Typically,
the
Office
of
Institutional
Equity
handles
cases of sexual misconduct, but
this office reports to Philbert
and the Office of the Provost.
In the email sent Wednesday
afternoon, Schlissel said the
reporting line for all matters
related
to
investigations
surrounding Philbert will be
directed to Richard S. Holcomb,
associate
vice
president
for
human resources. It is unclear
what will happen to pending OIE
investigations.
“The U-M Board of Regents
and I are committed to a full
and
thorough
investigation,
and we will continue to work
to ensure the integrity of the
process, following the same
policy and practices that apply to
all employees at U-M. It remains
early in the investigation, and
no findings or conclusions have
been reached,” Schlissel wrote.
OIE began directly reporting to
Philbert instead of the University
Human Resources and the Office
of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
in September 2019 to streamline
OIE processes. Since then, he
has faced questions about the
length and effectiveness of the
investigative process.
At a November 2018 meeting
of Senate Advisory Committee
on University Affairs, Philbert
responded to criticism of OIE
investigations,
defending
the
process by which the office
handled misconduct cases.
“I’ve heard concerns about the
length of time it takes to complete
some
OIE
investigations,”
Philbert said. “We’re always
working to ensure that those
investigations are fair, thorough
and timely.”
During Philbert’s time as
provost, the University Board
of Regents approved mandatory
sexual
misconduct
training
for all faculty and staff. At
the September 2018 meeting,
Philbert
applauded
these
initiatives
and
encouraged
education as the best means to
prevent future misconduct.
“The University’s mission of
education, research and service
requires that every member of
our community feels welcomed,
valued and able to work free from
the threat of sexual misconduct,”
Philbert said. “Sexual misconduct
is
a
very
serious
matter,
something that we seek to prevent
and that we are committed to
addressing
immediately
and
effectively should it occur. Our
work to prevent and address
such misconduct begins with
education.”
In
the
fall
semester,
Philbert was also involved in
organizing a faculty group to
look into amending the bylaws
on
dismissal
and
severance
pay of tenured faculty. These
groups were formed following
controversy around the ongoing
process of firing Daniels. Since
being placed on paid leave in
August 2018, Daniels has made
over $100,000 in salary from the
University.
At an October 2019 SACUA
meeting, Philbert said amending
the bylaws was necessary to
react more promptly to faculty
wrongdoing.
“We have to be very careful
and thoughtful, and quickly
amend the bylaws to protect
tenure and to protect our faculty
and to protect society from the
bad behavior that is frequently in
the headlines,” Philbert said.
At a 2017 reception held
in
honor
of
his
provost
appointment,
Philbert
said
his goal in the position was to
encourage national investment
in academia. He was also a
supporter of the campaign to
add a Middle Eastern/North
African ethnicity designation to
University documents.
The impact of their continued
use since the 1940s means that
over time, PFAS levels from
past and current uses can
result in increasing levels of
environmental contamination.
The lawsuit filed by the
attorney general argues the
defendants knew or should
have
known
that
PFAS
persists in the environment
and would build up in animals
and humans exposed to the
chemical.
Additionally,
the
lawsuit also notes that the
Environmental
Protection
Agency concluded there is an
association between exposure
to PFAS and a variety of
health complications including
thyroid disorders, pregnancy-
induced
hypertension
and
preeclampsia,
as
well
as
testicular and kidney cancer.
The
state
names
17
defendants
in
the
lawsuit
and alleges they deliberately
concealed
the
dangers
of
PFAS,
withheld
scientific
evidence and “intentionally”
sold,
distributed,
released,
transported,
supplied
and
arranged
for
disposal
or
treatment into areas affecting
Michigan’s natural resources
and
property.
Additionally,
it
asserts
the
companies
handled and used PFAS and
PFAS-containing materials in
Michigan in a way they knew
would
contaminate
natural
resources and expose Michigan
residents to harm.
Three of these companies
named in the lawsuit — 3M,
DuPont
and
Chemours
—
have been involved in several
other lawsuits since 2016. In
February 2017, DuPont and its
spin-off, Chemours, settled a
lawsuit with more than 3,500
residents in Ohio and West
Virginia. While denying any
wrongdoing, they agreed to pay
$671 million for polluting an
area around a manufacturing
plant in Parkersburg, West
Virginia.
