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Weiser sought Regents’ support after calls for his resignation: “Remember Germany in the 1930s” Newly-elected GOP Chair sent multiple controversial emails to board over past year CALDER LEWIS Daily News Editor
University of Michigan Regent Ron Weiser (R) has sent emails to his fellow regents during the last year comparing the board’s silence in the face of recent calls for his resignation to “Germany in the 1930’s,” calling graduate student protesters “hired union hacks” and one containing only a picture of a bikini-clad woman. The emails, obtained by The Michigan Daily, were first reported by WDET. Some in the U-M community demanded Weiser’s resignation following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol because they thought he inadequately addressed the incident. Weiser called on the board to support him in a Jan. 17 email to the Board of Regents, U-M President Mark Schlissel and U-M Secretary Sally Churchill. “Their issues are not about anything I have done or said only about being a Republican Leader and not saying exactly what they want me to say (it varies with some of them actually saying I’m antiSemitic),” Weiser wrote. “It might be nice if part or all of my fellow Board Members say something about my service or largess to the University. Silence has historical
consequences. Remember Germany in the 1930’s.” None of the regents have followed through on Weiser’s request to comment publicly on the matter.
When asked by The Daily in a previous interview about the calls for Weiser’s resignation, Schlissel said questions about Weiser’s political associations and activities within the Republican Party are
questions for Weiser, not the University, to answer. He pointed out regents are accountable to the public through statewide popular vote every eight years. “I think that the many faculty
said. “It’ll have to be worked out, but I can say that the University itself, as well as all the regents, unambiguously condemn the violence and those that incited the violence. That’s not a matter of question.” Weiser has sent other questionable emails to the U-M administration. In an April email to the board, Weiser relayed an anecdote from his wife about a Graduate Employees’ Organization car demonstration outside the Weiser residence during bargaining with the University at the time. “I suspect these are hired union hacks,” Weiser’s email reads. “The lead person truly has no idea of U governance, he was sure the U was a for profit business. While he was cleanly dressed it was impossible to imagine him in a classroom. Janitor maybe from the mental content.” Additionally, on May 1, 2020, Weiser sent an email to the regents containing only a selfie of a woman in sunglasses and a bikini top laying on a towel. Design by Ahmad Kady The subject of the email is “BB.” and students in the community The Daily is not publishing the and others that have objections photo as it is unable to verify the are raising those objections, woman’s identity and to protect they’re getting lots of coverage her privacy. in the media, and those fall into the political process,” Schlissel See WEISER, Page 4
RESEARCH
BUSINESS
talks COVID-19 response
Even with Gov. Whitmer’s approval, some businesses hesitant to fully reopen
U-M medical historian who coined the term “flattening the curve”
Dr. Howard Markel discusses impact of quarantine on marginalized communities SIERRA ÉLISE HANSEN Daily News Contributor
Dr. Howard Markel, director of the University of Michigan’s Center for the History of Medicine, has written extensively on American pandemics, as well as on the political uses of quarantine and isolation. The Michigan Daily spoke with Markel over the phone last month to hear more about his work as a doctor and scholar during the COVID-19 pandemic. Markel began by explaining how he co-authored a paper with his colleague Dr. Marty Citron on “flattening the curve” in 2007, which suggested that cases are reduced when social distancing measures are implemented. Citron visualized data into a curve, now considered by many to be a defining public health image of COVID-19. Markel said his work on flattening the curve began in 2005 in the era of the H5N1 avian flu. Citron, who worked as the head of the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, would frequently travel with Markel to give presentations. Usually, their trips took them to Atlanta or to Washington, D.C. “I knew the room service menu at the hotel I stayed in by heart,” Markel recalled. “I always ordered the same thing. I can even tell you: chicken with a mustard sauce and rice.” Markel said he coined the term “flattening the curve” while opening a takeout container of pad thai, which looked like a flat curve. “When I took out the pad
thai, it was all flat like one giant noodle,” he explained. “I said: ‘it’s just like the curve. It’s flat!’ So, that’s where ‘flattening the curve’ came from.” Markel said the implementation of social distancing measures in Mexico during the 2009 influenza epidemic became the pair’s first living “laboratory” for their concept. At the time, Markel said he and Citron noticed that though the influenza epidemic was not as deadly as some feared, the application of social distancing measures had the desired effect they’d predicted: They extended the preparation time allotted to the Mexican government, ensuring its hospitals were able to see a smaller and therefore more manageable influx of patients. Despite the reduction in cases, Markel said he and Citron encountered strong doubt — and outright dismissal — when they presented their work to the public in the early 2010’s. Markel said he experienced contradictory emotions when seeing his life’s work suddenly become so relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We didn’t have a crisis to apply this to until now,” Markel said. “It’s been incredibly exciting for me as a scholar and a professor, and as an observer, I’ve been horrified.” While social distancing is “the nuclear option” because it is so disruptive to how society functions, Markel said it remains necessary for putting an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and, despite disagreements over public health programs and policies, the country needs a centralized program.
