Two quick notes about Michigan

Posted on by

Today’s Michigan Daily has an interesting story that sheds light on the evolving politics within the larger Asian American community. There is a secret society at The University of Michigan known as “Michigamua.” It is pretty much modeled after “Skull and Bones” at Yale, right down to their use of Native American artifacts. It existed at time I attended Michigan and my Indian friends mostly disapproved of its existence, although a couple of acquaintances of ours were in it. Many see it as an elitist organization modeled after other such organizations that help to maintain a white male patriarchy. Others see it as a way for minority communities to become part of the “establishment” by wielding the supposed power and influence that comes with membership (President Gerald Ford was a member). Recently, both the president of the Indian American Students Association and the co-chair of SAAN (where I was invited to speak earlier this year) were outed as members of this secret society. This prompted the following demand from the United Asian American Organizations, an influential umbrella group on campus:

United Asian American Organizations, a congress of 37 Asian/Pacific Islander student groups, passed a resolution last month insisting that the senior society meet five demands by the beginning of winter semester.

If it does not, UAAO promised to oust two member groups – the South Asian Awareness Network and the Indian American Student Association…

“Michigamua fails to prove to the campus community that they are no longer a racist establishment. The only way they could prove this is through transparency, a method they do not employ at this time,” UAAO executive board members wrote in a statement. “Because of this lack of transparency, United Asian American Organizations has taken steps to ensure the safety of the student of color community to which we belong…” [Link]

<

p>Let me translate and paraphrase in my own words: “You stand either with the racist establishment or you stand with other Asians of color.” It doesn’t appear likely that the browns want to quit though:

Members of IASA declined to comment for this article, but it appears their group does not intend to force Pai, the group’s president, to quit the society. It also seems unlikely that they will force him to resign.

SAAN has no intentions of barring its leaders from the society, said Shah, SAAN co-chair and society member.

“At this time, SAAN’s central planning team has decided to give the opportunity to the organization formerly known as Michigamua to implement the changes it promised last year,” he said. [Link]

<

p>Also, a second quick note about Michigan:

GO BLUE!!!!!! It’s on tomorrow! The only game that matters.

51 thoughts on “Two quick notes about Michigan”

  2. great news. always glad to see desis stickin’ it to other people of color. if we do that enough, we’ll become white, and then we won’t have to worry about this stuff!

  3. Ousting both groups — South Asian Awareness Network and the Indian American Student Association — because of the actions of two individual leaders seems a bit extremist, no? I don’t think this is fair to all people involved in SAAN and IASA. They don’t have to anything to do with this.

  5. my younger sister was at michigan when the daily started releasing the names of people that were in michigamua and members of the indian american community were found to be on the list. she said that people usually had one of two different opinions on the topic: either they were upset that their community’s leaders were involved with a group that had negative connotations, and felt that as a leader of an organization, they had a responsibility to not be part of such a society; and others believed that it’s college, the leaders were just joining a group that exists for other leaders and it would benefit them and their organization from the amount of networking and connections being in michigamua would bring about. it’s an issue that according to her, has divided some south asian groups, which is probably the biggest fallout for the university.

    as for the game– we got bo looking out for us from above, let’s hope he can hear our hail to the victors when when we win!

  7. Michigan stands no chance whatsoever in this game. Tressel is 4-1 against Carr, Troy is 2-0 against Michigan. Buckeye’s quarterback Troy Smith is in a different league altogether when compared to Chad and the good Michigan receivers Breston, Maningham are not comparable to the great Buckeye receivers Ginn and Gonzalez. Michigan has a small edge with Hart versus Pittman but they are behind in the power short yardage as they dont have Chris Wells. Michigan’s defensive 4 are very very good but OSU leads the nation in both turnovers and zero points scored when they give up the ball and also has the lowest point scored against its defense in the country. Also the game is at OSU and Michigan might have a focus problem because of Bo’s death. Yes, and did I mention that Tressel has Carr’s number (4-1)

  10. Topic idea for Sepia Mutiny Blog Management: Encourage conversion of Hindus?

    You can use the News Tab or the Tipline to submit story ideas. Also, if you scroll down the main page you will see that we already blogged this. Thanks.

