Moving forward

Despite tower departure SCC continues to fight Michigamua

By Tiffany Maggard

and Robert Gold

Daily Staff Reporter

After boxes of Native American artifacts left the Michigan Union tower, the Students of Color Coalition followed, feeling they had accomplished some of the goals they set more than a month ago.

"The same spirit that induced us to occupy this space was the same spirit that told us to come down from it and that was our communities ... It is important that we go back to the communities where we belong so that this experience can be shared outside of the (tower) walls," SCC member Kevin Jones said.

More than 150 students and community members crowded the stairwell and hallways of the fourth floor of the Michigan Union yesterday afternoon to watch members of Students of Color Coalition officially vacate the Union tower after 37 days of occupation.

SCC members were greeted outside the tower entrance by friends and Native American community members as the massive crowd cheered to the beat of a Tree Town drum and shook handmade noise makers to show their support.

SCC spokesman Joe Reilly said the decision to leave the tower was the result of a strenuous four-hour meeting late Sunday night. He said SCC members decided that the coalition had done all it could within the confines of the tower. He said the group must now voice their concerns in the broadercontext of the whole campus.

"We were worried about what people would think of us. We were worried about whether we did the right thing. We were worried about if we did everything we could ... But it's not about the tower - it's not about 37 days. It's about a lifetime," Reilly said.

Michigamua spokesman Nick Delgado said the group "is pleased that the SCC was able to save face by agreeing to a proposal that we provided over 30 days ago."

SCC spokesman Diego Bernal said SCC will continue to fight for its goals stated in a 14-point petition submitted to the University administration Feb. 4, including the redefinition of Michigamua's organization and the removal of its name.

"Every remnant of Michigamua that exists ... is a direct attack on humanity ... It does not belong at my university. It's about principle - people cannot own our humanity," he said.

Bernal said the group will interact with the community through town hall and other public forums.

"Maybe the tactics will be different, but our motivation has been completely the same," he said.

In e-mail sent to the University community, University President Lee Bollinger commented on the goals of a panel established in February by interim Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper. The panel will consist of three senior administrators from the schools and colleges to scrutinize the issues presented by SCC.

Bollinger said the panel will seek the input of students, faculty and staff and it will hold public hearings. He said the panel will refer to principles of civil rights, anti discrimination and the First Amendment.

The group "will consider under what circumstances and in what ways the University, its administrators and faculty members should be associated with such organizations and it will recommend guiding principles in this regard. The University's Executive Officers and I will then decide whether and how to implement such principles," he said.

Bollinger said the panel is to determine a resolution for the space allocation issue and present it to SCC before April 13. All other issues will be decided upon by Oct. 2.

Harper and Dean of Students Frank Cianciola could not be reached for comment.

Earlier yesterday morning, 20 Native American community members, SCC supporters and members stood shoulder to shoulder on the front steps of the Michigan Union blocking off the Union's main entrance.

Ypsilanti resident Esther Marcus, a co-organizer of the event, said Native American community members began planning for the protest last week.

"We support the SCC and we want the (University) community to know that the Native Americans not only in the county, but in the state are offended by the present behavior of Michigamua, especially their continuing use of Native American references and culture," Marcus said.

She said members of the Native American community will continue to express their views publicly, adding that their main goal is to make Michigamua change its name. She said the community members plan to hold teach-ins, distribute fliers and send letters to University administrators and local politicians.

"That's the one demand we are not going to give up," Marcus said.

Marcus said most people did not cross their picket line.

LSA senior Ann Kramer was one of the students who passed through the protesters and used the front doors.

"What we're seeing is close-minded and ignorant and I've had enough of it," Kramer said, adding that she disagreed with the SCC's takeover of the tower.

"That made it into a racism issue when it's not one," Kramer said.

Two to three Department of Public Safety watched the picket from inside the front doors of the Michigan Union throughout the day.

"We've had officers here since 8 a.m.," DPS Lt. Joe Piersante said, adding that the department's purpose at the picket line was to make sure things stayed peaceful and to "protect the rights and dignity of everyone."

Members of the Students of Color Coalition and the Native American community protest Michigamua at the Michigan Union yesterday.

Freshman Toni Trucks and Law student Farah Mongeua remove items from the Union tower. Photos by MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily