The Ann Arbor blog Left Behind in the Fishbowl has posted what appears to be a copy of lyrics of a song written to be used during initiation rituals by Michigamua/Order of the Angell, titled “YMCA (Pride 2008)”. Whether or not the document is authentic of a sophisticated parody, it makes for hilarious reading.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about Michigamua/Order of the Angell because they just inducted new members. Readers of this blog will know I think the group should be abolished since it is a shameful blemish on the history of the University of Michigan, but I won’t belabor the point. I think my views are a quite reasonable conclusion based on my research. It seems some basic history is a good starting point.

1. At its founding, the group created an elaborate invented mythology using their views of Native American culture, which they proceeded to use for nearly 100 years.
2. For 90 years of their history most internal communication (including all newsletters) was in a stylized speech (see below for examples)
3. The group first admitted women in 2000
4. The organized had privileged space in the Michigan Union from the 30s until 2000, had close relationships with administrators for many years, and even at one point had a special university account for their finances. For years, they used university property outside downtown Ann Arbor for special events.
5. They agreed to abolish all references to native American culture in 1989, however the tower occupation revealed numerous objects and a wigwam retained by the organization

Whether it is even possible — or even desirable — to whitewash this history with a quick name change I think is an open question. This is not to mention the appropriateness of having such a group with such an elitist past (and present) claiming to act “for Michigan.”

Here are the new members, from the Daily:

“Pride of 2008″
-Sarah Banco – Women’s soccer
-Lindsey Cottrell – Women’s soccer
-Steve Crompton – Dance Marathon
-Lindsay Davis – Women’s golf
-Alessandra Giampaolo – Softball
-Sam Harper – College Democrats chair
-Michael Hart – Football
-Jen Hsu – Co-chair of the Michigan Student Assembly’s LGBT commission
-Nellie Kippley – Women’s gymnastics
-Matko Maravic – Men’s tennis
-Doug Pickens – Baseball
-Randal Seriguchi – VP of the National Pan-Hellenic council, MSA
-Sejal Tailor – Multicultural Greek Council president
-Alex Tisdall – ROTC
-Tyrel Todd – Men’s wrestling
-Alex Vanderkaay – Swimmer
-Zack Yost – MSA president
-Michael Cromwell – A capella
-Nicole Wojcik – Marching Band
-Anup Shah – IASA
-Rohan Patel – Dance Marathon
-Kelly Sanderson – Women Engineers
-Gervis Menzies – Residence Hall Association

Here’s some images I pulled from my collection:

Newsletters from the 1940s

Class of 1966

Induction ritual photo and account from 1960s

This letterhead was used well into the 1970s. Ironically, this copy contains notes from a meeting where negotiations with Native American students was discussed.

Note, donations from this 1980s fundraising letter are payable to a “University of Michigan — Michigamua Account”

Objects discovered in the “wigwam” during 2000 Student of Color Coalition occupation.

Recent News
> Michigan Daily: “After seven years, group recognized by ‘U’ once again”
> Michigan Daily: “The secret society that lived: New name alone can’t cover blemishes of a shady past”
> Michigan Daily: “Jim Toy Viewpoint: To build a bridge” (Community member describes why he is working with group)

Resources
> Native American Student Association — Michigamua “Guide to Understanding”
> The Order of Angell Maize pages entry
> The Order of Angell website
> Michigamua Members: 1999-2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (For previous years just drop me a line, I have a printed directory going all the way back to 1902)

More
> Previous Michigamua Posts

Founded in 1902, for nearly 80 years the all male group’s identiy was based in organizational language and practices inspired by Native American culture. In 1989 they agreed to abandon much of the offensive cultural trappings in a negotiated agreement with Native American Students after years of protest. In 1999, the organization admitted the first woman. In 2000, activists forced the organization from their office space in the tower of the Michigan Union they had occupied since the 1930s, revealing a “wigwam” space and artifacts in blatant violation of the 1989 agreement. In 2001 I began posting the names of members to this website.

