Committees
Committees
Committee on Anti-Racism (CAR)
Committee Description
The Committee on Anti-Racism addresses the structural, procedural, cultural, and climate-related issues that contribute to systemic racism and racism experienced by faculty of color on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses.
We want to hear from you
The Committee on Anti-Racism (CAR) wants to hear from you. Please contact us if you wish to share or discuss any issues of relevance to our Committee, and particularly issues concerning systemic racism. Our Committee provides an outlet whereby faculty may discuss their experiences as we address issues as part of our regular meetings during the academic year. Faculty also have the option to submit issues or concerns anonymously for the Committee’s review and consideration. Please refer to the Resources below to access current formal university reporting structures and further information beyond the scope of the Committee.
Committee Leadership

Deirdre Spencer
Committee on Anti-Racism , Chair
Committee Members
-
Dinesh Pal, Chair
Medical School, Anesthesiology
2020-2023
-
Mark Allison
Computer Science, UM-Flint
2020-2023 -
Michael Brenner
Medical School
2021-2024 -
Daniel Burns
LSA, Mathematics
2020-2023 -
Minerva Garcia-Barrio
Medical School
2021-2024 -
Gary Harper
School of Public Health
2021-2024 -
Yazier Henry
Ford School of Public Policy
2020-2023 -
Vincent Hutchings
LSA, Political Science
2020-2023 -
David Kwabi
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
2020-2023 -
Kiran Lagisetty
Medical School
2021-2024 -
Nicolai Lehnert
LSA, Chemistry
2020-2023 -
Stephen Rush
School of Music, Theatre & Dance
2020-2023 (on sabbatical fall 2022) -
Kate Saylor
University Library
2021-2024 -
Deirdre Spencer
SACUA Liaison
2022-2023 -
Emmanuel Yimfor
Ross School of Business, Finance
2020-2023
-
Esther Launstein, Undergraduate Student, English and Creative Writing & Literature
LSA
2022-2023 -
Kevin Nguyen, Graduate Student, Social Work, Policy and Politics Program
School of Social Work
2022-2023
CAR Agendas, Minutes, and Other Materials
January 20, 2023
December 9, 2022
March 16, 2022
February 17, 2022
January 18, 2022
December 16, 2021
November 30, 2021
October 26, 2021
May 18, 2021
April 23, 2021
March 26, 2021
February 26, 2021
January 20, 2021
December 3, 2020
Resources
Online Resources:
Faculty Ombuds
https://facultyombuds.umich.edu/
Faculty Senate Office Resources – Faculty Grievance Procedures
https://facultysenate.umich.edu/resources/
Office of Institutional Equity Reporting Form
https://oie.umich.edu/discrimination-and-harassment-resolution-process/discrimination-discriminatory-harassment-and-sexual-misconduct-reporting-form/
Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Reporting and Resources
https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/reporting-process/
Ethics, Integrity & Compliance
https://compliance.umich.edu/report-a-concern/
UM Data
This data helps to identify ways in which University and other institutional polices contribute to structural racism, and may be used to identify ways to change these policies to promote anti-racism.
Campus Climate and Faculty Diversity at U-M: Three Critical Factors
Faculty Headcount Detail by Rank, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity
Existing Research
2020, Ebook (about UM)
2018, EBook
2020, EBook
2021, journal article
2021, EBook
2021, Ebook
Author: Leggett-Robinson, Pamela M ; Villa, Brandi Campbell
2020, Ebook
2021, journal article
Published: Gender, work, and organization Vol. 28, Issue 1
2021, journal article
2021, journal article
Title: Face mask symbolism in anti-Asian hate crimes
Main Author: Ren, Jingqiu ; Feagin, Joe
Published: Ethnic and racial studies Vol. 44, Issue 5
2021 journal article
2020, article
2020, article
Additional Resources
Additional reading material:
- “The Wounds of Racism and the Pandemic of Anti-Asian Hatred” (a blog post by U-M professor Melissa Borjain the Anxious Bench)
- “Disarming racism: students, staff and faculty lead multiple efforts to combat anti-Asian hate” (an article from the Michigan Daily, May 20, 2020)
- APALA and CALA condemn Against the Grain article(May 15, 2020); for a copy of the original article published in Against the Grain, please see here.
Further reading/watching material for historical background of Asian Americans in the U.S.:
- Asian Americans(a PBS documentary series aired in May 2020 and available online)
- The creation of the term “Asian American”(an article from the Time, May 22, 2020)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND VIDEOS:
- I’m a Black Female Scientist. On My First Day of Work, a Colleague Threatened to Call the Cops on Me. – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/anti-racism-police-protest/2020/06/blackintheivory-racism-academia-science-stem/
- University of Washington news article; How White Supremacy, Racist Myths Fuel Anti-Asian Violence by Kim Eckhart and Misty Shock Rule
- Let’s Stop the Scapegoating During a Global Pandemic: A commentary on how the U.S uses People of Color as scapegoats but we rarely see white citizens used to address the nation’s shortcomings. Begins with ACLU ad.
- Al Jazeera plus Youtube video; The Roots of Anti-Asian Racism [read about Al Jazeera plus on Media Bias / Fact Check]
5 min.: Read an UpWorthy article “A Note To All My Fellow White Folks Trying To Get A Quick Anti-Racism Education”
10 min.: Read and reflect on a speech from Frederick Douglass in 1855; The Meaning of July Fourth for The Negro
10 min.: Read an article about powerful white people appropriating culture from oppressed people
4 min.: Listen to a short blog by Regina Cannon reflecting on race; Tomorrow is Today
7 min.: Read a short article and watch the accompanying video of a Southern white man explaining why the term “white pride” is so problematic
5 min.: Read an article in the Atlantic by Adia Harvey Wingfield; Color-Blindness is Counterproductive
5 min.: Review a one-page graphic on how UM’s Intergroup Relations program talks about learning to listen
50 min.: View a LEAD Webinar from UM Rackham Graduate School: LEAD: Decentering Whiteness in the Academy
10 min.: Read and reflect on a speech from Frederick Douglass in 1855; The Meaning of July Fourth for The Negro
10 min.: Read an article about powerful white people appropriating culture from oppressed people
4 min.: Listen to a short blog by Regina Cannon reflecting on race; Tomorrow is Today
5 min.: Read an article in the Atlantic by Adia Harvey Wingfield; Color-Blindness is Counterproductive
5 min.: Review a one-page graphic on how UM’s Intergroup Relations program talks about learning to listen
Videos
20 min.: Watch the Tim Wise youtube video “400 Years Head Start”
20 min.: Watch a video by Robin DiAngelo “Deconstructing White Privilege”
5 min.: Watch this youtube video by Cracking the Codes, told by Joy DeGruy “A Trip to the Grocery Store”
10 min.: Read an article by Ray Levy-Uyeda; Red-Lining Has Been Outlawed for Nearly 50 Years. How Come We Still Feel Its Impact?
7 min.: Watch an Adam Ruins Everything episode The Disturbing History of the Suburbs