U-M student asked to resign leadership positions after joining group formerly known as Michigamua
A University of Michigan student was asked to step down from leadership positions in two organizations on campus after he agreed to join the senior honor society Order of Angell, previously known as Michigamua, the Michigan Daily reports.
The constitutions of the Black Student Union and Intellectual Minds Making a Difference forbid members from holding executive positions if they belong to the Order of Angell and asked Chatoris Jones, a senior in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, to step down, The Daily reported.
The organization formerly known as Michigamua came under fire for its use of rituals and artifacts that critics said mocked Native American culture. For much of its past the senior secret society admitted only males, primarily white. Criticism of its practices escalated in 2000, when student protesters held a sit-in at Michigamua's meeting room in the Michigan Union tower.
Women were first admitted that same year, and following the protests, the university removed the group from its traditional meeting place in the union. The organization changed its name in 2007.
Comments
Elaine F. Owsley
Wed, May 4, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.
So, let me understand this. One group discriminates against a person because the group thinks the other organization discriminates, but, in fact, since they only allow only black students to belong to their group and the other one is open to any race, in reality, the BSU is the discriminator.
Dog Guy
Wed, May 4, 2011 : 1:29 p.m.
It could be that BSU and The Intellectual Minds are jealous. Or it could be that accepting the invitation to selective group made Jones "uppity."
clownfish
Wed, May 4, 2011 : 12:26 p.m.
Interesting, many people thought a certain president should not be elected because of who he associated with and because he belonged to a certain church. I note that many that oppose this president now find it distasteful for others to hold this position. I am wondering if those people ever took the first group to task?
trespass
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.
The basis for Andrew Shirvell's accusation that Chris Armstrong was racist was because he belonged to the Order of Angell because it had been insensitive to the native americans complaints about its rituals and its largely white membership. Perhaps Chris Armstrong was not sensitive to the groups recent history. Not admitting women until 2000 sounds about 30 years late. Perhaps one should wait a while to see if the organization has really changed its attitudes and practices.
lumberg48108
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
an issue about student club at U-M --- this is news? who cares? just because the U-M Daily prints it does not mean it has news value to .com's readership this is about students only how can this possibly qualify as anything other than filler?
aawolve
Wed, May 4, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
Filler worth commenting on, apparently.
grye
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
Sounds like discrimination.
mentalNomad
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.
Do the BSU and IMMAD think the Order's reforms of the past few years are a sham? If so, they should challenge the Order on these grounds. If not, they need to reform their own constitutions so they do not become as backward as Michigamua was. I am all for diversity, but incidents like this only segregate people. Meanwhile, every student's education is in serious trouble, regardless of what color their skin is.
Moscow On The Huron
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 6 p.m.
From the MD article: "'As an organization, we don't support any affiliation with the Order' Martin said. 'Therefore, any members associated with Order cannot be part of BSU.'" They're like a bunch of tween girls. You can't be in OUR club if you're in THEIR club. What the did BSU and IMMD do after this, change their secret password and put a new lock on the door of their playhouse?
Stephen Landes
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
If Chatoris Jones needs to make a choice (I don't believe having to choose among these groups is appropriate), then choose the one that doesn't discriminate on the basis of other organizations you belong to -- choose the Order of Angell. I would think that University policy would forbid groups like BSU and IMMAD from having discriminatory policies. Observation: maybe the group whose initials are IMMAD should pronounce heir acronym as "I'M MAD" as they most certainly must be.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.
I wonder what would happen if a group refused membership to a student based on an association with the Black Student Union?
Moscow On The Huron
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.
"For much of its past the senior secret society admitted only males, primarily white." Is the membership of the Black Student Union primarily of any particular race? The statement above seems to question the appropriateness of such an occurrence.
Gnat
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.
So much for Freedom of Association!
Jake C
Wed, May 4, 2011 : 4:06 a.m.
Do you know what Freedom of Association means?