LANSING, Mich., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- College students across the nation and in Mic higan have taken the lead to vocally and visibly support affirmativeaction on National Take Affirmative Action Day -- Thursday, October 27th, 2005.

Activities in Michigan will take place at Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and Wayne State University. Below is a list of these activities, including forums, rallies, poetry slams, Diag Days, a "Day of Silence," and a "Black-Out Day."

Michigan United, a 501(c)(3) organization, is supporting the efforts of college students across the state, who are educating Michigan citizens about affirmative action and the impact of an end to affirmative action and outreach programs, as has been proposed by some groups, including the so-called
"Michigan Civil Rights Initiative," expected to be on the November 2006 ballot.

National Take Affirmative Action Day is sponsored nationally by the United States Student Association (USSA), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth & College Program, and Americans for a Fair Chance, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Education Fund (LCCREF).

Michigan United's mission is to defend affirmative action and outreach programs that provide opportunities for women and minorities for better jobs and education and reject all efforts that would adversely affect or reverse equal opportunity programs designed to overcome discrimination.

Central Michigan University
CONTACT: Jennifer VanBuren, Jennifervanburen83@yahoo.com
Sponsored by: CMU National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Youth & College
Event name: Get Out the Truth
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: All day (9am-5pm)
Location: Campus-wide
Event description: Canvassing/education on Affirmative Action

Eastern Michigan University
CONTACT: Shetina Jones, (734) 487-1470, president@emunaacp.com
Sponsored by: EMU National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Youth & College, Muslim Student Association, International Students Association, Office of Diversity Programs, Black Student Union, and People for
the American Way.
Event name: Affirmative Action, EMU, and You
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Alumni Room, McKenny Union, corner of Washtenaw Ave. &
Cross St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Event description: Panel discussion, featuring Dr. Judy Sturgis-Hill and
Dr. Ronald Woods.

Event name: Rally
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: McKenny Union Ballroom, corner of Washtenaw Ave. & Cross
St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Event description: Rally, featuring speaker Hilary Shelton, NAACP
Washington Bureau Director, Representative Alma Wheeler
Smith, Senator Elizabeth Brater, Dr. Heather Neff, and
Brandon Jessup, Michigan NAACP Youth & College Division
President.

Michigan State University
CONTACT: Jon Hoadley, (517) 980-5212, hoadleyj@msu.edu
Sponsored by: Multiracial Unity Living Experience (MRULE), Alliance of
LGBT Students, Black Student Alliance, People for the American Way, Asian
Pacific American Student Organization, Women's Council, Mix, and CRU (Latino/a
group).
Event name: Student of Color Blackout Day
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: All day (9am-5pm)
Location: Campus-wide
Event description: Students of color wear black to represent solidarity
between groups that would be impacted, and presence
that would be lost, if the so-called "Michigan Civil
Rights Initiative" were to pass in November 2006.
Tabling & literature distribution at 6 locations on
campus.

Event name: Speakout/Poetry slam
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 8:00-9:30pm
Location: Heritage Cafe, basement of student union, corner of Abbott
& Grand River, East Lansing, MI 48824
Event description: Speakout featuring poetry and performances by MSU
students who support affirmative action.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
CONTACT: Riana Anderson, (313) 585-3495, rianae@umich.edu or Brittany
Marino, (203) 257-9597, barino@umich.edu
Sponsored by: Students Supporting Affirmative Action, Black Student Union,
UM National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Youth & College,
Native American Student Association, United Asian American Organizations,
Students of Color of Rackham, Students Allied for Freedom and Equality,
College Democrats, Women's Issues Commission, American Civil Liberties Union.
Event name: Students Supporting Affirmative Action Diag Day
Date: Wednesday, October 26th
Time: All day (9am-5pm)
Location: UM Diag, near corner of South University and State Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Event description: Information/literature distribution, as well as
distribution of gags for Women & Students of Color Day
of Silence.

Event name: Women/Students of Color Day of Silence
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: All day (9am-5pm)
Location: Campus-wide
Event description: Women and students of color wear gags to demonstrate
the barriers to opportunity and equality faced if the
so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative" were to
pass in November 2006. Allies wear armbands to show
solidarity with those gagging.

Event name: Breaking the Silence Gathering & Rally
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: UM Diag, near corner of South University and State Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Event description: Rally with student speakers to end the Women/Students
of Color Day of Silence.

Event name: National Take Affirmative Action Day Forum
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Location: Angell Hall Auditorium A
Event description: Hilary Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau Director, and
Cheryl Sugerman, Michigan Women's Commission, tell the
truth about affirmative action and the potential
consequences of the so-called "Michigan Civil Rights
Initiative."

Wayne State University
CONTACT: Kristal Harris, (734) 377-7858, naacpwsu@hotmail.com
Sponsored by: WSU National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People Youth & College, Muslim Student Association, Asian Pacific American Law
Students Association, Black Law Students Association.
Event name: Literature distribution
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: All day (9am-5pm)
Location: Student center, near intersection of Anthony Wayne Drive
and Kirby St., Detroit, MI 48202
Event description: Students hand out information about affirmative action
and the so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative."

Event name: Rally
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Gullen Mall, on Warren, between Cass & Anthony Wayne
Drive, Detroit, MI 48202
Event description: Rally with student speakers and Hilary Shelton, NAACP
Washington Bureau Director.

Event name: Michigan ACS Lawyer Chapter Symposium: Achieving a Diverse
Democracy
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 4:00-7:00pm
Location: Partrich Auditorium, Wayne State University Law School,
471 W. Palmer St., Detroit MI 48202
Event description: Panel, reception, and keynote speaker.
Panel begins at 4pm. Panel speakers are Frank Wu,
Dean, Wayne State University Law School, Marvin
Krislov, Vice President and General Counsel,
University of Michigan, and Linda Parker, Director,
Michigan Civil Rights Commission
Keynote speaker begins at 6:00pm. Keynote speaker is
Wade Henderson, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights