The purpose of PURPOSE, ladies and gentlemen, is to keep you informed. We strive to provide you with what the issues are, not only around campus, but around the U.S. and the globe. Therefore, the purpose of this segment, which we have christened The Campus Report, is to keep you informed about issues on campuses across the nation. Ironically, we begin this ride…not too far down the road.
Just down the road at that other state university- in the home of maize and blue- about 13 percent of students at the school are of Asian heritage. This community of students and faculty has been in an uproar over an incident involving two Asian students, which has in turn, brought up a host of discrimination and intimidation issues on the Ann Arbor campus.
In September, The Michigan Daily, the newspaper for the University of Michigan, reported that the Ann Arbor Police Department had issued warrants for ethnic intimidation by two Caucasian students involved in a “racially motivated act.”
Earlier reports from the newspaper stated an Asian couple was allegedly targeted by a young male, unjustifiably, as a moving target…for a toilet.
While the couple was walking home, a male suspect allegedly urinated on the couple from his apartment balcony. When confronted, the suspect and a friend shot racial slurs degrading the couple’s ethnicity. One suspect was immediately taken into custody. The other barricaded himself in his apartment, where AAPD could not enter without warrant.
However, on September 26th, the Michigan Daily reported another story on the incident. This time it involved the suspects disputing the hate crime. Anonymously, the suspects and even some neighbors in the apartment complex said that the AAPD and the media exaggerated the event entirely.
The suspects recounted the incident to the paper stating the night began with a little beer pong. With no intention of harassing the couple as they walked by, one of the suspects threw his cup over the balcony “absentmindedly.” Responding, the Asian male used profanities and flicked a cigarette at the suspect.
Although both suspects admitted to replying back with profanities they both also stated that none involved racially-charged remarks. Approximately 45 minutes later, the Asian male showed up with four others trying to incite a fight. “He brought a gang to our apartment,” the 21-year-old male said.
Some neighbors of the suspects agreed to the accusations. When the police arrived, the 20-year-old suspect locked himself in his apartment. Being a minor, he sad he did not want to receive an MIP. The other suspect said he was taken to the station for about half-an-hour and was charged with nothing, only questioned.
But regardless of the outcome, many Asians and Asian organizations used the incident to prove that racial discrimination and ethnic intimidation is a part of daily life for Asian students and faculty.
On October 25, the Michigan Daily reported a teach-in by the organizers, People in Support and Solidarity Educating and Discussing Organizing for Fairness (PISSED OFF). The article reported that a group of multicultural and activist groups came together to, “discuss campus attitudes toward minorities and ways for the University community to create a more welcoming environment for all students.” “Stereotypes,” workshop leaders said, “foster a hostile , and divided campus community.”
We, in the home of green and white, know what they mean.
MSU was under the microscope and protest last September as well when two Caucasian males were accused of racially intimidating a Latina student in the Akers complex.
Francisco Velazquez
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