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  11. <title>Michigan Today</title>
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  13. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu</link>
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  23. <title>University addresses potential commencement protests</title>
  24. <link>https://record.umich.edu/articles/university-addresses-potential-commencement-protests/</link>
  25. <comments>https://record.umich.edu/articles/university-addresses-potential-commencement-protests/#respond</comments>
  27. <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Iseler]]></dc:creator>
  28. <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 14:53:30 +0000</pubDate>
  29. <category><![CDATA[Campus Life]]></category>
  30. <category><![CDATA[commencement]]></category>
  31. <category><![CDATA[encampment]]></category>
  32. <category><![CDATA[Free Speech]]></category>
  33. <category><![CDATA[protest]]></category>
  34. <category><![CDATA[student life]]></category>
  35. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44597</guid>
  36.  
  37. <description><![CDATA[With the approach of Spring Commencement May 3, the University has emailed the Ann Arbor campus community and the families of prospective graduates regarding possible campus protests. The University seeks to ensure that “graduates are able to experience the joyous and celebratory event they deserve,” the message stated.]]></description>
  38. <content:encoded><![CDATA[With the approach of Spring Commencement May 3, the University has emailed the Ann Arbor campus community and the families of prospective graduates regarding possible campus protests. The University seeks to ensure that “graduates are able to experience the joyous and celebratory event they deserve,” the message stated.]]></content:encoded>
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  41. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  44. </item>
  45. <item>
  46. <title>Looking forward to the past</title>
  47. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/27/looking-forward-to-the-past/</link>
  48. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/27/looking-forward-to-the-past/#comments</comments>
  50. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Deborah Holdship]]></dc:creator>
  51. <pubDate>Sat, 27 Apr 2024 11:56:51 +0000</pubDate>
  52. <category><![CDATA[Editor's Blog]]></category>
  53. <category><![CDATA[campus life]]></category>
  54. <category><![CDATA[campus unrest]]></category>
  55. <category><![CDATA[student life]]></category>
  56. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44527</guid>
  57.  
  58. <description><![CDATA[Keep your eyes on the prize. Hindsight is just around the corner. We hope.]]></description>
  59. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>In search of sepia</h2>
  60. <p>To describe hindsight as a luxury doesn&#8217;t do hindsight justice.</p>
  61. <p>It&#8217;s that elusive, deferred benefit we all crave, the one offering psychological distance from the intractable problems that plague the human race. It&#8217;s  home to the armchair quarterback with a bum shoulder, the politician with a tell-all book to sell, and the retired safecracker who got caught doing that &#8220;one last job.&#8221; It&#8217;s the place where the fish gets bigger, the hero gets more heroic, and everything is worth it in the end.</p>
  62. <aside class="callout right">John Sinclair — the celebrated counterculture icon, poet, and political activist who advocated for cannabis and rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll and managed the MC5 — died April 2 at the age of 82. During the 1960s and early &#8217;70s, this patron saint of A2 attempted to mount a total assault on the &#8220;death culture.&#8221; <a href="https://bentley.umich.edu/news-events/magazine/panther-by-the-tail/">Read more about Sinclair</a> in this bit of hindsight from the Bentley Historical Library.</aside> Hindsight illuminates those alternative perspectives we couldn&#8217;t see at the moment. It separates us from our actions, often foolish, sometimes brilliant. It can justify, clarify, and celebrate our decisions. It can soothe our regrets, blur our mistakes, and help us rewrite our narratives. It&#8217;s a warm, fuzzy cape that cloaks our harshest memories in flat, two-dimensional stills.</p>
  63. <p>If we&#8217;re lucky, those two-dimensional stills are black &amp; white prints, signifying a problem long-ago resolved. Sepia tone is even better &#8212; those issues seem incomprehensible a century after the fact. These days, hindsight lingers in &#8220;the cloud&#8221; as we experience a fraught and furious present animated by moving pictures that are vivid, loud, and often misleading.</p>
  64. <p>As the modern-day university confronts student unrest ignited by the world&#8217;s most heinous geopolitical horrors, we long for the luxury of hindsight.</p>
  65. <p>It can&#8217;t get here soon enough.<br />
  66. &nbsp;<br />
  67. &nbsp;<br />
  68. <em>(Lead image of John Sinclair seated next to an ironing board is by Magdalena Arndt, courtesy of U-M&#8217;s Bentley Historical Library.)</em></p>
  69. ]]></content:encoded>
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  72. <slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
  75. </item>
  76. <item>
  77. <title>Rolling the dice on addiction</title>
  78. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/rolling-the-dice-on-addiction/</link>
  79. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/rolling-the-dice-on-addiction/#respond</comments>
  81. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Claudia Capos]]></dc:creator>
  82. <pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:46:51 +0000</pubDate>
  83. <category><![CDATA[Campus Life]]></category>
  84. <category><![CDATA[Education & Society]]></category>
  85. <category><![CDATA[Research News]]></category>
  86. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44448</guid>
  87.  
  88. <description><![CDATA[College sports deliver some of the most thrilling moments in athletics. But it's not all fun and games for gambling addicts whose fortunes rise and fall with each contest. Now, as online betting becomes more popular and accessible, college students are increasingly vulnerable to getting hooked, warn U-M experts.
  89.  
  90.  
  91. ]]></description>
  92. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Place your bets</h2>
  93. <p>Jumbo jackpots. Bonus bucks. Fan cash. Easy deposits. Quick withdrawals.</p>
  94. <p>Today, glitzy promotions for online casinos, poker, sports betting, and online lotteries fill the airwaves and social media channels. Charismatic sports figures and celebrities now endorse and promote rapidly growing sportsbooks.</p>
  95. <p>The American public is taking it all in. And gambling activity, both online and in person, has surged to an all-time high.</p>
  96. <p>The proliferation of sports betting and online casino apps has turned millions of ordinary cell phones into personal, portable mini-casinos with 24/7 access ― but not just for adults over 21.</p>
  97. <p>Growing evidence suggests college students, teenagers, and even children are being exposed to the allure of online gambling, and increasing numbers of these young bettors are getting hooked.</p>
  98. <p>That trend worries public health experts at the University of Michigan and top officials at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).</p>
  99. <p>“This is an emerging public health issue, not only for adults but also for children,” says <a href="https://ihpi.umich.edu/our-experts/kruger">Daniel Kruger</a>, a research assistant professor who recently departed U-M’s <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/">Institute for Social Research (ISR).</a></p>
  100. <p>“We are seeing a toxic combination of social media, cell phones, and online gambling,” he explains. “All have addictive properties that make individuals vulnerable to dependency and addiction.”</p>
  101. <h2>Igniting a betting bonanza</h2>
  102. <aside class="callout right">
  103. <h3>Warning Signs of Problem Gambling</h3>
  104. <p>Public health experts advise parents to watch for these signs of problem gambling in students, teenagers, and children:</p>
  105. <ul>
  106. <li>Changes in personal behavior or mood</li>
  107. <li>Secrecy and lying about the amount of time and money spent gambling online</li>
  108. <li>Frequent requests for money</li>
  109. <li>Stealing things to fund betting activities</li>
  110. <li>Problems at school or socially with others</li>
  111. <li>Withdrawal symptoms when gambling behavior is reduced or stopped</li>
  112. <li>Increased risky behavior such as skipping classes or school</aside></li>
  113. </ul>
  114. <p>The spark that ignited the current betting bonanza was a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a federal law prohibiting sports gambling. This landmark decision gave states the green light to legalize sports betting.</p>
  115. <p>Currently, 38 states and the District of Columbia allow some form of sports betting. And its popularity has exploded.</p>
  116. <p>In 2023, sports betting jumped nearly 45 percent and iGaming popped up 23 percent year-over-year, according to the <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/">American Gaming Association</a> (AGA). Altogether, online gaming generated $16.43 billion ― nearly a quarter of the record-breaking $66.52 billion the commercial gaming industry raked in last year. The AGA expects that adding tribal gaming proceeds will push the figure to $110 billion.</p>
  117. <p>In advance of Super Bowl LVIII in February, an AGA survey projected that a record 67.8 million American adults (26 percent) were expected to wager an eye-popping $23.1 billion on the NFL annual championship game, up 35 percent from $16 billion in 2023.</p>
  118. <p>College sports also have become fair game for the gaming industry.</p>
  119. <p>In recent years, several major university athletic departments have inked sponsorship deals allowing Caesars Sportsbook to advertise sports betting at athletic events and on campus. After indignation and opposition erupted among faculty and state legislators, some agreements were shelved.</p>
  120. <h2>Gauging gambling’s inroads</h2>
  121. <div id="attachment_44472" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/what-ohtani-scandal-means-for-his-career-fans-and-team-u-m-experts-can-comment-768x512-1.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44472" class="size-medium wp-image-44472" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/what-ohtani-scandal-means-for-his-career-fans-and-team-u-m-experts-can-comment-768x512-1-300x200.jpg" alt="Shohei Ohtani" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/what-ohtani-scandal-means-for-his-career-fans-and-team-u-m-experts-can-comment-768x512-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/what-ohtani-scandal-means-for-his-career-fans-and-team-u-m-experts-can-comment-768x512-1.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44472" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="https://news.umich.edu/what-ohtani-scandal-means-for-his-career-fans-and-team-u-m-experts-can-comment/">Read about what the  Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal means</a> for his career, fans, and the LA Dodgers. (This image, by Mogami “Tosa” Kariya, Flickr under CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed, shows Ohtani as a Los Angeles Angel.)</p></div>
  122. <p>Problem gambling is often called &#8220;the hidden addiction,&#8221; and determining the exact number of affected bettors is difficult. Moreover, compulsive gamblers are often reluctant to admit they have a problem and seek help.</p>
  123. <p>Recently, several national surveys have attempted to gauge the inroads that gambling has made among young people.</p>
  124. <p>In May 2023, the NCAA released sports wagering survey data showing “many young adults are wagering on sports, often despite age or geographic restrictions on legal sports betting,” according to a news release on the <a href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2023/5/24/media-center-ncaa-releases-sports-wagering-survey-data.aspx">NCAA.org</a> website.</p>
  125. <p>Opinion Diagnostics conducted a survey of 3,527 respondents between the ages of 18-22 using a national online panel that reflected the total population of that age group. The panel included both college students and young adults not attending college.</p>
  126. <p>The NCAA survey reveals sports wagering is pervasive among 18- to 22-year-olds and widespread on college campuses. Specifically, the data show:</p>
  127. <ul>
  128. <li>58 percent of all respondents have engaged in at least one sports betting activity.</li>
  129. <li>67 percent of students on campus are bettors and tend to bet more frequently than their peers.</li>
  130. <li>41 percent of college students who bet on sports have placed a bet on their school’s teams, and 35 percent have used a student bookmaker.</li>
  131. <li>Advertisements have a significant influence on betting activity. 63 percent of on-campus students recall seeing betting ads, and 58 percent of those students indicate they are more likely to bet after seeing the ads.</li>
  132. <li>Problem gambling is evident among the entire 18- to 22-year-old population, with 16 percent saying they have engaged in at least one risky behavior and 6 percent reporting they have lost more than $500 on sports betting in a single day.</li>
  133. </ul>
  134. <p>Teens and children also are susceptible to gambling advertisements and the risk of developing a gambling addiction as a result of online betting, according to a recent national poll conducted at U-M. The <a href="https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/experts-say-increased-access-online-gambling-may-put-teens-risk">University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health</a> based its findings on responses from 923 parents with at least one child between 14-18 years old.</p>
  135. <p>According to the results:</p>
  136. <ul>
  137. <li>A third of the parents polled report that they or another adult in their household participate in online, in-person, or social betting.</li>
  138. <li>Two-thirds of the parents say their teen has a bank account or debit/credit card in their own name that could be used to register for online betting platforms.</li>
  139. <li>One in six parents admits they probably wouldn’t know if their child was betting online.</li>
  140. <li>A quarter of parents who have talked with their teen about some aspect of online betting also discussed youth risks, including going into debt or developing a gambling addiction.</li>
  141. </ul>
  142. <h2>Ramping up Resources</h2>
  143. <aside class="callout right">
  144. <h3>Where to call for help</h3>
  145. <p><strong>University Health Service Helpline</strong><br />
  146. 734-764-8320</p>
  147. <p><strong>Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline</strong><br />
  148. 800-270-7117</p>
  149. <p><strong>Su Familia National Hispanic Family Helpline</strong><br />
  150. 866-783-2645</p>
  151. <p><strong>Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Helpline</strong><br />
  152. 800-662-HELP</aside>
  153. <p>Last year, U-M&#8217;s <a href="https://uhs.umich.edu/">University Health Service</a> began offering addiction-focused medical care on the Ann Arbor campus to treat behavioral addictions related to phones, shopping, pornography, sex, and gambling, as well as substance abuse involving alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs.</p>
  154. <p>To date, only a small handful of U-M students have sought help for gambling disorders, reports Medical Director <a href="https://uhs.umich.edu/profile/chris-frank-md-phd">Christopher Frank,</a> M.D., B.S. ’98.</p>
  155. <p>However, that number may reflect common misperceptions about why gambling addiction develops and how it can be treated in a medical setting.</p>
  156. <p>“We know that gambling, especially in-game betting, is good at triggering some of the reward pathways that create compulsive behavior and addiction,” Frank explains. “Some people can gamble at a certain level without losing control. But a small subset can go off the rails, and it’s hard to predict who they are.”</p>
  157. <h2>Slippery slope</h2>
  158. <p>Like addictive drugs, online sports betting and casino gambling are designed to be habit-forming. Gamblers now have easy access to betting apps online and get a quick response after they place a wager. The random nature of winning and losing motivates bettors to keep playing in hopes of winning more money.</p>
  159. <p>Over time, bettors may need to gamble more often to feel the same thrill. Some may experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability when they try to cut back or stop.</p>
  160. <p>At the University Health Service, patients with gambling and other behavioral addictions initially receive psychosocial treatment or motivational interviewing.</p>
  161. <p>“Our staff tries to help students figure out how to manage their addiction and get themselves out of a difficult cycle,” Frank says. “We can also refer patients for specialized counseling through the <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/our-locations/eaap-addiction">U-M Addiction Treatment Services</a> in the Psychiatry Department.”</p>
  162. <p>On a statewide basis, problem gambling helpline calls and referrals to treatment are trending higher. Calls to the state’s helpline &#8212; 1-800-270-7117 &#8212; more than doubled to 3,471 in 2023 from 1,591 in 2020, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Last year, online gambling-related inquiries accounted for 40 percent of the 481 referrals to treatment.</p>
  163. <h2>Putting up stronger guardrails</h2>
  164. <p>Online sports betting and gambling may be legal, but is this healthy for our society?</p>
  165. <p>ISR&#8217;s Kruger thinks the payoff may not be worth the price individuals and their families pay for addiction.</p>
  166. <p>Stronger guardrails are needed, he insists, to prevent young bettors from getting swept up in the current gambling craze.</p>
  167. <p>“We should think about this at the policy level,” Kruger says. “Raising awareness and putting regulations in place to make it more difficult for children to access online betting could reduce the harm caused by the gambling system.”</p>
  168. ]]></content:encoded>
  170. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/rolling-the-dice-on-addiction/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  171. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  174. </item>
  175. <item>
  176. <title>Scenes from a warming climate</title>
  177. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/scenes-from-a-warming-climate/</link>
  178. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/scenes-from-a-warming-climate/#comments</comments>
  180. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ricky Rood]]></dc:creator>
  181. <pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2024 19:19:04 +0000</pubDate>
  182. <category><![CDATA[Climate Blue]]></category>
  183. <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category>
  184. <category><![CDATA[adaptation]]></category>
  185. <category><![CDATA[climate]]></category>
  186. <category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>
  187. <category><![CDATA[Faculty]]></category>
  188. <category><![CDATA[global warming]]></category>
  189. <category><![CDATA[weather]]></category>
  190. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44433</guid>
  191.  
  192. <description><![CDATA[Ricky Rood reveals creative ways to gain control over the disruptions caused by climate change by planning for multiple scenarios.]]></description>
  193. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Collecting the pieces</h2>
  194. <p>At this point in my ongoing series about scenarios for a warming climate, I will stitch together <a href="https://openclimate.org/storylines-and-scenarios-for-a-warming-climate/">the previous seven episodes.</a></p>
  195. <p>This is Part 1, which sets the scene and develops the storyline</p>
  196. <p>For several months, I have been building a framework for crafting stories about our climate future. These stories are critical in planning for and adapting to Earth’s evolving climate. I hope to reveal ways to gain some control over the disruptions caused by climate change and make things less scary.</p>
  197. <h2>At the edge of the Dark Woods</h2>
  198. <div id="attachment_44443" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-Toadstool.jpg"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44443" class="size-medium wp-image-44443" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-Toadstool-300x200.jpg" alt="Mountain range" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-Toadstool-300x200.jpg 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-Toadstool-768x512.jpg 768w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-Toadstool.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44443" class="wp-caption-text">On one of his trips outside Colorado, author Rood shot this image at the edge of Nebraska. (Image courtesy of Rood.)</p></div>
  199. <p>Have you ever seen a western where the hero walks out of town in a direction he doesn’t usually go? He crosses a stream, travels over some gentle hills, and then he sees it: the edge of the desert. It extends infinitely to the right, left, and straight ahead. The sky is smeared. Against all odds, a higher cause compels our hero to cross the barren landscape.</p>
  200. <p>Everyone knows the journey is impossible, yet there he goes, brimming with absolute faith in providence and himself. It’s a tale as old as the Odyssey. No matter what form the wilderness takes – unforgiving desert, mysterious swamps, turbulent seas, or even the yellow brick road – the path presents problem after problem as one traverses the unknown.</p>
  201. <p>Consider a more common wilderness that we’ll call the Dark Woods. There are some enticing trails at the edge. As we step in, we encounter some familiar things: trees, shrubs, streams, and squirrels. But somewhere in the Dark Woods, those trails will become overgrown. We have heard that if we continue forward, there will be overwhelming danger and, perhaps, vast reward. The tension keeps us alert and invested.</p>
  202. <p>Some never want to step into the Dark Woods. Others cannot resist.</p>
