The University of Michigan will launch new initiatives as part of a university-wide effort to combat antisemitism and support religious diversity and inclusion on campus.
As an initial step, the university is establishing the Raoul Wallenberg Institute on the Ann Arbor campus to leverage U-M research and scholarship around global antisemitism and divisiveness.
The University of Michigan community is invited to explore “Transforming the Jangling Discords of Our Nation into a Beautiful Symphony” as the theme of its 2024 symposium honoring civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
As one of the nation’s largest celebrations of King’s life and legacy sponsored by higher education, the annual symposium’s theme will call on the community to grapple with the nature of ongoing discord around the globe, and to examine the role of individuals and members of society to create a world where harmony is possible.
Michelle Alexander, legal scholar, social justice advocate, columnist at The New York Times and visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary, will deliver the memorial keynote lecture at 10 a.m. Jan. 15, 2024, at Hill Auditorium. It also will be livestreamed.
Author of the acclaimed bestseller “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” Alexander peels back the curtain on systemic racism in the prison system and offers insights on how to end the racial caste in America.
During her keynote she will explore the myths surrounding the criminal justice system from a racial and ethical standpoint, and offer solutions for combating this epidemic.
This year’s theme focuses on an essential element of the ministry and social justice advocacy of King, and his belief in the transformative power of faith, hope and love to mend the rifts in society.
He articulated his dream of racial equality and social and economic justice in his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, which includes the quote, “With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”
This statement encapsulates a profound vision of unity, peace and reconciliation in the face of discord and division.
The keynote is co-sponsored by the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives under the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
OAMI Director Rachel Dawson, who assumed the role in October, reflected on the importance of the MLK Symposium to OAMI and to her experience as a student at U-M.
“It is humbling and inspiring to move from an MLK student volunteer who embraced the tradition of student activism at the university to be the director that host this event where I can pass the torch to the next generation of student leaders and honor the traditions of MLK to fight for justice, work for peace, embrace a love for all humanity and eliminate the stain of anti-black racism,” she said.
The event, which is free and open to the public, also will feature a live piano performance by Detroit-based artist and composer BLKBOK.
As part of the campuswide initiative to honor King, departments and units around campus will facilitate a range of activities throughout January. Departments that would like their events featured on the symposium’s website can submit their event information online on the MLK Symposium events page.
Other aspects of the MLK Symposium are still being planned and will be posted on the event page once finalized.
The University of Michigan is on a journey to build a culture that fosters trust and provides a strong foundation to live up to our highest ideals.
A report recently published by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities outlines how research universities can better support engaged and equity-oriented scholars and scholarship on their campuses.
The University of Michigan’s Inclusive History Project is accepting funding proposals for new and redesigned courses that expand knowledge about U-M history and emphasize diversity, equity and inclusion.
The funding is part of the IHP’s commitment to supporting innovative undergraduate and graduate teaching. Proposals from all disciplines and all campuses will be accepted through Jan. 19.
The IHP is the multiyear presidential initiative designed to study and document a comprehensive history of the university that is attentive to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Courses supported by the IHP will help expand the scope and range of the research accomplished through the project and facilitate a broader and deeper scale of participation in its work.
The IHP co-chairs — Elizabeth Cole, director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity, and Earl Lewis, director and founder for the Center for Social Solutions — said the grants will support instructional efforts in classrooms across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses to study and better understand the shifting boundaries of diversity, equity and inclusion relative to U-M’s more than 200-year history.
Two types of grants are available:
Individual faculty members, including tenure-track faculty, clinical faculty and lecturers, as well as collaborative teams of faculty, students and staff can submit proposals. The call for proposals encourages teaching on a wide range of topics related to the university’s history and diversity.
Proposed courses in this funding cycle must first be offered in the fall 2024 or winter 2025 terms.
To provide guidance and to discuss available campus resources with interested scholars and teams, virtual information sessions led by the IHP campus research directors will precede the application deadline.
Interested applicants can register for the following sessions and are welcome to attend any session, regardless of campus affiliation.
Individual consultations and inquiries can be directed to [email protected].
A University of Michigan student who campaigned in residence halls and student neighborhoods made history in 1974 by becoming the country’s first openly gay elected official.