In the News
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September 10, 2020
Durga Singer, associate professor of pediatrics, and molecular and integrative physiology, spoke about her paper reviewing research on how obesity can cause a hyperactive immune system response to COVID-19, making it difficult to fight off the virus: “Recent evidence has highlighted how one part of the immune system, the macrophage, may be a culprit in driving severe COVID-19 disease. … These findings highlight the importance of understanding how obesity might interact with new drugs or vaccines that are developed for COVID-19.”
Indian Express -
September 10, 2020
“Black Lives Matter raises a broader question about the history of systemic racism and maltreatment of people of color in the world. Has this spilled over into the perception of Africa in these markets? It’s a possibility,” said Howard Stein, professor of epidemiology and Afroamerican and African studies, whose research shows that when it comes to borrowing money, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa paid a premium of 2.9 percentage points over the rest of the world, or an extra $2.2 billion between 2006 and 2014.
Bloomberg News -
September 10, 2020
“On the one hand, many older people, including older women, are more visible and powerful than ever before. … On the other hand, the fate of nursing home residents in the coronavirus pandemic — a true debacle — has revealed the persistence of ageism. We’ve seen narratives about the pandemic pit old and young against each other, with the old cast as ‘expendable’ and the young as ‘irresponsible,'” wrote Susan Douglas, professor of communication and media.
The New York Times -
September 9, 2020
Richard Norton, professor of urban and regional planning, and of the program in the environment, says aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather caused by climate change are likely to make water contamination at Michigan beaches worse over time: “We’re going to start getting more and more of the kinds of big storm events that are beyond the design life of these treatment plants. All of this is pointing to the need to reinvest in our environmental pollution control systems.”
MLive -
September 9, 2020
“As many institutions move to remote or hybrid remote/in-person learning environments in response to COVID-19, they cannot forget about racial climate — and must be accountable for attending to new, different ways Black students may experience the climate, particularly those from communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said Tabbye Chavous, director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity, associate vice president for research, and professor of education and psychology.
Inside Higher Ed -
September 9, 2020
“People should not assume that because we’re changing our behavior (because of COVID-19) that we’re going to see a lighter flu season,” said Arnold Monto, professor of epidemiology, who is worried that the predominant flu strain this season could be H3N2, which is associated with more complications, hospitalizations and deaths, especially among children, people 65 and older, and people with certain chronic conditions.
The Washington Post -
September 8, 2020
“In general, the risks associated with in-person shopping have led many people to shop around less, or to switch to more expensive online or delivery options, and they’re often also adding a healthy tip. As a result, the cost of living for many families has risen in ways that the Consumer Price Index fails to capture,” wrote Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy.
The New York Times -
September 8, 2020
“This is an abuse of authority. This is supposed to be an apolitical civil rights statute … and what the signs point to is that it’s being used to embarrass the president’s political opponents,” said Margo Schlanger, professor of law, on the Justice Department’s use of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to investigate four Democratic-led states that required nursing homes to accept for readmission residents with COVID-19.
The Hill -
September 8, 2020
“You have politicians and other elites increasingly willing to endorse and spread these claims even when they have no particular evidence for them. What it does is, it takes the wacky that exists out there in the fringes and legitimates it, and that can be really dangerous,” said Josh Pasek, associate professor of communication and media, and faculty associate at the Center for Political Studies, on the growing number of Republican politicians giving credence to QAnon.
NBC News -
September 4, 2020
Building a cohesive work culture in the COVID era — especially for new employees working at home — will be hard but can be done, says Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, professor of management and organizations: “Culture is going to be more fragmented when you start off remote — full stop. If I were to go to your organization and ask, ‘What are the three most important norms and taboos?’ I’ll get different answers than if I go to a group of employees who work together on a regular basis.”
Forbes
