This week, multiple women
have spoken about Former Univer-
sity of Michigan Provost Martin
A. Philbert’s alleged sexual mis-
conduct for the first time since the
investigation began. University
alum Emily Renda spoke to Mich-
igan Radio about her interactions
with Philbert dating back to 2012.
Renda, who worked as a global
health and student life coordin-
ator at the School of Public Health
where she was previously a stu-
dent, is one of the first of alumni to
publicly accuse Philbert of sexual
misconduct.
Additionally, one of Philbert’s
former lab employees alleged-
ly told Anthony Walesby, former
senior Director of the Office of
Institutional Equity and Title IX
coordinator, that Philbert sexually
harassed her.
Philbert, also the executive vice
president of academic affairs, was
placed on administrative leave on
Jan. 21 following a string of alleg-
ations of sexual misconduct. In
addition, after being removed from
his role as provost in March, Phil-
bert retired from his position at the
University on June 17.
University
spokesman
Rick
Fitzgerald told The Daily in an
email that the University con-
demns sexual misconduct and
wants to promote a safe commun-
ity, but noted they are not able to
comment on specific allegations
due to the ongoing investigation.
“At the University of Mich-
igan, we condemn all forms of
sexual misconduct,” Fitzgerald
wrote. “Whether it takes place
now or took place in the past, it is
unacceptable. All members of our
community deserve to feel safe
and supported. The university has
taken extensive measures to com-
bat sexual misconduct...Because
of the independent WilmerHale
investigation, we are not able to
offer a specific response to the
allegations you outline in your
email.”
In 2012, Renda said she was
being stalked by her ex-boyfriend
and Philbert began offering her
rides home from the office, accord-
ing to Michigan Radio. The car
rides turned into a six-month
physical relationship with Phil-
bert, which ended in 2014, Renda
alleged. After Philbert ended the
relationship,
however,
Renda
said he continued to make sexual
advances.
“(One day) he came into my
office and hugged me for a very
long time, and then started to put
his hands down my pants,” Renda
said. “And I was like, ‘whoa, whoa,
what are you doing? I thought you
said that this was over. We’re not
doing this anymore.’”
Renda decided to leave the Uni-
versity after changes with their
professional relationship, includ-
ing reassigning a large project
from Renda to another staffer.
Renda said she started experien-
cing panic attacks as a result of this
shift in Philbert’s behavior.
“I left (the University) in com-
plete shame,” Renda said. “I felt
like a complete professional and
moral failure. I felt like I had
engaged in an affair with a mar-
ried man, who was also my boss,
and that I ruined my career and
that that was my fault for making
such a poor choice.”
Renda told The Daily in an email
she decided to come forward with
her allegations now because she
feels it is important for the Univer-
sity community to know the details
of Philbert’s alleged misconduct.
“I feared that the University
would decide to not provide any
details about the kinds of pred-
atory behavior he was engaging
in for over two decades,” Renda
said. “The investigation has been
ongoing for over six months
without any substantive updates
provided to the University com-
munity. The survivors and the
broader University community
deserve transparency from the
University about what happened,
how it was able to happen, and the
steps they plan to take to ensure
such gross abuses of power are not
able to persist within the Univer-
sity’s ranks.”
2
Thursday, July 16, 2020
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS
Three women speak
out against Philbert
The recent tuition increase passed
by the Board of Regents as part of the
fiscal year 2020-21 budget for the
University of Michigan has thrust the
University’s $12 billion endowment
into the spotlight. Students, Regents
and parents alike have pointed to
the money as a possible way to avoid
increasing tuition on families that are
struggling as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic.
Put simply, the endowment is
the pool of the assets given to the
University by its donors — but the
way these funds are used is anything
but simple. Endowments are better
understood not as a piggy banks,
but as an actual bank in terms of
the limits on appropriations of its
seemingly ample funds and the way it
generates income.
As of October 2019, 11,700 different
funds made up the University
Endowment Fund, and each of
these individual funds represents
the money given to the University.
Among the first funds added to
the endowment were the proceeds
from the sale of land ceded to the
University in the Treaty of Fort Meigs
by three Native American tribes.
Over time, through contributions and
investment revenues, the Endowment
Fund has grown to $12.7 billion as of
June 30, 2019.
However, not all of those funds can
be spent at will. In the 2019 fiscal year
financial statements, the University
listed $4.47 billion in restricted
endowed funds, with $2.38 billion in
“funds-functioning-as-endowment,”
a designation which holds the initial
investment inviolate (meaning it can’t
be spent in any way). These restricted
funds are further split into expendable
and non-expendable funds. The latter
references the initial investment
for endowed funds and the former
represents both FFE and the growth
of permanent endowments.
Outside of the restricted funds,
the
endowment
also
includes
unrestricted reserves. These are
funds that can be spent at the Regents’
discretion. The Regents have elected
to distribute 4.5 percent of the
endowment each year. The University
explains this decision in an FAQ from
the Office of Public Affairs.
“The 4.5 percent distribution rate
helps to insulate the endowment from
anticipated market volatility that
includes lower investment returns
and higher inflation,” the FAQ says.
“It also ensures continued, steady
support of university operations
during uncertain economic times
- including funding for student
scholarships, faculty salaries and
academic programs. The distribution
from the endowment has steadily
increased each year since 2003.”
Most schools generally spend
between 4 and 5 percent of their
respective endowment every year,
according to Connor Murnane, a
spokesman for the American Council
for Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).
At the University, this strategy of
spending a little and investing the rest
has led to handsome returns. Since
2010, the fund has doubled in size and
since 2000, nearly $5 billion has been
distributed from the endowment.
University’s $12B
in funds explained
Read more at michigandaily.com
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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 office for $2 per
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After tuition increase,
the endowment has
come under question
More sexual misconduct
allegations raised about
former Provost
ENDOWMENT FAST FACTS
THE
ENDOWMENT
CONSISTS OF
THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUAL
ENDOWED
FUNDS.
ABOUT $7BN OF
THE
UNIVERSITY'S
ASSETS ARE
RESTRICTED BY
DONORS OR BY
LAW.
ENDOWED FUNDS
FINANCE
SCHOLARSHIPS,
BUILDINGS, AND
SOME
OPERATIONS.
THE UNIVERSITY
CAN SPEND 4.5%
OF THE FAIR
MARKET VALUE OF
THE ENDOWMENT
AS PART OF ITS
BUDGET EVERY
YEAR.