  14. Can someone please tell me what exactly is racist about this organization. Just because an organization has few minorities does not necessarily make it racist. Sounds like sour grapes for those not in it.

  17. Games with this much hype in college football tend to be dismal affairs (12-7 Ohio State) or blowouts (35-10 Michigan). I’m guessing blowout. Big Blue has the mojo right now.

  19. Games with this much hype in college football

    Snooze. And then a cabal of white men determine who the “champion” is by secret ballot. Is March Madness here yet? That’s the only college sport to watch 🙂

  21. Can someone please tell me what exactly is racist about this organization. Just because an organization has few minorities does not necessarily make it racist. Sounds like sour grapes for those not in it.

    the controversy behind michigamua has to do with their ties to racist and offensive practices as part of their initiation/membership that are said to mock native americans and demean their practices. because of their connections to some of the most powerful alumni to come out of michigan, they have been under the microscope of many activist groups over whether or not these practices are still going on, and if they are, if anyone will do anything about it.

    and please, it’s ALL about judgement day– brutus buckeye, you better be ready, because it will be brutal. 🙂

  22. wasps are just another ethnic group. their traditions are slowly dying under the weight of forced assimilation and civil rights laws that violate their right to freedom of association. It’s cultural genocide.

  24. If I recall correctly, there were quite a few brownz in Michigamau, no? Heh, I remember going to some rally or something or other to see their “secret space” in the Michigan Union tower. Anyway, the whole concept seems rather silly and ridiculous to me–now, and when it was “outed” the first time when we were in school.

    By the way, I spoke at SAAN in 2005! We keep passing each other on the Ann Arbor campus, Abhi…

    But seriously, to all the haters (and not), GO BLUE! Though this game is going to be in god-forsaken *uckeye country, everyone must remember that there is only one BIG HOUSE, the house that Bo built, home of The Victors. This one’s for Bo.

  25. Vaishnavi writes:

    the controversy behind michigamua has to do with their ties to racist and offensive practices as part of their initiation/membership that are said to mock native americans and demean their practices… Abhi writes: You stand either with the racist establishment or you stand with other Asians of color

    It’s amazing how true the fact is that if you keep moving further and further left, eventually you wil bump into folks who are to the right.

    This is exactly the kind of language Hindutva folks use when refering to Indian muslims and Christians. They allege (rightly) that the preachers of the respective religions make offensive comments towards Hindus and Hindu practices. They also allege (rightly) that the initiation/membership of those religions includes mocking of Hindu beliefs/practices – they are required to eat beef, not decorate the front of their houses with rangoli, not wear bindi, not touch their parents feet anymore etc etc.

    And all Hindutva folks are saying is: Either you stand with the excluvist establishment or you stand with people with inclusivist beliefs.

    Welcome, folks. We knew you would see it our way – you just needed the right context !

    M. Nam

  26. Q: What do Alabama fans and maggots have in common?

    A: They both can live for 25 years off a dead Bear.

  28. Ms. Pea,

    I haven’t been following college football much lately. How much are they paying Trojan players these days?

    😉

  29. And all Hindutva folks are saying is: Either you stand with the excluvist establishment or you stand with people with inclusivist beliefs.

    Exquisite Irony 😉

  30. UAAO has stood with other students of color who feel unsafe on a campus with a society that is not only historically racist, but more importantly, not transparent AT ALL about what they do and how they help the campus. These other students of color deserve the support of Asian American students, which they receive too rarely because Asian American students often seem to think they’re on some different “plane of minority.” So I believe UAAO’s stance is not only a sign of solidarity, but also a call to action that has been 100 years in the making, ever since Michigamua first appeared on campus, and also necessary since, as late as 2000, students found sacred Native American artifacts in Michigamua’s meeting place.