Ann Arbor is now one of
the 11,000 sites in Michigan
where the drinking water has
been contaminated with PFAS
chemicals. The city of Ann
Arbor began tracking the PFAS
content in the city’s drinking
water in March 2018 and found
five types of PFAS in Ann
Arbor’s treated drinking water
and two other types in the river
water.
Following
new
carbon
filters at the water treatment
plant, PFAS levels lowered to
single-digits in the spring of
2019. However, in October of
2019, PFAS levels increased by
more than tenfold, jumping to
25-29 ppt. The city stated that
causes for this increase are still
unknown.
A statement released by U.S.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich.
applauds Governor Gretchen
Whitmer and Attorney General
Nessel for holding polluters
accountable, as Dingell claims
Michigan was ground zero for
PFAS contamination.
“The most troubling thing
I have learned through all of
this is that the manufacturing
companies knew about the
harms of PFAS — and even
tracked it in the blood of
employees — while the EPA
has completely abandoned its
responsibility to act swiftly and
comprehensively to respond,”
Dingell said. “This is wrong and
they must be held accountable.”
Dingell is also the lead
author of the PFAS Action Act,
a bipartisan bill cosponsored by
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee,
D-Mich. The bill would provide
protections
for
impacted
communities
by
requiring
the
EPA
to
limit
human
exposure and set a drinking
water standard for PFAS that
protects public health. The
bill was passed in the House of
Representatives on Jan. 10 with
bipartisan support.
In
Upton’s
district,
the
city of Parchment was one
of the first cities of PFAS
contamination. As one of the
original
cosponsors,
Upton
released a statement detailing
the importance of protecting
Americans
from
PFAS
contamination.
“This
legislation
would
designate PFAS chemicals as
hazardous
substances
and
allows the EPA to clean up
contaminated sites in Michigan
and across the country,” Upton
said.
“Parchment
made
it
perfectly clear that we need an
all-hands-on deck to protect
our families, drinking water,
and environment, and I will
continue to work with my
colleagues on both sides of the
aisle to address this challenge
across the nation.”
Public Policy senior Claire
Galligan
previously
worked
in Kildee’s office and spoke
about her frustration with the
continued PFAS contamination.
She said she was happy to hear
about the bipartisan legislation.
“It’s extremely disappointing
to hear that water companies
have knowingly contaminated
Michigan’s water with PFAS,”
Galligan said. “I think there’s
definitely a strong need for
legislation to protect Michigan’s
water from contamination, and
hopefully it will receive strong
bipartisan support considering
this impacts so many districts
in Michigan.”
Blood co-founded GIM with
Al Gore, a climate activist and
former U.S. Vice President, in
2004. He said his interests in
sustainability and development
and
Gore’s
passion
for
environmental
protection
resulted
in
the
successful
business model they currently
use.
“My interest is in poverty and
social justice and sustainable
development,” Blood said. “Al’s
is obviously an interest in the
environment. And when we
were talking that first day, we
recognized that they are the
same issue. They’re the same
coin,
they’re
just
different
sides.”
Following Blood’s comments,
three other panelists joined
him on the stage. Chad Spitler,
founder and CEO of Third
Economy, moderated the panel
and posed various questions to
each of the speakers.
In response to a question
about efforts to combat climate
change,
Michael
Dorsey,
partner at Ibersun Solar and
a member of Club of Rome,
said many countries initially
promised
to
provide
large
amounts of money but have not
fulfilled that promise.
“So if you had $5,000 of
housing damage and I came
along and gave you $1, you
might want to get in my face,”
Dorsey explained. “Essentially,
that’s what governments have
done, particularly in the case
of Africa, so it’s not just that
we haven’t assembled enough
money. The money that we’ve
assembled is actually, I would
offer, is generating climate
injustice.”
Jennifer
Haverkamp,
director of the University’s
Graham
Institute
and
law
professor, said she believed the
government should still have
an important role in generating
and
implementing
climate
change solutions.
“I
think
there
is
still
an
important
role
for
government,” Haverkamp said.
“The United States government
right now is not at the table, but
when you think about how the
prices of renewables have gone
down a certain amount, China
was doing that to help lower
the cost of solar panels and
things like that.”
Blood
agreed
with
Haverkamp, saying he thought
the
government
needed
to
be involved in the process
in addition to other outside
organizations.
“As much as I’d like to say we
can sort this out from capital
markets
and
business,
we
cannot,” Blood said. “Business
will be part of the solution, civil
society will need to be part of
the solution, and we are now
getting to the point where we
will need active involvement in
government.”
