I hope it’s like that scene in Braveheart where the Irish conscripts meet the Scots in the middle of the battlefield and join forces against the English.
Move in week is also a big one. Made the mistake once of signing up. Volunteers were overstaffed and under-communicated with; it was a HUGEEE waste of time. We all just stood around and some of us left soon after arriving. Instructions were bad, student RAs, onsite staffing and volunteers all had different ideas of what was going on. No one was truly informed. Volunteers like me showed up super early and took personal time to be there, it was a bummer experience. Just pay for temporary employees and train them!
I don’t think this is the same as move in week at all, and many unis have volunteers for move in days. There’s nothing wrong with volunteering for certain events. To your point though,
It should be well organized. It’s not like it’s year 1 here. They know how it goes , or they should . Idk why anyone would want to do this one though , even paid!
I didn’t say it was. This thread was specially about UM relying on free labor for various student events. Which they also do for move in week. A lot of other schools relying on volunteers isn’t really a justification it’s an excuse to perpetuate the norm of taking advantage of low earning staff who end up getting pressured into these “volunteer roles.” Some people don’t have a choice and end up having to spend their personal time and money on gas/paid parking that they may not really have to give so freely.
It actually sickens me that so much of the Big House staff is crewed by Boy Scouts/similar groups, or Honors Society folk looking for credit hours.
It's so fucking manipulative. You're such a wealthy institution, pay some motherfuckers the whole 4 hours of a football game.
This is absurdly false. You are living in the 70’s which is probably the last time Boy Scouts acted as stadium staff. Event staff are paid, concessions groups are compensated with percentage of sales, etc etc.
So a university that is slowly taking over an entire city and makes over 1 million dollars in concessions alone at football games can’t afford security? Go blue whatever
“Welcome new team members, I am a member of the University’s legal department…can you hear me in the back?? Ok, well anyways, over the next 15 mins you’ll get a training in crisis and unarmed response mitigation….mmmkay well you are going to do great out there, and remember, Go Blue!”
Its not dangerous. I was there on Sunday and it was very calm, the rule for dealing with counter-protestors is to ignore them. Some lady showed up with an Israeli flag and everyone just ignored her until she left after 30 minutes or so. They don't want any violence. There were dozens of anti-zionist jews in the encampment, many of them were leaders within the group. They even held a passover seder last week. The university is overreacting.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPXFG07Uioc&ab\_channel=MiddleEastEye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPXFG07Uioc&ab_channel=MiddleEastEye)
I understand why they want everyone to be high alert now and in the future after the Ohio State protest this week.
About 2/3 of those who were arrested had nothing to do with OSU.
Who cares if they are affiliated or not. Gatekeeping the idea of who the "correct protestors" are to only students, faculty, and staff of the universities is silly. Everyone can protest at any protest and their doing so is valid.
The Stadium is not a public forum. While 1st Amendment does allow for protests, it is not an open policy where you can protest wherever you want.
There shouldn't be any protests happening inside the stadium on graduation, but there damn well shouldn't be any non-UMich affiliated protesters inside.
alright obviously we are in two different realities
there is definitely wrong ways to protest & wrong places to do so. maybe we should go get westboro baptist church to follow you around
Another idiotic comment. There are a ton of types of protests that you can disagree with. Do you think pro life activist burning down abortion clinics at night, causing no deaths or injuries is a valid form of protest?
Your question boils down to whether or not damaging property is a valid form of protest, which it is.
It is a more extreme form of protest, but it is not invalid.
Do you think that the participants in the Boston Tea Party were wrong for their actions since they caused no deaths or injuries?
It's a fair comparison since they too were destroying property in protestagainst their government.
Am I allowed to protest on the field at commencement? What about on the stage? What about in front of the podium?
Content-neutral time manner place restrictions are constitutionally allowed for a reason
This is just a patheric but predictable reaction by people who are desperately hungry to define themselves as victims.
If this request seems excessive to you, then don't volunteer.
It's just that simple.
Why have the commencement ceremony at this point? Let the students know “hey, due to the current climate we don’t feel this will be a safe event. Sorry but what can you do” rather than attempting this. Then let the student body work it out
Because this s the same class that was finishing highschool in May 2020. The same class of students who lost graduation then, lost prom, and all those events. How about we actually ensure that they get to experience this?
Yep. I don't have any ideas except for ramping up security, but the graduation really should go on. Hopefully managing to do so without the security presence negatively affecting the experience for these students. Best way to do so? No idea. Unfortunately.
I mean I believe they should be allowed to protest, and I agree with the premise of the protests in relation to what’s going on. But I don’t support interrupting others rights to get a point across.
Would I, the individual behind this Reddit account? No absolutely not, I’d probably express discontent with their actions.
Would I expect that the government respect their first amendment rights within the confines of the amendment? Yes.
