<p>Sadly these kinds of things tend to be counter-productive to the real goals these students are ostensibly trying to reach.</p>
<p>When admissions lower the admissions standards for a particular group, the students of that group who are on campus then complain that all the other students believe that they are not equally qualified to be on campus. A brilliant AA friend of mine (we have been close friends for 35 years) has often complained to me that people often assume that she got in to college and into law school only because of affirmative action, and make negative assumptions about her based upon that belief.</p>
<p>It doesn’t help to put students into an environment where they don’t have the necessary skills to succeed. U of M can put any number of students in to the school of engineering, but if they aren’t strongly prepared in calculus and physics, it’s unlikely they will be successful and graduate in 4 or even 5 years. And going longer just adds to the financial strain. Michigan needs to do something long before these kids are applying to college to make them strong applicants for U of M.</p>
<p>And I wish someone would explain to me why any person on campus deserves different financial aid than any other if their FAFSAs are the same. I am assuming all students who qualify for Pell, etc., come from the same financial situations.</p>
<p>It’s sad that the U does not reach out to URMs or to low SES students like they should, IMO, but this does not help anything- I’d argue it hurts their cause to be honest.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what else they want with regards to financial help (cheap housing). I was full Pell and my FA package had NO loans in it- 100% grants and some WS. This was back in 09. I assume, if anything, the packages have gotten even better.</p>
<p>I think it is important to draw attention to a lack of racial and socioeconomic diversity at a university like Michigan. I find a lot of comments on this thread misguided while also safe-guarding white privilege. While the idea of physical action is troubling – it is nothing more than a tactic to draw attention to a very serious problem plaguing many schools. If you are not a minority – it is hard to envision the experiences an individual goes through. The BBUM movement seeks to highlight the isolation that stems as a result of being a minority at the University of Michigan, and for this reason I see it as honorable.</p>
<p>Historically, black people have been put down. Racism and discrimination does not disappear.They are not asking for “special black treatment”. They are asking for equality. There needs to be diversity at schools to represent different perspectives. The fact that white people and others don’t realize this proves how ignorant uneducated they are. Open a history book and realized your history. Stop trying to guard your white privilege and start being decent human beings. Black people have to work twice as hard to go to top colleges. They don’t get in by being black. They earn it.</p>
<p>amaruchi has to be a ■■■■■. That was way too “I blame white people for everything” to be real. </p>
<p>I’m all for diversity. But I’m not gonna go out of my way yo make black or Hispanic or whatever friends. If one becomes my friend, great, if not, no biggie. </p>
<p>The university should take the most qualified applicants, regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity. If any group deserves a boost, it would be poorer applicants. They obviously do not have access to all the same opportunities as more wealthy applicants. </p>
<p>But the university gives jack to OOS students, so that won’t change.</p>
<p>OK, so work twice as hard then if you want to go. I’m of the ‘I can show them better than I can tell them’ generation. You won’t increase the number of blacks at the University by protesting, since what you are asking the university to do is illegal unless it is based on socioeconomic factors - it can’t be based on race. So yeah, lots of poor people in Detroit. Why not adopt a class of kindergartners in Detroit and mentor them with the goal of attending the University of Michigan? Yes, you’ll likely lose a NUMBER of them along the way. That’s the only way - I would like my GRANDCHILDREN’s generation to be able to go to U of M and no one question the race factor - get in because you got in. I’m sick to death of it. Just think protesting something that frankly ain’t gonna happen is a waste of time. And I’m black so…yeah.</p>
<p>That is 1000% fault of UMich president, Mary Sue Coleman. She plays race card all the time. At all levels.</p>
<p>After Michigan voters banned affirmative action in UMich admission, Mary Sue Coleman started to admit students based on their zip codes. She was sooo proud of being able to admit record numbers of black students, at the expense of everyone else. She bragged that she found a way to bring affirmative action back, to increase the number of blacks, even if they were not academically au pair with non-black students. She made articles about “clever ways” to go around the affirmative action ban. </p>
<p>UMich got what it deserved. They were actively recruiting next generation of civil rights activists … they got them.</p>
<p>Don’t be surprised if Mary Sue Coleman would fulfill most of the “demands”. I won’t be surprised to learn that she is in very cordial negotiations already.</p>
<p>cmgrayson ,
"You won’t increase the number of blacks at the University by protesting, since what you are asking the university to do is illegal unless it is based on socioeconomic factors - it can’t be based on race.’</p>
<p>Yes you can. UMich is very creative. Last time, adcoms bragged about making special quota for Detroit zip codes. They would simply increase this quota. </p>
<p>I won’t be surprised if the “protect” is pre-coordinated with UMich administration. </p>
<p>"•We demand an increase in black representation on this campus equal to 10 percent."
Most likely, UMich would do it.</p>
<p>Here’s my takeaway: don’t make a list of demands. Pursue one demand at a time, starting with the one with the strongest justification. If you make a list, people will focus on the dumbest demand on the list, and your whole effort will lose credibility.</p>
<p>Very few students live in the dorms. Most Freshmen do but hardly anyone past Freshman year. If you compare similar housing on Central compared to North or anywhere else in Ann Arbor, Central campus is more expensive. Northwood is cheaper but I don’t know about the “dorm-style” dorms.</p>
<p>The housing issue I see. It is aggravating for everybody including white grad students like me. I don’t think sophomores on up could get dorms on central campus even if the wanted to. Apartments near central campus aren’t cheap, and it sucks to live anywhere but near central campus. North campus housing (Northwood) is terrible and expensive.</p>
<p>A millionaire (Munger) gave loads of money for graduate dorms on central campus, which very very much needed.</p>
<p>“We demand an opportunity to be educated and to educate about Americas historical treatment and marginalization of colored groups through race and ethnicity requirements throughout all schools and colleges within the university.”</p>
<p>In exchange for this demand, each and every one of these ‘activists’ should be forced to pass more advanced math/physical science requirements to get their degrees.
Then these idiots will understand the academic burden they are placing on fellow students already tackling tough schedules.</p>