About
600
University
of
Michigan students, faculty and
community members gathered
in the Rackham Auditorium
Wednesday evening to hear
from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
and CNN news anchor Chris
Wallace about the intersection
of politics and media. The event
was hosted by Wallace House
Center for Journalists, Ford
School of Public Policy and
U-M Democracy & Debate as
part of the ongoing
Democracy
in Crisis series which hosts
conversations with journalists
and public servants to discuss
the role of the press in protecting
democracy.
University President Santa
Ono
opened
the
event
by
emphasizing
the
importance
of civil discourse on political
issues, specifically highlighting
the role of the media in this
realm.
“In
today’s
stifling
atmosphere of political tribalism
and partisanship, it is so much
more essential that we make
every effort to safeguard our
democracy through education,
civic engagement and well-
informed debate,” Ono said.
“And
journalism,
especially
tough, fair-minded journalists
such as Chris Wallace, have
essential roles in this continuous
work of informing, challenging
and revealing.”
Wallace
began
the
conversation by asking Whitmer
how she plans to reduce gun
violence and ensure students feel
safe at Michigan state schools
and colleges, especially in the
wake of the mass shooting at
Michigan State University that
left three students dead and five
in critical condition. Whitmer
said various gun reform bills
making their way through the
state legislature right now are
critical first steps in preventing
future mass shootings, but are
not the entire solution.
“It is maddening that in this
country — only in the U.S. —
the number one killer of young
people is guns,” Whitmer said.
Hundreds of students, faculty
and community members at the
University of Michigan gathered
in the Hill Auditorium Tuesday
afternoon to officially inaugurate
and install University President
Santa Ono into office. Delegates
and representatives from nearly 50
other universities also attended the
ceremony.
University
Provost
Laurie
McCauley opened the ceremony,
welcoming Ono and commending
him for his work thus far at the
University. McCauley also described
Ono’s ability to match the present
needs of the University.
“During every major chapter
in history … our presidents have
been responsible for asking the
fundamental question: how can the
University of Michigan contribute
to the public good in this moment?”
McCauley said. “Today I’m so proud
to say, without a doubt, that we have
found someone worthy to ask and
answer that fundamental question.”
Victor J. Dzau, president of the
United States National Academy
of Medicine, spoke after McCauley
and mentioned that Ono is the first
Asian-American president in the
University’s history, going on to
describe Ono’s ability to connect with
a community.
“(Ono) is driven by his mission
and values, which allowed him
to persevere through challenges
and provide steady compassionate
guidance through difficult times,”
Dzau said.
Allen Liu, associate professor of
mechanical engineering and chair of
the Senate Advisory Committee on
University Affairs, welcomed Ono
on behalf of the University faculty
and expressed his hopes for a fruitful
partnership between the faculty and
Ono.
“I’m confident that under Ono’s
leadership we will grow and prosper
as an institution,” Liu said. “On behalf
of the faculty, I will once again give
my warmest welcome to Ono, and we
look forward to having a positive and
collaborative relationship with Ono
for many years to come.”
Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist
welcomed Ono on behalf of the state
of Michigan and spoke about the
University — his alma mater — and its
value as a place of empowerment for
its students.
“The University of Michigan
is nothing if not a place where
people come to respond to cynicism
with sincerity and despair with
determination,”
Gilchrist
said.
“That embodies who we are as
Michiganders: bold problem solvers
who are not afraid to think outside of
every box.”
Hanna Holborn Gray, former
president of the University of Chicago,
spoke about the challenges that come
with working in higher education,
which she said she believes Ono will
face during his presidency.
“The world of higher education is
struggling, today, with a widespread
sense of crisis, a time of questioning
and sharp conflict over the quality
and constant performance of its
institutions, of doubt as to whether
higher education is doing its job,
uncertainty as to what that job
should be and how it should be
accomplished,” Gray said.
Gray went on to express her
confidence in Ono’s ability to face the
challenges she described.
“You understand the current
problems very well, and you will
confront them, as you have always
done, with determination, openness,
with patience and courage, consulting
widely and wisely to reach solutions
that will command respect,” Gray
said.
Professor Earl Lewis, director and
founder of the U-M Center for Social
Solutions, spoke in a video message
played in the auditorium about the
importance of service in the role of
a university president. Lewis also
urged the students, faculty and staff
to work with Ono to enact change.
