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

