More Luxury-Box Hand-Wringing
A News reader appeals to A2’s values in an argument against the proposed stadium luxury boxes. “When did ‘elitism’ that is atypical of Ann Arbor begin to dominate U-M’s attitude toward its unpretentious ‘common-denominator’ graduates and fans?” she asks. When “indeed”?
When did Ann Arbor become elitist? Sometime in the 1980s.
When i left Ann Arbor to attend college in 1978, it was basically a sleepy Midwestern college town. By the time I returned in 1987, much of Ann Arbor’s downtown had become gilded.
posted by Fred Zimmerman on November 16th, 2006 at 12:14 pmOh puh-leaze. When was U-M ever non-elitist? When were U-M grads and fans ever unpretentious? (Hint: is was a lot earlier than the 80s - like never.)
posted by tom, BSCIS '77 on November 16th, 2006 at 1:36 pmUM became elitist when the “Michigan: The Harvard of the West” shirts showed up…
posted by nymbani yangu on November 16th, 2006 at 1:46 pmBut Michigan has been referred to as “The Harvard of the West” since like the 1860s… at least. There was a long time when the two were neck-and-neck for largest University in the country there.
posted by Brandon on November 16th, 2006 at 3:20 pmYour title is a little insulting…I doubt UM has ever been 100% egalitarian, but to make it even less egalitarian is not a good idea, on the whole.
See, e.g., today’s Mich. Daily, front-page article Lame-duck regent to vote on Big House skybox plan: ‘Deeply disappointing,’ says fellow board member”,
“…One person who hopes Darlow decides to oppose luxury boxes is John Pollack, founder of Save the Big House. Save the Big House is a group that is campaigning the Athletic Department’s renovation plan.
Pollack critcized the decision to vote on the designs during a lame-duck session.
“I think the defeat of Regent Brandon, who is well known as the leading proponent of luxury boxes on the Board of Regents, offers the University a valuable opportunity to step back from a very divisive decision and take a fresh look at a plan that could bring the Michigan family together rather than drive it apart,” he said.
Pollack said voting on the plan during a lame-duck session is just another example of the University’s attempt to railroad the plan through the board in spite of public opposition.
In May, when the regents first voted on the Athletic Department’s plan to renovate Michigan Stadium, the proposal was added to the agenda after the deadline to register for public comments had passed.
Then, in July, Save the Big House member Bill Wilson was given an incorrect date and time to sign up for public comments at the September regents meeting. By the time Wilson learned the correct date and time, all public speaking slots had been filled. The University made an exception and let him speak at the meeting because of the mistake, but other members of Save the Big House weren’t as lucky.
Pollack said the University doesn’t respect public input.
“If President Coleman persists in driving through this luxury box plan over public opposition, she is going to be known as the ‘luxury box president,’ ” Pollack said. “That’s going to be her legacy, and I don’t think that is the legacy she wants.”
University Regent Kathy White has also been critical of Coleman’s handling of the approval process.
“It was rushed,” said White, who voted against the renovations in May. “It wasn’t done in public.”
She also said May’s vote shouldn’t have been held at the University’s campus in Dearborn.
“It wasn’t in Ann Arbor,” White said. “It wasn’t done where it should have been.”"
If folks love Ron Suarez’s propositions for making AA City Council more transparent etc., I don’t see why they should be against that for the UM Board of Regents.
Luxury boxes are overra…… you know the drill.
David Boyle
posted by Don't knock the people on November 16th, 2006 at 5:00 pmSorry.
D. Bo
posted by Oops, that tag didn't close on November 16th, 2006 at 5:00 pma friend of mine has a new show on the Ann Arbor area’s own internet radio network, a3 radio. The show is called Notes from the Motherboard and features some local and rare music. here’s the link to the page where you can listen anytime you want.
http://www.annarboralive.com/A3Radio/pods/podShows.html
His show is at the bottom left. Cheers!
posted by Jay on November 16th, 2006 at 5:52 pmI’m amused at all the hand-wringing that the luxury box issue has caused. It’s not like someone has suggested that we put C0ca C0la decals on the ceiling of Hill Auditorium. This is the *circus* we’re talking about here.
As well, it’s not like there isn’t already some social stratification within the Big House. I think that senior faculty and unmoneyed Old Blues are just annoyed that they could be soon outclassed by a champion ball-bearing salesman from Sterling Heights.
Now, I’ve no idea whether this would be a good idea financially. That’s a whole ‘nother issue.
posted by Kevin on November 17th, 2006 at 9:58 amKevin, that is so hilariouly astute! A perfect observation.
posted by OFWinsurgent on November 17th, 2006 at 11:44 am