<p>Three of six candidates vying for two University of Michigan Board of Regents seats shared their visions for the university during an Oct. 22 forum. Shauna Ryder Diggs, Carl Meyers, and Sevag Vartanian discussed their plans before an audience of about 50 at Michigan Theater Screening Room. Coordinated by the Faculty Senate Office, the event was also livestreamed. Absent were candidates Denise Ilitch, Andrew Chadderdon, and Donna Oetman, who are also running in the Nov. 5 election.</p><br />
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-content-full"><a target="_blank" href="https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/mc-image-cache/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="640" height="427" src="https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-640x427.jpg" alt="Photo of two men and a woman sitting at a table with another woman standing at a microphone" class="wp-image-125124" srcset="https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-640x427.jpg 640w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-300x200.jpg 300w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-768x512.jpg 768w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-400x267.jpg 400w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-220x147.jpg 220w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-100x67.jpg 100w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates-440x293.jpg 440w, https://record.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/mc-image-cache/2024/10/241023-RegentCandidates.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From left, Board of Regents candidates Sevag Vartanian, Shauna Ryder Diggs and Carl Meyers answer questions posed by moderator Pauline Jones. (Photo by Scott C. Soderberg, Michigan Photography)</figcaption></figure><br />
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<p>Moderated by Pauline Jones, the forum addressed the candidates' views on university policy changes, especially the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the new Regents’ Bylaw on institutional neutrality. Meyers, citing the Michigan Constitution, emphasized a transparent governance style for policy changes, suggesting that past changes lacked stakeholder input.</p><br />
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<p>Diggs, drawing on her background as a physician, advocated for a data-driven, consensus-building approach to decision-making. She highlighted the university's responsibility to engage with diverse stakeholders and experts across its campuses and medical centers.</p><br />
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<p>Vartanian criticized the recent SSRR changes for insufficient faculty and student input, expressing concerns about the university's expanded role in disciplinary matters. He questioned the timing of the institutional neutrality bylaw, referencing its roots in the 1967 Kalven Report.</p><br />
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<p>On the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the candidates agreed on the need for ongoing commitment. Diggs and Meyers highlighted the Go Blue Guarantee, a program providing free tuition to qualifying Michigan families. Meyers called for its substantial expansion and proposed an “APR” strategy: action, partner, recruit.</p><br />
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<p>Vartanian emphasized the importance of inclusive processes for DEI success, advocating for equality of opportunity. Addressing campus safety, candidates unanimously condemned hate and discrimination, asserting the necessity of a strong stance against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism.</p><br />
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<p>“We are against antisemitism, we don’t care for Islamaphobia, we don’t care for prejudice or racism of any kind on our campuses,” Vartanian said. “I think we have an opportunity to make a bold statement here, and let’s see what our leadership does.”</p><br />
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<p>“The leadership, the president, the board has to have the most firm stance against Islamaphobia, racism, antisemitism, sexism,” Diggs said. “We just cannot have any wavering about the fact that personal attacks, violence, attacks based on things that are identity alone make no sense and will not be tolerated on campus.”</p><br />
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<p>“I have a zero tolerance for hate of all kinds, Islamaphobia, antisemitism, sexual, political, it’s just not right, and I think it’s once again an opportunity,” Meyers said. “At U-M, we have to face a problem that we have: We have a crisis of trust, and we don’t talk to each other enough.”</p><br />
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><p></p><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/9np7cty410g?t=1320">Watch a video of the Board of Regents candidate forum.</a></figcaption></figure><br />
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