Black students at MSU have the opportunity to graduate twice in one weekend.
MSU’s first Black Celebratory will be May 3 in Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. The purpose of the event is to acknowledge the achievements of black students and focus on minority retention rates.
MSU’s commencements will be held May 3-5.
Instead of diplomas, participants will receive a certificate of appreciation. About 90 people have signed up to be in the ceremony.
Michael Oden, a member of the event’s planning committee, attended a similar program at the University of Michigan and brought the idea to MSU. The event cost $11,100.
“It’s not exclusionary,” the supply chain management senior said. “We want to show the richness of the African American community and identify that African Americans had to take a more difficult route to obtain their education due to economic or social reasons and celebrate the fact that they graduated.”
MSU officials reported earlier this year the minority retention rate for black students was the lowest at 44.7 percent.
Damon Williams, a program associate in the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives at U-M, said its ceremony has grown in attendance since it began in 1993.
“It’s presented by students on campus as a supplemental activity,” he said. “We encourage them to participate in the graduation activities of their college or school as well.”
Williams said he doesn’t think the event encourages separatism, and the event is open to all students - regardless of race.
“The reality is, there is nothing wrong with something that is uniquely attached to an ethnic group to commemorate their place in time,” he said. “It can be problematic when there is a power differential or discrimination. I would tell a white student to by all means participate.
“It’s not something that’s isolated or exclusionary - it’s unique.”
Although the event received donations and support from some campus administrators, Programming Board for ASMSU - the undergraduate student government - did not offer financial support to the event because members said it did not apply to the entire undergraduate population.
Controversy ensued when ASMSU Student Assembly voted to spend money on an appearance by conservative David Horowitz, who spoke on campus Thursday. Programming Board officials were not available for comment.
Hospitality business senior Rich Monk, who is white, said he had planned on attending MSU’s Black Celebratory, but recently decided against it. The majority of the members of Monk’s fraternity, Pi Psi Fraternity Inc., are black.
“It really wasn’t in my best interests,” he said. “I see it as both good and bad. It recognizes minorities who are striving for academic excellence and succeeding, but it also encourages separatism. We are trying to preach to everybody to be diverse and be one, but at the same time, we are separating everyone. It defeats the purpose.
“The university really needs to get away from that, and so do university groups. I’m just happy to get a degree.”
Nikki O’Brien, coordinator for African American Student Affairs in the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, said MSU students need to understand minority concerns.
“On a day-to-day basis, black students may not see people who look like them,” she said. “While that can be healthy, in some ways, you need a network that fills social and cultural needs only black students can provide.”
Psychology senior Erica Nero, a member of the event’s planning committee, said she doesn’t think black students should avoid participating in the ceremony because of separatism issues.
“I am disappointed some of the African American students feel that way, seeing how bad we need to unify on campus,” she said. “I know I will be attending both of my graduations.
“There isn’t as many black people crossing the stage as there should be. Until MSU graduates as many black students as white students, there is a need for this type of program.”
