University of Michigan diversity exhibit to come to SU

University of Michigan diversity exhibit to come to SUMarch 17, 2005Jaime Winne Alvarez jlwinne@syr.edu

Syracuse University will welcome the University of Michigan’s traveling exhibition, “A Case About Diversity: The Affirmative Action Lawsuits at the University of Michigan,” beginning March 21 in the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery in the Schine Student Center. The exhibit, based on two U.S. Supreme Court decisions in affirmative action lawsuits, will run through April 22. It is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m., with the exception of campus holidays. Paid parking is available in the Waverly and Comstock lots.

SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor, who played a leadership role as provost of the University of Michigan during the Supreme Court decisions, will hold an opening-night reception for the exhibit March 31 at 4 p.m. in the Panasci Lounge of the Schine Student Center. It is free and open to the public.

The exhibition is based on “Views and Voices,” the original, award winning multimedia exhibit displayed on the University of Michigan’s campus, designed to present both sides of the cases. It has been redesigned as a traveling educational presentation and sets the lawsuits in a national, historical context, following the history of diversity at the University of Michigan leading up to the affirmative action cases. Its panels depict actions taken by the university to ensure and expand diversity on its campus. In both cases, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the principle that gives colleges and universities the freedom to consider race as one of many factors in admissions decisions.

“The Division of Student Affairs brought the University of Michigan’s exhibition to Syracuse University in celebration of Chancellor Cantor’s inaugural year. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students and the entire campus community to explore the soul of Syracuse,” says Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “This exhibit represents one way to re-engage our campus’s dialogue about race as a national issue of interest and significance. The exhibit presents an opportunity for deeper understanding and dialogue related to the Supreme Court’s affirmative-action decisions, and Chancellor Cantor’s leadership role in these landmark decisions while serving as provost at the University of Michigan.”

The exhibition is funded in part by the Ford Foundation, Butzel Long and the University of Michigan. Its appearance at SU is co-sponsored by Light Work, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Centers and Programming Services and the Kaleidoscope Project, a diversity initiative between the Divisions of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs to broaden the understanding of diversity and promote healthy dialogue about related issues at SU.

For more information, call Light Work at (315) 443-1300.