  31. UAAO has stood with other students of color who feel unsafe on a campus with a society that is not only historically racist

    students feel unsafe? does Michigamua assault students of color?

    students found sacred Native American artifacts in Michigamua’s meeting place.

    are thes artifacts being used to mock native americans, as some commenters have suggested, or to symbolically acquire what is percenved to be the nobleness of native american cultures for their own, much like the way sports teams name themselves vikings, fighting irish, or braves? such cultural appropriation should be encouraged, as it highligts positive attributes of minority cultures.

  32. such cultural appropriation should be encouraged, as it highligts positive attributes of minority cultures.

    I agree with Manju. The name “Redskins” for example totally highlights a positive attribute. If enough desis move to Cleveland perhaps someday they will rename the team the “Brownskins” and put Kal Penn’s face on the helmet. THAT would be noble.

  35. such cultural appropriation should be encouraged, as it highligts positive attributes of minority cultures.
    I agree with Manju. The name “Redskins” for example totally highlights a positive attribute. If enough desis move to Cleveland perhaps someday they will rename the team the “Brownskins” and put Kal Penn’s face on the helmet. THAT would be noble.

    Yes, and then they should dress somebody (preferably a white guy) up as a brahmin priest or a mullah or whatever and he should prance around in the middle of the football field at half time like this guy. They would only be “honoring” all the great religious traditions of the subcontinent, ofcourse. That would be very noble.

  36. no von mises 🙂

    we beat the damn bears. don’t know how much we get paid.. we’re spoiled to the core, remember? at least we don’t have those damn annoying stickers on the helmets like ohio…

    bcs polls…bring it.. make us #2… i wanna visit arizona..

    bring it on. and yes, bring the mints on too…for the hummus

    sorry have been on cross country flights these past couple of days hence the response has been intermittent…

    FIGHT ON

  37. lobo, BrooklyB, ashvin:

    the question is not how you feel about it, but rather the intent of the appropriaters; since they are the one’s being accused of racism for it. It stands to reason if you’re naming yourself after something, whether it be a brave, celtic, viking, eagle, fighting irish, yankee, or brahmins or whatever, it’s because you associate something good with that group.

    btw, cleveland already has a football team honoring desis, and i don’t see anyone complaining.

  39. the question is not how you feel about it, but rather the intent of the appropriaters; since they are the one’s being accused of racism for it. It stands to reason if you’re naming yourself after something, whether it be a brave, celtic, viking, eagle, fighting irish, yankee, or brahmins or whatever, it’s because you associate something good with that group.

    Manju: do you really think it’s that simple ? By caricaturing another person’s culture are you really honoring it ? There is a lot that can be said about this (and probably better by other commenters on this blog) but the easiest way for me to explain it is to put your culture/religion in the place of the native-american ones used and ask yourself if you’d be comfortable with other people taking bits of it, stringing it together to make something else. And when you add to that the sad historical (often violent, oppressive) relationship between Native and Non-Native people in this country, it’s not hard to see why there might be a problem with this.

    If you’re interested watch the documentary “In Whose Honor” about the U of Illinois situation.

  40. michigamua began in 1902 as a secret society for white males with the help of james b. angell. under the rules of the organization, each inductee was given a “michigamua name,” and the organization maintained a system of blatantly misappropriating native american culture. they used totem poles and smoked peace pipes; they had their inductees run around in loin cloths and fake feather headresses. in the 1930s, the university gave them a space in the union to use for free, which michigamua proceeded to call it’s “wigwam.” after over a month-long sit-in in 2000 by members of the SCC here at michigan, michigamua was “shut down” to the extent that they were banned from using sacred native american artifacts. still, it’s undeniable that their history is buried in racism and cultural misappropriation. the fact that people of color are now being included doesn’t negate this, nor does it suggest that michigamua has changed. the administration and the society itself has neither denounced its past or made a formal apology. inviting in students of color is not the same as openly recognizing a long-standing tradition of racism. moreover, with students of color joining michigamua without having any of the past addressed, it only seems to perpetuate the problem. it’s like suggesting that an elitist white society that uses hindu rituals has changed by letting in black students who don’t seem to have seen a problem with it. consequently, yes – you stand either with the racist establishment or you stand with other asians, and other people of color.

