<p>I was having a conversation with one of my close friends yesterday and he brought to light a situation that I never really brought up or thought about. It was about how minorities, well blacks are treated at a campus with such a high Caucasian population. At first I told him I'd be alright, but then I really started to think deeply about it. Not because I have trouble communicating with people of different races, but because of the demographic of my high school. My high school is 60% African American, 30% Caucasian, 5% Hispanic, 3 % Asian and about 2% other. Even though It would seem like my high school is somewhat diverse, there was inherent segregation and some tension between races. There is a high achievement gap and the view of blacks isn't really positive. I ended up telling my friend that no matter where I go I will always be a minority and that because Michigan is such a big school and people are coming from all over the world, there will be students that will show negativity towards blacks in some way. And that I can't change the way people think. I chose to come to Michigan because of academics and because of the location. I've never really been around there and it was something new, so I wanted to try it. I never really thought about the demographic, because I thought it have an effect on my education. Any thoughts about this?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it. I applied to University of Michigan this year and was accepted so I went up to Michigan to check out the school. If you haven’t visited yet, let me tell you the place is great. There are restaurant just about everywhere, the townspeople are very nice and so are the students. Ann Arbor is just a great college town. </p>
<p>The majority of the people I saw at Michigan were indeed Caucasian. I had the chance to talk to a few and they were all welcoming to prospective students. I wouldn’t worry about being a minority because the school is still very diverse and there are always people who don’t judge others people by the color of their skin. Also, when I was up there everyone was pretty much busy doing there own thing so I’m sure your find your niche after a while.</p>
<p>I kind of regret not attending University of Michigan now. Anyway good luck and I’m sure you will get an excellent education.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it. Michigan is a very, very diverse environment, and it was clear to me that the campus embraces people from all walks of life. i.e. The Expect Respect Campaign in which students are expected to respect others no matter what background they are from. I’ll be going to Michigan as a member of a minority group, but I have no apprehensions just because I know that the University frowns upon racism. We’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I wasn’t quite sure what I would expect, but I guess from all the opinions I have recieved from here and from elsewhere, Ann Arbor is a great college town. It is also very accepting when it comes to race. Hopefully I will find my niche.</p>
<p>Honestly though, Ann Arbor is probably one of the most racially diverse cities in Michigan, at least in my perspective. I live in Ann Arbor, and rarely are there issues based on race. Although the majority of U of M students are caucasian, asians, blacks, and other minorities are significantly present at Michigan.</p>
<p>As long as you’re not like… a straight up thug from Detroit or something (in that case you probably wouldnt be interested in U of M =P ), you should fit in without a problem. Just make sure you study hard, party hard, and have fun =). Honestly, at Michigan, race is only skin deep. Its more about the type of person you are.</p>
<p>Hope to see you here at Michigan! It’s a great college.</p>
<p>I’m far from a thug , but I have no problem with talking to people of different races. The only problem I have is the perception that people have of blacks at Michigan. But I probably don’t need to worry. It was just something that I was thinking about since my friend stressed it so much.</p>
<p>i think you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>As a minority, I really never thought minorities faced much racial issues at universities… Also, from my understanding, the large portion of University of Michigan- Ann Arbor in state students are from the Detroit metropolitition… so I don’t think you should be worried at all.</p>
<p>Michigan is all about diversity - and even though affirmative action is no longer allowed, the school still trying its hardest to enroll a diverse class. I’m a minority also and I’ve loved the experience. You’ll feel welcome here, trust me.</p>
<p>Well I’m not sure about how Hispanics and Asians are treated. I’m more concerned about how blacks are treated. I know that racism isn’t a black and white issue, but there is apparent tension between the two races. And my teacher informed me of several supreme court cases that dealt with affirmative action involving U-M. [University</a> of Michigan](<a href=“http://umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2003/Jun03/supremecourt2]University”>http://umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2003/Jun03/supremecourt2). Any thoughts about this.</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Again, you will be surprised by the number of students from the Detroit metropolitition ( over half of Michigan in state students), I don’t think you should be that much concern.</p>
