Linda 
Vail, 
Ingham 
County 
health 
officer, 
told 
Bridge 
Magazine 
more cases will likely 
be confirmed as testing 
increases. She said public 
companies 
will 
offer 
testing at doctors’ offices 
in 
addition 
to 
tests 
provided by the state. 
As of Thursday, Ingham 
County had seven tests: 
two negative and five 
pending.
Washtenaw 
County 
was 
the 
first 
to 
temporarily close schools 
and transition to online 
learning in light of the 
illness. 
The 
Michigan 
State 
Senate approved a bill 
authorizing up to $75 
million for coronavirus 
preparation 
and 
response, 
$50 
million 
in federal funding in 
addition to $10 million 
in 
state 
revenue 
for 
monitoring, 
testing, 
tracing, 
control 
and 
maintaining 
necessary 
state 
functions. 
The 
state will also direct $15 
million to a Coronavirus 
Response Fund for future 
use.
The Michigan Capitol 
suspended 
all 
tours 
and events through at 
least May 1. However, 
the Michigan House of 
Representatives plans to 
continue meeting in the 
building and will adjust 
protocols 
to 
increase 
safety 
measures. 
This 
includes allowing non-
essential or older staff 
members to remain at 
home 
and 
suspending 
gatherings. 
The 
Michigan State Senate 
will 
meet 
as 
needed 
beginning next week.
The 
first 
two 
individuals 
were 
diagnosed 
with 
the 
COVID-19 
virus 
in 
Michigan late Tuesday 
evening. 
The 
cases 
include 
an 
Oakland 
County woman with a 
history of international 
travel 
and 
a 
Wayne 
County 
man 
with 
a 
history 
of 
domestic 
travel. 
Michigan 
Medicine 
announced 
Wednesday morning that 
one of the two patients is 
currently an inpatient at 
Michigan Medicine.
The 
University 
of 
Michigan 
canceled 
classes March 12 and 13 
and students will move to 
online classes beginning 
March 16 until the end of 
the semester.
Daily 
News 
Editor 
Barbara Collins can be 
reached at bcolli@umich.
edu. 
Reporter 
Remy 
Farkas can be reached at 
rsfarkas@umich.edu. 

Schools will be open for a 
half-day on Friday.
In 
her 
letter, 
Swift 
wrote the school system 
will monitor the situation 
throughout 
the 
closure. 
She noted AAPS is taking 
action in alignment with 
the 
Washtenaw 
County 
Health 
Department, 
the 
City of Ann Arbor, the 
Washtenaw 
Intermediate 
School 
District, 
other 
area 
Washtenaw 
school 
districts and the Michigan 
Department of Education, 
but it is a preventative, not 
reactive, measure — there 
is no currently known case 
of COVID-19 in the school 
system.
“These 
are 
sobering 
days 
for 
all 
of 
us 
in 
confronting 
the 
COVID-
19 pandemic,” Swift wrote. 
“We understand that this 
situation is likely to impact 
almost every aspect of our 
lives, and we know we must 
work together like never 
before to help each other as 

individuals, neighbors, and 
as a community.”
The return date, April 
6, is the Monday directly 
following AAPS’s originally 
scheduled, 
week-long 
spring break.
Swift 
cited 
the 
need 
to “flatten the curve” in 
making their decision, a 
term Michigan Medicine 
has used to describe the 
importance 
of 
taking 
preventative action within 
communities 
to 
avoid 
having large numbers in 
hospitals.
“During these upcoming 
two 
weeks 
we 
will 
be 
working 
alongside 
our 
excellent 
teachers, 
staff, 
and 
administrators 
to 
ensure 
learning 
opportunities will continue 
in the Ann Arbor Public 
Schools,” 
Swift 
wrote. 
“Like many other things in 
our lives, this will look a 
little different. These plans 
are still developing, and 
though they will not be the 
same as what we enjoy now, 
students in our classrooms 
with our teachers, learning 
will continue in the AAPS.”