In 2006, after a year-long series of embarrassing publicity including organization members ejected from student organizations, a critical art exhibit, and investigative documentary film (to which I contributed), the organization announced they would abandoned their 104-year name and released the names of current members.

> Michigan Daily: “Daily Editor in Chief to join senior society”
> Ashley Dinges: “Why I quit my job”
> Romenesko: “Michigan Daily ME quits over top editor’s club membership”
> See all my recent posts on Michigamua

The list includes several members which will no doubt provoke some controversy: MSA President Nicole Stallings and LSA Student Government President Andrew Yahkind. Missing from the list was Michigan Daily Editor-In-Chief Donn Fresard, who had been widely rumored to be a member. From the Daily’s story, here’s the list:

List of members

Pride of 2006: Katie Banas, Nick Benson, Michael Caplan, Jenny Deiley, Chris DeJong, Andrew Ebbett, Tyler Ecker, Andrew Ellerton, Lori Hillman, Brian Hull, Jenny Knoester, Dennis Lee, Neal Pancholi, A.J. Scheidt, Gerry Signorelli, Kelene Soltesz, Davis Tarwater, Peter Vanderkaay, Greg Wagner, Sam Woll

Pride of 2007: Sirene Abou-Chakra, Lindsey Bruck, Josh Churella, Tim Cook, Matt Hunwick, Brian Ignaut, Jon Krasnov, Adam Kraus, Lauren Kraus, Jake Long, Christina Macholan, Leif Mahler, Matt McLaughlin, Gopal Pai, Eric Rose, Ashish Shah, Katelin Spencer, Nicole Stallings, Katie Tamarelli, Eric Tannenbaum, Andrew Yahkind, Dave Young

Their coverage of the news:

>> Michigan Daily: “Michigamua commits to reforms” (4/12)
>> Michigan Daily: “Reactions to Michigamua Reforms Mixed” (4/13)
>> Daily Viewpoint by Sam Woll: “Moving on from Michigamua”

Also, the Daily printed this letter to the editor today:

To the Daily:
I find it absurd that the University would consider recognizing Michigamua as an official student group (Michigamua commits to reforms, 04/12/2006). Any group that has a history of mocking my people and culture, such as this group, does not have a place in the University. Racism is racism, no matter what the name. I also find it absurd that the members of Michigamua would willingly make their names public. I guess it is good for all of us to know the names of racists on campus.

Wyaudtnoong Adams
LSA junior

The Daily’s arts section also profiled the short documentary produced by M-Agination Films which will premier at 7 p.m. tonight that I have mentioned here before. I was interviewed for the film in December, and their story about the film opens with this hilarious passage:

His solemnity bordering on pomp, his curly brown hair rippling in the wind and with the Washington Monument looming just over his shoulder, blogger Rob Goodspeed of goodspeedupdate.com simply declares “Secrecy is sexy and exciting.” The fewer the words, the more daunting their power, and Goodspeed’s five in the new M-agination made documentary “Fight Like Hell” certainly make that point. Michigamua, the University’s traditionally secretive, selective and at times racist senior honor society, has remained so closed over the years because, without secrecy, its mystique is lost.

Finally, with this post, I’m announcing my semi-retirement from the Michigamua beat. I originally posted information about the organization’s members on this domain because I believed the University community had a right to know the membership of an elite organization that claimed to be “fighting for Michigan” from the shadows. I also thought the claims of the Student of Color Coalition deserved to be discussed in an open forum. With the publication of the members’ names this week — and a broader, public discussion about the organization’s history spearheaded by young activists taking place on campus — the role this website has played in the debate is no longer needed. I added the “semi” because although I’ll refrain from most posting, I cannot promise no additional Michigamua content (I’ve got to digitize my member directory going back to 1902 at some point).

I suppose that leaves me with one last item to take care of: the naming competition. Unfortunately, the pool of submissions wasn’t as broad as I had hoped. Although containing some clever entries, the jury really didn’t see anything that jumped out at us. I suppose that’s something for the campus community to decide.

Every home business opportunity is worth one scavenging try because you never know when you may strike gold. A legit work at home can mean any kind of job. The key is to follow something you are passionate about. Then work at home would become really interesting. While working from home, one can also take care of a lot of other things. However, the capital required for the home business startup should not be a lot, practically speaking.

