University of Michigan President 

Mark 
Schlissel 
has 
been 
fired 

effective 
immediately 
following 

an internal investigation revealing 

Schlissel’s 
inappropriate 
behavior 

with a subordinate at the University, 

according to a Saturday press release 

from the Board of Regents. 

The decision was made at a closed-

door Board of Regents meeting 

Saturday morning without a public 

vote after the board hired a third party 

investigator to determine whether or 

not Schlissel’s actions as president had 

violated the University’s supervisor 

relationship policy.

“It is with great disappointment 

that we announce that the University 

of 
Michigan 
Board 
of 
Regents 

has removed Dr. Mark Schlissel 

as President of the University of 

Michigan, effective immediately,” the 

Board of Regents wrote in a Saturday 

press release.

The policy, which was introduced 

in July 2021, states that “a Supervisor 

may not, implicitly or explicitly, initiate 

or attempt to initiate an Intimate 

Relationship with a Supervisee over 

whom 
they 
exercise 
supervisory 

authority,” and was implemented in 

July 2021 following allegations former 

Provost Martin Philbert had used his 

position to coerce women into sexual 

relationships. 

The 
firing 
comes 
after 
an 

anonymous complaint submitted on 

Dec. 8. revealed Schlissel had been in 

an inappropriate relationship with a 

University employee. A subsequent 

investigation was performed which 

found he had used his University 

email 
account 
to 
inappropriately 

communicate with said employee. 

Schlissel’s 
existing 
contract 

contained a morals clause which 

stated his behavior as President “be 

consistent with promoting the dignity, 

reputation, and academic excellence of 

the University.” 

The Board of Regents released 

a letter transmitted to Schlissel 

informing him of his termination. In it, 

the regents outlined their justification 

for 
firing 
him, 
citing 
messages 

sent from his University email to a 

subordinate. Because the regents fired 

Schlissel for cause, he will no longer 

receive the golden parachute he and the 

regents negotiated when he announced 

he would resign in 2023.

Schlissel had previously provoked 

the regents’ ire for failing to to 

communicate with the board regarding 

the Detroit Center for Innovation. Talks 

broke down between donor Stephen M. 

Ross and Dan Gilbert, who owned the 

site. An anonymous administration 

official who spoke to the Detroit Free 

Press said the regents felt Schlissel 

left them in the dark as negotiations 

faltered.

In October, Schlissel announced 

that he would be stepping down from 

the job in June 2023, a year earlier than 

planned. The Detroit Free Press at the 

time categorized his stepping down 

early as a deal between the members 

of the board who were satisfied and 

dissatisfied with his performance. 

The 
decision 
was 
announced 

Saturday night. A press release from 

the University announced president 

emerita Mary Sue Coleman will serve 

as interim president. Coleman served 

as president from 2002 until 2014. 

In a statement posted to the Board 

of Regents website, Coleman wrote 

she was sad to learn of the allegations 

against Schlissel but was honored to 

once again be leading the University.

“While 
saddened 
by 
the 

circumstances, I am honored to be 

asked to again serve the University 

of 
Michigan,” 
Coleman 
wrote. 

“When I left the U-M campus at the 

end of my presidency in 2014, I said 

serving this great university was the 

most rewarding experience of my 

professional life. I’m happy to serve 

again in this important interim role.” 

The University has hired the private 

law firm Jenner & Block to continue the 

investigation into Schlissel’s behavior. 

According to the Detroit Free Press, 

the firm is also investigating whether 

Schlissel misused University funds 

to support his relationship with the 

unnamed subordinate. 

In an email obtained by the 

Michigan Daily addressed to LSA 

employees 
Saturday 
night, 
LSA 

Dean Anne Curzan wrote she would 

be meeting with fellow deans and 

senior leaders tomorrow and will 

communicate additional updates in the 

coming days.

Curzan wrote Schlissel’s firing 

reinforced 
to 
need 
for 
sexual 

misconduct prevention on campus.

“As I process this news, it only 

strengthens 
my 
commitment 
to 

continuing the work we have been 

undertaking in the college, with the 

wise, research-informed guidance of 

the Preventing Sexual Harassment 

Working Group,” Curzan wrote. “It is 

essential.”

Jonathan Vaughn, former University 

football and notable survivor of the 

late Doctor Robert Anderson who has 

been camped outside of Schlissel’s 

house for nearly 100 days in protest 

of the University’s handling of sexual 

misconduct tweeted Schlissel’s firing 

would help create a safer campus. 

“This news is fuel for my mission: 

the safety & protection of the students 

of this university,” Vaughn wrote. 

“After 99 days of being ignored in front 

of former President Mark Schlissel’s 

home, the regents finally made 1 good 

choice. But there must be many more if 

U-M is to be fully accountable.” 

The Michigan State University 

Department of Police and Public Safety 

confirmed 
that 
three 
individuals 

were dead following the shooting at 

Michigan State University Monday 

night. At 8:31 p.m., MSU Police issued 

a safety alert in response to reports of 

gunshots heard at Berkey Hall, urging 

anyone on campus to shelter-in-place 

or to “run, hide or fight.” The shelter-in-

place advisory remained in effect until 

12:30 a.m. when MSU Police reported 

the suspect was found dead and there 

was no threat to campus.

MSU police released the names of 

three victims Tuesday, all of whom 

were students: MSU sophomore Brian 

Fraser, MSU junior Alexandria Verner 

and MSU junior Arielle Anderson. Five 

additional victims were hospitalized 

with life threatening injuries Monday 

night and remain in critical condition 

Tuesday, according to MSU police. 

Following 
the 
attack, 
MSU 

announced 
all 
campus 
activities 

would be canceled through Thursday 

and classes would be canceled until 

Monday. MSU buildings remain open 

for students who live on campus. 

counseling services are also available 

across campus. A vigil to honor the 

victims will be held at 7 p.m Wednesday. 

Statues 
and 
other 
community 

gathering points on MSU’s campus 

have been decorated with flowers 

and signs mourning the victims and 

encouraging the campus community to 

remain “Spartan Strong,” according to 

pictures from The State News, MSU’s 

student-run newspaper. The State 

News reported that several students 

were leaving campus Tuesday to 

return home for the rest of the week, 

telling State News they didn’t feel safe 

on campus.

In a joint letter to the MSU staff, 

faculty and students, MSU Interim 

President Teresa K. Woodruff and 

Marlon C. Lynch, vice president 

for public safety and chief of police, 

thanked the first responders and MSU 

community members for their support 

throughout Monday night. 

“The safety and security of our 

campus community is our first priority,” 

Woodruff and Lynch wrote.“We want 

to thank all our campus residents for 

taking this threat seriously, securing in 

place and acting to protect themselves 

and others. We also want to thank the 

hundreds of people from MSU, local, 

state and federal law enforcement 

agencies and first responders who 

worked in a coordinated effort to 

respond to the shooting.”

In a news release Tuesday, MSU 

Police expressed their support and 

dedication to the campus community 

during the ongoing investigation of the 

shooting.

“We cannot begin to fathom the 

immeasurable amount of pain that 

our campus community is feeling,” the 

release said. “We want to ensure our 

community that our department as 

well as our law enforcement partners 

will conduct a comprehensive and 

thorough investigation regarding this 

tragic incident.”

The MSU Police commended the 

campus community for reporting 

updates on the shooting and looking 

after their personal safety, citing a 

caller’s tip that led the police to the 

suspect at 11:35 p.m. The suspect was 

found dead due to a self-inflicted 

gunshot wound. In a tweet Tuesday 

morning, MSU police reported that a 

threatening note was found with the 

suspect, leading several public school 

districts in the East Lansing area to 

close Tuesday. While the investigation 

remains 
ongoing, 
MSU 
Police 

confirmed that the 43-year-old suspect 

had no affiliation with MSU. 

The MSU Board of Trustees released 

a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying 

they have been in communication 

with the victims’ families and are 

encouraging community members to 

support each other. 

“This morning, the Board talked 

with families who lost their children 

due 
to 
senseless 
violence 
our 

community is suffering,” the statement 

read. “We are devastated with them 

and for them. Please hold space with 

the entire Spartan community as we 

navigate the weeks ahead. We will get 

through this difficult time by healing 

together.”

The 
Associated 
Students 
of 

Michigan State University, MSU’s 

undergraduate student government, 

also released a statement Tuesday 

afternoon expressing the shared feeling 

of grief and loss across the campus and 

condemning gun violence. 

