University of Michigan, Students Allied 
for Freedom and Equality (SAFE) and 
Transparency, Accountability, Humanity, 
Reparations, Investment, Resistance 
(TAHRIR) Coalition.”
The statement said that protesters dis-
persed once law enforcement arrived on 
the scene, and no arrests or charges were 
made. 
“The tactics used today represent a 
significant and dangerous escalation in 
the protests that have been occurring on 
campus,” read the statement. “Going to 
an individual’s private residence is intim-
idating behavior and, in this instance, 
illegal trespassing. This kind of conduct 
is not protected speech; it’s dangerous 
and unacceptable.” 

REGENTS’ MEETINGS
The regents’ meeting was first scheduled 
to be conducted in person on the U-M 
Dearborn campus. Due to scheduling 
and logistic conflicts of several board 
members, it was held over Zoom instead.
Hubbard diffused the misinformation 
from protesters that board members 
have refused to meet with student activ-
ists and affirmed that a wide range of 
viewpoints had been considered.
“I want to assure our stakeholders and 
the public that there have been many 
engagements with people representing 
groups on campus looking for meet-
ings and open meetings just like this 
one,” Hubbard said. “We have received 
close to 70,000 emails. All parties have 
had opportunities to meet with various 
stakeholders, staff and the president of 
the university. To say we have not met 
with them is short of what the actual 
truth is. We hope all will continue to 
participate in public meetings and in the 
public comments section so everyone 
can take part in the debate.” 
Hubbard discussed the events that 
transpired on her front lawn the pre-
vious morning. The agitators arrived 
at her property in Meridian Township. 
From a bullhorn that disturbed not only 
Hubbard but her sleeping neighbors, 
they chanted accusations that Hubbard 
was complicit in genocide against 
Gazans by allowing the university to 
maintain its ties and financial holdings 
with Israel and companies doing busi-

ness with Israel. 
According to reports, protesters placed 
“fake corpses wrapped in bloodied 
sheets,” as well as stuffed animals cov-
ered in red paint, on Hubbard’s porch 
and front lawn.
Hubbard said once Meridian 
Township Police arrived, the protesters 
left and that there were no arrests; nor 
did she file a complaint. However, she 
later heard from her neighbors, many of 
whom have small children, that the pro-
test was frightening.
“Protesters used a bullhorn, a drum 
and loud voices to wake my neighbors. 
Their threats struck fear into the chil-
dren of my neighbors. This activity 
does not follow proper protocol. We (as 
regents) have offered many opportunities 
to engage with the public, and coming 
to the private homes of publicly elected 
officials is inappropriate.” 

‘SO-CALLED’ DEMANDS
Finally, Hubbard addressed the 
“so-called” demands from the TAHRIR 
Coalition that were posted on her front 
porch, which included: “full divestment 
from Israeli apartheid and genocide, 
the establishment of a people’s audit of 
the university’s investments, the boycott 

of Israeli academic institutions and the 
abolishment of any police presence on 
campus.” 
Hubbard rejected them all. 
“We will not divest our endowment,” 
Hubbard said. “I want to remind every-
body that the endowment supports 
scholarships for needy students. We 
cannot allow these kinds of political 
impacts to undermine the ability of our 
endowment to provide the best return 
on investment possible for us for our 
academic excellence and mission.” 
In establishing a people’s audit, 
Hubbard reminded the public that 
regents are publicly elected officials 
tasked with such an audit. 
On the demand to boycott Israeli aca-
demic institutions, Hubbard reminded 
the public that the university has aca-
demic relationships with institutions 
worldwide. 
“We will continue to have robust rela-
tionships with academic institutions in 
Israel and everywhere else that we do 
business and have good research rela-
tionships. Finally, I can assure you that 
I will not be voting to defund our police 
to keep a safe campus for our students, 
faculty and staff. This is an absolute 
nonstarter for me and my colleagues.” 

continued on page 18

A photo of Regent 
Hubbard’s yard 
with protesters

MAY 30 • 2024 | 17