  203. <h2>Into the Dark Woods</h2>
  204. <p>Our warming climate places us on the edge of a climate wilderness similar to those Dark Woods.</p>
  205. <p>We have spent the last 10,000 years learning to live with our weather and climate. Weather informs our architecture, our agriculture, our commerce. We’ve had tremendous success building civilizations, accumulating wealth, and growing the world’s human population.</p>
  206. <p>Our successes, however, have created new challenges. We are changing the climate. We are making it warmer.</p>
  207. <p>To our credit, we are aware of that fact and know why. We even have a fuzzy vision of the future. Today, we have no choice but to step into the climate wilderness.</p>
  208. <p>Time has placed us at the edge of the Dark Woods, where the trails are barely visible. There is much that is familiar and some that is alien. We can tap into our faith in providence and ourselves, staggering as the trails disappear into the overgrowth. Or we can lay out plausible paths to navigate that wilderness using our collective wits and knowledge. We can create plans.</p>
  209. <h2>Road maps, guides, and scouts</h2>
  210. <p>Perhaps it is the old NASA employee in me, but I prefer to think through plausible and likely plans, paths, and perils.</p>
  211. <p>When I start a trip out of Colorado, I look at a map. Lines represent the major roads; the minor roads are not drawn. I see forks and turns. Nebraska is laid out in front of me, essentially unchanging. A simple road sign can be an adequate guide.</p>
  212. <p>If I go down the wrong fork in the road, I can always turn back. This is good because I like to explore the minor roads, even turning down the dirt routes that branch off minor roads. I regroup and recover all the time.</p>
  213. <p>My plans change if I know a blizzard is on its way. I consider the impact and prepare for different driving conditions. The roads could be dangerous, even deadly. A weather forecast provides guidance; I consider different routes and pack blankets.</p>
  214. <p>Often, I see climate uncertainty described as “making decisions at a fork in the road.” We argue that knowledge and good road signs will help us make better decisions — perhaps good decisions, maybe even the <em>right</em> decisions.</p>
  215. <div id="attachment_44497" style="width: 358px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/20240417_Michigan_Forks_Road_v0.png"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44497" class=" wp-image-44497" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/20240417_Michigan_Forks_Road_v0-300x169.png" alt="Graphic depicts a forked road with three options: forward, left, and right" width="348" height="196" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/20240417_Michigan_Forks_Road_v0-300x169.png 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/20240417_Michigan_Forks_Road_v0-768x432.png 768w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/20240417_Michigan_Forks_Road_v0.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44497" class="wp-caption-text">The fork in the road requires us to consider multiple paths. (Graphic courtesy of Rood.)</p></div>
  216. <p>People often ask similar questions about the changing climate: What will climate change do? What should I plan for? Which path should I choose?</p>
  217. <p>It turns out that comparing climate uncertainty to forks in the road is not really the right comparison because choosing one, single climate path is not usually the correct answer. If, in the past, we had to prepare for drought <em>and</em> flood, then we have to do the same in the future.</p>
  218. <p>Consider this image of a forked path leading us through our climate wilderness. One fork leads to a climate that is getting wetter; the other is getting drier. All are getting warmer.</p>
  219. <p>We need a guide to evaluate multiple paths because we will experience multiple paths. If we apply this metaphor to my trip through Nebraska, I will travel multiple trips, so I better be ready to explore many roads.</p>
  220. <h2>Rules to get us started</h2>
  221. <aside class="callout right">Think about your personal experiences with weather. Ask yourself: Have I or my community been damaged; how have I been vulnerable to weather?</aside> Here are two important rules for developing stories for climate futures.</p>
  222. <p><em>The Rule of Complexity </em>tells us there is no one thing that climate change will do.</p>
  223. <p><i>The Rule of Change </i>tells us that what is true for the next 30 years might not be true for the 30 years that follow.</p>
  224. <p>The rule of complexity says we must choose multiple options. This does not fit with our sensibilities that at a point of decision, a direction is determined. The second rule emphasizes that we cannot just make a decision and consider the job done. We are in a time of constant change, not in a transition from some old climate to some new one. </p>
  225. <p>Nothing is fixed on this journey; it is like Nebraska is changing before my eyes as I drive through a blizzard. I&#8217;m on the same roads I always take. I&#8217;m moving in the same direction. The roads feel unfamiliar, though. They might even be impossible to find.</p>
  226. <h2>Narrowing the narrative</h2>
  227. <div id="attachment_44444" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-_prairie.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44444" class="size-medium wp-image-44444" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-_prairie-300x200.jpg" alt="Barren Nebraska landscape" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-_prairie-300x200.jpg 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-_prairie-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-_prairie-768x512.jpg 768w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/ClimateBlue-4-24-_prairie.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44444" class="wp-caption-text">When crafting climate scenarios, it&#8217;s important to look at what is on the surface around you, the author says. (Image courtesy of Rood.)</p></div>
  228. <p>We need a way to narrow the climate story and make it relevant to our lives.</p>
  229. <p>An excellent first step in narrowing the story is to make the problem more concrete. It needs to be accurate. Think about your personal experiences with weather. Ask yourself: Have I or my community been damaged; how have I been vulnerable to weather?</p>
  230. <p>A simple climate change story emerges from this exercise. What would happen if the same weather event occurred in the future but was more extreme than in the past?</p>
  231. <p>This should also provide a starting point that reveals new vulnerabilities. It helps to see the physical nature of the threat (drought, fire, flood) and it exposes the capacity to respond and, perhaps, prevent future occurrences.</p>
  232. <p>Another early step is to look at what is on the surface around you. For example, how much of the surface is paved, and what happens to rainfall during a storm? Are you on the coast? Or, if you live in a region that experiences “fire season,” what are the sources of potential fuel? These questions help prioritize how weather will affect you and how changes in weather will affect you.</p>
  233. <h2>Managing uncertainty</h2>
  234. <aside class="callout right">People often ask similar questions about the changing climate: What will climate change do? What should I plan for? Which path should I choose?</aside> The goal is to find at least one adaptation issue to address. More than one is better because we can analyze tradeoffs. One, however, will get us started.</p>
  235. <p>To advance how to build the story, I will pick a problem that is relevant to me — a coastal community. We’ll call it Floodtown, and it has had recurrent floods in the last 15 years.</p>
  236. <p><em>Problem statement:</em> How do we manage excess water in Floodtown as Earth warms?</p>
  237. <p>Because of the rule of change, this is not a problem we can solve and walk away from. Adapting will be an ongoing activity in Floodtown. This is especially true on the coast because of the rising sea level.</p>
  238. <p>How do we manage the rule of complexity? One way is to design a set of scenarios that plausibly bring in excess water. This could be intense rainfall, rising sea or lake levels, rain on accumulated snowpack, or persistent rain over several weeks. They all bring floods, but they require different strategies for water management.</p>
  239. <p>What is<em> plausible?</em> Though there are many possible experiences in the climate wilderness, it remains true that weather will continue to behave according to the laws of physics. The <a href="https://openclimate.org/storylines-and-scenarios-for-a-warming-climate/">previous columns</a> have included how those laws shape climate in a warming future, and I will use them in the next column.</p>
  240. <p>This storytelling approach is called scenario planning. It has many applications in business and government. It allows analysis of consequences and responses. Well-designed scenarios help to manage uncertainty.</p>
  241. <p>What I have done here is to frame the paths through the climate wilderness differently. By picking the problem of managing excess water, I have limited the relevant climate storylines. Like my routes across Nebraska, the project management tasks for water management in Floodtown are reasonably well defined. By having a set of scenarios, I can plan and design for different contingencies, much like managing a blizzard on my drive across Nebraska.</p>
  242. <p>The next entry in this series will start by developing four scenarios for bringing excess water to Floodtown and thinking about those scenarios in terms of past vulnerabilities and future risks.<br />
  243. &nbsp;<br />
  244. &nbsp;<br />
  245. <em>(Lead image of Nebraska&#8217;s Toadstool Geologic Park courtesy of Ricky Rood.)</em></p>
  246. ]]></content:encoded>
  248. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/scenes-from-a-warming-climate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  249. <slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
  252. </item>
  253. <item>
  254. <title>&#8216;On a scale of 1 to 5, are you….&#8217;</title>
  255. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/on-a-scale-of-1-to-5-are-you/</link>
  256. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/on-a-scale-of-1-to-5-are-you/#comments</comments>
  258. <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Tobin]]></dc:creator>
  259. <pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:37:42 +0000</pubDate>
  260. <category><![CDATA[Education & Society]]></category>
  261. <category><![CDATA[Heritage/Tradition]]></category>
  262. <category><![CDATA[Angus Campell]]></category>
  263. <category><![CDATA[Institute for Social Research]]></category>
  264. <category><![CDATA[ISR]]></category>
  265. <category><![CDATA[Leslie Kish]]></category>
  266. <category><![CDATA[Likert Scale]]></category>
  267. <category><![CDATA[Rensis Likert]]></category>
  268. <category><![CDATA[sociology]]></category>
  269. <category><![CDATA[survey]]></category>
  270. <category><![CDATA[Survey of Consumers]]></category>
  271. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44402</guid>
  272.  
