An open letter to the Rev. Jesse Jackson

First of all, let me extend you an early welcome to the University of Michigan, home of the Wolverines, President Gerald Ford, Arthur Miller, Tom Hayden, Don Riegle, Jessye Norman ... and us, the students. We will be your hosts, and we're honored that you are coming back to see us again.

I realize you're probably planning your speech for next Friday, so I'd like to make a few suggestions. You see, people listen to you.

I saw you bring the United Center to hushed attention and the Michigan delegation to its feet at the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. People who had sat through tens of speeches already that week were not only listening, but feeling what you had to say. I saw you likewise captivate a crowd in Ann Arbor in the fall of 1996.

A recent online survey of college students put you at No. 2 in the next presidential race: behind Elizabeth Dole and ahead of George Bush and Al Gore. We hear you aren't running, but no matter, the unofficial nomination still says something about the audience you command.

Why do we consider you a national leader when you have never gotten past the primaries in a presidential election, have never served in Congress, held a Cabinet position or run a state economy?

Somehow, you touch people, and we listen to you. You may rally the black community, but your message finds its way into the lives of all Americans. And we want you to talk to us all, because we know we can all benefit from what you have to say.

So, with that said, there are a few things we need to hear from you. Some of it is for reassurance, some for education and some of it just needs to be said - and you have the podium.

n You've probably heard about the two lawsuits challenging the University's use of affirmative action in its admissions policies. This has been an emotional, and confusing, issue on campus for the past two years. We've protested (on both sides), argued, discussed and learned ... and yet we're still not quite sure what to think of it all. We don't know what the outcome will be, obviously, but we also don't really know how to handle the emotions and questions that this issue has brought to the surface.

Tell us it's OK to be confused.

Tell us the right to free speech trumps all things politically correct, and that knowledge of viewpoints and ideas should strengthen, not divide, us as a community.

Maybe because of the way diversity discussions, theme semesters and debates have been framed, or maybe because we know what a tremendous effect the University's actions could have on admissions and hiring policies across the country, people are afraid to talk about what the issue is doing to our University and the relationships between students, administrators and national campaigns.

Tell us how we can make all students and community members comfortable with the issue.

Tell us how we can be a public model for the country while we're still working privately on appreciating diversity on our own campus.

n There's a presidential election fast approaching, and things are already getting nasty; I heard an MSNBC anchor declare it "open season on the veep," and report a bevy of jokes and cartoons about the commonly perceived personality of Al Gore. I groaned out loud.

We're tired of this. We're tired of partisan bickering, and we don't want to endure another year and a half of Monica jokes, "Wag the Dog" comparisons, accusations of and from Ken Starr, intimate details of our leaders' private lives ... Gen X already is the most alienated and apathetic voting group, and the past year has made us wonder why we should even bother.

Tell us we should bother.

Tell us it's OK to be fed up with rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum and let's talk about how to heal gaping wounds in the national trust of our chief executive.

And, although you aren't running yourself, promise us you'll help to make this campaign a clean one. Well, "clean" might be a little too much to ask for. Help, at least, to keep us talking public issues instead of private indiscretions. Let's talk about a prison industry that's taking money away from our schools and young black men away from the chance at a solid family and career. Let's talk about how to make sure Social Security survives the baby boomers and ... us.

n There will be quite a few seniors in the crowd next Friday. Tell us it's not as scary as it seems out there. Tell us we can make a difference.

- Laurie Mayk can be reached over

e-mail at ljmayk@umich.edu.

Laurie Mayk She Says So

04-02-99