“To all the victims and their 

families, we are absolutely devastated,” 

the statement read. “This is a loss felt 

by all of Spartan Nation, and the pain 

we feel is unbearable. It is one thing 

to acknowledge the horrible reality 

of gun violence in America, but it is 

another to experience it firsthand. 

This morning, we mourn not only the 

lives of our peers and friends but also 

the loss of the feeling of security and 

safety on campus. To all students who 

experienced this campus tragedy last 

night, our hearts go out to you during 

this unsettling time.”

University president Santa Ono 

sent a statement to U-M community 

members 
Tuesday 
morning, 

emphasizing 
that 
U-M 
campus 

administration is working closely with 

MSU and encouraging students, staff 

and faculty to reach out to one another.

“I know many in our community 

are reeling from this event as you 

have friends or family who belong to 

the MSU community,” Ono wrote. “I 

encourage us all to take a moment to 

show our appreciation and support 

for one another. Support resources 

are available on campus for students, 

faculty and staff.”

Ono also ordered all flags on the U-M 

campus to be lowered to half mast until 

further notice to honor the victims. 

2 — Graduation Edition 2023
News

UMich President Schlissel fired

3 students dead following shooting at MSU

 Internal investigation reveals ‘inappropriate relationship’ with employee

Community honors lives of MSU students Brian Fraser, Alexandria Verner and Arielle Anderson

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

GRACE BEAL/Daily

SHANNON STOCKING & 
SNEHA DHANDAPANI
Co-Editor in Chief & 
Daily Staff Reporter

 GEORGE WEYKAMP
2022 Daily News Editor 

Kim Dong Yeon, the governor of 

the Gyeonggi province — the largest 

province in South Korea — presented 

the 11th annual Sang-Yong Nam lecture 

on democracy at the University of 

Michigan Museum of Art Monday 

afternoon. About 100 students and Ann 

Arbor community members attended 

the event, which was hosted by the Nam 

Center for Korean Studies along with the 

Ford School of Public Policy.

Kim earned his doctorate from the 

School of Public Policy in 1993 and has 

served as a Korean government official 

since 2014. After serving as the Minister 

of Economy and Finance and the Deputy 

Prime Minister of the country, Kim took 

office as governor on July 1, 2022. 

The event is also where the Sang-

Yong Nam Award is presented, which 

annually grants $3,000 to a graduating 

senior or a recent graduate of the Korean 

Studies program. Nam Sang-Yong, the 

namesake of the Center for Korean 

Studies, was the department’s largest 

benefactor, having donated more than 

$4 million to the program.

In an interview with The Michigan 

Daily at the lecture, LSA junior Jinny 

Kim said it was a special event because 

it 
commemorated 
Nam 
and 
his 

contributions to the department.

“I think this event is really big because 

it’s the one time that the Nam family 

comes out to celebrate (since) their 

father’s passing and also just what he has 

done for our center,” Jinny Kim said. 

LSA senior Olivia Daniel was 

announced as this year’s recipient of the 

Sang-Yong Nam Award. LSA Dean Anne 

Curzan presented the award.

“The Nam Center shares Elder 

Nam’s commitment to create important 

connections across campus and around 

the world,” Curzan said.

In her acceptance speech, Daniel 

spoke about how the center facilitated 

her interest in Korean studies and 

culture. 

“I immersed myself in Korean 

culture through Nam Center events, 

studied abroad at Yonsei University 

and presented at academic conferences 

devoted entirely to Korean studies,” 

Daniel said. “I am so grateful that I have 

been able to contribute to this vibrant 

community.” 

All classes moved 
online in response to 
COVID-19 virus
Dorms and dining halls will remain open 
while large events are canceled or limited

 BARBARA COLLINS, 
CLAIRE HAO & 
EMMA STEIN
2021 Managing News Editor, 
2021 Editor in Chief & 
2020 Daily News Editor

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

‘Campus is alive again’: classes return to in-person
After two and a half semesters of virtual and social distance learning, 91% of classes are now in-person

After two and a half semesters of 
virtual learning and social distancing, 
many students said they were excited 
 
to return to a semblance of normalcy 
yet still nervous about the delta 
variant as they headed back to the 
classroom this past week. 
With 91% of this semester’s classes 
now in person, many students told 
The Michigan Daily they were 
relieved to make the transition from 
Zoom calls to lecture halls. 
Between 
awkward 
breakout 
rooms and all-too-real Zoom fatigue, 
some students particularly felt the 
absence of one-on-one connections 
that 
once 
defined 
in-person 
instruction, LSA senior Alex Meyer 
said.
“We were lacking face-to-face 
contact (during virtual learning),” 