She also noted the half-
day will be used for students 
to 
collect 
books 
and 
personal items and connect 
with teachers before the 
extended 
school 
closure 
begins. After-school care 
and certain spring break 
programs have also been 
canceled.
Swift 
said 
they 
will 
continue to provide meals 
for students who rely on 
school meals to eat. Staff 
will also be compensated 
for this extended closure, 
Swift said.
The 
decision 
followed 
Saline 
Area 
Schools 
announcing 
Wednesday 
that 
it 
will 
close 
its 
school 
system 
until 
April 6. According to a 
letter 
published 
online, 
Superintendent 
Scot 
Graden noted students will 
not be required to complete 
coursework remotely
“This is an unprecedented 
emergency school closure 
and a public health situation 
that is rapidly evolving,” 
Graden wrote.
In line with the AAPS 
closure, 
the 
City 
of 

Ann 
Arbor 
announced 
the 
implementation 
of 
additional 
precautions 
beginning tomorrow until 
April 5. 
The Farmers Marker is 
closing on March 14.
The Farmers Marker is 
closing on March 14. Buy 
this photo
File Photo/Daily
An 
email 
sent 
to 
community 
members 
Thursday 
evening 
said 
all city-permitted events 
expecting 
50 
or 
more 
attendees 
are 
canceled, 
and events with fewer than 
50 attendees must address 
proper 
social 
distancing 
procedures. The Ann Arbor 
Farmers Market will close 
on March 14 and all parks 
facilities have closed. 
Hash Bash, an annual 
marijuana-focused 
event 
held in the Diag in April, 
has been postponed. The 
student 
group 
usually 
responsible for organizing 
the event will not be able 
to get a permit, as the 
University of Michigan has 
banned events with more 
than 100 people.

City 
Council 
meetings 
will continue to be held, 
but the city encourages 
the public to watch the live 
stream meetings and use 
comments if they would 
like to comment on items on 
the agenda.
In an interview with The 
Daily, Ann Arbor Mayor 
Christopher Taylor advised 
Ann Arbor citizens and 
University 
of 
Michigan 
students to take precautions 
to slow the spread of the 
COVID-19 virus, such as 
washing their hands and 
practicing social distances.
“I 
want 
Ann 
Arbor 
residents 
and 
students 
to both remain calm and 
vigilant,” Taylor said. “It’s 
important that people take 
this seriously, that they take 
personal responsibility for 
their own personal hygiene 
and hygiene as it applies to 
others.”
Daily News Editor Barbara 
Collins can be reached at 
bcolli@umich.edu. 
Daily 
News Editor Alex Harring 
can be reached at harring@
umich.edu.

“We realize that this may 
be extremely disappointing 
to you, but the University 
is 
committed 
first 
and 
foremost to your health and 
safety, and to ensuring the 
academic quality of your 
studies,” Reuter wrote. “Even 
if your academic institution 
continues to operate, you are 
no longer eligible to continue 
attending class on-site as an 
enrolled student – you must 
return to the United States.”
Reuter acknowledged the 
stress some students may be 
feeling about their academic 
standing after having to 
leave 
their 
classes 
mid-
semester and assured the 
recipients that everything 
would be figured out after 
they had returned safely to 
the U.S. 
“We 
are 
currently 
working to bring home over 
700 students due to the 
suspension of UM study 

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Friday, March 13, 2020 — 3

COVID-19
From Page 1

ABROAD 
From Page 1

CITY
From Page 1

Celebrating 
Our Common Humanity

16 Solo Performances & Lectures
Frederick Glaysher
& Apollo’s Troupe

527 E. Liberty, Suite 208, Upstairs 
$15 General $10 Students Seniors
TICKETS A2TIX.com & at the door

Performances, 7pm, 90 Minutes
(1) Into the Ruins of Modernity
March: 13; 20 28.
(2) The Parliament of Poets
March 14 21, 27. April 3, 4, 10, 18

Lectures, Sundays, 2pm, 1 Hour
March 15, 22, 29. April 5, 12, 19.
The Function of Criticism
The American Journey into Ulro
Poetry in the Nuclear Age
Saul Bellow’s Soul
Dialectic of Chinese Literature
The Coming Victory of 
World Governance

