Lori Meadows
In 2016, following Donald Trump's election victory, a group of students at the University of Michigan called Students4Justice demanded that the university provide a segregated safe space for African-American students. The group cited fears for their safety, claiming that the police could no longer protect them due to their endorsement of Trump. This demand sparked controversy, with some accusing the group of advocating for segregation and others arguing that it followed a nationwide trend of university groups calling for racially segregated spaces on campuses. Similar demands for segregated spaces were made by University of Michigan students again in 2017, citing the need for a space to organize social justice efforts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2016-11-23, 2017-02-23, 2017-02-24 |
| University | University of Michigan |
| Group | Students4Justice |
| Type of space | Permanent designated space on central campus |
| Purpose | Organise and do social justice work |
| Reasoning | University failed to create an environment that engages in diversity, equity and inclusion |
| University response | Working with Students4Justice leaders to better understand their concerns |
| Broader context | Nationwide trend of university groups calling for racially segregated spaces |
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What You'll Learn
- University of Michigan students demanded segregated safe spaces for African Americans after Trump's victory
- Student activist group Students4Justice demanded a permanent designated space for Black students and students of colour
- Students4Justice demanded that the university remove symbols and names of 'white supremacy' on campus
- Students4Justice's demands follow a nationwide trend of university groups calling for racially segregated spaces
- Critics argue that Students4Justice's demands are unprincipled and laughably regressive
University of Michigan students demanded segregated safe spaces for African Americans after Trump's victory
In November 2016, following Donald Trump's election victory, a group of University of Michigan students called Students 4 Justice demanded that the university create a segregated safe space for African Americans. The group stated that Trump's election meant that their "lives were at risk" and that the campus police could no longer protect them because "the police, as a union, endorsed Trump." They wrote that "placing us in the police's care is an act of anti-Black violence" and asked the university to provide funding and hire staff to operate this "Black space".
This demand for a segregated space for African Americans at the University of Michigan was not an isolated incident. It was part of a wider trend of similar calls by university groups across the nation, including at California State University, Los Angeles, where school officials granted the Black Student Union's request for separate dorm housing for black students. Proponents of self-segregation argue that these spaces can help ease racial tensions. However, critics, including the Michigan Review, an independent student news outlet, argue that advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion while demanding segregated spaces is "unprincipled and laughably regressive."
In February 2017, Students4Justice renewed their calls for a segregated space, specifically demanding "a permanent designated space on central campus for Black students and students of color to organize and do social justice work." They argued that the $10 million multicultural student center being built on campus was insufficient because they wanted a space "solely dedicated to community organizing and social justice work specifically for people of color." The group also complained that their demands had been ignored by university President Mark Schlissel.
The University of Michigan spokesman, Rick Fitzgerald, responded to the demands, stating that colleagues in Student Life were working with Students4Justice leaders to better understand their concerns. This response came after a series of racist and anti-Semitic incidents on campus, including racist and threatening emails sent to the university's college of engineering students. Students4Justice coordinated a sit-in to bring attention to their list of demands, which also included calls for the university to express solidarity with students of color, streamline the bias incident report system, and increase African-American enrollment.
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Student activist group Students4Justice demanded a permanent designated space for Black students and students of colour
In 2016, following Donald Trump's election victory, a student activist group at the University of Michigan called Students4Justice demanded a segregated 'safe space' for Black students and students of colour. The group wrote that Trump's election meant that they "now have their lives at risk", and that the campus police could no longer protect them because "the police, as a union, endorsed Trump". They also stated that "placing us in the police's care is an act of anti-Black violence".
In February 2017, Students4Justice reiterated their demand for a "permanent designated space on central campus for Black students and students of colour to organise and do social justice work". This demand was made in response to a series of racist and anti-Semitic incidents on campus, including racist and anti-Semitic emails sent to students in the College of Engineering. The group also called on the university to express solidarity with students of colour, streamline the bias incident report system, and increase African-American enrollment.
The demand for a segregated space was criticised by some, including the Michigan Review, an independent student news outlet, which argued that advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion while simultaneously calling for racially designated spaces was "unprincipled and laughably regressive".
It is important to note that the demand for segregated spaces on university campuses is not an isolated incident, with a nationwide trend of university groups calling for similar spaces. For example, California State University, Los Angeles has established separate dorm housing for Black students.
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Students4Justice demanded that the university remove symbols and names of 'white supremacy' on campus
In 2016, following Donald Trump's election victory, a group of students at the University of Michigan called Students 4 Justice demanded the creation of a segregated 'safe space' for African-American students. They argued that Trump's election put their lives at risk and that the campus police could no longer protect them because "the police, as a union, endorsed Trump".
In 2017, Students4Justice at the University of Michigan submitted a list of demands to administrators, including concrete proposals for responding to incidents of hate and bias. They demanded the hiring of more faculty of colour to support marginalised students and a shift in academic requirements around 'diversity' towards honest examinations of race and power in the United States. They also wanted broader access to scholarships for students of colour.
