18 | JANUARY 27 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

T

he University of
Michigan Board of
Regents on Jan. 15
announced it unanimously
voted to remove Mark
Schlissel as president due
to an alleged “inappropriate
relationship with a
university employee.”
They said an anonymous
tip came on Dec. 8 alleging
that Schlissel, the second
Jewish president in U-M’s
history, and the sub-ordinate
were having an affair.
“After an investigation, we
learned that Dr. Schlissel,
over a period of years, used
his university email account
to communicate with that
subordinate in a manner
inconsistent with the dignity
and reputation of the
university,” the regents wrote
in a statement.
The board released copies
of the emails and text
messages in question, which
date back to September
2019, as well as its letter
to Schlissel informing
him he was being fired,
in which it outlined some
of the most concerning
comments. Those include
innuendo, Schlissel referring
to the person as “sexy” and
references to emotional

distress that seemingly
stemmed from the
relationship.
Other emails the regents
released included references
to making plans together,
an article about sex that
Schlissel forwarded to the
subordinate and information
about gifts he bought the
person.
“These emails demon-
strate that you were
communicating with the
subordinate through the
University of Michigan
email system using an
inappropriate tone and
inappropriate language,” the
regents’ letter to Schlissel
reads in part. “They also
demonstrate that you were
using official University
of Michigan business as a
means to pursue and carry
out a personal relationship
with the subordinate.
“Your conduct as
summarized above is
particularly egregious
considering your knowledge
of and involvement in
addressing incidents of
harassment by University
of Michigan personnel, and
your declared commitment
to work to ‘free’ the
university community of

sexual harassment and other
inappropriate conduct,” the
letter continues. “… There
can be no question that you
were acutely aware that any
inappropriate conduct or
communication between
you and a subordinate
would cause substantial
harm to the dignity and
reputation of the University
of Michigan.”
Former University of
Michigan President Mary
Sue Coleman has been
appointed interim president.
Schlissel succeeded
Coleman as president
in January 2014. He had
been provost at Brown
University. In a statement,
Coleman said that while
she was “saddened by the
circumstances” under which
she was being called back,
she was “honored” to fill the
role.
Schlissel had a base
salary of $927,000 a year.
He announced last October
that he would step down in
June 2023, a year before his
contract was to expire.
The board expects to find
someone to take over as
president on a permanent
basis as early as this
summer.

Former University of Michigan President
Mary Sue Coleman has been appointed
interim president.

University of
Michigan Removes
Schlissel as
President

JN STAFF

Mark
Schlissel

JN FILE PHOTO

The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch
presents “The Ballerina of
Auschwitz,” an evening with Dr.
Edith Eger on Thursday, Feb. 3,
at 6:30 p.m., a program geared
for men and women at any stage
of life. Participants will hear
from her live (she will be joining
virtually) as they enjoy a light
dinner. A Zoom option is avail-
able as well.
In 1944, 16-year-old Edith
Eger was sent to Auschwitz
where she endured unimag-
inable experiences, including
being ordered to dance for the
infamous Dr. Joseph Mengele.
A thriving Holocaust survivor,
acclaimed clinical psychologist
and expert in trauma recovery,
Eger is an inspiring speaker,
human dignity advocate and
author.
There will also be two oppor-
tunities for follow-up with Book
Club discussions on her incredi-
ble books, The Choice: Embrace the
Possible and The Gift: 12 Lessons to
Save Your Life.
Choose between Sundays
at 10:30 a.m., or Mondays at 7
p.m. Dates run from March 6/7,
through April 3/4.
The event will b held at The
Shul - Jack & Miriam Shenkman
Building, 6890 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield. In-person cost
is $18; Zoom link cost is $10.
To register, go to https://tinyurl.
com/yckkv52f.

The Shul Hosts Dr.
Edith Eger

Dr. Edith
Eger