STYMIED
MEN’S BASKETBALL
TEDDY GUTKIN
Daily Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — The Michigan men’s
INDIANAPOLIS — The Michigan men’s
basketball team had aspirations of playing in the
basketball team had aspirations of playing in the
Final Four.
Final Four.
On Tuesday night, it came up just short. In a
On Tuesday night, it came up just short. In a
stunning upset, the Wolverines (23-5) fell to the
stunning upset, the Wolverines (23-5) fell to the
East Region’s 11-seed UCLA (22-9), 51-49. The
East Region’s 11-seed UCLA (22-9), 51-49. The
Bruins’ Johnny Juzang proved to be the night’s
Bruins’ Johnny Juzang proved to be the night’s
star, scoring 27 points en route to winning the
star, scoring 27 points en route to winning the
region’s Most Outstanding Player Award.
region’s Most Outstanding Player Award.
The Wolverines had chances to take the lead
The Wolverines had chances to take the lead
late, but two close misses from freshman center
late, but two close misses from freshman center
Hunter Dickinson and graduate guard Mike Smith
Hunter Dickinson and graduate guard Mike Smith
came up short. Ultimately, Michigan had several
came up short. Ultimately, Michigan had several
chances to clinch a spot in the Final Four, but its
chances to clinch a spot in the Final Four, but its
own errors acted as the ultimate impediment.
own errors acted as the ultimate impediment.
With mere seconds left, sophomore wing Franz
With mere seconds left, sophomore wing Franz
Wagner came up short on a 3-pointer before senior
Wagner came up short on a 3-pointer before senior
guard Eli Brooks failed to score on an offensive
guard Eli Brooks failed to score on an offensive
rebound. After Juzang split a pair of free throws,
rebound. After Juzang split a pair of free throws,
Smith missed on a pullup 3-pointer. Michigan
Smith missed on a pullup 3-pointer. Michigan
retained possession, but a miss from Wagner at the
retained possession, but a miss from Wagner at the
horn clanked off the rim, sealing Michigan’s fate.
horn clanked off the rim, sealing Michigan’s fate.
Turnovers proved to be Michigan’s undoing,
Turnovers proved to be Michigan’s undoing,
committing 14 to UCLA’s eight and routinely
committing 14 to UCLA’s eight and routinely
coughing up the ball on possessions just when it
coughing up the ball on possessions just when it
appeared to finally be gaining momentum.
appeared to finally be gaining momentum.
After halftime, the Bruins started hot. Tyger
After halftime, the Bruins started hot. Tyger
Campbell scored two quick makes before Juzang
Campbell scored two quick makes before Juzang
knocked down three free throws to give the
knocked down three free throws to give the
Bruins a game-high nine point advantage. After
Bruins a game-high nine point advantage. After
Michigan’s 10th turnover of the game, the reality
Michigan’s 10th turnover of the game, the reality
of a season ending defeat began to set in, just shy
of a season ending defeat began to set in, just shy
of the Final Four’s doorstep.
of the Final Four’s doorstep.
Then, Michigan’s offense woke up.
Then, Michigan’s offense woke up.
Dickinson went to work down low for the
Dickinson went to work down low for the
Wolverines, scoring on two straight possessions
Wolverines, scoring on two straight possessions
to help pull Michigan within five. On the ensuing
to help pull Michigan within five. On the ensuing
possessions, Brooks followed with two layups to
possessions, Brooks followed with two layups to
cap an 8-0 run to force Bruins coach Mick Cronin
cap an 8-0 run to force Bruins coach Mick Cronin
to burn a timeout as the previously dormant
to burn a timeout as the previously dormant
Michigan offense was suddenly injected with life.
Michigan offense was suddenly injected with life.
UCLA, though, responded. The Bruins’ Cody
UCLA, though, responded. The Bruins’ Cody
Riley backed Dickinson down and finished inside
Riley backed Dickinson down and finished inside
before Dickinson was called for an illegal screen.
before Dickinson was called for an illegal screen.
Just minutes after it appeared and the Wolverines
Just minutes after it appeared and the Wolverines
were ready to retake the lead, UCLA countered
were ready to retake the lead, UCLA countered
again. The Bruins’ work on the offensive glass
again. The Bruins’ work on the offensive glass
also proved to be a continual backbreaker for the
also proved to be a continual backbreaker for the
Wolverines, grabbing seven.