According to my sources, the premier University of Michigan secret senior honor society has recently voted to abandon the name Michigamua. The change is apparently in an attempt to convince the community they have “changed” and to distance themselves from a 90+ year history intertwined with offensive references to Native American culture, complete with loin cloths, headdresses, Native-sounding nicknames, and an elaborate organization mythology. Although the organization seems to have abandoned some of these traditions in the 1990s, the Student of Color Coalition Michigan Union Tower Occupation of 2000 proved to most they had not taken the steps they promised to make in 1989 and remove all reference to Native American culture from their practices. I’ve uploaded a number of relevant documents to my Flickr account. As a note, in 2000 the organization decided to add a subtitled, calling themselves “Michigamua: New Traditions for a New Millennium” but it didn’t seem to stick anywhere but their official website.

Thus, I’m proud to announce the first-ever Secret Society Naming Competition. While I can’t promise the actual organization will adopt the name, I do know many members frequent this website and I’m sure they’ll consider any quality submissions. I also promise to use the winning name with due credit prolifically on this site. To enter, simply leave your suggestion in the comments before noon on Thursday, April 13th. I will consult my secret panel of judges (It’s only fitting, right?) and announce the winner later that day. Good luck!

Before now, I have only read about this agreement, and never seen a copy for myself. Yet a copy of the lawsuit sent to me contained it as an addendum. I’ve already run the text of the complaint, but here’s an image of the 1989 agreement in question. (Or click on the image to the right.) It’s quite straight forward, with the organization promising to eliminate “all references to Native American culture and pseudo-culture and extensions and parodies thereof, with the one exception being the name, Michigamua, for now and forever.”

The Daily has recently published some commentary about the meaning of this document, their editorial board weighing in on the side of activists in January. Here are a couple opposing op-eds which ran in response:
> ” Michigamua has troubled past”
> “Looking to the future by learning from the past”

STATE OF MICHIGAN

IN THE WASHTENAW COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

CHRISTOPHER BELL,
JOHN DOE,

Plaintiff class representatives,

v CASE NO. 06- CK

MICHIGAMUA
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,

Defendants,

________________________________/
CHRISTOPHER J. BELL (P63324)
Attorney for Plaintiffs
3188 Bolgos Circle
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1564
(734) 646-5650___________________/

COMPLAINT

NOW COME CHRISTOPHER BELL and JOHN DOE, by and through their attorney,

CHRISTOPHER J. BELL, and say,

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

1. Plaintiff class representatives are individuals, and residents of the County of Washtenaw, State of Michigan.

2. Plaintiff class representative, CHRISTOPHER BELL (“Bell”), is a Native American who was a student at The University of Michigan between November 1, 1989, and February 6,2000.

3. Plaintiff class representative, JOHN DOE (“Doe”), is a Native American who was a paid employee of The University of Michigan between November 1, 1989 and February 6, 2000, and because plaintiff is still currently employed by Defendant, desires to remain anonymous to avoid any sort of retribution as a result of his status in this action.

4. Defendant REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (“University”) is

the governing body of The University of Michigan, a public university of the State of Michigan.

5. Defendant MICHIGAMUA (“Michigamua”) is an unincorporated voluntary

organization within the State of Michigan.

6. The amount in controversy is greater than $25,000.00, and is, therefore, within the

exclusive jurisdiction of this court.

COUNT I – BREACH OF CONTRACT

7. Plaintiff class representatives incorporate by reference their allegations contained

in paragraphs 1 through 6.

8. In 1901, the group Michigamua was formed at The University of Michigamua.

Within a few years, ceremonies, rituals, activities, individual nicknames for members, costumes

for members’ activities, and songs and poems were developed that were all related to Native

American or at least pseudo-Native American traditions and culture, generally as popularized in

mainstream white society through the media of the time. Much of such activities can be charac-

terized as a one-dimensional, early Hollywood caricature of ignorant white depictions of Native

American culture and traditions. For many years, only white males from the student body were

selected to be members by the previous year’s membership.