  41. consequently, yes – you stand either with the racist establishment or you stand with other asians, and other people of color.

    Well, avani, since the establishment michigamua represents (presumably old money wasps, if skull and bones is any indication) is hardly what they used to be…as a quick glimpse of the forbes lists should indicate…and since we know you have to in power to be racist, then by definition michigamua cannot be racist.

    after all, it does look like it’s the United Asian American Organizations that’s really trying to weild the power in this instance.

    don’t worry. they can’t touch you. there’s no reason to walk around campus feeling unsafe.

  42. Well, avani, since the establishment michigamua represents (presumably old money wasps, if skull and bones is any indication) is hardly what they used to be…as a quick glimpse of the forbes lists should indicate…and since we know you have to in power to be racist, then by definition michigamua cannot be racist. after all, it does look like it’s the United Asian American Organizations that’s really trying to weild the power in this instance. don’t worry. they can’t touch you. there’s no reason to walk around campus feeling unsafe.

    Safe or unsafe does not come down to just a physical sense of safety. Since it’s inception, Michigauma members have included not just a class of senior students but also well known University presidents, professors, and administrators of UM as advisers. The Power of Michigauma is in it’s alumni network which is made of a majority of all white males. Every Building on the Michigan campus is named after a Michigauma member. Even the new Ford Public Policy Building. Michigauma has no need to wave around it’s power or actually threaten people on campus because their power is internalized into the University of Michigan system already, it’s a part of it. For example, until 3 years ago, you could have Michigauma marked on your transcript as an Honor, even when it was a “secret” society.

    To combat Michigauma’s pervasive influence in the university, Students of color need to make a showing of power to force the administration to hold Michigauma accountable, which they have not been if you have researched Michigauma’s history of broken promises to the Native American Community and student of color on Campus.

    This is a good site for general information, listing of previous classes, etc.

    This is a running blog of all the information that is coming out at UM.

    Also interesting is this video of the Student of Color Coalition taking over Michigauma’s “Tower” in the Union in 2000, which is after the time they had promised to remove their cultural appropriation customs and return artifacts back to the Native Community. Which incidentally are still missing after the University took them into custody. Imagine that.

  43. As a former co-chair of SAAN, board member of IASA, active member of UAAO, and vocal opponent of Michigamua and its racist history, I’m glad to see UAAO take these actions against IASA and SAAN. It says a lot about our community, I think, that the only Asian organizations that still have such direct links to Michigamua are two South Asian organizations. I put a lot of time and effort into SAAN when I was at Michigan – trying to build links between SAAN and other communities of color. If SAAN Chairs are joining Michigamua now – a clear sign that those chairs don’t share the view that SAAN has a strong interest in building ties with other communities of color – then SAAN no longer deserves to be a part of UAAO. I, along with a number of other people, put a lot of time and effort into establishing SAAN as a progressive, student-of-color-friendly organization, and I would rather see SAAN fail as an organization that exist with direct links to racist groups like Michigamua. The current chair of SAAN who is a member of Michigamua has a decision to make: quit Michigamua or watch SAAN fail.

  44. quit Michigamua or watch SAAN fail.

    Rahul:

    i’m all for hardline policies like the one the UAAO is adopting if the context is right, like say combatting aparthied, communism, or terrorism; but in this case your stridency is not justified. Michiguama has already begun admitting women and minorities and the most common example of their racism, the appropration of native american artifacts and culture, is–at least outside college campus’–highly debatable as to whether this constitutes bigotry.

