I find myself angry today. Short story, here's why.
I will repeat myself and say that I think this is a poor use of funds. The UM Athletic Department and President's Office will hear about it. I also find it a bit suspect that words showed up in East Lansing when it was apparently directed at SE Michigan.
With that, I do have a letter for the Greater Lansing area -
Dear Lansing,
I moved here eight years ago last month to take a job in our state capital. I've lived downtown, on the south side and in Delta Township. I've become involved in many causes and have worked to make this community better. I've found good friends, a good job and myself while I've been here.
I recently completed a list of 40 things to do by the time I turn 40 years old. On that list is to buy a house. When I put that on the list, I envisioned that the house would be in this area.
But one thing has come to disturb me over time. You see, I bleed maize and blue. And because of that, there have been multiple times where I have felt targeted, uncomfortable and just plain not welcome.
It's been assumed that because I am a University of Michigan fan, I am any or all of the following: an arrogant clown, petty, a poor sport, a Walmart Wolverine, an asshole, evil, misguided, among a whole of other negatives. There are people that I know are joking and I get that. But there is an unsettling feeling that I get that no matter what I do, people in this area will still view me negatively.
I ask you to consider how you treat others. If this community wants to continue to grow and prosper, it needs to be welcoming to those that want to make a home here and be productive members of society, regardless of their school affiliation (and a WHOLE SLEW of other things).
It encourages me to see the positive out of the above story: $30,000+ donated to fight ovarian cancer and MSU alumni banding together. But I've also seen the negative out of it: poor use of funds for skywriting by UM and more name calling by MSU fans.
I will bleed maize and blue until I die. Regardless of what school we went to (in Michigan, out of Michigan, private/public), we should all be working to make this area a better place to live, work and play.
But it's up to MSU fans and those that live in the Greater Lansing area to determine if they will be a more welcoming community to those that might be different than they are.
Sincerely,
Angela M. Clock
University of Michigan BA '02
GO BLUE!
1 comment:
Angela, Be fair. How do you think MSU grads feel in Ann Arbor? When I lived in Detroit it was always U of M this or U of M that and MSU was given short shrift. Both a close friend and a sibling are associated with your school, so it's not as if you could not live here in shame, in another state or out in the boonies where they don't care as long as you back the Lions and Tigers and maybe Bears, oh my! Still you'd always be welcome when you came to town for provisions and a good time. And the Legislators will make friends with anyone, even U of M grads, if you can get them tickets. So, buck up. At least you didn't go to Notre Dame.
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