At the end of the event,
the panelists took audience
questions submitted through
Twitter.
One Twitter user asked how
society can transition to a low
carbon economy if Business
students are not required to
learn about the climate in many
core classes.
Following
loud
applause,
a
faculty
member
in
the
audience said the Business
deans are currently working on
implementing a related change.
Business
sophomore
Mia
Zapata
came
to
the
event because she is taking
an
organization
studies
class
about
business
and
sustainability. She said she
thought
Business
students
should be required to take
a class about this topic or
attend mandatory events.
Muhammad explained how
health statistics in the Jim
Crow
era
contributed
to
the discrimination of Black
people.
“A
number
of
social
scientists
suggested
that
by looking at demographic
data, particularly the census
report on health statistics, one
could make general claims on
the fitness of certain racial
groups,”
Muhammad
said.
“The late 19th century was
steeped
in
various
forms
of scientific racism that we
cannot dismiss today.”
Muhammad
said
census
data
was
manipulated
by
the government in order to
undermine
the
educational
opportunities
of
Blacks
individuals. The incarceration
of Black people, especially
men, became both a symptom
and a justification for the
further
suppression
of
freedom, contributing to a
cycle of discrimination.
“Evidence
of
Black
criminality became an excuse
for Black terror,” Muhammad
said.
Muhammad also described
how
other
marginalized
groups, such as Italian and
Irish
immigrants,
were
subjected to some statistical
scrutiny
but
much
less
persecution. He said Anglo-
Saxon immigrant communities
were given social support in
order to combat poverty and
enjoyed lower crime rates.
On
the
other
hand,
Muhammad
said
Black
communities were met with
increased policing.
“There was an economic
argument
for
prioritizing
social resources for European
immigrants and crime control
resources for people of African
descent,” Muhammad said.
LSA
freshman
Chloe
Darancou told The Daily her
overarching takeaway from
the lecture was about the need
for change.
“Although there has been
progress in recent years, we
still have a long way to go
with police brutality being a
common phenomenon in our
society,” Darancou said.
LSA
sophomore
Maddie
Herman
said
the
lecture
made her think more deeply
about common perceptions of
justice.
“We are ignoring the trends
that are clearly right in front
of us due to ignorance and a
lack of information,” Herman
said. “We need to become
more aware in order to change
the mantras that we are telling
ourselves.”
“The U-M Board of Regents
and I are committed to a full and
thorough investigation, and we
will continue to work to ensure the
integrity of the process, following
the same policy and practices that
apply to all employees at U-M,”
Schlissel
wrote.
“It
remains
early in the investigation, and no
findings or conclusions have been
reached.”
Following
the
email,
Rep.
Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., wrote
in a tweet that the University is
quickly stepping up to investigate
allegations against Philbert.
“Everyone deserves due process
and a thorough investigation,”
Dingell wrote. “It is still difficult
for survivors to come forward
in situations like these, and we
need recognize their bravery and
courage.”
University Regent Jordan Acker
(D) also wrote in a tweet that he
believes the investigation into the
allegations must be transparent.
“Today is a sad day for the
University,” Acker wrote. “I am
angry and deeply empathetic to
the survivors, and am committed
to ensure that it never occurs on
our campus again.”
Philbert
was
approved
as
provost in June 2017 and assumed
the position in September 2017.
Previously, he served as dean of the
School of Public Health.
In
October
2019,
Philbert
met with the Senate Advisory
Committee on University Affairs
to recommend amendments to
policies on the dismissal of tenured
faculty following the firing of
Music, Theater & Dance professor
David Daniels for allegations of
sexual misconduct.
“We have to be very careful and
thoughtful, and quickly amend the
bylaws to protect tenure and to
protect our faculty and to protect
society from the bad behavior that
is frequently in the headlines,”
Philbert said at the meeting.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Thursday, January 23, 2020 — 3
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PHILBERT
From Page 1
LEAVE
From Page 1
PFAS
From Page 1
HARVARD
From Page 1
Mary
Kamidoi,
former
Mary
Kamidoi,
former
treasurer
of
the
Japanese
treasurer
of
the
Japanese
American
Citizens
League
American
Citizens
League
Detroit chapter, spoke in Haven
Detroit chapter, spoke in Haven
Hall Wednesday morning in
Hall Wednesday morning in
association
with
American
association
with
American
Culture 301: “A/PIA in the Civil
Culture 301: “A/PIA in the Civil
Rights Movement.”
