U-m Vice President Ross Replies To Black Demands

The University is attempting, through a statement issued by Vice President Arthur M. Ross, to discourage the efforts of various campus activist groups that are seeking to organize a strike by students and faculty in support of demands of the Black Action Movement (BAM). A cali for a campus-wide strike, under the slogan "open it up or shut it down," was issued by BAM leaders immediately after the U-M regents voted last Thursday to triple U-M financial aid to low-income students by 1973-74 and to attempt to raise black enrollment to 10 per cent by that time. Expressions of support for a strike have included disruption of Friday's U-M Honors Convocation, interference with S. State St. traffic for a brief time Friday afternoon, and editorials in the Michigan Daily, the U-M student paper. Ross' statement asserts, "The regents' resolution is a very substantial, bonafide response to the BAM demands." The 12 demands, as listed in a statement circulated by BAM leaders at their meeting with regents last Wednesday, and Ross' replies, follow: BAM demand: "Ten per cent black enrollment by fall, 1973." Ross' reply: "Regents accepted this as an admissions goal, aimed at 10 per cent enrollment of black students by 1973-74." BAM demand: "Nine hundred new black students by fall, 1971 (450 freshmen, 150 transfers, 300 graduates)." Ross' reply: "As a practical matter, much of the recruiting season for fall 1970 is behind us but there will be a substantial increase over this year." (Some editions of the BAM demands, including the copy used by Ross, cali for 900 additional black students by fall, 1970.) BAM demand: "An adequate supportive services program including financial aid to finance black students' education." Ross' reply: "The whole portunity Awards Program will be monitored by a committee of studente, faculty and administrators, with substantial black membership. For the coming year, at least $100,000 will be added to the budget for recruiting, counseling and other supportive services. The committee and Vice President (Stephen H.) Spurr will decide how best to deploy these efforts so as to achieve the maximum increase in black enrollment. "The U-M's direct investment in the Opportunity Awards Program (most of which goes to black students) will be stepped up $500,000 each year for the next four years, increasing from $1 million to $3 million. This represente an aboslute priority on U-M resources and constitutes a firm commitment. "Beyond this, the U-M will make every effort to increase the amount of supplemental funds from state, federal and private sources . . . The U-M will be required to make substantial re-allocations of funds now available; and is iully prepared to do so . . ." BAM demand: "(Hiring of) gradúate and nine undergraduate recruiters to recruit black students." Ross' reply: "Steps are already under way to employ ad-i ditional recruiters of undergraduate and gradúate students. Existing black students will play an integral role in recruitment. The need for recruiters as well as other supportive personnel will be deU.rmined by the student, faculty and administration committee and Vice Pres-I ident Spurr." BAM demand: "A referendum on the Maren (24-25) Student Government Council ballot to have students vote on assessing themselves $3 for one year for the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund." Ross' reply: "No compulsory assessment, but resources developed f rom voluntary fundraising will be helpful." (This week's SGC ballot will include the assessment proposal but if approved, it will not be binding on students. Some candidates for SGC offices, also on the ballot, have reportedly withdrawn in support of the cali for a strike against U-M activities.) BAM d e m a n d : "Tuition waivers for minority group students who are residents of the state of Michigan and admitted under special programs." Ross' reply: "The regents and U-M administration believe it preferable to increase the amount of student aid at least three-fold as a means of assisting disadvantaged students." BAM demand: "The establishment of a community located Black Student Center." Ross' reply: "A budget is being supplied to the Literature, Arts and Sciences College (LSA) for activation of the Black Student Center, and a building is avialable." BAM demand: "All work of a permanent nature on the Black Studies Program is to be halted until a community - University forum and effective input is fully developed." Ross' reply: "General fund support is being given to LSA for continued development of the Afro-American Studies Program. LSA will, of course, wish to obtain all desirable inputs in the further development of this program." BAM demand: "The creation of a University-wide appeal board to rule on the adequacy of financial aid grants to students." Ross' reply: "Clearly some mechanism for handling special needs is desirable." BAM demand: "A revamping of the Parents Confidential Statement (regarding students applying for financial aid)." Ross' reply: "The statement is being revamped, and indeed the process is well under way." BAM demand: "There should be one recruiter for Chicano students to assure 50 Chicano students by f all, 1970." Ross' reply: "The University wishes to recruit more Chicano students, with adequate student aid, and is working directly to organize a systematic recruitJ ment program." (Chicano refera to persons of Spanish-speakina background. BAM demand: "Black students are to be referred to as black not as Negro or anything else." Ross' reply: "University publications have been advised that this practice should be followed." Also in connection with disturbances following last Thursday's meeting of the regents and on other ocassions this year, several U-M officials who were contacted yesterday declined to comment when asked if they believe potential applications exist for the following statement in a U-M publication titled "General Information 1970-71": "Any student involved in inciting, leading, or participating in student riots or raids which result in in jury to persons, destruction of property, or violations of a University regulation, state law, or city ordinance shall be liable to disciplinary action by the appropriate University authorities."