9. By 1930, Michigamua had been given exclusive, and essentially permanent, space

by University in the top floor of the tower of the Michigan Union. Over the years, the group

transformed the large room into what was intended to look like the inside of a huge wigwam.

For years the group involved every President of the University in their annual spring ceremonies,

which often took place right on the lawn of the President’s house. Early still photos and video in

storage at the University’s library show depictions of members of Michigamua dressed in

loincloths and feathers, with some in full headdresses, smoking a big pipe and carrying on in

Hollywood fashion.

10. Sometime during 1973, a Native American student filed a complaint with the

Michigan Civil Rights Commission claiming that such activities, some of which were regularly conducted outside in full view of all students at special places in the middle of campus, were

demeaning, belittling, and disrespectful to Native Americans. A subsequent decision by that

body stated that such activities should not take place in public where they can be injurious to

Native American students.

11. In 1989, another Native American student complained about the continuation of

such activities by the group Michigamua. On November 1, 1989, a written agreement

(“Agreement”) was signed by the student complainant, representatives of Michigamua, and by

representatives of the University, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A.

12. Sometime between September 1, 1993 and December 20, 1994, while a student at

the University, Bell heard the sound of pseudo-Native American singing and drumming coming

out of the top floor windows of the tower of the Michigan Union. Bell learned that it was

performed by members of Michigamua, and could be heard every week during their late night

meetings. Bell was incredulous that such activities could still be taking place on campus. Bell

felt betrayed, demeaned, insulted, belittled. Bell was not aware that the Agreement existed,

and did not find out it existed until sometime after February 6, 2000, when Michigamua’s tower

space was entered and occupied by student protesters.

13. Doe became aware of such activities of Michigamua between November 1, 1989

and February 6, 2000. Doe felt demeaned, insulted, degraded, and mocked by the singing and

drumming. To him, such trivializing of what he considered to be serious activities when carried

out by Native Americans, was an insult and a desecration. Additionally, because he was a paid

employee of University, Doe felt that his work environment was hostile and offensive. Doe

was, also, never aware of the existence of the Agreement until after February 6, 2000.

14. The Agreement is a contract among the signatories to it, with a bargained-for

exchange of obligations assigned to all parties, for which they all provided substantial

consideration. When the University and Michigamua signed the Agreement they were aware

that Native Americans considered the Michigamua “ceremonies, references and representations”

to be “offensive”, and therefore agreed, as a result, to “hereby eliminate all references to Native

American culture and pseudo-culture and extensions and parodies thereof . . . for now and

forever.” By suggesting that violations may result in “prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,

including involvement of the [Michigan] Civil Rights Commission”, all signatories to the

contractual agreement understood that the subject of the contract was maintaining the civil rights

of Native American students, staff, and faculty who must try to work in an environment which is

not hostile or offensive to their beliefs, traditions, customs, or values.

15. The University has considered the group Michigamua to be a student group, like

dozens of others that it oversees through one of its various departments. There are regulations

that all prospective student groups must abide by before they can be considered an official

student group, and to which they must abide in order to maintain that status. Those regulations

require that they at all time respect the dignity and diversity of those around them. Healthy

debate and disagreement is one thing, but disparaging another group’s culture is not allowed.

Therefore, being on notice that one racial group has repeatedly complained about Michigamua’s

behavior and activities and, more importantly, being aware that Michigamua had contracted to

never engage in such activities again, the University, and through its Regents, had a duty to make

sure that Michigamua abided by the contract. As a signatory to the Agreement the University

implicitly bound itself as monitor and overseer of Michigamua to ensure that the group did

not violate the agreement.

16. The University breached the contract by failing to monitor that Michigamua abide

by the contract and not engage in the prohibited behaviors. The University either knew that

Michigamua was continuing to violate the contract, or it engaged in deliberate blindness in not

inquiring or monitoring Michigamua’s activities. Upon information and belief Michigamua, as a

group and its individual alumni, have significantly contributed financially to the University.

