to champion 
or lend their voice to. 

Instead, it can be ascribed 

to the sense of security that 
accompanies 
continued 

achievement. Success is much 
easier to process when it is 
measured by “U.S. News and 
World Report,” or when you 
know that McKinsey, Bain, 
BCG and Deloitte will look 
phenomenal on a résumé and 
that your tenure there will 
be the envy of friends and 
relatives. Some have said these 
groups, nearly all of which 
began their consulting in the 
1970s and have experienced 
a meteoric rise from there, 
have succeeded in branding 
“themselves as a kind of Ivy 
League of adulthood.”

What no one has been able 

to explain to me to this point is 
what is all that exciting about 
consulting. 
Granted, 
there’s 

the opportunity to learn from 
an array of clients, and there 
is value in variety. But when 
thousands of companies are 
all going to the same five or 10 
firms to inform their decisions, 
that must eventually preclude 
variety. Not long ago, the chief 
executives of Boeing, General 
Electric, 
Hewlett-Packard, 

Morgan Stanley and PepsiCo 
were all alumni of the same 
three firms. It is a structure that 
seems reminiscent of the type of 
home improvement shows one 
might see on HGTV: a cookie-
cutter formula for change, but 
instead of open floor plans, wood 
finishes and rustic accents, it 
has to do with networking, 
PowerPoints and social media 

strategies. Ultimately, the final 
products look decently similar to 
one another.

So why not come up with a 

product that’s entirely your own 
while you’re young and have 
the chance to make mistakes? 
My guess is that in five, 10, 
20 years, as these minds are 
moving into nicer offices and 
starting families, these bright, 
young professionals will be 
significantly 
less 
likely 
to 

leave their world and take 
risks. Furthermore, if you are 
the type of person who honestly 
sees themselves with a career 
in 
consulting 
and 
nothing 

else, isn’t the more beneficial 
experience out there in the 
world? You might not settle 
down at McKinsey before you’re 
30, but by the time you do, you 
won’t be starting at entry level.

Meanwhile, 
the 
true 

innovators, the names that 
people 
will 
remember 
as 

the titans of their industries 
in the 21st century — Jobs, 
Gates, Buffett, Zuckerberg — 
have no experience in, and 
often distaste for, the world 
of consulting. In fact, Warren 
Buffett, the second-wealthiest 
man in the world, railed against 
the 
profession 
just 
a 
few 

months ago. At a shareholders’ 
meeting, the 84-year-old made 
a joke about the fact that “If 
the board hires a compensation 
consultant after I (die), I will 
come back — mad.”

Make no mistake. Consulting 

work is an excellent career 
choice by almost every metric. 
Taking one of those jobs is not 
mutually exclusive with doing 
good in the world. But it’s not 
a job for a recent graduate — 
it’s a job for an old veteran. We 
should think about whether 
some of our best minds are 
being lured away from the 
real 
high-risk, 
high-reward 

work of truly changing the 
world around us by steadier 
salaries and the guarantee of 
prestige. Doing will never be 
as easy a path as consulting, 
and students who have huge 
potential should take this as a 
welcome challenge rather than 
something to shy away from.

BRETT GRAHAM | COLUMN

Pick doing, not consulting

FROM THE DAILY

Keep Spencer off campus
H

istorically and contemporarily, universities have been 
the center of social change and political discourse. 
Consequently, the nature of free speech on university 

campuses is a deeply important issue. Recently, Richard Spencer, 
a white supremacist and an “alt-right” leader, has asked to speak 
at the University of Michigan. His request prompts a much-needed 
discussion on free speech and how the University will respond to 
it. The Michigan Daily Editorial Board believes that the University 
should fight Richard Spencer’s request to speak on campus for the 
purposes of campus safety.

EMILY WOLFE | CONTACT EMILY AT ELWOLFE@UMICH.EDU

It adds character

Brett Graham can be reached at 

btgraham@umich.edu.

Illustration by Joe Iovino.