  273. <description><![CDATA[How do people feel about the president? The new laundry detergent? The state of the world? Prior to the Likert Scale and the founding of U-M's Institute for Social Research, it was difficult to say. ISR's legacy lives in every massive sample survey since Truman beat Dewey in 1948.]]></description>
  274. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Rensis Likert and the science of society</h2>
  275. <p>How do people feel about the president? The new laundry detergent? The state of the world?</p>
  276. <p>Until <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/about/history/">Rensis Likert</a>, it was hard to say.</p>
  277. <p>As a graduate student in sociology in the 1920s, he developed a simple way to gauge public opinion on any topic. He gave participants a statement, then a choice of responses from &#8220;strongly agree&#8221; to &#8220;strongly disagree.&#8221;</p>
  278. <p>It became known as the Likert (pronounced LICK-ert) Scale. Now as familiar as a traffic light, this form of asking and answering questions became the foundation of modern survey research — the study of what people, in aggregate, think and feel about the world.</p>
  279. <p>That by itself was a significant contribution to sociology, social psychology, and economics. But Likert went on to foster the spread of survey research into every quarter of society. And for decades, he led the field from the center he founded at Michigan just after World War II — the <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/">Institute for Social Research (ISR)</a>.</p>
  280. <p><strong>From D.C. to A2</strong></p>
  281. <div id="attachment_44411" style="width: 287px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/Likert-1949b-big.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44411" class="size-medium wp-image-44411" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/Likert-1949b-big-277x300.jpg" alt="Smiling man, older, arms crossed, striped tie. Black &amp; white." width="277" height="300" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/Likert-1949b-big-277x300.jpg 277w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/Likert-1949b-big.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44411" class="wp-caption-text">Rensis Likert created the Likert Scale, which became the standard when conducting massive surveys. (Image courtesy of ISR.)</p></div>
  282. <p>As a Michigan undergraduate, Likert started in engineering, then shifted to sociology and economics. Next, it was on to graduate school, first in theology, then in sociology, at Columbia.</p>
  283. <p>His &#8220;Likert Scale&#8221; sparked attention among decision-makers seeking quality data. He honed his skills in the insurance industry before moving to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. During World War II, he led studies of public attitudes about war bond sales, price controls, and rationing. He conducted the first massive sample surveys, a technique that would spread worldwide, and he recruited a team of like-minded young social scientists.</p>
  284. <p>After the war, Likert looked for an academic home. He found it back in Ann Arbor, where the chairs of sociology, economics, and psychology knew what he could do.</p>
  285. <p>Likert brought along his associates, including <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/about/history/">Angus Campbell</a> and <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/about/history/">Leslie Kish</a>, pioneering social psychologists who became award-winning leaders in the field. In a small operation called the Survey Research Center, they turned from studying particular programs and policies to broad questions about individuals&#8217; relationships with organizations and society.</p>
  286. <p>&#8220;The university gave us a basement and small payments for teaching,&#8221; Kish recalled. &#8220;But the University of Michigan&#8217;s chief contributions were its name and blessing for us to start our own projects . . . This was Likert&#8217;s and our private enterprise. We all gambled with him.&#8221;</p>
  287. <h2>A nationwide laboratory</h2>
  288. <div id="attachment_44410" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-scaled.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44410" class="size-medium wp-image-44410" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-300x233.jpg" alt="Three men examine a map. They are all wearing bow-ties, circa 1956. Black &amp; white." width="300" height="233" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-300x233.jpg 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-1024x797.jpg 1024w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-768x598.jpg 768w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-1536x1195.jpg 1536w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/2-Converse-Miller-Campbell-Natl-Elections-Study-1956-CROP-2048x1594.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44410" class="wp-caption-text">ISR social scientists Philip E. Converse, Warren E. Miller, and Angus Campbell (left to right) review data from the National Elections Study in 1956. (Image courtesy of ISR.)</p></div>
  289. <p>Likert believed society&#8217;s most pressing problems were born of the relationships between individuals and the social systems that defined them — families, workplaces, democratic polities. That&#8217;s the core tenet of social psychology, and he applied it to studying organizations.</p>
  290. <p>He believed — and had the data to prove it — that humane managers running a cooperative workplace would be more productive, not to mention better to work for, than authoritarian, exploitative managers.</p>
  291. <p>The Survey Research Center sprouted branches — the Center for Political Studies and the Research Center for Group Dynamics, at the start, with several more to follow. The units were consolidated in 1949 as the Institute for Social Research, a national laboratory for the study of human behavior.</p>
  292. <p>From the start, Likert&#8217;s team turned conventional wisdom on its head.</p>
  293. <h2>Would Dewey defeat Truman?</h2>
  294. <div id="attachment_44412" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ISR-old-bldg.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44412" class="size-medium wp-image-44412" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ISR-old-bldg-300x225.jpg" alt="Funky old house that served as ISR's original headquarters. Black &amp; white." width="300" height="225" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ISR-old-bldg-300x225.jpg 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/ISR-old-bldg.jpg 383w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44412" class="wp-caption-text">ISR offices were located in the West Hospital building from 1950-62. (Image courtesy of ISR.)</p></div>
  295. <p>In 1948, for example, Campbell and ISR founder <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/news-events/news-releases/u-m-social-psychologist-research-scientist-and-isr-founding-member-bob-kahn-dies-at-100/">Robert Kahn</a> created a pilot survey of Americans&#8217; opinions about international affairs. By chance, they conducted the survey during the national presidential campaign between President Harry Truman and his Republican opponent, New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey. So, they tossed in a couple of questions about respondents&#8217; presidential preferences.</p>
  296. <p>Every prominent pollster predicted Dewey would win in a landslide. But when Campbell and Kahn analyzed their results, they envisioned a very tight race, with undecided voters leaning toward Truman.</p>
  297. <p>When Truman won and word of the ISR survey got around, social scientists realized that voters were ripe for much closer examination.</p>
  298. <p>In 1966, the ISR staff moved into a striking modernist home on Thompson Street. By then, the researchers&#8217; surveys were providing the factual bedrock for decisions happening everywhere, from the CEO&#8217;s suite to the halls of Congress.</p>
  299. <p>One significant survey was the National Election Study, conceived in the wake of the 1948 findings. In another surprise, Campbell and <a href="https://isr.umich.edu/about/history/">Warren Miller</a> (who would become ISR&#8217;s principal investigator of the Michigan Election Studies) soon showed that for most Americans, social and psychological factors influenced their vote at least as much as well-informed calculations.</p>
  300. <p>Another recurring outreach was the monthly <a href="https://news.umich.edu/consumer-sentiment-holds-steady-amid-renewed-concerns-over-high-prices/">Survey of Consumer Attitudes</a>, a keenly watched report that measures Americans&#8217; confidence in the economy. It remains one of the institute&#8217;s most popular offerings.</p>
  301. <h2>&#8216;Why do Black people do so well?&#8217;</h2>
  302. <div id="attachment_44407" style="width: 206px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ISR-James-Jackson.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44407" class="size-medium wp-image-44407" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ISR-James-Jackson-196x300.jpg" alt="Smiling African American scholar sits at table with arms folded, thoughtful." width="196" height="300" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/ISR-James-Jackson-196x300.jpg 196w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/ISR-James-Jackson.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44407" class="wp-caption-text">James Jackson was the first ISR researcher to rethink surveys of African Americans. (Image courtesy of ISR.)</p></div>
  303. <p>ISR&#8217;s surveys broadened their reach when James Jackson, born in Detroit and raised in suburban Inkster, noted that few social scientists surveyed enough Black Americans to draw conclusions about them as a group. In 1980, he became the first to say African-Americans should be studied in their own right, not just in comparison to whites.</p>
  304. <p>Jackson&#8217;s surveys included such questions as: &#8220;How often are there problems with muggings, burglaries, assaults, or anything else like that around here?&#8221; and &#8220;How often do people in your church or place of worship help you out?&#8221;</p>
  305. <p>Earlier surveys addressed Blacks as a homogenous population. Jackson revealed layers of complexity. He once reflected that most surveys start by asking: &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong with Black people?&#8221; He asked instead: &#8220;Given the structural impediments that they face, why do Black people do so well?&#8221;</p>
  306. <p>Jackson&#8217;s work was a harbinger of ISR&#8217;s expanding curiosity. The enormous variety and depth of its inquiries in the 21st century is evident in this handful of the myriad questions posed by its investigators:</p>
  307. <ul>
  308. <li>Why do poor health and poverty persist across generations?</li>
  309. <li>How did COVID-19 affect the well-being of children and families in various types of neighborhoods?</li>
  310. <li>How do we know if an election&#8217;s results are legitimate or fraudulent?</li>
  311. <li>How do genes and lifestyle interact to influence heart disease?</li>
  312. <li>Does mass media trigger aggression?</li>
  313. <li>What is the impact of a liberal arts education after students leave college?</li>
  314. </ul>
  315. <p>&nbsp;<br />
  316. &nbsp;<br />
  317. <em>Sources included Anne Frantilla, Social Science in the Public Interest: A Fiftieth-Year History of the Institute for Social Research (1998); Leslie Kish, &#8220;Resis Likert Social Scientist and Entrepreneur,&#8221; Choices (1990); Stanley E. Seashore and Donald Katz, &#8220;Rensis Likert (1903-1981),&#8221; American Psychologist (July 1982); &#8220;James Jackson, Who Changed the Study of Black America, Dies at 76,&#8221; New York Times, 9/11/2020. Lead image: In a famous Associated Press photo, President Harry Truman celebrates his presidential victory over opponent Thomas E. Dewey. (Wikipedia.)</em></p>
  318. ]]></content:encoded>
  320. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/26/on-a-scale-of-1-to-5-are-you/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  321. <slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
  324. </item>
  325. <item>
  326. <title>From this day forward: &#8216;Vision 2034&#8217;</title>
  327. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/25/from-this-day-forward-vision-2034/</link>
  328. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/25/from-this-day-forward-vision-2034/#comments</comments>
  330. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Santa J. Ono]]></dc:creator>
  331. <pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:39:08 +0000</pubDate>
  332. <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category>
  333. <category><![CDATA[President's Message]]></category>
  334. <category><![CDATA[commencement]]></category>
  335. <category><![CDATA[Vision 2034]]></category>
  336. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44318</guid>
  337.  