Students4Justice's demands centred on students of colour, but by improving curriculums and the learning environment, the school could become better for everyone. The group also demanded that students engaging in "oppressive speech" be sanctioned for academic misconduct. These demands were made in the context of a growing number of hateful incidents on campus, including an incident where an individual urinated on prayer mats used by Muslim students in the school library.
While Students4Justice's demands focused on creating safer spaces for students of colour, they did not specifically mention the removal of symbols and names of white supremacy from the University of Michigan campus. However, the broader movement of racial justice groups at colleges and universities across the country has included calls to address memorialisation and symbolism tied to racist histories.
For example, at the University of Cincinnati, Black undergraduate students have interpreted and experienced the namesake of an enslaver, Charles McMicken, memorialised throughout their campus. Using Critical Race Theory, scholars have examined the extent to which this symbol shapes students' campus experiences and the mechanisms by which they learn of the racist histories behind such symbols.
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Students4Justice's demands follow a nationwide trend of university groups calling for racially segregated spaces
In 2016, a group of students at the University of Michigan, under the banner Students4Justice, called on officials to create a segregated safe space for African-American students in the wake of Donald Trump's election victory. The group wrote that Trump's election meant their "lives were at risk" and that the campus police could no longer protect them because "the police, as a union, endorsed Trump." They demanded that the university provide funding and hire staff to operate this "Black space", which would be a recreational and safe space for Black people at the University.
Students4Justice's demands sparked controversy, with some arguing that it was an attempt to resurrect segregation and that it contradicted the university's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) plan. Critics also pointed out that the university was already constructing a $10 million center for black students on campus, rendering the demand for a separate space unnecessary.
Proponents of self-segregation, however, argue that these spaces allow marginalized students to share their experiences with others from similar backgrounds, thereby easing racial tensions on campus. Students4Justice's demand is part of a nationwide trend of university groups calling for racially segregated spaces on their campuses. For example, California State University, Los Angeles, decided to establish separate dorm housing for black students.
While the demand for separate spaces may be well-intentioned, current studies indicate that participation in racially designated organizations can foster sentiments of competition and hostility between ethnic groups. A study by Harvard social psychologist Jim Sidanius found that membership in ethnically-oriented student groups heightened sentiments of victimization and inter-group relationships.
The University of Michigan has faced criticism for its handling of other racial incidents on campus, such as racist and anti-Semitic emails sent to College of Engineering students, leading to a sit-in organized by Students4Justice to bring attention to their demands for better addressing racial issues.
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Critics argue that Students4Justice's demands are unprincipled and laughably regressive
In 2016, following the election of Donald Trump, a group of students at the University of Michigan called Students4Justice demanded that the university provide funding and hire staff to operate a "Black space". This space would be a "recreational and safe space for Black people at the University". This demand sparked criticism and controversy, with some arguing that the group's demands are unprincipled and regressive.
Critics of Students4Justice's demands argue that the group is advocating for segregation and racial division on campus. They claim that designating spaces and resources based solely on the colour of students' skin undermines the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion that the university strives for. The Michigan Review, an independent student news outlet, published an article criticizing the demands, stating that "To advocate for the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously calling upon the University to sanction these spaces on campus is both unprincipled and laughably regressive".
The demands by Students4Justice come at a time when there is a nationwide trend of university groups calling for racially segregated spaces. For example, California State University Los Angeles has established separate dorm housing for black students. However, critics argue that self-segregation increases perceptions of group victimization and conflict toward other groups, citing a study conducted by Harvard social psychologist Jim Sidanius.
Some commentators have expressed concern that the demands by Students4Justice could lead to a return to systemic segregation. They argue that segregation is detrimental to society and that designating spaces based on race is incompatible with the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Critics also point out the irony of the demands, noting that the same group criticising the university for failing to create an inclusive environment is now asking for segregation.
While Students4Justice argues that the segregated space is necessary for the safety and well-being of Black students, critics counter that there are other ways to foster an inclusive and diverse campus environment. They suggest that propositions that seek to divide and separate students based on race are not the best approach to promoting inclusivity and that the university should explore alternative solutions that align with its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 2016, a group of students demanded a segregated space for African-Americans following Donald Trump's election victory.
The group was called Students 4 Justice.
Students 4 Justice stated that Trump's election meant that they "now have their lives at risk", and that the campus police could no longer protect them because "the police, as a union, endorsed Trump".
The demand sparked controversy, with some criticising it as "unprincipled and laughably regressive". There was also a wider trend of similar demands at other universities across the nation.
I cannot find definitive information on whether the university agreed to the demand for a segregated space. However, I can confirm that the university was in communication with Students 4 Justice to understand their concerns better.