Because of the pecuniary benefit that the University receives from Michigamua, the University

continued to ignor or acted indifferently toward Michigamua’s violation of the Agreement.

17. Native Americans who were either students, staff, or faculty between November

1, 1989, and February 6, 2000, are third party intended beneficiaries of the Agreement, and

have been injured by Defendants. Their civil rights have been violated. Defendants’ malice and

wilful and wanton reckless disregard for plaintiff class’ rights, have inspired in them feelings of

humiliation, outrage, and indignity.

Plaintiff class representatives, Bell and Doe, request the following relief:

A. That it be declared that Defendants breached the contract with Plaintiff class, all

Native Americans who were students, staff, or faculty anytime between November 1, 1989 and

February 6, 2000 who were not aware of the existence of the contract until after the occupation of

the tower on February 6, 2000.

B. That such class be certified upon subsequent motion by Plaintiffs.

C. Plaintiffs request judgment against Defendant in the amount to be determined by

the trier of fact, including compensatory and exemplary damages, and costs and attorney fees.

D. Plaintiffs request a jury trial.

DATED:____________________ ____________________________________
CHRISTOPHER J. BELL (P63324)
Attorney for Plaintiffs

Ok, people, I’m trying to give the old ‘gamua beat a break, but with big news, I just can’t resist:

Ann Arbor News: Suit claims U-M, secret society violate Native-American rights

(Also on WOODTV, WLNS, Lansing State Journal)

Story archived after the jump.

Suit claims U-M, secret society violate Native-American rights
Saturday, February 11, 2006
News Staff Reporter

A former University of Michigan student has sued the university and Michigamua, a secret honorary society, claiming they have violated the civil rights of Native American students, staff and faculty.

Christopher Bell, an attorney from Ann Arbor, filed the lawsuit on behalf of himself and another former student identified only as John Doe.

The suit, filed Mondayin Washtenaw County Circuit Court, alleges that the organization didn’t abide by an agreement signed in 1989 that it wouldn’t demean Native Americans.

Michigamua was founded as a student service society in 1902, using Native American themes. U-M students were selected by the organization. Members sometimes painted themselves red and wore loin cloths and headdresses during their rituals. Former President Gerald Ford, U-M hockey coach Red Berenson and the late broadcaster, Bob Ufer, are among its more well-known alumni.

The organization came under fire in February 2000 when U-M student protesters began a sit-in at the Michigamua room in the tower of the Michigan Union. The protesters said the society’s use of Native American artifacts and rituals were insulting and debased the Native American culture. The protest led to the eventual removal of the organization and its artifacts from the Michigan Union. It now meets off campus.

According to the lawsuit, Michigamua signed an agreement in 1989, after a similar complaint was lodged against the society, to eliminate all references to Native American culture.

Bell contends that Michigamua breached the contract and violated the rights of Native American students, staff and faculty members who did not know the agreement existed until after the tower was occupied in February 2000.

The lawsuit said Bell and Doe were not aware of the earlier agreement. “Doe felt demeaned, insulted, degraded and mocked by the singing and drumming,” the complaint said. “To him, such trivializing of what he considered to be serious activities when carried out by Native Americans, was an insult and a desecration.”

The complaint contends U-M breached the agreement by failing to make sure that Michigamua abided by the agreement.

“The University either knew that Michigamua was continuing to violate the contract or it engaged in deliberate blindness in not inquiring or monitoring Michigamua’s activities.”

The lawsuit asks the court to certify the lawsuit as class-action. It seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

U-M spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the university has no comment on the lawsuit.

Sam Woll, member of Michigamua, Class of 2006, said she hadn’t heard about the suit. “We have not been contacted regarding any lawsuit, nor informed as to the grounds for which any legal action would be justified,” she said in a written statement.

Bell, a Native American who attended the university from 1989 to 2000, did not return several calls asking for comment for this story.

The suit says Doe was an employee of the university from 1989-2000 and is not being named in the suit because he is employed by the university and fears retaliation as a result of the lawsuit.

Liz Cobbs can be reached at 734-994-6810 or lcobbs@annarbornews.com.