  338. <description><![CDATA[U-M's focus for the decade will target key areas with the greatest potential for impact.]]></description>
  339. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>April 2024</h2>
  340. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Dear alumni, friends, and supporters,</span></p>
  341. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Over the past year, the University of Michigan has undertaken a comprehensive strategic visioning process to define our aspirations as a leading public university. Earlier this month, we officially launched </span><a href="https://vision2034.umich.edu/"><span style="font-weight: 400">Vision 2034</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">, an effort shaped by the insights and aspirations of more than 25,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and local community members. Many of you contributed your ideas and perspectives, and I thank you.</span></p>
  342. <div id="attachment_44322" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/LookToMichiganArt.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44322" class="size-medium wp-image-44322" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/LookToMichiganArt-300x137.png" alt="Look to Michigan in white type on blue background. Subhead &quot;Vision 2034&quot; appears in maize text." width="300" height="137" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/LookToMichiganArt-300x137.png 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/LookToMichiganArt.png 441w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44322" class="wp-caption-text">Vision 2034 is a 10-year plan to navigate Michigan&#8217;s next decade. (Image: Michigan Creative.)</p></div>
  343. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Vision 2034 establishes a bold framework for the University of Michigan to further its leadership in public service and innovation. It reflects our commitment to educate learners, advance society, and make groundbreaking discoveries in order to address the greatest challenges facing humanity. Vision 2034 sets the stage for new achievements that we will pursue together, building on the firm foundation of our shared heritage. </span></p>
  344. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">I encourage you to read the full report </span><a href="https://vision2034.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/UM_Vision-ImpactReport.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p>
  345. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Our focus for the next decade centers on four areas where we can have the greatest impact: Life-changing education; human health and well-being; democracy, civic, and global engagement; and climate action, sustainability, and environmental justice. In each of the four upcoming academic years, we will honor one of the impact areas, beginning this fall with “The Year of Democracy and Civic Engagement.” This series will include speeches, lectures, and performances, all designed to underscore our commitment to civic participation and the cultivation of thoughtful, engaged citizens.</span></p>
  346. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">But before we begin the next academic year, </span><span style="font-weight: 400">we are working diligently to plan and host</span><span style="font-weight: 400"> commencement celebrations worthy of the achievements of this year’s graduates, the Class of 2024. Our ceremonies for undergraduates are especially significant this year since so many of them missed their high school commencement celebrations due to the pandemic. For them, this ceremony is a confirmation of their determination and a testament to their perseverance. We look forward to joining with graduates and their friends and family members to commemorate the transition from one chapter of life to the next. </span></p>
  347. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Thank you all for your steadfast support and dedication to the University of Michigan. </span></p>
  348. <p><span style="font-weight: 400">With warm regards,</span></p>
  349. <p>Santa J. Ono<br />
  350. President, University of Michigan</p>
  351. <p><em>(Lead image credit: Roger Hart, Michigan Photography.)</em></p>
  352. ]]></content:encoded>
  354. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/25/from-this-day-forward-vision-2034/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  355. <slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
  358. </item>
  359. <item>
  360. <title>It&#8217;s time to rethink food labels</title>
  361. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/25/its-time-to-rethink-food-labels/</link>
  362. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/25/its-time-to-rethink-food-labels/#respond</comments>
  364. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Victor Katch]]></dc:creator>
  365. <pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:26:24 +0000</pubDate>
  366. <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category>
  367. <category><![CDATA[Health Yourself]]></category>
  368. <category><![CDATA[eating]]></category>
  369. <category><![CDATA[food labeling]]></category>
  370. <category><![CDATA[FOP]]></category>
  371. <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  372. <category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
  373. <category><![CDATA[obesity]]></category>
  374. <category><![CDATA[overweight]]></category>
  375. <category><![CDATA[packaged foods]]></category>
  376. <category><![CDATA[USDA]]></category>
  377. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44338</guid>
  378.  
  379. <description><![CDATA[Rising prices are not the only challenge consumers face in today's grocery aisle. ]]></description>
  380. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Let&#8217;s be clear</h2>
  381. <p>Rising prices are not the only challenge consumers face in today&#8217;s grocery aisle. It seems one needs to be a linguist, scientist, and mind reader to comprehend the myriad terms cluttering the labels on the most popular packaged foods.</p>
  382. <aside class="callout right">A recent consumer survey revealed that the perception of <em>healthfulness</em> is a key driver of food purchases for most individuals. But gauging the health <em>quality</em> of foods can be daunting.</aside>The latest United States Food &amp; Drug Association (FDA) food label is confusing at best, particularly for shoppers seeking &#8220;healthier&#8221; options. A recent consumer survey revealed that the perception of <em>healthfulness</em> is a key driver of food purchases for most individuals. But gauging the health <em>quality</em> of foods can be daunting — made all the more difficult by misleading nutrition information that appears on most food labels.</p>
  383. <p>The growing recognition that poor food choices are linked to a prevalence of obesity and chronic disease globally has inspired public health leaders to market the benefits of healthful eating. Step one: More readable and revealing food labels.</p>
  384. <p>The FDA was officially established in 1906 with the signing of the Food and Drugs Act by President Theodore Roosevelt. This act marked the beginning of federal regulation of food and drugs in the U.S., aiming to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and labeling of consumer products.</p>
  385. <p>Food labeling regulations in the U.S. evolve with the times to address concerns related to food safety, nutrition, consumer information, and public health. The aim has been to ensure that consumers have access to accurate and comprehensive information about the foods they purchase and consume.</p>
  386. <p>The table below presents a brief overview of the history of U.S. food labels.</p>
  387. <table style="width: 100%" border="1" cellpadding="10px">
  388. <thead>
  389. <tr>
  390. <td style="width: 34.2192%">
  391. <h3><strong>Food Grouping</strong></h3>
  392. </td>
  393. <td style="width: 64.8949%">
  394. <h3><strong>NutriScore</strong></h3>
  395. </td>
  396. </tr>
  397. </thead>
  398. <tbody>
  399. <tr>
  400. <td style="width: 34.2192%;background-color: #d7d7d7"><strong>1906<br />
  401. </strong><strong>Pure Food and Drug Act</strong></td>
  402. <td style="width: 64.8949%;background-color: #d7d7d7">Prohibited sale of misbranded or adulterated foods/drugs in interstate commerce; laid the foundation for future regulations by establishing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).</td>
  403. </tr>
  404. <tr>
  405. <td style="width: 34.2192%"><strong>1938<br />
  406. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act</strong></td>
  407. <td style="width: 64.8949%">Expanded FDA’s authority, requiring that food labeling be truthful and not misleading; introduced the concept of “adequate directions for use” on labels.</td>
  408. </tr>
  409. <tr>
  410. <td style="width: 34.2192%;background-color: #d7d7d7"><strong>1990<br />
  411. Nutritional Labeling and Education Act<br />
  412. (NLEA)</strong></td>
  413. <td style="width: 64.8949%;background-color: #d7d7d7">Mandated that food products carry standardized nutrition labels that include information such as serving sizes, calories, nutrients, and ingredients.</td>
  414. </tr>
  415. <tr>
  416. <td style="width: 34.2192%"><strong>1994<br />
  417. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)</strong></td>
  418. <td style="width: 64.8949%">Established specific labeling requirements for dietary supplements, including providing an ingredients list.</td>
  419. </tr>
  420. <tr>
  421. <td style="width: 34.2192%;background-color: #d7d7d7"><strong>2004<br />
  422. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act<br />
  423. (FALCPA)</strong></td>
  424. <td style="width: 64.8949%;background-color: #d7d7d7">Required food labels to clearly identify common food allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soybeans.</td>
  425. </tr>
  426. <tr>
  427. <td style="width: 34.2192%"><strong>2023<br />
  428. Modernization of Food Labeling<br />
  429. (FLMA) </strong></td>
  430. <td style="width: 64.8949%">Establishing standard front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling for all packaged foods; FOP highlights nutrients that are overconsumed and linked to chronic diseases</td>
  431. </tr>
  432. </tbody>
  433. </table>
  434. <h2>Modern times</h2>
  435. <p>In 2023, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2594/text">Food Labeling Modernization Act (FLMA)</a> directed the FDA to establish a standard front-of-package nutrition (FOP) label that includes symbols and a rating system for all packaged food it regulates. This system would highlight nutrients that are overconsumed and linked to chronic diseases, much like other countries have done (see below). Use of FOP systems and symbols are not without controversy, however. With enormous profit in highly processed, nutrient-poor foods, it seems logical that food industry advocacy groups — the American Beverage Association and Sugar Association, among others — would favor labels that make it harder for consumers to determine the healthiness of a product. Many of these same food companies have been fighting consumer-friendly FOP labels for nearly two decades.</p>
  436. <p>Below are some examples of terms used in deceptive labeling to make junk foods appear healthy. This is why it is so important to define and standardize terms and approaches to FOP labeling that are consistent, trusted, and easily understood.</p>
  437. <table border="1" cellpadding="10">
  438. <thead>
  439. <tr>
  440. <td>
  441. <h3><strong>What Label Says</strong></h3>
  442. </td>
  443. <td>
  444. <h3><strong>What Label Implies</strong></h3>
  445. </td>
  446. <td>
  447. <h3><strong>What is Truth</strong></h3>
  448. </td>
  449. <td>
  450. <h3><strong>What To Do</strong></h3>
  451. </td>
  452. </tr>
  453. </thead>
  454. <tbody>
  455. <tr>
  456. <td>“Made with whole grains”, or “made with real fruit”</td>
  457. <td>100% of grains used are whole.</td>
  458. <td>Often includes only a “pinch” of whole grains, added to refined grains.</td>
  459. <td>Choose only products labeled “100% whole grains” or “made with real fruit.”</td>
  460. </tr>
  461. <tr>
  462. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">“Contains no cholesterol”</td>
  463. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">More desirable because it is a special formulation without cholesterol.</td>
  464. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">The food never contained cholesterol in the first place. Cholesterol is only found in animal products and some tropical fruit.</td>
