Letters to the Editor

Faculty members condemn society

To the Daily:

As members of the University's academic community, we object to the University's support of the Michigamua Society, a closed organization long engaged in the appropriation and misrepresentation of Native American objects, imagery and practices. Granted exclusive use of a privileged space in the Michigan Union, the Michigamua Society links the University to practices demeaning to Native Americans and their histories. The Society's meeting space decor, songs, graphics, hazing, and pseudo-Indian names utilize stereotypical images of Native American people and cultures to promote Michigamua's identity. These images and actions have been integral to the Society's history as an all-male (until 1999) and predominantly white organization representing itself as being the best of Michigan student leadership.

The Michigamua Society has long been aware of the Native American community's objection to these practices. It signed an agreement with University officials in 1989 to cease these activities and free itself of all objects associated with them, an accord which it has violated despite minor changes. In recognition of the principle that University support for any organization debasing another culture is objectionable, we ask that the University dissociate itself from the demeaning practices and privileged position of this group.

Fernado Coronil

Anthropology and history depts. Richard Ford Anthropology and biology depts. Lemuel Johnson English dept. Thomas Weisskopf Residential college and economics dept.

Daily dissed women's basketball

To the Daily:

One of our basketball teams has been on a seven game losing streak. The other has enjoyed a seven game winning streak. Both teams won. One blew a 20 point lead and eeked out an overtime win against a mediocre opponent while having home court advantage. The other won in double overtime against a formidable opponent in a less than friendly atmosphere. The scores were practically identical (89-87 & 90-87), yet the circumstances surrounding the two games were anything but. One team is fighting for 8th place in the Big Ten while the other just clinched second place.

One team is composed of men, the other, you guessed it, is our outstanding women's basketball team. One team is given the headline of the Daily's sports page and extensive coverage on an ensuing page. The other is allotted a small article at the bottom of the front page of the Sports section and minor coverage on the last page.

Give credit where credit is due. In the three years that I have followed our women's team, they have been doing nothing but improving. Now they are one of our conferences best team yet still don't receive adequate support from the student body or the media. Maybe Crisler can rival the Breslin Center in attendance once people realize what they are missing. Let's put the spotlight on the less than apparent strengths in our athletic department rather than our glaring weaknesses. If you write it, they will come.

Matthew Williams

LSA junior

Club sports teams need care too

To the Daily:

In response the possible review of athletic transportation policies, all I have to say is: What about everyone else?

Now, I don't want to sound like one of those whiny club sports players who complains that every club chess tournament isn't covered in full in the Daily, because I know why: We're not as important.

I'm a club volleyball player and I know that no one wants to see us play and that no one cares that we won a tournament at Wisconsin last weekend. What I think is tragic, though, is that the University feels that varsity athletes are entitled to more safety precautions than all other types of clubs.

Granted, we don't bring in any revenue, but does that mean that our lives aren't as important? Personally, I take the risk as a driver for our team every time we go to a game. I mean, someone has to. And, since we don't have professional drivers (or even the opportunity to hire them), what else are clubs supposed to do? If the University wants to make a point to ensure the safety of its students, they need to make it fair.

In all honesty, I don't care if we get someone to drive us. But I hate reading in the paper about the administration fretting about our oh-so-precious varsity players, while they overlook the rest of the students.

If the Athletic Department wants to review the travel policies of its students, I'm all for it. But they shouldn't pretend to be humanitarians when they're really only trying to protect a few select people.

Kate Capotosto

Engineering Sophomore