    I don’t doubt you genuinely believe this is a racist group, but do you really want to treat thier desi members as if they just joined the KKK or al qaeda?

    I could be wrong, but knowing abhi’s (misguided) politics, when he said…

    Let me translate and paraphrase in my own words: “You stand either with the racist establishment or you stand with other Asians of color.”

    …he was mocking the UAAO by asociating them with GW Bush’s unnuanced rhetoric. If you read this blog regularly you’ll know that abhi and I agreeing is rarer black klansman. So when this happens, perhaps you should take notice.

  45. I could be wrong, but knowing abhi’s (misguided) politics, when he said…If you read this blog regularly you’ll know that abhi and I agreeing is rarer black klansman. So when this happens, perhaps you should take notice.

    “You could be wrong?” You disappoint me Manju. It is a better bet that you are wrong.

    Sometimes I think you are nothing but a 2D fictious comic book character sent to the blogosphere to oppose me and thus give my blogging all the more meaning. I would have quit, given up my powers, and married Lois Lane long ago if not for the clear and present danger your Lutherian ideas pose to the impresionable young minds who visit this blog.

    Despite my snarkiness I generally agree with Rahul and his philosophy on the matter (especially since we acted on that same philosophy in ’98). More importantly I found your whole “nobleness of native american cultures” argument laughable (but I’m sure you knew that).

    Now I am off to the fortress of solitude.

  46. Abhi:

    Oh well, I guess the black klansman will have to freeze over some other time. At least you’re embracing a form of W’s neo-conservatism.

    Now I am off to the fortress of solitude.

    Where, no doubt, you will climax.

  47. If you read this blog regularly you’ll know that abhi and I agreeing is rarer black klansman. So when this happens, perhaps you should take notice.

    Unfortunately, I don’t read SM comments regularly enough to know how often Manju and Abhi agree with each other. But from your previous comment, Manju, I can probably guess what your politics are like.

    The Michigamua issue at Michigan is important for many reasons. Many Native American students – including those with whom I was good friends – feel threatened by the presence of a secretive society that has not only used their heritage in offensive ways, but that also has close ties to administrators at the University. When a community of color feels threatened by the presence of such a group – especially on the campus of an institution that claims to be dedicated to diversity (remember the affirmative action cases?) – something needs to be done. On campus, most student of color organizations (the Black Student Union, La Voz Latina, UAAO, etc…) have recognized the need to stand in solidarity with the Native American Students Association when it comes to the Michigamua issue: what affects the well-being of one community, affects us all. However, the Indian American Student Association and (now) the South Asian Awareness Network, have been notable exceptions – they have seemingly chosen to ignore the importance of standing in solidarity with other students of color who feel threatened on campus.

    UAAO is not taking any militant, neo-con, gwb-like actions. Rather, they are doing what needs to be done to maintain an Asian American commitment to solidarity with Native American students despite the ignorance/apathy of our fellow brown students.

  48. they have seemingly chosen to ignore the importance of standing in solidarity with other students of color who feel threatened on campus. UAAO is not taking any militant, neo-con, gwb-like actions. Rather, they are doing what needs to be done to maintain an Asian American commitment to solidarity with Native American students despite the ignorance/apathy of our fellow brown students.

    OK. I understand your position and everyone’s gotta do what they think is right. Just remember, there’s some harsh rhetoric being thrown around and behind the certainty there’s some real lives and real reputations of some fellow desis at stake. When everything seems so black and white, it’s easy to forget the brown and beige.

  49. When everything seems so black and white, it’s easy to forget the brown and beige.

    What’s this? Manju embracing nuance? Naaaah =)

  50. Wait, which Indians are we talking about here? Bombay Indians or “woo-woo” Indians? Is one trying to keep the other out of this fraternity? Is it a mascot (make up for) issue?

    One thing’s for sure: today’s campus politics is complicated!

    -Pete