  465. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">Don’t pay extra for plant products with this label.</td>
  466. </tr>
  467. <tr>
  468. <td>“Natural”</td>
  469. <td>No man-made ingredients, organic, non-GMO.</td>
  470. <td>Natural is not a nutrition claim; it’s a marketing claim.</td>
  471. <td>Don’t be fooled; completely ignore claim.</td>
  472. </tr>
  473. <tr>
  474. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">Sugary junk food that does not list sugar as the first ingredient</td>
  475. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">Sugar content is not high.</td>
  476. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7;vertical-align: top">Food contains many forms of sugar, none of which are high enough to require it to list first. Cumulatively, combining many forms of sugar still adds up.</td>
  477. <td style="background-color: #d7d7d7">Don’t fall for this sugar shell game. Sugar aliases include corn syrup solids, crystal dextrose, evaporated cane juice, fructose sweetener, fruit juice concentrates, malt syrup, maple syrup, molasses, concentrated fruit juice, hexitol, inversol, isomalt, maltodextrin, malted barley, nectars, pentose, raisin syrup, and others.</td>
  478. </tr>
  479. </tbody>
  480. </table>
  481. <h2>More than just a label</h2>
  482. <div id="attachment_44369" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic2-health-yourself.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44369" class="size-medium wp-image-44369" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic2-health-yourself-300x174.png" alt="FOP Label" width="300" height="174" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic2-health-yourself-300x174.png 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/UK-Traffic2-health-yourself.png 344w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44369" class="wp-caption-text">Sample of a U.K. FOP label.</p></div>
  483. <p>The goal of any FOP nutrition label is to increase the proportion of consumers who can easily notice, comprehend, and use available food-label information to make more nutritious choices. The whole point is to prevent or reduce obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.</p>
  484. <p>Deciding what information should be presented on the FOP label is a conundrum. Food manufacturers, science experts, consumer advocates, and public health officials all compete to prioritize their respective agendas and insights. Since there is so much possible information to display, reaching a consensus on a FOP system that most stakeholders would adopt has proven difficult. Rarely is everyone satisfied.</p>
  485. <p>More than 40 countries have employed easy-to-understand, FOP nutrition information that reveals at a glance which foods are more — or less — healthful.</p>
  486. <p>For example, the U.K.&#8217;s FOP label sets forth a recommended format using red, amber, and green color-coding, and percentage-reference intakes (RIs). This FOP label is also known as “traffic light” labeling in which green indicates the specific nutrient content is “low” and is a “healthy” choice; amber means the product is neither high nor low in the specific nutrient – in other words, you can eat these foods most of the time; and red warns the food is high in fat, saturated fat, salt, or sugar, and consumers should limit their intake.</p>
  487. <h2>Canadian FOP-labeling</h2>
  488. <p><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/CanadaFOP3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-44372 alignright" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/CanadaFOP3.jpg" alt="Canadian label identifies whether a food is healthy or not" width="200" height="153" /></a>Research shows that frequently eating foods high in sodium, sugar, or saturated fat can lead to increased health risks, including stroke, obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some types of cancers. Based on that information, the Canadian government mandated FOP nutrition symbol(s) be applied to prepackaged foods that meet or exceed set levels for these nutrients.</p>
  489. <p>Some foods that are not required to display a FOP symbol (in Canada and potentially in the U.S.), include individually packaged portions intended to be served in restaurants. These might be cracker packets served with soup or single-serve creamers with coffee; milk and cream sold in refillable glass containers; foods in very small packages; raw, single-ingredient whole cuts of meat, poultry, and fish; and finally, foods with a protective effect on health, such as fruits and vegetables without added sodium, sugars, or saturated fat.</p>
  490. <p><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/CanadaFOP4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-44371 alignleft" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/CanadaFOP4.jpg" alt="Canadian label identifies whether a food is healthy or not" width="280" height="143" /></a>The Canadian FOP nutrition symbol features a magnifying glass inside a box that highlights whether a food is high in sodium, sugars, saturated fat, or any combination of these (see figure). The graphic is black and white. The heading &#8220;High in&#8221; appears in bold black letters inside the box at the top; there is at least one bar inside the box that identifies the product as &#8220;high in sat fat,&#8221; &#8220;high in sugars,&#8221; and/or &#8220;high in sodium,&#8221; as applicable.</p>
  491. <p>FOP labeling is based on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency&#8217;s model for nutrient profiling. Different countries rely on the model to help consumers quickly recognize and compare different products. The FOP highlights (total) sugars, saturated fats (“saturates”), salt, and calories in 100g or 100ml of a food.</p>
  492. <h2>Anticipated American FOP label</h2>
  493. <div id="attachment_44370" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic1-heatlh-healthyourself.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-44370" class="size-medium wp-image-44370" src="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic1-heatlh-healthyourself-300x217.png" alt="Sample of a UK FOP label" width="300" height="217" srcset="https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic1-heatlh-healthyourself-300x217.png 300w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic1-heatlh-healthyourself-1024x742.png 1024w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2024/04/UK-Traffic1-heatlh-healthyourself-768x556.png 768w, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/mc-image-cache/2024/04/UK-Traffic1-heatlh-healthyourself.png 1198w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-44370" class="wp-caption-text">Example of a U.K. FOP label using the &#8220;traffic light&#8221; color scheme.</p></div>
  494. <p>Thus far, the U.S. does not require FOP labeling, relying instead on the food industry’s voluntary efforts, laden with confusing numbers and percentages. Thus far, we know that the U.S.-FOP label will complement a newly condensed Nutrition Facts label, by displaying simplified, at-a-glance nutrition information to help consumers quickly and easily make more healthy food selections.</p>
  495. <p>As of April 2024, based on all of the available data, the following information will most likely appear on the soon-to-be-released U.S.-FOP label.</p>
  496. <ol>
  497. <li>Calorie content either as per serving, or per package, regardless of size.</li>
  498. <li>Descriptive information about serving size in order to reinforce and highlight the actual quantity of food associated with the calorie content.</li>
  499. <li>Number of servings for packages that contain three or more servings.</li>
  500. <li>Indicate whether a product is high or low for the following nutrients: saturated fat, sodium, added sugars, fiber content, and calcium. It most likely will be similar to the U.K. traffic light symbol.</li>
  501. <li>In response to concerns about the high prevalence of overweight and obese children and teens, the FDA is considering nutrition standards for the FOP label to indicate which products might appropriately be marketed to children.</li>
  502. </ol>
  503. <p>A “high in” label (similar to Canada&#8217;s) has been proposed by the FDA and is superior to the food-industry-backed “per serving” label. It avoids numbers and percentages and helps the consumer focus on key information. As for label colors, the agency has suggested using them, by assigning colors to individual nutrients.</p>
  504. <p>Critics have argued that the proposed label would be confusing since it would be like pulling up to a traffic light that is red, yellow, and green all at the same time. How could a driver possibly know what to do?</p>
  505. <p>Stayed tuned!</p>
  506. <p><em><strong>References</strong></em></p>
  507. <ul>
  508. <li><em><a href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-history-exhibits/80-years-federal-food-drug-and-cosmetic-act">80 Years of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. </a>Acton, R. B., et al. &#8220;Comparing the effects of four front-of-package nutrition labels on consumer purchases of five common beverages and snack foods: Results from a randomized trial.&#8221; 2022. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 122(1), 38.British Nutrition Foundation. &#8220;Bridging gaps in food labeling.&#8221; 2022. Nutrition Bulletin. 47:2.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/fdas-nutrition-initiatives">FDA’s Nutrition Initiatives</a></em></li>
  509. <li><em><a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/175617/download">Front of Package Labeling Literature Review</a>. 2023. U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration.</em></li>
  510. <li><em><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2468-2667%2818%2930009-4">Front-of-pack Nutri-Score labeling in France</a>: An evidence-based policy.</em></li>
  511. <li><em><a href="https://www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FOP_Factsheet_UNCGFRP.pdf">Front-of-Package (FOP) Food Labeling</a>: Empowering consumers and promoting healthy diets.</em></li>
  512. <li><em>Julia, C., et al. &#8220;Are foods ‘healthy’ or ‘healthier’? Front-of-pack labeling and the concept of healthiness applied to foods.&#8221; 2022. British Journal of Nutrition. 127(6):948.</em></li>
  513. <li><em>Katz, D.L., et al. &#8220;The stratification of foods on the basis of overall nutritional quality: The Overall Nutritional Quality Index.&#8221; 2009. American Journal of Health Promotion. 24(2):133.</em></li>
  514. <li><em><a href="//www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/7259">Scientific opinion on the scientific advice related to nutrient profiling</a> for the development of harmonised mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labeling and the setting of nutrient profiles for restricting nutrition and health claims on foods. Swedish Food Agency.</em></li>
  515. <li><em>Wartella, E.A., et al. &#8220;Front-of-package nutrition rating systems and symbols: Phase 1 Report. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The National Academies Press. 2010. <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/13221/chapter/1">Free download</a>.</em></li>
  516. </ul>
  517. ]]></content:encoded>
  519. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/25/its-time-to-rethink-food-labels/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  520. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  523. </item>
  524. <item>
  525. <title>Look to Michigan: The &#8216;defining public university of the future&#8217;</title>
  526. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/24/look-to-michigan-the-defining-public-university-of-the-future/</link>
  527. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/24/look-to-michigan-the-defining-public-university-of-the-future/#comments</comments>
  529. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dana Elger]]></dc:creator>
  530. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:46:29 +0000</pubDate>
  531. <category><![CDATA[Campus Life]]></category>
  532. <category><![CDATA[Education & Society]]></category>
  533. <category><![CDATA[future]]></category>
  534. <category><![CDATA[Michigan campus]]></category>
  535. <category><![CDATA[Santa J. Ono]]></category>
  536. <category><![CDATA[strategic plan]]></category>
  537. <category><![CDATA[Vision 2034]]></category>
  538. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44331</guid>
  539.  