Rights Movement.”
During the event, Kamidoi
During the event, Kamidoi
recalled
her
childhood,
recalled
her
childhood,
memories of life in internment
memories of life in internment
camps and the anti-Japanese
camps and the anti-Japanese
and anti-Asian discrimination
and anti-Asian discrimination
she endured upon her arrival in
she endured upon her arrival in
Michigan.
Michigan.
Kamidoi
was
born
in
Kamidoi
was
born
in
Stockton, California into a
Stockton, California into a
family of farmers. She said
family of farmers. She said
her memory of her childhood
her memory of her childhood
started with the Pearl Harbor
started with the Pearl Harbor
bombing and the panic that
bombing and the panic that
spread within her community
spread within her community
after the event, alongside news
after the event, alongside news
about internment camps.
about internment camps.
“When we got the news
“When we got the news
that Japan had bombed Pearl
that Japan had bombed Pearl
Harbor, my parents had no idea
Harbor, my parents had no idea
what was going to happen to
what was going to happen to
them,” Kamidoi said. “The first
them,” Kamidoi said. “The first
thing they were worried about
thing they were worried about
is, ‘What is going to happen to
is, ‘What is going to happen to
my children?’ By April we were
my children?’ By April we were
told we are going to be put in a
told we are going to be put in a
camp.”
camp.”
Kamidoi and her family were
Kamidoi and her family were
first put in horse stables, where
first put in horse stables, where
she said the living conditions
she said the living conditions
were unbearable and caused
were unbearable and caused
widespread illness.
widespread illness.
“It is hard to believe the
“It is hard to believe the
description of the conditions of
description of the conditions of
a horse stable, harder to believe
a horse stable, harder to believe
they let people live in it,”
they let people live in it,”
Kamidoi said. “So many people
Kamidoi said. “So many people
were getting ill, simply because
were getting ill, simply because
of the smell of the horse stables
of the smell of the horse stables
and the filth we had to live
and the filth we had to live
with, that they decided to build
with, that they decided to build
permanent camps.”
permanent camps.”
After the U.S. government
After the U.S. government
finished building permanent
finished building permanent
internment campsites, Kamidoi
internment campsites, Kamidoi
and her family were relocated
and her family were relocated
to an isolated site in Rowher,
to an isolated site in Rowher,
Arkansas.
Arkansas.
“Our camp is just barracks,”
“Our camp is just barracks,”
Kamidoi
said.
“And
these
Kamidoi
said.
“And
these
camps are built in the most
camps are built in the most
desolate places possible, there
desolate places possible, there
was no way that we can leave
was no way that we can leave
the camp on foot, we couldn’t
the camp on foot, we couldn’t
have gotten anywhere.”
have gotten anywhere.”
Kamidoi said in addition to
Kamidoi said in addition to
the poor living conditions, the
the poor living conditions, the
distrust and dehumanization
distrust and dehumanization
within the camp made things
within the camp made things
worse.
worse.
“You always have a number,
“You always have a number,
not a name, nobody cared about
not a name, nobody cared about
your name,” Kamidoi said.
your name,” Kamidoi said.
“And the first thing all the
“And the first thing all the
parents told the kids is that you
parents told the kids is that you
don’t know your neighbors, you
don’t know your neighbors, you
don’t know who’s living next
don’t know who’s living next
to you, so don’t go run to them
to you, so don’t go run to them
and don’t tell them anything
and don’t tell them anything
personal.”
personal.”
LSA
sophomore
Brian
LSA
sophomore
Brian
Tran, who is currently taking
Tran, who is currently taking
AMCULT 301, found Kamidoi’s
AMCULT 301, found Kamidoi’s
description
of
the
living
description
of
the
living
conditions in the internment
conditions in the internment
camp shocking yet familiar.
camp shocking yet familiar.
“The housing situation in the
“The housing situation in the
horse stables kind of reminded
horse stables kind of reminded
me of more situations that are
me of more situations that are
happening today,” Tran said.
happening today,” Tran said.
“Especially on the southern
“Especially on the southern
border with the immigration
border with the immigration
crisis.”
crisis.”
Despite
the
hardships,
Despite
the
hardships,
Kamidoi said she still considers
Kamidoi said she still considers
herself lucky since anyone who
herself lucky since anyone who
showed disfavor or disapproval
showed disfavor or disapproval
of the government would have
of the government would have
their entire family sent back
their entire family sent back
to Japan, regardless of their
to Japan, regardless of their
citizenship.
citizenship.
