Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat, has publicly endorsed a contentious seminar on "white privilege" held at the University of Notre Dame.
The seminar concluded with a conference that divided students into "race-based caucuses." McMorrow, a Notre Dame alumna, expressed her pride in the university's decision to offer such a seminar, which she believes is a step towards addressing systemic racism.
McMorrow, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2008, penned in 2014 that she was "particularly proud" of the universitys decision to offer "a White Privilege Seminar." According to The Washington Free Beacon, the course, titled "White Privilege Seminar: An Introduction to the Intersections of Privilege," aimed to equip students with the knowledge and tools to "disrupt personal, institutional and worldwide systems of oppression" and lead them to "personal transformation."
The seminar, however, was not without its critics. Some argued that it unfairly demonized white people and was based on a "racist sociological theory." One student criticized the curriculum as "indoctrination" and claimed it was "an opportunity to bias students toward the shaming of one culture and ethnicity."
The seminar required prospective students to submit an application for approval, which included essay questions asking students to define "privilege" and describe the privileges they have and the benefits they have received as a result. The course culminated in a university-funded trip to the 16th annual "White Privilege Conference" in Kentucky, where attendees were divided into three "race-based caucuses."
The conference program stated, "Racial privilege (for White people) and racial oppression (for People of Color and Indigenous people) shape racial identity and cross-race interactions in significant ways. Because of this, it is important to spend time in same-race groups to explore issues of privilege, oppression and identity."
McMorrow, who is still largely unknown outside Michigan, has positioned herself as a middle-ground choice in the Democratic primary between the far-left Abdul El-Sayed and establishment candidate Rep. Haley Stevens. McMorrows endorsement of the class underscores her readiness to embrace far-left ideologies. In her recent book, Hate Wont Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than You Found It, McMorrow defends Democratic efforts to prevent Republicans from removing materials with sexual content and critical race theory-imbued rhetoric from elementary school classrooms.
McMorrow stated, "People who are different are not the reason that our roads are in bad shape after decades of disinvestment or that health care costs are too high or that teachers are leaving the profession. I want every child in this state to feel seen, heard, and supported, not marginalized and targeted because they are not straight, white, and Christian."
The conference also featured panels on various topics, including "White Women: Internalized Sexism and White Superiority"; "Christian Hegemony and the Bible Belt"; "Manipulating White Anger"; "Resisting White America's Islamophobia"; and the "Corrosive Effects of Whiteness in Teacher Education." It also included a discussion with White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo.
The 2026 Michigan Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, with the Democratic nominee likely to face off against Republican primary frontrunner and former congressman Mike Rogers. McMorrow's endorsement of the controversial seminar and her alignment with far-left ideologies may play a significant role in the upcoming election.
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