  540. <description><![CDATA[U-M's blueprint for the next decade -- Vision 2034 -- leverages the community's excellence at scale to confront the future's most significant challenges, from AI and precision medicine to campus well-being and carbon neutrality. ]]></description>
  541. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Excellence at scale</h2>
  542. <p>After a year of gathering input from the campus community, the University of Michigan has released its strategic vision for the next 10 years and has pledged to be the defining public university, “boldly exemplified by our innovation and service to the common good.”</p>
  543. <p><a href="https://vision2034.umich.edu/">Vision 2034</a> — detailed in an <a href="https://vision2034.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/UM_Vision-ImpactReport.pdf">initial 43-page report</a> — calls upon the University to leverage its interdisciplinarity and excellence at scale to educate learners, advance society, and make groundbreaking discoveries to impact the greatest challenges facing humanity.</p>
  544. <p>“Together, we have created a new vision that will open horizons and opportunities while drawing on our ethos, our tremendous strengths, and our exceptional capabilities as a university,” President Santa J. Ono said in a <a href="https://youtu.be/JAeln8e8nmE">video message</a> announcing the vision.</p>
  545. <aside class="callout right">&#8220;The University of Michigan will be the defining public university, boldly exemplified by our innovation and service to the common good. We will leverage our interdisciplinarity and excellence at scale to educate learners, advance society, and make groundbreaking discoveries to impact the greatest challenges facing humanity.&#8221; &#8212; <em>U-M&#8217;s vision statement</em> </aside>
  546. <p>The vision incorporates strategic planning efforts across the institution — including at UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint, and Michigan Medicine — as well as other campuswide initiatives such as Culture Journey, DEI 2.0, and Campus Plan 2050.</p>
  547. <p>The University will focus its efforts to make a significant impact in four key areas:</p>
  548. <ul>
  549. <li>Life-changing education</li>
  550. <li>Human health and well-being</li>
  551. <li>Democracy and civic and global engagement</li>
  552. <li>Climate action, sustainability, and environmental justice.</li>
  553. </ul>
  554. <p>To support its vision, the University will make strategic investments in seven commitment areas:</p>
  555. <ul>
  556. <li>Purpose-driven education and student experience</li>
  557. <li>Research, scholarship, discovery, and artificial intelligence</li>
  558. <li>Community health support, prevention, and performance</li>
  559. <li>Arts and creative expression</li>
  560. <li>Diversity, equity, and inclusion</li>
  561. <li>Faculty and staff engagement and experience</li>
  562. <li>Innovation, partnerships, and economic development.</li>
  563. </ul>
  564. <p><iframe loading="lazy" class="fluid" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JAeln8e8nmE?start=1&#038;wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;feature=oembed&#038;rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="President Ono – Introduction of Vision 2034"></iframe></p>
  565. <p><a href="https://youtu.be/JAeln8e8nmE">Watch a video introduction of Vision 2034 by President Santa J. Ono.</a></p>
  566. <h2>Plan behind the plan</h2>
  567. <aside class="callout right">
  568. <strong><a href="https://shows.acast.com/michigan-minds/episodes">Michigan Minds Podcast</a> highlights Vision 2034 impact areas</strong></p>
  569. <ul>
  570. <li>Listen: <a href="https://shows.acast.com/michigan-minds/episodes/president-santa-j-ono-shares-vision-on-democracy-and-engagem">President Santa J. Ono shares vision for democracy and engagement</a></li>
  571. <li>Listen: <a href="https://shows.acast.com/michigan-minds/episodes/provost-laurie-mccauley-shares-vision-for-making-education-m">Provost Laurie McCauley shares vision for making education more accessible</a></li>
  572. <li>Listen: <a href="https://shows.acast.com/michigan-minds/episodes/marschall-runge-sees-continued-statewide-expansion-and-disea">Marschall Runge shares plans for continuing statewide expansion</a></li>
  573. </ul>
  574. </aside>
  575. The University will celebrate each of the four impact areas with a yearlong series of events. The 2024-25 academic year will be dedicated to democracy and civic engagement.</p>
  576. <p>The University’s vision is guided by its values and mission and reflects the aspirations of the U-M community.</p>
  577. <p>“Our vision is not a strategic plan, but rather a guide for where we will focus our efforts over the next 10 years,” Ono said. “It is a first in our history and builds on our 200-year legacy of leadership and impact.”</p>
  578. <p>In January 2023, Ono announced the university would engage the U-M community in a strategic vision process led by U-M’s three executive vice presidents — Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Geoffrey Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Marschall Runge, executive vice president for medical affairs, chief executive officer at Michigan Medicine, and dean of the Medical School.</p>
  579. <p>More than 25,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and local community members engaged in the yearlong vision planning effort.</p>
  580. <p>Their input informed the impact and commitment areas including the set of guiding statements outlining aspirational goals for the university for each area.</p>
  581. <h2>Getting specific</h2>
  582. <aside class="callout left"><a href="https://vision2034.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/UM_Vision-ImpactReport.pdf">Read the Vision 2034 Report</a></aside>The vision report points to current initiatives across the University as examples of the types of efforts that could be created or receive additional support.</p>
  583. <p>Within the impact area of “life-changing education,” programs like <a href="https://wolverinepathways.umich.edu/">Wolverine Pathways</a>, which offers free college preparation to seventh- through 12th-grade students in Detroit, Southfield, Ypsilanti, and Grand Rapids, and free online courses through the <a href="https://ai.umich.edu/">Center for Academic Innovation</a>, which extends the reach of U-M courses to more than 11 million global learners, are helping to increase access to a U-M education.</p>
  584. <p>For “human health and well-being,” the vision report noted the work of the <a href="https://wellbeing.umich.edu/">Well-being Collective,</a> a central hub for a systemwide approach to supporting students, faculty, and staff.</p>
  585. <p>For “democracy, civic, and global engagement,” the report singles out civic engagement efforts by <a href="https://www.govote.umich.edu/">UMich Votes</a> — a non-partisan campus coalition whose mission is to improve the accessibility of voting — and <a href="https://www.govote.umich.edu/">Turn Up Turnout</a> — a student organization with a presence on all three U-M campuses — to educate and encourage voting behaviors among students.</p>
  586. <p>For “climate action, sustainability, and environmental justice,” the report points to the <a href="https://planetblue.umich.edu/campus/get-involved/pba/">Planet Blue Ambassador</a> program that, with more than 9,000 students, faculty and staff, helps to advance sustainability through actions on and off campus and supports the University’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2040.</p>
  587. <p><iframe loading="lazy" class="fluid" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QkgIWZEwAFc?start=3&#038;wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;feature=oembed&#038;rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="University of Michigan Vision 2034: Look to Michigan. Wherever we go, progress follows."></iframe></p>
  588. <h2>The physical plant</h2>
  589. <p>Several building projects are now underway that will support the vision in the near term.</p>
  590. <ul>
  591. <li>The Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center will offer world-class facilities for exercise, connection, and wellness when it opens in the fall of 2025.</li>
  592. <li>The Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, a new hospital that will house a state-of-the-art neurosciences center, advanced imaging, and high-level, specialty care services for cardiovascular and thoracic patients, will open in the fall of 2025.</li>
  593. <li>The Central Campus residential complex will add 2,300 undergraduate beds and a 900-seat dining hall on Central Campus when it opens in the fall of 2026.</li>
  594. <li>The U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit, a cutting-edge research, education, and entrepreneurship hub, will open in the spring of 2027.</li>
  595. </ul>
  596. <p>In unveiling the vision, Ono has called upon the U-M community to embrace the vision and the work toward 2034.</p>
  597. <p>“We’ve established our vision. Let’s make it a reality. So, let’s look to Michigan, and let’s dare to achieve our dreams,” he said.</p>
  598. <p>Explore the <a href="https://vision2034.umich.edu/">Vision 2034 website</a>.</p>
  599. ]]></content:encoded>
  601. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/24/look-to-michigan-the-defining-public-university-of-the-future/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  602. <slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
  605. </item>
  606. <item>
  607. <title>Volunteers needed for study: Learn how exposure to ‘forever chemicals’ impacts cancer risk</title>
  608. <link>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/23/volunteers-needed-for-study-learn-how-exposure-to-forever-chemicals-impacts-cancer-risk/</link>
  609. <comments>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/23/volunteers-needed-for-study-learn-how-exposure-to-forever-chemicals-impacts-cancer-risk/#comments</comments>
  611. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Nicole Fawcett]]></dc:creator>
  612. <pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:30:02 +0000</pubDate>
  613. <category><![CDATA[Education & Society]]></category>
  614. <category><![CDATA[Research News]]></category>
  615. <category><![CDATA[cancer]]></category>
  616. <category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
  617. <category><![CDATA[forever chemicals]]></category>
  618. <category><![CDATA[PFAS]]></category>
  619. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44302</guid>
  620.  
  621. <description><![CDATA[U-M investigators need your help to understand statewide environmental exposures and cancer risk. Researchers hope to recruit 100,000 Michiganders ages 18-49 from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, with a focus on residents in Metro Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Saginaw.
  622.  