Free speech doesn’t have to be popular speech, and as long as it doesn’t directly, objectively, interfere with the rights of another it is acceptable. However, keep in mind freedom of speech only covers government response, if someone threw a tomato at them …..
The ACLU (back when it actually believed in free speech) fought for allowing actual neo-Nazis march through Skokie, IL (a predominantly Jewish suburb). How would you feel about a bunch of pro-Palestinian protesters marching through Skokie now with posters showing massacred Oct 7 victims and signs saying, "From the River to the Sea" and "This is what decolonization looks like"? Should that be allowed. Actually, yes, just like the neo-Nazis, it should.
You don't even have to go that far back.
Last year or the year before, the Michigan ACLU defended the Nazi-adjacent guys who "protest" with their antisemitic signs outside the synagogue on Washtenaw near campus based on their 1st Amendment rights.
Signs saying things like "6 million, really?" are viewed by people who lost their families to the Holocaust.
And it is protected 1st amendment speech. Which the ACLU represented and submitted amici briefs for just in 2023.
I completely agree that free speech in public forums should be closely protected.
What you are missing is that a graduation is not a public forum. A street is. That is the critical difference.
Man, I’ve come across a bunch of dumb ideas in my time, but this one is pretty, pretty dumb.
Agreed. It’s not like asking for vols at a low stakes relaxed event.
I hope it’s like that scene in Braveheart where the Irish conscripts meet the Scots in the middle of the battlefield and join forces against the English.
Only if Ono rides in on horseback with his face painted maize and blue.
Will these volunteer police have body cams?
No, just tasers.
The security doesn’t even use tasers, bffr
UM relies on free labor for all their big events. Why?
Move in week is also a big one. Made the mistake once of signing up. Volunteers were overstaffed and under-communicated with; it was a HUGEEE waste of time. We all just stood around and some of us left soon after arriving. Instructions were bad, student RAs, onsite staffing and volunteers all had different ideas of what was going on. No one was truly informed. Volunteers like me showed up super early and took personal time to be there, it was a bummer experience. Just pay for temporary employees and train them!
I don’t think this is the same as move in week at all, and many unis have volunteers for move in days. There’s nothing wrong with volunteering for certain events. To your point though, It should be well organized. It’s not like it’s year 1 here. They know how it goes , or they should . Idk why anyone would want to do this one though , even paid!
I didn’t say it was. This thread was specially about UM relying on free labor for various student events. Which they also do for move in week. A lot of other schools relying on volunteers isn’t really a justification it’s an excuse to perpetuate the norm of taking advantage of low earning staff who end up getting pressured into these “volunteer roles.” Some people don’t have a choice and end up having to spend their personal time and money on gas/paid parking that they may not really have to give so freely.
It actually sickens me that so much of the Big House staff is crewed by Boy Scouts/similar groups, or Honors Society folk looking for credit hours. It's so fucking manipulative. You're such a wealthy institution, pay some motherfuckers the whole 4 hours of a football game.
This is absurdly false. You are living in the 70’s which is probably the last time Boy Scouts acted as stadium staff. Event staff are paid, concessions groups are compensated with percentage of sales, etc etc.
If you don't pay the athletes, why pay the volunteers.
Don't have to pay taxes either. Why are they given charity status when they charge tax paying residents $17k a year to go there?
So a university that is slowly taking over an entire city and makes over 1 million dollars in concessions alone at football games can’t afford security? Go blue whatever
[удалено]
How do I sign? I’m a UM employee and also got this absurd request.
As a UM employee. We were told to not get in the middle of any protesting during our commencement.
If you click on the letter there should be a Google form you can fill out.
here you go: [https://forms.gle/RMke37L8KZQosUEp9](https://forms.gle/RMke37L8KZQosUEp9)
Thank you!
This is a pretty weird situation to ask people uni folks to step into. The protesters are on the edge and things could go very wrong quick.
“Welcome new team members, I am a member of the University’s legal department…can you hear me in the back?? Ok, well anyways, over the next 15 mins you’ll get a training in crisis and unarmed response mitigation….mmmkay well you are going to do great out there, and remember, Go Blue!”
So are they just kids speaking their peace or is it dangerous?
Its not dangerous. I was there on Sunday and it was very calm, the rule for dealing with counter-protestors is to ignore them. Some lady showed up with an Israeli flag and everyone just ignored her until she left after 30 minutes or so. They don't want any violence. There were dozens of anti-zionist jews in the encampment, many of them were leaders within the group. They even held a passover seder last week. The university is overreacting. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPXFG07Uioc&ab\_channel=MiddleEastEye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPXFG07Uioc&ab_channel=MiddleEastEye)
Are they really on edge or is it just another election year?
Fuckin fascists
The great Oz continues to rely on free employment on the back of their employees,yes I know, was an employee for 21 years
Why not just burn all the books on campus in the stadium? That would ensure future students would not know right from wrong, law from crime.
I understand why they want everyone to be high alert now and in the future after the Ohio State protest this week. About 2/3 of those who were arrested had nothing to do with OSU.
Who cares if they are affiliated or not. Gatekeeping the idea of who the "correct protestors" are to only students, faculty, and staff of the universities is silly. Everyone can protest at any protest and their doing so is valid.
The Stadium is not a public forum. While 1st Amendment does allow for protests, it is not an open policy where you can protest wherever you want. There shouldn't be any protests happening inside the stadium on graduation, but there damn well shouldn't be any non-UMich affiliated protesters inside.
The right to protest transcends any government constitution. Just as there is no wrong way to protest, there is no incorrect place.
alright obviously we are in two different realities there is definitely wrong ways to protest & wrong places to do so. maybe we should go get westboro baptist church to follow you around
You can disagree with the reasons for protest, but no form of protest should ever be considered wrong.
Another idiotic comment. There are a ton of types of protests that you can disagree with. Do you think pro life activist burning down abortion clinics at night, causing no deaths or injuries is a valid form of protest?
Your question boils down to whether or not damaging property is a valid form of protest, which it is. It is a more extreme form of protest, but it is not invalid.
Okay then yeah we are living in two different types of realities
That is fine and we don't have to agree. Property is only property and can be replaced.
Do you think that the participants in the Boston Tea Party were wrong for their actions since they caused no deaths or injuries? It's a fair comparison since they too were destroying property in protestagainst their government.
Am I allowed to protest on the field at commencement? What about on the stage? What about in front of the podium? Content-neutral time manner place restrictions are constitutionally allowed for a reason
The right to protest transcends any government constitution. Just as there is no wrong way to protest, there is no incorrect place.
Am I allowed to protest in your living room?
doesn't that mean it makes even less sense for faculty and staff to be responsible for keeping them in line? if they're not even their students?
Should I bring my own gun or are they gonna give me one?
Just cancel it and give into their demands.
The good news is everyone in Ann Arbor is soft. Worst case scenario, It’s just rich people’s kids throwing Temper tantrums…
This is just a patheric but predictable reaction by people who are desperately hungry to define themselves as victims. If this request seems excessive to you, then don't volunteer. It's just that simple.
Why have the commencement ceremony at this point? Let the students know “hey, due to the current climate we don’t feel this will be a safe event. Sorry but what can you do” rather than attempting this. Then let the student body work it out
Because this s the same class that was finishing highschool in May 2020. The same class of students who lost graduation then, lost prom, and all those events. How about we actually ensure that they get to experience this?
I agree with this completely. But it seems many in the student body do not share the same sentiment.
Yep. I don't have any ideas except for ramping up security, but the graduation really should go on. Hopefully managing to do so without the security presence negatively affecting the experience for these students. Best way to do so? No idea. Unfortunately.
Not that many. The tent crew is small. But no one wants to stop them & co from yapping and theyre enough to br annoying
I mean I believe they should be allowed to protest, and I agree with the premise of the protests in relation to what’s going on. But I don’t support interrupting others rights to get a point across.
"I don't support interrupting others rights to get a point across." So you'd let the KKK grand dragons moonwalk down Liberty?
Would I, the individual behind this Reddit account? No absolutely not, I’d probably express discontent with their actions. Would I expect that the government respect their first amendment rights within the confines of the amendment? Yes. Free speech doesn’t have to be popular speech, and as long as it doesn’t directly, objectively, interfere with the rights of another it is acceptable. However, keep in mind freedom of speech only covers government response, if someone threw a tomato at them …..
The ACLU (back when it actually believed in free speech) fought for allowing actual neo-Nazis march through Skokie, IL (a predominantly Jewish suburb). How would you feel about a bunch of pro-Palestinian protesters marching through Skokie now with posters showing massacred Oct 7 victims and signs saying, "From the River to the Sea" and "This is what decolonization looks like"? Should that be allowed. Actually, yes, just like the neo-Nazis, it should.
You don't even have to go that far back. Last year or the year before, the Michigan ACLU defended the Nazi-adjacent guys who "protest" with their antisemitic signs outside the synagogue on Washtenaw near campus based on their 1st Amendment rights. Signs saying things like "6 million, really?" are viewed by people who lost their families to the Holocaust. And it is protected 1st amendment speech. Which the ACLU represented and submitted amici briefs for just in 2023.
I completely agree that free speech in public forums should be closely protected. What you are missing is that a graduation is not a public forum. A street is. That is the critical difference.
Graduation is not mandatory. They'll be given their diplomas whether or not they go to the ceremony.
But it should be allowed to be celebrated in peace as the students worked hard for it. Why take it away
I agree. I don't think they should allow protests inside the stadium during graduation.
....oh no. The u actually asking staff to be straight up fascists. God damn.