Someone pointed this one out to me the other day. Wayne State has decided to put Ward Connerly "on trial" - a mock trial intended to coincide with BAMN's federal lawsuits against MCRI which will be heard next week.

What's unusual about this trial? It appears to have no advocate for Ward. That is, its a trial without fair representation. We've asked the Dean of Students what they've done to balance the trial, and even offered them the assistance of Zarko Research. As a reminder, Zarko Research will speak to public audiences on the issue of MCRI or affirmative action generally, and we've been invited by moderates on both the right and left of this issue - including Reginald Turner, former State and National Bar Association president and current Board of Education member for the state of Michigan, who unfortunately favors preferences.

Here's WSU's entire calendar entry on this matter:

Ward Connerly on Trial: The Road to the Supreme Court
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 from 8:45 AM to 1:45 PM
The event will include the premiere viewing of video taped excerpts from the day long BAMN deposition of Ward Connerly who was the spokesperson for Proposal 2. Interspersed with debate and discussion of his arguments against affirmative action and the plaintiffs arguments in favor of affirmative action.
Category:
Other
Location:
Ballroom of the Student Center Building
Contact:
DOSO Dean of Students Office
313-577-1010
doso@wayne.edu
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I put this here because it is most in line with the mission of this blog, as opposed to my main Michigan and local news blogs. The Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) - that University of Michigan "student government" that can tax and spend small little bits of tuition away for the whims of a few student wannabee bureuacrats - narrowly avoided funding a blast e-mail that would blast Proposal 2.

Yes. Proposal 2 has been passed for 15 months now. And BAMN infiltrants into student comm... government wanted to send out a rhetoric e-mail to all students. Wiser moderates on the MSA narrowly voted against it, according to this Michigan Daily article. That's a first - its a surprise - and it shows waning BAMN power.

Next week, the Federal District Court in Detroit will hear arguments on whether to hold a full trial for the lawsuits challenging the constitutional amendment. The e-mail would encourage students to attend the hearing, scheduled for Feb. 6 in Detroit.

Several MSA representatives who opposed the resolution said they did so because the specific language of the e-mail was unavailable when the vote took place.

"If the e-mail text was there, I probably would have voted for it," said Rackham representative Michael Benson, chair of the Rules and Elections committee.

Art and Design representative Liana Mulholland, who sponsored the resolution, said MSA President Mohammad Dar would write the e-mail if the vote had passed.

MSA representative Ashley Schwedt, who voted for the resolution, said it was important for MSA to remain neutral on the issue of affirmative action.

"As a Democrat and as a minority I feel uncomfortable taking a stance on this issue because I feel that we should be an unbiased group," she said.

LSA junior Maricruz Lopez, co-chair of the Defend Affirmative Action Party, spoke on behalf of the resolution. She said the decision showed MSA representatives were afraid to represent their constituents and work in favor of the interests of students.

BAMN is willing to do anything.