  623. ]]></description>
  624. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Creating a movement</h2>
  625. <p><a href="https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/pearce-celeste.html?pk_vid=993e3d4cc3c7d1f8171390876944e021">Celeste Leigh Pearce, PhD/MPH</a>, wants to build more than a cohort of study participants.</p>
  626. <p>She wants to create a movement.</p>
  627. <p>It’s a movement to understand how exposures to toxic metals, industrial pollution, and “forever chemicals” called PFAS are impacting the health and cancer risk of residents across Michigan.</p>
  628. <p>Specifically, she wants to recruit at least 100,000 Michiganders ages 18-49 from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, with a focus on those who live in environmental injustice hotspots such as Metro Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Saginaw.</p>
  629. <p>“As a cancer epidemiologist, the opportunity to put together a cohort that really has the potential to help us understand these important exposures is the pinnacle of what we do,” said Pearce, co-principal investigator of the <a href="https://www.micares.health/">Michigan Cancer and Research on the Environment Study</a>, or MI-CARES.</p>
  630. <p>She is equipped with a $13 million grant from the National Cancer Institute and an expert team of collaborators from the Rogel Cancer Center and the University of Michigan School of Public Health, including co-principal investigators Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D., and Dana Dolinoy, Ph.D.</p>
  631. <p>In the following Q&amp;A, Pearce, professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health and co-lead of Rogel’s cancer control and population sciences program, reflects on the project and why bringing this study to Michigan is so critical. The watercolor map above shows the age-adjusted rate of invasive incidence of all cancers in Michigan (2014-18), with blue showing higher incidence. (Image Credit: Michigan Medicine.)</p>
  632. <h3>Q: This is an ambitious project with a huge scope. How did it come together?</h3>
  633. <aside class="callout left">
  634. Michiganders experience some of the most toxic environmental exposures in the nation.<br />
  635. <a href="https://micares.health/">Join MI-CARES</a> to help understand how our environment is harming us. <a href="https://micares.health/">Enroll in the study today</a></aside>A: When we read the request for funding, it was really clear that Michigan was the right place to study environmental exposures and cancer risk.</p>
  636. <p>Michigan has had many environmental catastrophes over the decades, the most recent being PFAS and hexavalent chromium releases into the Huron River.</p>
  637. <p>We also have the right people here at the Rogel Cancer Center and School of Public Health to do this work, which made it easy to put a team together with all the relevant expertise.</p>
  638. <p>In terms of size, we knew that to understand these associations, we would need a lot of people.</p>
  639. <p>I worked on the multi-ethnic cohort study of diet and cancer at my previous institution, which included more than 200,000 people, so I had experience and comfort with building a large cohort. We decided, go big or go home.</p>
  640. <h3>Q: How do you feel about that now that you’ve gotten started?</h3>
  641. <p>A: It’s certainly daunting!</p>
  642. <p>We enrolled more than 1,200 people in the first three months, which we feel good about.</p>
  643. <p>As we get the word out and find what recruitment strategies work best, we’ll engage more communities and continue to enroll.</p>
  644. <p>It’s about helping people understand the goals and value of the cohort but also refining our understanding of communities’ needs so we can give back in a way that’s meaningful to them.</p>
  645. <p>We want to make sure we’re not just asking participants to engage but also engaging back ourselves.</p>
  646. <h3>Q: How big of a problem are environmental exposures in Michigan? Why is it the place to do a study like this?</h3>
  647. <aside class="callout right"><a href="https://shows.acast.com/3psofcancer/episodes/cancer-and-evironment">Cancer Aware Podcast: Episode 51</a> &#8212; The intersection between cancer and the environment, featuring Dana Dolinoy, professor of public health.</aside>
  648. <p>A: We can go all the way back to a statewide environmental exposure in the early 1970s when there was a contamination of animal feed with fire retardant.</p>
  649. <p>The contaminated feed was distributed all over the state and fed to animals, some of whom were slaughtered.</p>
  650. <p>People consumed those products and were poisoned. There are ongoing studies of the health effects of that contamination and evidence of increased risks of some cancers.</p>
  651. <p>That happened almost 50 years ago, but we look back closer in time at the Flint water crisis.</p>
  652. <p>The health consequences there are far reaching – of course lead contamination, but we don’t yet have a full understanding of all the health effects.</p>
  653. <p>Then there’s the Tri-Cities area of Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City, as well as the River Rouge communities in Metro Detroit, which have some of the highest pollution levels in the country.</p>
  654. <h3>Q: You identified six environmental injustice hotspots and plan to recruit equal numbers of Black, Hispanic, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), and white participants. What role do racial disparities play in environmental exposures and cancer risk?</h3>
  655. <p>A: When you look broadly at exposures, communities of color are largely affected.</p>
  656. <p>This presents an opportunity to try to understand disparities in exposures, including across neighborhoods. In Michigan, you can see pockets of environmental injustice, which is where we are targeting our enrollment.</p>
  657. <p>One important aspect of the cohort is that for the first time we’ll be able to look at exposures and outcomes in the MENA community.</p>
  658. <p>This is often described as a hidden community because, historically, questionnaires have not asked whether people are of MENA descent.</p>
  659. <p>Our cohort will allow people to identify as MENA, which will give us the opportunity to understand potential health disparities in this community.</p>
  660. <h3>Q: What makes this study unique?</h3>
  661. <aside class="callout right">Related: <a href="https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/chemicals-stored-home-garages-linked-als-risk#msdynttrid=a-WWMTegOHgQVt08djjpAfdn2UG6yY_gDAezw-Hf064">Chemicals stored in home garages linked to ALS risk</a></aside>
  662. <p>A: MI-CARES is not a one-time questionnaire. Participants will give us information every year, through surveys.</p>
  663. <p>At the time of initial enrollment, we are also asking people to donate blood and saliva samples.</p>
  664. <p>It will help us understand the association between these environmental exposures and intermediate cancer markers, such as stress, inflammation, and immune function.</p>
  665. <p>Eventually, we’ll also be able to look at cancer incidence.</p>
  666. <p>Our goal is to be able to look across the lifespan at critical time periods – birth, school age, puberty, young adulthood, pregnancy, menopause.</p>
  667. <p>To do that, you need to use a cohort, not look retrospectively, because you’re capturing it in real time. This life-course approach is one of the study’s key design points.</p>
  668. <h3>Q: What do you hope comes from this study?</h3>
  669. <p>A: It will give us a sense of exposure distributions across communities in Michigan and help us understand differences based on racial or ethnic group and neighborhood characteristics.</p>
  670. <p>We also will look at the impact of environmental exposures on immune function and biologic aging: Are these exposures causing our cells to age prematurely, which could lead to cancer or other diseases?</p>
  671. <p>Another opportunity is to establish smaller cohorts of cancer patients or survivors to look at environmental exposures, survival, and quality of life outcomes.</p>
  672. <p>That’s in the works for 2023.</p>
  673. <p>On a broader level, I hope it’s an opportunity to inform policy.</p>
  674. <p>The regulations around environmental pollution in Michigan and most states tend to favor businesses over individuals.</p>
  675. <p>Let’s say there are three plants in a community all putting out pollution. If one plant asks for an override of their allowable pollution amount, the approval is based only on an evaluation of that one plant.</p>
  676. <p>It doesn’t look at the cumulative exposure from all three plants. Right now, only New Jersey has passed legislation that looks at cumulative exposure. New York is also considering it. I would love to see legislation like this in Michigan. That’s outside the scope of the cohort, but findings from the cohort can inform the policy and advocacy discussions.</p>
  677. <p>At the end of the day, what I hope to show is how Michigan as a statewide community can come together and really get answers by participating in this cohort.</p>
  678. <p><a href="https://micares.health/"><em>Learn more about MI-CARES at micares.health.</em></a></p>
  679. <p><em>This story originally appeared in the magazine Illuminate, published by the Rogel Cancer Center.</em></p>
  680. ]]></content:encoded>
  682. <wfw:commentRss>https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2024/04/23/volunteers-needed-for-study-learn-how-exposure-to-forever-chemicals-impacts-cancer-risk/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  683. <slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
  686. </item>
  687. <item>
  688. <title>Chemicals stored in home garages linked to ALS risk</title>
  689. <link>https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/chemicals-stored-home-garages-linked-als-risk#msdynttrid=a-WWMTegOHgQVt08djjpAfdn2UG6yY_gDAezw-Hf064</link>
  690. <comments>https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/chemicals-stored-home-garages-linked-als-risk#msdynttrid=a-WWMTegOHgQVt08djjpAfdn2UG6yY_gDAezw-Hf064#respond</comments>
  692. <dc:creator><![CDATA[UMC Admin]]></dc:creator>
  693. <pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:55:57 +0000</pubDate>
  694. <category><![CDATA[Research News]]></category>
  695. <category><![CDATA[ALS]]></category>
  696. <category><![CDATA[chemicals]]></category>
  697. <category><![CDATA[garage]]></category>
  698. <category><![CDATA[household toxins]]></category>
  699. <category><![CDATA[storage]]></category>
  700. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://michigantoday.umichsites.org/?p=44278</guid>
  701.  
  702. <description><![CDATA[Over the last decade, researchers at U-M have found exposure to environmental toxins — from pesticides used in agriculture to volatile organic compounds in the manufacturing industry — is linked to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The buildup of exposures is possibly associated with recreational activities such as woodworking and gardening.]]></description>
  703. <content:encoded><![CDATA[Over the last decade, researchers at U-M have found exposure to environmental toxins — from pesticides used in agriculture to volatile organic compounds in the manufacturing industry — is linked to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The buildup of exposures is possibly associated with recreational activities such as woodworking and gardening.]]></content:encoded>
  705. <wfw:commentRss>https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/chemicals-stored-home-garages-linked-als-risk#msdynttrid=a-WWMTegOHgQVt08djjpAfdn2UG6yY_gDAezw-Hf064/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  706. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  709. </item>
  710. </channel>
  711. </rss>
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