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Thursday, May 31, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS
U-M responds to
free speech lawsuit
‘U’ argues programs
and policies are
misrepresented
By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM
Summer Daily News Editor
Amid a federal lawsuit filed by the
organization Speech First against
the University of Michigan’s Bias
Response Team, the University has
responded, claiming the lawsuit has
mischaracterized University policies
and programs.
Speech First, a group composed of
students, alumni and citizen free speech
advocates, is suing the University,
claiming the University has violated
the right to free speech given in the U.S.
Constitution.
When asked for comment on the
lawsuit, University spokesman Rick
Fitzgerald referred to a statement
released on behalf of the University in
the University Record.
“In Wednesday’s court filing, the
University argues that the lawsuit has
mischaracterized university policies
and programs and ‘how they have been
applied and has painted a picture of the
university that does not reflect the true
vibrancy of debate and discussion on
campus,’” the statement reads.
The statement goes on to explain
the policies and programs reaffirm free
speech a core principle at the University.
“The University’s Standard Practice
Guide
reaffirms
the
university’s
commitment to free speech,” the
statement reads. “It states, in part, that
‘expression of diverse points of view is
of the highest importance, not only for
those who espouse a cause or position
and then defend it, but also for those
who hear and pass judgment on that
defense. The belief that an opinion is
pernicious, false, or in any other way
detestable cannot be grounds for its
suppression. Freedom of speech is a
bedrock principle at U-M. Commitment
to this principle is reflected in the
history, the policies, and the practices
of the university. Students, faculty and
staff regularly hear and meet a wide
range of speakers who bring diverse
viewpoints and perspectives to the
Ann Arbor campus.’”
Robotic exoskeleton
could enhance
human abilities
By ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan’s
STARX
team,
a
three-
year-old
group
that
builds
strength-augmenting
robotic
suits
—
otherwise
known
as
exoskeletons
—
hosted
the first Applied Collegiate
Exoskeleton competition this
year. Founder Kevin Rabideau,
a 2016 U-M alum, has always
been fascinated by this use of
technology.
“I just think it’s a cool and
exciting thing,” Rabideau said.
“You’re using machines to make
people run faster and lift more
weights and reduce strain. It
feels very science-fictiony and
exciting to have something that
can make you run faster than
other people.”
At ACE, students who share
Rabideau’s
enthusiasm
for
exoskeletons came together to
share their hard work. Along
with the University, teams from
Michigan
State
University,
University of Nebraska Omaha,
Colorado
School
of
Mines
and
Iowa
State
University
participated in the competition.
ACE consisted of a design
review, an endurance test and
an obstacle course based on
tests firefighters must complete.
STARX
President
Declan
Winship, an Engineering senior,
said
strength-augmenting
exoskeletons have a tremendous
number of applications, but
ACE’s focus was on search and
rescue.
“Our specific application on
the team is search and rescue
because a firefighter carries
very heavy equipment and, in
some cases, has to carry a person
out of a burning building,”
Winship said. “We believe that
if we can get search-and-rescue
people to where they need to be,
making them less tired in the
process, they can make better
decisions and be better able
to react if things suddenly get
more dangerous.”
Beyond
increasing
human
strength,
exoskeletons
can
also be rehabilitative, helping
people with paralysis or muscle
weakness
attain
mobility.
Robotics Director Jessy Grizzle,
an
electrical
and
computer
engineering
professor,
said
while
exoskeletons
are
becoming more sophisticated,
they are still limited, making
the students’ efforts at ACE that
much more impressive.
‘U’ hosts robotic
suit competition
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT COELIUS
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The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967)
is published Monday through Friday
during the fall and winter terms
by students at the University of
Michigan. One copy is available free
of charge to all readers. Additional
copies may be picked up at the Daily’s
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Read more at MichiganDaily.com
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