“Today, I call on the University
of Michigan community to engage,
to challenge when called for, to
support when necessary, to advance
always, to care deeply and to believe
in the power of this great institution
to transform lives, and thereby the
world,” Lewis said.
The speeches were interspersed
with
performances
from
U-M
professors,
students
and
Ono’s
brother. Following the speeches,
Paul Brown, chair of the Board of
Regents, formally installed Ono as
U-M president.
Ono went on to address the
audience, giving thanks to the
leadership, faculty, staff and students
of the University, as well as those who
spoke at the ceremony and his family.
“Thank you again, all of you, for
this opportunity and for your faith in
me,” Ono said. “It is a singular honor
and privilege to be inaugurated
today to serve as the University of
Michigan’s 15th president.”
Members
of
the
Graduate
Employees’ Organization gathered
to protest on the Diag Tuesday
afternoon, directly in the path of
the planned procession route for
the inauguration of University
President Santa Ono. The protest
occurred the day after GEO
announced the filing of an unfair
labor practice charge against the
University of Michigan.
During
the
protest,
GEO
members toted signs demanding a
living wage for graduate workers
and circled the block “M” at the
center of the Diag. The protesters
also shouted chants in support of
GEO’s demands.
“Three percent won’t pay the
rent,” the protestors chanted. “Cut
tuition, not our wages.”
In an interview with The
Michigan Daily, GEO president
Jared Eno spoke on the ongoing
contract
negotiations
between
GEO and the University.
“HR
has
suggested
that
(graduate
workers)
take
an
effective pay cut,” Eno said. “The
March 1 deadline for a tentative
contract agreement has passed
over the break, and HR does not
seem to have taken that seriously.
(Affording
rent,
housing
and
medication) are serious problems
that grad workers need to work
with the administration to solve
and folks are fed up with a lack of
serious engagement from HR at the
negotiation table. That’s why folks
are out here.”
Eno said GEO chose to protest
on the Diag during the academic
procession
to
maximize
the
visibility of their cause.
“Grad workers are not able to
ignore not being able to pay for
rent, food, medication,” Eno said.
“And that means the folks in the
University (can’t) ignore it either.”
LSA junior Connor Zahler told
The Daily he thinks GEO chose
an effective time and place to hold
their protest and he supports their
demands.
“I think (the protest is) an
effective way to get attention
on (GEO) and to get attention
to their demands,” Zahler said.
“I respect what they’re doing. I
think that the demands are pretty
understandable.”
University spokesperson Kim
Broekhuizen wrote in an email
to The Daily that the University
is committed to negotiating a
fair contract and is awaiting a
response from GEO about their
compensation offer.
“The
university
remains
committed
to
negotiating
a
strong, fair, and forward-looking
contract
agreement
with
our
GSIs and GSSAs,” Broekhuizen
wrote. “Our negotiators patiently
await the union’s response to the
compensation offer the university
proposed nearly a month ago.”
During
the
installation
ceremony following the procession,
Paul Brown, chair of the U-M
Board of Regents, remarked on
the protests outside, saying the
presence of both the GEO members
and the Michigan Marching Band
as the procession entered Hill
Auditorium captured the essence
of the University.
“When
(the
Regents)
were
walking
in,
Regent
(Jordan)
Acker turned to me and said ‘The
Michigan Marching Band playing
The Victors next to students
protesting, if that isn’t Michigan,
I don’t know what is,’” Brown said.
“And it is. That was great, and
that’s one of the things that makes
this University so great.”
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INDEX
Vol. CXXXII, No. 107
©2023 The Michigan Daily
N E WS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
S T A T E M E N T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
M I C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Santa Ono inaugurated as 15th UMich President
U-M community members gather to officially inaugurate University
President Santa Ono into office Tuesday
ADMINISTRATION
MILES ANDERSON
Daily Staff Reporter
SAMANTHA RICH
Daily News Editor
GEO protest interrupts Ono’s inaugural
procession route
ADMINISTRATION
Governor Whitmer and Chris Wallace
discuss intersections in media and politics
Gov. Whitmer and Chris Wallace discuss journalism and
public policy at a Ford School event
GOVERNMENT
BRONWYN JOHNSTON &
MILES ANDERSON
Daily Staff Reporters
GRACE BEAL/Daily
President Santa Ono speaks at his inauguration in Hill Auditorium Tuesday afternoon.
ANNA FUDER/Daily
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
The Graduate Employee’s Organization holds protest along procession
route for the inauguration of University President Santa Ono