SCOR General Body Meeting Minutes

13 January 2006

5:15

Sharon welcomes the membership, and introduces Ashanti Hosier of the Black Business Students Association (BBSA).

Ashanti is a second year at the Ross School of Business.  BBSA president Brock Williams is not in town but sends his regards.  BBSA is 30 years old, and has three key focus areas.

-Identifying and addressing the needs of black students as part of the business school

            -Strengthening our family/community

-Developing programs aimed at increasing minority representation (Current rates of about 35 per class)

Sharon introduces Lisa Hurst, Associate Director of Admissions at the  
Ross School.  Lisa encourages the membership to consider an MBA here at UM.  Michigan is a member of the Consortium of graduate degree-granting business schools.

            -Common Application can be used for up to six schools

            -If admitted, students are eligible to get a full tuition/fees fellowship.

            -Summer orientation for incoming Consortium MBA students.

For those who might be thinking about an MBA somewhere down the road, be sure to consider the Ross School and a consortium fellowship.

Ashanti introduces Sheila Collins, BBSA Conference Chair, who will tell us about the upcoming BBSA conference.  Sheila tells the membership about the upcoming BBSA Conference, which will be held 16-19 February.  The 17^th – 19^th will include:

            -Professional Development Workshops

            -Live Music performances

            -Keynote Address with Earl Graves Jr. (president and CEO of Black Enterprise)

            -Saturday night Gala.

SCOR members receive a 20% discount if the register before 25 January ($40 total).

5:34

Opening Activity – “name that SCOR member”

5:45

Committee Reports

-Conference:  Angela discusses SCOR conference developments.

            -Our biggest event of the year.

- 45 presentations planned, with wide representation.  10 students are from off campus, including one from Spain!

-Three lectures are still planned, though Kimberle Crenshaw (scheduling conflict) has been replaced with Maria Eschaveste, Bill Clinton’s former Chief of Staff

-Conference will also feature a series of professional development workshops, and a panel on MCRI (Michigan Civil Rights Initiative).

-Reminder, there is no cost for attendance and you will be well fed!  Conference is Feb 10/11 in Rackham.  Those who register will be added to a listserv (program updates etc).

-Q&A: Non-students are welcome.  Open to the university community.

-Registering is optional, but preferred (so we have enough food, nametags etc.)

-Registration forms going around

Looking for time-keepers and facilitators for graduate student panel presentations (email will be forthcoming to the listserv).

-Sharon reiterates our encouragement for folks to register.

5:53

-Professional Development: Heather discusses the upcoming student/faculty mixer, our big professional development event of the year.  It will be held on the 26^th of January, at the Rackham 4^th floor assembly hall.

-Political Action: Hugo talks about MCRI

-We need organizers, canvassers etc.  Contrary to popular belief, we don’t have many folks working on this, and if we don’t mobilize soon, affirmative action and all race attentive policies (fellowships, recruitment efforts, etc) can be banned if MCRI passes this November.

-At Large: Josie discusses the SCOR History Project, which is underway.  Still looking for interviewees (folks who have been influenced by SCOR over the years).  Also interested in recruiting any folks with interviewing, editing, transcription, and/or video camera skills.

-Community Service: Courtney informs the group that though we helped with Halloween activities, organizational difficulties have stifled our Katrina relief efforts (namely, the tutoring program).  Many families have already been relocated.  Habitat for Humanity is our next focus (the house that SCOR built!).  Early April is the expected time frame. 

-A Sign up sheet going around.  Several committees (PAC, Community Service, and SCOR History Project) need additional participation, so feel free to sign up.

Media and Publicity:  Newsletter is on the back table, and contains details on many of today’s announcements.  We also have a $50 certificate for the SCOR logo contest winner, Sup.

Social – Devin tells us we’re going salsa dancing tonight, so everyone be sure to come out.  Email going out Tuesday about roller skate night in Ypsi.  Cheap!  Also, Saturday the 18^th of Feb we’re taking a trip to the Black History Museum.

-Menna introduces our black history month event, which will be held on Friday, 17^th of February.  We’ll be hosting a soul food dinner and movie on Paul Robeson, also showing a rare video clip of Robeson from the 30s.  Event will be followed by a discussion.  Open to grads and undergrads, and is part of our Black History Month tribute.

-Sharon states that APIA and Native Caucus have developed a presentation for us.  But first, lets eat!

Q&A

-Sarah asks how we can make a community effort to teach our children about indigenous and other cultures without the use of racist museum exhibits such as those displayed in the presentation.

SCOR Member asks what Natives and Filipinos are doing in a Natural History Museum in the first place.  Are they extinct? If not, why do we treat a living people as though they were artifacts (literally, museum pieces).

SCOR Member draws comparisons to the portrayal of Natives with the portrayal of African American slaves as uncivilized savages.

SCOR member notes how popular these museum exhibits are, particularly among K-12 kids.  For many, they are socialized to equate natives with other historical “dinosaurs” from a very early age.  Many SCOR members have overheard the comments made by passing children which reflect these perceptions.

Dean draws several poignant parallels between U.S. imperialism within the states as well as abroad (War in the Philippines, e.g.).

Strangely, the U.M. Museum claims that its own planning committee has taken a position opposing dioramas, and yet efforts are currently underway to expand the Filipino exhibit.

7:13

Caucus updates

-Send recipes to John Paul for the SCOR cookbook!

-APIA meeting next Friday

-Latino caucus planning next potluck.  Email forthcoming

-Menna reminds the membership to come out for the Robeson film/food/discussion on the 17^th.

7:15

Devin informs us that we’ll change skate night to Tuesday the 24^th.

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