EarthrisePress.Net

Michigan will cease all 
athletic events — including 
offseason 
practices 
and 
spring recruiting — through 
the remainder of the 2019-
20 academic year as part 
of a Big Ten-wide decision. 
The Wolverines will also 
forbid 
coaches 
from 
off-
campus 
recruiting 
and 
hosting recruits on official 
or unofficial campus visits 
during the time period. 
“Today, 
we 
took 
the 

unprecedented and proactive 
decision 
to 
suspend 
intercollegiate activities to 
protect the health and well-
being of our student-athletes, 
staff 
and 
community 
members,” Michigan athletic 
director Warde Manuel said 
in a statement. “This decision, 
reached in collaboration with 
the Big Ten Conference and 
campus leaders, was reached 
after 
thorough 
discussion 
and was necessary given 
the magnitude of this global 
issue.
“The 
hard 
work 
and 
dedication of our student-
athletes, coaches and staff 

is a source of inspiration 
for so many. So, too, will be 
our response as we confront 
the spread of this global 
pandemic. On behalf of our 
entire department, I thank 
the 
Big 
Ten 
Conference, 
presidents 
and 
athletic 
directors, our head coaches 
and 
community 
partners 
who have offered input and 
unwavering support.”
For the Wolverines, the 
cancellation brings an abrupt 
end to a time of year brimming 
with promise. During the 
first few weeks of the spring 
season, Michigan established 
itself as a national contender 

in baseball, softball, tennis 
and gymnastics, among other 
sports.
For 
basketball 
in 
particular, 
cancellations 
snowballed quickly. Shortly 
after the Big Ten cancelled its 
men’s basketball tournament, 
a mass cancellation of other 
conference 
tournaments 
ensued. Among the leaders 
of the movement was Duke 
athletic 
director 
Kevin 
White, who made waves by 
suspending all Blue Devil 
teams 
from 
competition 
indefinitely. As the chair of 
the NCAA Men’s Basketball 
Committee, White’s decision 

was 
the 
writing 
on 
the 
wall 
for 
national-level 
cancellations.
“Some things are bigger 
than basketball,” Wolverines’ 
coach Juwan Howard said 
in a statement. “This is a 
global situation and we need 
to make sure we follow the 
guidance and direction of the 
experts and health officials. 
… We want everyone to stay 
safe and take precautions to 
protect yourselves and loved 
ones.”
Reporter Daniel Dash can 
be 
reached 
at 
dashdan@
umich.edu. 

NCAA
From Page 1

abroad 
programs 
around 
the world,” Reuter wrote. 
“While 
we 
understand 
there are questions about 
credit 
transfer, 
academics, 
and many other important 
issues, our priority at the 
moment is to help support 
our current students abroad 
in their efforts to return 
home as safely and quickly as 
possible.”
LSA junior Sofia Spencer 
is 
studying 
abroad 
in 
England and 
said she will 
be 
heading 
home as soon 
as 
possible 
after 
the 
University 
recalled 
students 
studying 
abroad. 
“I 
am 
angry,” 
Spencer said. 
“I am sad. 
Michigan 
isn’t helping 
me 
come 
home. 
Oxford was 
going to let 
me stay, but 
Michigan 
was 
so 
focused 
on 
image 
that 
they 
are 
forcing me to abandon my 
chances and come back.”
She 
said 
while 
the 
University wasn’t covering 
the cost of last-minute travel 
arrangements, other students 
in her program from Princeton 
University did not have to pay 
the fees themselves.
Engineering 
sophomore 
Mitchell Levi is studying 
abroad in Australia through 
International 
Programs 
in Engineering and is also 
having difficulty with the 
short notice.
“I found out we had to 
leave when Schlissel emailed 
the 
whole 
university 
and 
was very vague,” Levi said. 
“IPE followed up a couple 
hours later and said that it 
did in fact apply to us and 
that they would give us more 
information in the next 24 
hours.”
Levi said IPE told students 
they had 10 days to leave or 
they would be unenrolled for 
the semester. 
“I currently do not have 
a 
flight 
back 
yet,” 
Levi 

said. “My family is actually 
supposed to be coming to visit 
me this weekend and they are 
supposed to be here until the 
29th so they want me to stay 
until then which is longer than 
the 10 days given. I am still 
waiting on more information 
about how this will affect our 
courses that we are halfway 
through at University of New 
South Wales. This has left 
me very disappointed and 

