Letter to the editor

According to your article, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) and the University of Michigan agree that the U-M Indian Tuition Waiver program is allowed in a post-prop 2 world because the determination of membership is not racial but political. Yet the Cherokee and Seminole Nations recently voted to exclude Blacks from their tribes because of their race. Today, as in the past, it looks like race-conscious public policies are admissible only when they exclude Blacks, and inadmissible when they do not.

This is but the most recent evidence of a general rollback of progressive public policies won by the Civil Rights Movement. Those race-conscious policies were designed to counter the many other "protections" in the U. S. political system that impeded the workings of the meritocracy principal — like unions, the southern Democratic Party, the G.I. Bill, big corporations, etc. Today, only big corporations remains at the table but Indian Nations recently have joined. Casinos make strange bedfellows, but the scapegoat always is the same. When times get tough, nobody wants the Blacks. This is the lesson of American history. It is also the lesson of America today.
—Warren Whatley, professor of economics and professor in the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies

The University Record welcomes letters from members of the University community. Those on topics of broad University interest will be given preference for publication. Letters should be no more than 500 words and must be signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to reject any letter and to edit and/or condense letters for publication. The staff also reserves the right to limit the number of letters submitted by the same individual. Letters may appear in small type. Organizations submitting material must include the name and address of an appropriate officer. Letters must be received by noon Wednesday to receive consideration for publication in the next issue.

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