Wolverines, grabbing seven.
Senior center Austin Davis proved to be the
Senior center Austin Davis proved to be the
Wolverines’ spark off the bench. After Dickinson
Wolverines’ spark off the bench. After Dickinson
picked up his second foul, the senior entered the
picked up his second foul, the senior entered the
game and proceeded to score seven points, finding
game and proceeded to score seven points, finding
good looks down low and playing solid defense
good looks down low and playing solid defense
on the other side of the court as well. In the final
on the other side of the court as well. In the final
game of his collegiate career, Davis provided some
game of his collegiate career, Davis provided some
of his best minutes of the year.
of his best minutes of the year.
Sophomore wing Franz Wagner noticeably
Sophomore wing Franz Wagner noticeably
struggled just with two points — a career-low
struggled just with two points — a career-low
— and struggled to generate good looks inside.
— and struggled to generate good looks inside.
Wagner, who has arguably been the Wolverines’
Wagner, who has arguably been the Wolverines’
best all-around player in this postseason, fought
best all-around player in this postseason, fought
to make a dent in its most important contest of the
to make a dent in its most important contest of the
year.
year.
Off the bench, senior forward Chaundee Brown
Off the bench, senior forward Chaundee Brown
Jr. provided big minutes. In addition to playing
Jr. provided big minutes. In addition to playing
solid defense, Brown knocked down a key triple
solid defense, Brown knocked down a key triple
to knot the score at 46 with five minutes to play.
to knot the score at 46 with five minutes to play.
The Wolverines took the lead off a free throw from
The Wolverines took the lead off a free throw from
Dickinson, but the momentum was short-lived,
Dickinson, but the momentum was short-lived,
with UCLA’s Jules Bernard scoring inside to give
with UCLA’s Jules Bernard scoring inside to give
the Bruins the lead back.
the Bruins the lead back.
Ultimately, the Wolverines’ storybook season
Ultimately, the Wolverines’ storybook season
ended up just short of their lofty goals. And while
ended up just short of their lofty goals. And while
confetti did rain down from the Lucas Oil Stadium
confetti did rain down from the Lucas Oil Stadium
roof, it wasn’t for them.
roof, it wasn’t for them.
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ANN ARBOR, MI | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 | MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Four members of the University of
Michigan’s Board of Regents — half the
Board — called on Regent Ron Weiser
(R) to resign in the days following
his comments at a March 25 North
Oakland Republican Club meeting,
during which Weiser called top
Michigan Democratic lawmakers “the
three witches” and made references to
political assassination.
These comments — likely made in
reference to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer,
Michigan Attorney General Dana
Nessel, Michigan Secretary of State
Jocelyn Benson and two Michigan
Republican Congressmen who voted
to impeach former President Donald
Trump — drew criticism on social
media from various Regents and
student groups like the Graduate
Employees’ Organization. Washtenaw
County prosecutor Eli Savit also
criticized Weiser on Twitter, calling
Weiser’s comments as “misogynistic
and violent.”
While Weiser has been the subject
of criticism from students and faculty
for months due to his initial response
to the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection at
the U.S. Capitol, his role as chairman of
the Michigan Republican Party and the
surfacing of inappropriate emails to the
board, March 26 marked the first time
other regents explicitly called for his
resignation or criticized him directly.
Weiser is one of only two Republican
regents on the board, joined by Regent
Sarah Hubbard (R), who was elected to
the board during the November 2020
general election. Weiser and Hubbard
could not be reached for comment in
time for publication. Regent Katherine
White (D) could also not be reached.
University President Mark Schlissel
issued a statement Saturday afternoon
condemning Weiser’s remarks and
emphasizing the comments do not
represent the Board of Regents.
“Such
words
are
particularly
abhorrent in a climate where so
recently the use of language has
engendered violence and attempted
violence directed at elected officials,
our
democratic
institutions,
and
the individuals who guard them,”
Schlissel’s statement said. “It is never
appropriate to raise the specter
of
assassination
or
perpetuate
misogynistic
stereotypes
against
anyone in any setting. Elected officials
must adhere to a higher standard
regardless of the context of their
remarks.”
The statement also noted regents
are elected in a statewide ballot and
recalling a regent would be handled
by the Michigan Secretary of State’s
office.