<p>Entertainer. Just be nonjudgmental and outgoing. You’ll blend in and make friends quickly. I’m not saying racism is non existent at Michigan. There is racism everywhere. It’ll be up to you to reach out and meet others.</p>
<p>Entertainer, I don’t understand your question about the article cited. In both cases UM argued in favor of using race as a parameter in order to increase diversity in their accepted student pool. The University has a history of supporting racial/ethnic diversity in its student body.</p>
<p>Cant be happier affirmative action is gone…</p>
<p>Michigan has always gone out of its way to make sure minorities are well-represented. If you think Ann Arbor is overwhelmingly Caucasian, you have not spent much time in small-town Michigan. Ann Arbor is a huge exception in the immediate area of its location, Washtenaw Country.</p>
<p>No I have no problems at all. I was just bringing something to light about a conversation I had with my friend and a couple of teachers. I just wanted opinions about it. I have no problems with making friends or getting involved with people of different races. It is just that I’ve never been out to the Midwest before. Just wondering about it. That’s one of the reasons I chose to come here. Because it is something new. Just wondering If people experienced a lot of racism and stuff.</p>
<p>It’s a legitimate question. I’m sure you will be fine.</p>
<p>Just to make you feel a little better. UM had an increase of 12% of Black students enrolling 2007-2008. </p>
<p>[The</a> State of Black Student Freshman Enrollments at the Nation’s Highest-Ranked Colleges and Universities](<a href=“http://www.jbhe.com/features/61_enrollments.html]The”>The State of Black Student Freshman Enrollments at the Nation’s Highest-Ranked Colleges and Universities)</p>
<p>UM has a huge outreach program to minority students in the Detroit metro area. So even though AA by the numbers is gone, the holistic approach is working just fine. You will be just fine.</p>
<p>Entertainer, I see you are from New Jersey. Well, I’m from the Ann Arbor area and attended University of Michigan, and I’m now living in New Jersey, so I think I can offer some good insight. Michigan as a whole is not very diverse and has issues with racial tension and straight-up racism. Personally I think the racism is much more based on class than anything else. Most people who are racist are racist against a certain perceived stereotype of working-class minorities. Even with these ignorant opinions, they’d be unlikely to share them in a public setting… or to openly disrespect someone of another race to their face.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor, though, is a little idealist bubble completely cut off from that reality. One reason I chose U of M for undergrad is because of its commitment to diversity. The student population is very diverse, and while there does seem to be some level of self-segregation, there is also a great deal of cross-cultural communication. Michigan’s position is that diversity in and of itself is an educational opportunity, and that it benefits all students. As a graduate I would agree–some of the most valuable things I learned resulted in being exposed to other cultures and learning about the experiences of people of different races and ethnicities.</p>
<p>The issue of racism came up many times in many courses, and it was always addressed with sensitivity and a sense of shared ideals. I can’t recall a single student I ever met at U-M who was openly racist. The worst incident I can recall is when a super conservative group on campus held a ‘‘Catch an Illegal Immigrant’’ rally on the Diag during the ‘‘Day Without a Mexican’’ nationwide strike. This affected me rather strongly as an advocate for immigrant rights. It was highly controversial and the vast majority of students were opposed, but it did raise some interesting points about freedom of speech. I have a vivid memory of wanting to tear that flyer down so bad, I was so ANGRY but in the end I left it up because one value that Michigan instilled in me is that censoring unfavorable opinions is not the way to englighten others–exposing those ideas to open criticism and analysis is. Michigan taught me to channel anger over injustice into action. That event opened dialog that led to learning to think critically about issues of race in our country. That is kind of how it works in Ann Arbor. Nothing happens without analyzing it to death! (which I think is a good thing if you are a student.)</p>
<p>My general feeling about New Jersey in general is that politically and with regard to its attitude toward diversity, it is very similar to Ann Arbor. Actually, Ann Arbor I think is a little bit more idealistic than Jersey. But the point I guess is that if you are comfortable in Jersey you will have no problem at Michigan. I think you will find the openness and willingness to engage these issues really refreshing and motivating to encourage social change for the rest of your life. At least, that’s how it worked for me.</p>
<p>I definitely wouldn’t worry about it. I am one of two minorities in my department, and my co-workers have always included me in events. I even attended an ice cream social two weeks ago. U-M is very pro-diversity.</p>