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. GOT A NEWS TIP? E-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit Follow The Daily on Instagram, @michigandaily 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