In three March 26 tweets, Regent
Jordan Acker (D) called on Weiser
to resign and said his “reckless and
dangerous language” is not a reflection
of the University Board of Regents
and inappropriate following the Jan. 6
violence at the U.S. capitol.
“Comments
about
removal
by
‘assassination’ are a literal attack on
our Democracy, and are incredibly
dangerous in light of the January 6th
insurrection at the Capitol … and the
FBI-thwarted attacks on our Governor,”
the tweet reads. “Furthermore, sexist
language referring to the Governor,
Attorney General, and Secretary of
State as ‘witches’ has no place on our
campus. This language and behavior
is incompatible with service to the
University of Michigan.”
Regent Mark Bernstein (D) told
The Daily in a text message he believes
Weiser should resign, calling the
comments “blatantly sexist.”
Four Regents call
for Ron Weiser’s
resignation from
Board of Regents
Tess Crowley/Daily
Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Michigan falls to UCLA
51-49 in Elite Eight
Design by Jack Silberman
ADMINISTRATION
Acker, Behm, Bernstein, Brown
say MI GOP chair should
step down from position after
violent, misogynistic comments
CALDER LEWIS &
EMMA RUBERG
Daily News Editors
INDEX
Vol. CXXX, No. 27
©2021 The Michigan Daily
N E WS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ARTS............................ 5
MIC...............................7
OPINION.......................9
STATEMENT..................11
SP O RTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
See WEISER, Page 4
The University of Michigan Board
of Regents voted to discontinue
investments in companies engaged in
oil reserves, oil extraction or thermal-
coal extraction at the March 25 Regents
meeting. The board also committed
to a net-zero investment portfolio by
2050 and approved $140 million of
new investments in renewable energy
sources.
The University will no longer
directly invest in companies that are
the largest contributors to greenhouse
gases, which are defined as the top 100
coal and top 100 oil and gas publicly
traded companies in the world, as
compiled by the Carbon Underground
200 list. The University will also
discontinue investments into funds
that have ties to oil reserve depletion or
extraction. This strategy will be paired
with investments into infrastructure
and utilities that support or correlate
with a transition to a carbon-neutral
economy.
The vote was unanimous, though
Regents Katherine White (D) and
Ron Weiser (R) were not present
at the meeting. Weiser, who faced
controversy and calls for his resignation
in January over his initial response
to the Capitol insurrection, has yet to
attend a Regents meeting in 2021.
This vote comes after years of
sustained activism by community
members criticizing the University’s
investments in fossil fuels, and after
repeated pushback by the University’s
administration claiming disinvestment
from fossil fuels would harm the
University’s financial sustainability.
By
making
the
commitment
to
discontinue investments tied to fossil
fuels, the University joins other top
institutions of higher education that
have made similar commitments like
the University of California, Brown
and Columbia.
The board temporarily froze fossil
fuel investments in February 2020 and
studied the issue over the next year
before pursuing the more aggressive
approach announced Thursday.
In its statement, the Climate Action
Movement, the main group that had
pushed for divestment, claimed this as
a “hard-won victory” but criticized the
long-term divestment approach.
“U-M’s partial divestment and
commitment
to
reinvestment
in
renewable energy are crucial steps
toward
toppling
this
malignant
industry, and one driven by almost
a decade of student activism, during
which the administration arrested
and charged peaceful students rather
than meet to address U-M’s inaction
on climate,” the statement read.
“However, the lack of a rapid timeline
for selling its existing fossil fuel
holdings and continued allowance of
investments in so-called natural gas is
utterly unacceptable, at a time when
we must do everything we can to halt
all extraction of fossil fuels.”
CAM also criticized the plan for
continuing
to
allow
endowment
investment into natural gas, a type of
fossil fuel, through private equity funds
and for not addressing the “structural
deficiencies that led U-M to finance
such immoral entities in the first
place.”
“These shortcomings underscore
the critical need for the implementation
of basic, ethical guidelines that ensure
U-M’s investments are not detrimental
to human rights and for oversight of
endowment management through the
establishment of a Standing Committee
for Responsible Investment (SCRI),”
the statement read.
Regents disinvest
from holdings
related to fossil
fuels, oil reserves
ADMINISTRATION
During busy meeting,
Board commits to net-zero
endowment by 2050
CALDER LEWIS,
CHRISTIAN JULIANO
& JARED DOUGALL
Daily News Editor and
Daily Staff Reporters
See DISINVESTMENT, Page 4