Athletes want to shed labels of racism

By Chris Grandstaff

Daily Sports Editor

Among the numerous Native American artifacts scattered around the meeting space of the now not-so-secret society Michigamua are a pair of Nike running shoes belonging to Michigan hockey captain Sean Peach.

Peach left his shoes up on the seventh floor of the Michigan Union before the Michigamua meeting room was taken over in protest by the Students of Color Coalition claiming that Michigamua is an elitist institution that degrades Native Americans.

Peach would like to get his shoes back, but a few more important things need to be settled first.

"We want to get those artifacts back in the place where they belong," Peach said. "But we also want to get our side of the story across, because we don't want to be labeled at this University and especially within the athletic community. We're embarrassed by what happened, but we did not know about those things being up there."

Peach and other members of Michigamua that represent University athletics want their voices to be heard and their names to be cleared of what they consider to be an unfair label.

"When people label me racist that's detrimental," Peach said. "That label will carry on to our team. It's propagating hatred toward our athletic community. By them showing that side of the story it's really harmful to the leaders of each respective athletes team."

Michigamua members continue to declare that the current members of the organization have done nothing that could be considered racist.

"There is nothing offensive in the way in which we conduct our meetings and the things that we do up on the seventh floor," Michigan senior swimmer Shannon Shakespeare said.

"Historically I can see how what was done could be considered offensive," she added. "But things have changed and I don't think anyone would've joined this organization if they thought it was degrading or offensive to anyone."

In fact, many athletes stated that Michigamua's diversity is one of the most attractive features of the group.

"Michigamua is a place that brings together people from different organizations and backgrounds from all across campus," Michigan senior gymnast Jose "LaLo" Haro said.

"I'm not white, I'm an international student from Mexico. If Michigamua were elitist I wouldn't be in it," he added. "I wouldn't make their criteria. Michigamua is a multi-cultural group."

Haro claims that the labels placed on the members of Michigamua are completely out of character for him, for his peers and the ideals for which the society stands. "They must think we have two separate personalities," Haro said. "During the day we work hard as students, we work hard as athletes, we all work hard doing things to make this university better."

"And at night they must think we turn into monsters or something. The things they are saying about us are just lies," he added. "I come from a Mexican family with really good values. I got my scholarship because of my talent and my values as a person."

Members of the athletic faction of Michigamua said they want to see this problem solved as soon as possible, with all Native American artifacts put in their proper place.