Meyer said. “It’s harder to build 
relationships with classmates and 
professors over Zoom.”
Looking back on the past year and 
a half, LSA junior Regan Monnett 
found that the challenges of virtual 
learning made this week’s return 
to the classroom all the more 
memorable.
“The 
past 
year 
makes 
me 
appreciate the classroom in person 
much more,” Monnett said. “It also 
helps me remember to be patient 
with everyone because everyone’s 
adapting as everything goes along.”
As eager as students are to be 
back in the classroom, concerns 
over the looming threat of the delta 
variant still linger among both the 
student body and faculty. COVID-
19 cases have risen in Michigan to 
nearly double their September 2020 
numbers.
“I’m definitely nervous about how 
things are and have been in terms of 

COVID,” Monnett said. “Some of the 
buildings have been very busy so far, 
which is nerve-wracking.”
Just as flexibility and resilience 
were key to navigating the last three 
semesters, the past week has already 
tested students’ ability to adjust in a 
period of unfamiliarity, Meyer said.
“Even just my habits of taking 
notes, it’s harder to get back into it 
now as opposed to before. It’s a lot 
harder to pay attention,” Meyer said.
Many students said they felt 
nervous in anticipation of this week’s 
in-person classes. This was especially 
true for LSA junior Brianna Evans, 
who transferred to the University 
this past year.
“I was really nervous because I 
hadn’t learned in person in a while 
and because I’ve never been here 
before,” Evans said. “I was anxious 
about finding classes, but so far, it’s 
been okay.”
Now that Kinesiology junior Peter 

Grobel — who transferred to the 
University his sophomore year — is 
able to experience in-person classes 
for the first time, he said he is excited 
to finally learn what it means to be a 
Wolverine.
“I hope to get the full Michigan 
experience, having all clubs and all 
classes in person,” Grobel said. “It’s 
just nice to have everything up to full 
speed, albeit (with) masks and some 
restrictions.”
Students fill every classroom, 
residence hall and library, reviving 
the 
once-desolate 
campus 
he 
experienced during his first year at 
the University, Grobel said.
“Campus is definitely much more 
lively compared to last year when it 
was completely empty,” Grobel said. 
“There would be two people at the 
bus stop, and now you see lines of 
freshmen going and going. Campus is 
alive again.”
This spirited atmosphere has 

welcomed many new faces to 
campus. Countless times over the 
past week, Art & Design freshman 
Mari Kamidoi said they witnessed 
campus-wide kindness firsthand.
“My first impression of Michigan 
was that everyone’s really friendly,” 
Kamidoi said. “I haven’t met a single 
unfriendly person.”
Uncertainty remains a defining 
theme of the 2021 school year, with 
many students unsure of what the 
fall semester will ultimately look 
like. While grateful for in-person 
instruction, Meyer anticipates a 
return to online learning in the 
coming months.
“Most of my labs are using a mixed 
format now with a whole section built 
around virtual learning,” Meyer said. 
“I’m sort of expecting that we can see 
a return to virtual classroom classes 
come mid-semester, so I’m keeping 
my expectations low.”
Hundreds of University faculty 

and Graduate Student Instructors 
have signed a petition calling for 
greater COVID-19 planning and 
safety precautions, citing the rising 
threat of the delta variant and its 
potential to infect vaccinated people. 
In an email to faculty Thursday — 
which some faculty said they found 
insufficient — University President 
Mark Schlissel and Provost Susan 
Collins said classrooms are the “safest 
place” to be this semester in response 
to the faculty and GSI’s demands for 
more detailed COVID-19 guidelines. 
For the time being, however, 
students are making the most 
of in-person instruction as they 
continue to tackle school in the age of 
COVID-19.
“This next semester, I plan to focus 
on building in-person relationships 
with people here at Michigan after 
transferring,” Grobel said. “All in all, 
I’m really just excited to see what 
being at Michigan’s all about.”

EVAN DELORENZO
2021 Daily Staff Reporter

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

DOMINICK SOKOTOFF/Daily

FILE PHOTO/Daily