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See MARKEL, Page 4
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Restaurants face complications in resuming indoor dining GEORGE WEYKAMP Daily Staff Reporter
On Jan. 22 — six days after the first case of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in Washtenaw County — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced indoor dining could resume at 25% capacity on Feb. 1. Just three days after the announcement, the Washtenaw County Health Department imposed a stay in place recommendation on the University of Michigan. Now that businesses can
finally open, the stay in place recommendation has introduced further complications. This resumption comes after nearly three months of restaurants being restricted to takeout and outdoor dining under Gov. Whitmer’s Nov. 15 “Pause to Save Lives” executive order, which was met with frustration from local business owners. The stay in place recommendation, which is similar in structure to the October 2020 stay at home order, asks students not to leave their residences except for essential activities
such as in-person classes, work or research that cannot be completed remotely, obtaining food or medical care and other approved activities until 11:59 P.M on Feb. 7. Unlike the first order, however, the recommendation didn’t explicitly ban indoor dining. Jerusalem Garden owner Ali Ramlawi, a City Council member for Ward 5, said the stay in place recommendation didn’t impact his business nearly as drastically as the October order, mostly because they have only been open for outdoor or carry out dining since June.
“We’re not seeing a noticeable decrease — maybe a 5-10% drop,” Ramlawi said. “It has been a little slower, but it’s hard to pinpoint when you’re not doing much in sales.” LSA freshman Meredith Dirkman said while she plans to avoid sit-down restaurants and utilize takeout until the stay-athome recommendation expires, she is comfortable with the steps restaurants have taken to keep guests safe and would be willing to eat at one. See RESTAURANTS, Page 4
Class of 2021 to receive virtual commencement ceremony CAMPUS LIFE
‘U’ will not have graduation at the Big House for second year due to the pandemic FRANCESCA DUONG Daily News Editor
The University of Michigan’s class of 2021 spring commencement will be held virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as announced in an email by University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel Thursday morning. The announcement comes after a two-week stay-in-place recommendation for the University by Washtenaw County Health Department, and currently, COVID-19 cases at the University account for more than 34% of the cases in the county. The commencement ceremony is scheduled for May 1 with plans for synchronous content that will be recorded and available for viewing afterwards. According to the email, the University is also working to provide virtual performances, host interactive elements and bring an inspiring main speaker. Schlissel noted the decision
was carefully considered, pointing to the uncertainty around future gathering sizes, travel restrictions, infection rates and vaccination rates as strong factors. He acknowledged the community impact of holding a virtual ceremony in his email. “We very much wish that we could hold a safe commencement in Michigan Stadium, along with the many other celebration activities that are a fundamental part of our community life and traditions,” Schlissel wrote. “Commencement is the most joyous event of the academic year for many in our community, as we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and draw inspiration from the achievements they will share with our world.” The class of 2020 also received a virtual spring and winter commencement ceremony, making this the third ceremony that has been affected by the pandemic. Schlissel stated all graduates affected by the pandemic are welcome to any future
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commencement of their choosing. “They and their families will be our honored guests at these ceremonies, and the graduates will be recognized not just for the completion of their degrees, but also for their resilience and fortitude in persevering during these challenging times,” Schlissel wrote. According to the email, the
University also hopes to invite both classes back in the future for special future in-person celebrations. For future updates about the spring commencement, the email encourages students to visit the commencement website. Daily News Editor Francesca Duong can be reached at fduong@ umich.edu.
ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily Commencement for the Class of 2021 will be held virtually and not in the Big House.
Vol. CXXX, No. 19 ©2021 The Michigan Daily
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