Celebration included land acknowledgement, discourse of critical race theory and hip- fly
The University of Michigan spent around$ 100, 000 on occasions launching its new diversity, equity, and addition” DE I 2.0″ plan, including a cotton candy vehicle, espresso bar, and a presentation on” critical race theory and leg- hop”, according to records obtained by The College Fix.
The public university hosted the DEI Summit” Truth Telling: The Kinship of Critical Race Theory and Hip- Hop” on Oct. 9 on its Ann Arbor campus. On the same day, it held a celebration and open house to celebrate the DEI 2.0 plan’s official launch.
The five- year plan “represents the university’s continued commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and builds on the lessons from DEI 1.0”, according to a university report.
In October 2023, The Fix sought remuneration records for the extravaganza. They received their supplies last month from the government agency.
The documents obtained by The Fix through open records requests show the university spent about$ 100, 000 on the single- day events, including a performance by hip- hop artist Rapsody, a cotton candy machine, an espresso cart, and a photo booth.
The Fix has contacted the university’s media relations team numerous times over the past week for clarification, including one in which they were contacted by phone and email and one in which they were questioned about how much of the money spent came from public funds and how the university believes the spending is in line with its educational mission.
More than half of the money — about$ 60, 000 — went to the two keynote speakers.
Hip- hop artist, producer, and social activist David Banner ( pictured left ) received$ 25, 000 for a 10 minute” TED- style remark” followed by participation in a 45- minute moderated roundtable discussion with other panelists about” critical race theory and hip hop”, according to his speaker contract.
Banner’s contract also included a meet- and- greet with student leaders.
Rapsody, or Marianna Evans Rapsody ( pictured right ), was paid$ 35, 000 to participate in the roundtable discussion and give a musical performance, according to her contract.
Both contracts also include first- class plane tickets for each speaker, coach plane tickets for their traveling companions, and transportation, lodging, and meals for two nights for all four.
Other contracts for the event included catering, audio equipment, decorations, and photography that amounted to about$ 32, 564, the documents show. These included$ 1, 750 for a mobile espresso cart,$ 395 for a photo booth, and$ 550 for a cotton candy cart.
Additionally, the university gave a$ 5, 000 honorarium to andré douglas pond cummings, a law professor at University of Arkansas at Little Rock, who spoke at the event, according to the documents.
Students perform a breakdance at the University of Michigan DEI Summit on October 9, 2023.
Honorariums also went to Kaleb Briscoe,$ 500, Nina Flores,$ 500, student DJ,$ 150, and student drummers,$ 500 total, according to the documents.
The university’s Chief Freedom of Information Officer, Patricia Sellinger, stated in an email from the university that “university staff members Jack Bernard and Elizabeth R. Cole were not paid for their participation above their salaries.” Antonio Cuyler and hip hop cypher were not paid for their participation”.
A student group called “original hip-hop piece over a beat” was performed by hip hop cypher during the event.
Other events throughout the day included a breakdance performance, land acknowledgement, and remarks from university leaders including President Santa Ono.
Community members were invited to “explore ] the strategies and initiatives that will be used during the five-year strategic plan execution” and to talk about” the aspirations of the plan” at a DEI 2.0 Plan Information Session.
The DEI Summit was a project of the UM Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Michigan Medicine.
Reacting to the findings, Adam Andrzejewski, CEO and founder of OpenTheBooks .com, a watchdog organization that tracks government spending, told The Fix that DEI “values” contradict America’s founding principle of equality.
According to Andrzejewski,” Not a single taxpayer dollar should be used to finance or promote DEI at a public university,” Andrzejewski said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. ” Equity, meaning equal outcomes where merit is considered racist and judgements are based on skin color, is the opposite of equal opportunity”.
Last fall, the Michigan public university launched a five- year strategic plan to integrate DEI into every aspect of its educational mission, including hiring, bias reporting, and curriculum, The Fix reported at the time.
In its College of Architecture and Urban Planning, one section of the plan calls for “de-emphassing singular Western historical narratives.”
MORE: Over the next five years, UMich intends to advance DEI in every area of the university.
IMAGE: UM Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Instagram
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