by Benjamin Kepple
Recently, many students received an e-mail, most likely forwarded by friends or student group leaders, from Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) President Michael Nagrant. The purpose of the forwarded e-mail was ostensibly to see how students felt about diversity. In full, the e-mail reads:
Dear Students,
As you may know, the University of
Michigan is currently being sued for its affirmative action
policies. In an attempt to gauge sentiments on campus, the
Michigan Student Assembly is looking for students to submit
personal anecdotes or stories where diversity has made an impact
on your life. Note: you can submit negative effects as well, but
keep in mind that we are not looking for affirmative action
arguments pro and con, just stories where diversity has been a
positive or negative factor in your life.
&nmbsp You might want to think about
reflections from the classroom, from student involvement, or your
friendships. It is very important that we hear from as many
people as possible. If you can send these anecdotes to us soon,
that would be preferred, but please take some time to do this.
E-mail all responses to mjnagran@umich.edu.
Thank You,
Michael Nagrant
MSA President
However, what recipients of the e-mail did not receive was the preface to the e-mail, which was posted to the public e-mail list MSA-NET. (MSA-NET is a joinable e-mail list via the X.500 system.) This preface reads:
Can you forward the message
below to any student groups, halls you are an [R.A.] on,
etc. Due to the present lawsuit against the U, we have been asked
by the powers that be, as the student government to do a little
research as to sentiments on campus regarding how diversity has
made a difference in student lives on campus. Note: [MSA Rep.
David Burden] and other anti-affirmative action people you can
forward this to your constituency as well. I'm pretty sure the
administration would like to hear both sides.
I'm not asking for arguments on
affirmative action, just personal stories, anecdotes on how
diversity has touched or been a detriment in your life. Also
please delete this part of the note above before sending. This
really is important so spread the word.
While there has been no negative response to the MSA-NET e-mail group, one student, Douglas Friedman, a doctoral student in the Business School, sent the following response to Nagrant: "Those of us who are not racialists - i.e., viewing everything through a racial prism don't really think in the terms you suggest, which says a good deal about your way of thinking. In addition, whites, in particular, may be afraid of reporting negative diversity experiences for fear of being labeled racist. Collecting anecdotes also tells you nothing about sentiment on campus because anecdotes are just that, individual recollections of individual events ..."
In addition, questions are also raised about why the survey was indeed instituted: since it is unlikely that University students will provide negative experiences about diversity, the vast majority of responses will be positive. Given that diversity is a major defense used in favor of affirmative action programs at the University, one may have reason to wonder where the responses will end up.
"We thought these stories might shed some light on students' thoughts on diversity and we could use it as one way of providing information to the community ..." Nagrant said.
"I know that my e-mail may seem as if it had a pro affirmative action slant. The quote that says 'you can send negative comments as well' seems to suggest that. I actually put that in there because I took into consideration the fact that people might assume we were only 'hunting' for positive stories. I wanted to let them know we wanted all the stories. If I suggested otherwise, I apologize for the misunderstanding," he said.