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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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Read more at MichiganDaily.com

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 
office for $2 per issue. Subscriptions 
for September - April are $250, and 
year-long subscriptions are $275. 
University affiliates are subject 
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Subscriptions must be prepaid. 

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

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