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The public opinions on Resolution 41-21 letters

On Dec. 9, 2020, the Michigan Tech Senate passed proposal 41-21. This proposal, “Embodying University Values: Condemning Hate Speech, White Supremacy, and Ethnically and Racially Motivated Intolerance” acknowledges systematic racism as a barrier to campus diversity. The proposal resolves to educate students and staff about African American prejudice and systematic racism, as well as to work towards a campus that is more diverse by protecting the rights of students, staff, and faculty that belong to historically discriminated against minorities. Additionally, the proposal denounced white supremacy, systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, and other oppressive and intolerant behaviors.

In response to this resolution, two senators, Associate Professor Jeffrey B. Burl and Professor Jaroslaw W. Drelich voiced their opposition, sparking a campus-wide controversy. Many are calling for these professors to be fired; there was even a petition going around calling for Professor Burl’s termination

At the senate meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 3, many students and other community members voiced their thoughts on these letters. First, they opened the meeting by apologizing to the minority communities who were harmed by the letters and continue to be harmed by the bigotry that exists on campus. They went through some formalities and official proceedings until it was time for public comments. There was a wide variety of comments, from people who disliked this proposal, to people disappointed and ashamed of Michigan Tech, to people who want to address and fix this problem.

Before moving officially to public comments, the Senate shared research that showed how racism persists. Looking at the statistic, coupled with the plethora of people who shared their experience being put down, discriminated against, and not feeling safe on campus — it is no lie that racism exists here. Many of the participants urged for Michigan Tech to take action to make it a more diverse and safe place that is representative of America, of which the Senators agreed. One common sentiment many shared was that MTU needs to hold people who discriminate accountable, namely Professor Burl and Professor Drelich. The following are just a few of the people who shared their sentiments.

One community member, Randy McClellan, spoke about the parade on Sept. 27, where he claimed this wasn’t a xenophobic or racist display and wasn’t indicative of systematic racist. Additionally, he claimed that the rainbow flags, “communist China” flags, Iranian, and Syrian flags that were flying during the parade of nations were threatening, comparing it to the confederate flag. 

Another person, a 5th-year undergraduate student Anna Browne, shared how unsafe she felt after reading the letters as a person from a minority group, but claimed she felt better after hearing the Senators support for minorities on campus. 

Clair Decker, a representative from the Panhellenic Council named gathered comments from various sorority women from Michigan Tech. These comments highlighted the sexism that women experience here. One woman was sexually assaulted twice and told by a male therapist at MTU, “what did you expect with a 3 to 1 ratio?”. Multiple women were discouraged from pursuing a STEM career because they are women. Decker even shared her own chilling experiences that caused her to fear coming back to Houghton.

Angie Carter, an Assistant Professor, spoke about how professors need to educate themselves and each other because it was not the student’s job to do this. The student’s job is to learn and grow. To this end, she invited professors to attend her Sociology class to learn more about racial disparities, as well as to talk to her during office hours. A few other staff members agreed with Carter.

A graduate student named Jennifer Rachel also spoke about how the university recently changed the funding model for graduate students. Before, they had plenty of tuition support via research or being a teacher’s assistant. Now that this is gone, many minority students, particularly international students, are finding it more difficult to attend Michigan Tech.

One lady voiced her concern over Michigan Tech valuing race and ethnicity over academic talents — a concern that was shared by a few other participants. The same people also claimed that Michigan Tech was discriminating against white people.

The public comments ended with Stefani, a senator who has worked hard to promote campus diversity. Recently, she has worked especially hard to dismantle the harm that these two letters have created. In a voice strained by tears, she urged people to really think about the harm this is doing to the students, the young adults that staff and faculty are supposed to nurture and protect. 

 

If you are interested in hearing more thoughts that people shared during this meeting, the Senate will be updating this page with the minutes, where you will find the video and important information shared.

3 Responses

  1. It’s truly sad that this is even an argument. This constant whining from sensitive conservatives about “Silencing” is a clear attempt to shout down BIPOC using progressive language against us. Perhaps they need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and learn that the real world isn’t all sunshine and lollipops, and that you can be held accountable for what you say.

    America is about Freedom, Equality, and Justice. And if they don’t like it, in their words… “You can get out”

    On topic: I’m tired of my fellow white people acting out and showing everyone exactly how crappy the attitude of a lot of Yoopers are.

    We should do better. We can do better. But it starts with rooting out all the racist crap that’s been ingrained in us from childhood on, and that won’t happen unless we’re willing to learn. Isn’t that what universities are? Places to learn. To learn that you don’t get to be treated better just because you’re white. You don’t get to get away with saying anything you want without consequence just because you’re white. You’re not better because you’re white. You’re just human, and you have to work to be better because we have a LOT of garbage things we’ve done to make up for.

    Like it or not, we benefit from a system designed to harm others. It’s time to help them heal.

  2. Thank you for your reporting the senate meeting. To say, in 2021, that racism and sexism do not exist in our community or on our campus is not only an ignorant claim, but an unscientific one. Further, it’s a very harmful one and invalidates the real experiences of the students, staff, and faculty who continue to show up and share their painful experiences on our campus. It is discriminatory to continue to ignore and to devalue their experiences, and to value the experiences and comfort of white men over all others. We can do so much better. We must do so much better. As an institution of higher learning, we have an obligation to do so much better. Everyone will do better on our campus when we do better! Yes, if anyone would like to talk more, I’m glad to talk about this in my student hour on Tuesdays from 1-2 or to invite you to my classes.

  3. “One common sentiment many shared was that MTU needs to hold people who discriminate accountable, namely Professor Burl and Professor Drelich. The following are just a few of the people who shared their sentiments.”

    Except that there is absolutely no proof that Burl discriminates, and nothing he said was offensive or hateful. He disagreed with a politically driven resolution, and provided examples of why it was hurtful. That doesn’t make him a bigot. Claiming Burl is a bigot is a very clear attempt to silence dissent. That’s how fascists operate, and that’s true bigotry.

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