confused why we have to go 
back when the situation is 
better in Australia than it is 
in the States.”
LSA junior Mark Castañeda 
is studying abroad in New 
Zealand. “I feel extremely 
disrespected 
individually 
that the University is refusing 
to take into account the 
differences among individual 
programs 
and 
making 
widespread blanket policies. 
The University is refusing 
to cooperate with me and 
my 
fellow 
students, 
and 
disregarding the autonomy 
of the parent institution with 
which I am studying abroad. 
Furthermore the bureaucracy 
and 
lack 
of 
personalized 
communication is insulting 
and incredibly upsetting. My 
own safety is actually being 
put at stake as well as that 
of my family by sending me 
home without considering the 
risks in the United States as 
compared to the significantly 
safer infrastructure in New 
Zealand.”
On 
Wednesday 
night, 

President 
Donald 
Trump 
announced 
restrictions 
on 
travel from most European 
countries 
for 
non-U.S. 
citizens. Additionally, most 
of 
Europe 
joined 
China, 
Italy and Iran as a Level 3 
destination 
according 
to 
the CDC, banning all non-
essential travel. 
In an email sent to students 
currently studying abroad 
in Europe on March 11 at 

11:30 p.m. EST, Amy Conger, 
University director of Global 
Engagement, urged students 
to make travel plans and 
return to the United States as 
fast as possible. Conger also 
reassured them the travel 
ban does not apply to legal 
U.S. residents. 
“We strongly encourage 
those 
affected 
by 
this 
proclamation 
to 
change 
your travel plans NOW and 
book travel back to the U.S,” 
Conger said. “Before the 
proposed entry restrictions 
take effect on Friday, March 
13 @ midnight.” 
In Germany, another of 
the countries impacted by 
Trump’s travel restrictions, 
LSA junior Ben Solberg said 
he is struggling to make do 
with the few details provided 
to him.
“It’s 
frustrating 
to 
be 
sent 
home 
with 
limited 
information 
about 
how 
credits, payments and arrival 
will work, but I know that 
the steps being taken are an 
attempt to slow the spread of 

disease,” Solberg said.
LSA junior Marisa Garten 
is in Barcelona but was 
taking 
classes 
through 
Cultural 
Experiences 
Abroad, a third-party study 
abroad coordinator. She said 
she found out she would have 
to leave the country, not 
because of the University’s 
requirements, but because 
of the European travel ban 
announced by Trump early 
Thursday morning. 
“My 
roommate 
started 
screaming 
that 
we 
had 
to 
leave,” 
Garten 
said. 
“Basically our friend had 
called her and said that 
the president is currently 
closing the borders from 
Europe in two days and we 
all have to get out, so I ran to 
my computer and my parents 
called me the minute that it 
happened. And I booked my 
flight like 30 seconds after I 
heard.”
Garten 
said 
she 
paid 
around $900 for her flight, 
but some of her friends who 
didn’t act as quickly to book 
tickets out of the country 
paid 
several 
thousand 
dollars for theirs. She said 
the situation has left her sad 
and upset. 
“Mostly 
I 
regret 
not 
traveling more, and I regret 
postponing 
some 
of 
the 
things that I wanted to 
go see because I thought 
I would have more time,” 
Garten said. 
Once she flies back to 
the U.S., Garten said she 
will have to self-quarantine 
at home in New York for 
two weeks because Spain 
is classified as a Level 3 
country by the CDC.
“I’m gonna have to self-
quarantine working myself 
for two weeks back at home 
and everyone, all my friends 
are back on campus, and all 
my friends that I met here 
don’t live anywhere really 
around,” Garten said. “ … I’m 
definitely upset and I regret 
that I didn’t get things done 
fast enough in terms of I didn’t 
go enough places while I was 
here. Also, because of all the 
trips that I had planned, that 
I’m not going to get my money 
back for that … and that is 
very frustrating.”
Managing 
News 
Editor 
Leah Graham can be reached 
at leahgra@umich.edu. Daily 
News Editor Emma Stein can 
be reached at enstein@umich.
edu.

“I feel extremely disrespected individually 
that the University is refusing to take into 
account the differences among individual 
programs and making widespread blanket 
policies. The University is refusing to 
cooperate with me and my fellow students, 
and disregarding the autonomy of the parent 
institution with which I am studying abroad. 
Furthermore the bureaucracy and lack of 
personalized communication is insulting and 
incredibly upsetting.”