“There was a questionnaire
“There was a questionnaire
we had to fill out,” Kamidoi
we had to fill out,” Kamidoi
said. “And there were two
said. “And there were two
questions, 25 and 26, if you
questions, 25 and 26, if you
didn’t answer those in favor of
didn’t answer those in favor of
the government, you are put on
the government, you are put on
a boat and you are sent back to
a boat and you are sent back to
Japan, whether you were born
Japan, whether you were born
there or not.”
there or not.”
Ron
Aramaki,
adjunct
Ron
Aramaki,
adjunct
professor of American Culture,
professor of American Culture,
told The Daily that internment
told The Daily that internment
camps invalidated the identity
camps invalidated the identity
and national pride of Japanese
and national pride of Japanese
Americans solely on the basis of
Americans solely on the basis of
their nationality.
their nationality.
“We have the assumptions
“We have the assumptions
that whoever we are, we are
that whoever we are, we are
Americans,”
Aramaki
said.
Americans,”
Aramaki
said.
“Regardless of what we look
“Regardless of what we look
like, skin color, race or religion.
like, skin color, race or religion.
But in World War II that didn’t
But in World War II that didn’t
matter at all. In other words,
matter at all. In other words,
the Supreme Court decided
the Supreme Court decided
that even though when you
that even though when you
are an American, it was your
are an American, it was your
nationality, your race that made
nationality, your race that made
the difference, that determined
the difference, that determined
that you will be the enemy.”
that you will be the enemy.”
Roland Hwang, lecturer in
Roland Hwang, lecturer in
the department of American
the department of American
Culture
who
is
currently
Culture
who
is
currently
teaching AMCULT 301, told
teaching AMCULT 301, told
The Daily he believes this
The Daily he believes this
practice of antagonizing and
practice of antagonizing and
vilifying certain groups has
vilifying certain groups has
been a long-existing part of
been a long-existing part of
American society. He said it has
American society. He said it has
become especially prominent
become especially prominent
in light of today’s immigration
in light of today’s immigration
crisis and the growing fear of
crisis and the growing fear of
terrorism, extremism and hate
terrorism, extremism and hate
crimes.
crimes.
“We hope from this lecture
“We hope from this lecture
people
can
draw
some
people
can
draw
some
analogies to today about who’s
analogies to today about who’s
being called the enemy race or
being called the enemy race or
religion, to see how people are
religion, to see how people are
being mistreated today and put
being mistreated today and put
into camps,” Hwang said.
into camps,” Hwang said.
Tran
said
contemporary
Tran
said
contemporary
America seems to be repeating
America seems to be repeating
the ugly part of its own history,
the ugly part of its own history,
which is a dangerous trend that
which is a dangerous trend that
needs to be addressed.
needs to be addressed.
“History is kind of repeating
“History is kind of repeating
itself,” Tran said. “And we
itself,” Tran said. “And we
learned in class that Japanese
learned in class that Japanese
Americans are the first ones
Americans are the first ones
to stand up against that trend
to stand up against that trend
because they have already been
because they have already been
through that.”
through that.”
After WWII, Kamidoi and
After WWII, Kamidoi and
her family moved out of the
her family moved out of the
internment camp to a farm
internment camp to a farm
on Missouri, where she said
on Missouri, where she said
she faced discrimination and
she faced discrimination and
suspicion. She recalled a time
suspicion. She recalled a time
she was on a school bus and
she was on a school bus and
was targeted by members of her
was targeted by members of her
class about her race.
class about her race.
“One day they had white
“One day they had white
paper planes with red dots
paper planes with red dots
drawn on them, and they threw
drawn on them, and they threw
them at us,” Kamidoi said. “I
them at us,” Kamidoi said. “I
was mad and I was thinking,
was mad and I was thinking,
‘What are you guys doing?’ And
‘What are you guys doing?’ And
I looked at the bus driver and
I looked at the bus driver and
I thought, ‘Why didn’t you do
I thought, ‘Why didn’t you do
something?’”
something?’”
Mary Kamidoi reflects on time
in WWII internment camp
Lecture touched on wartime experiences of Japanese Americans,
importance of preserving Asian/Pacific Islander American history
JIALIN ZHANG
Daily Staff Reporter
ROSS
From Page 1
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