In the News
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May 12, 2020
“As schools contemplate the possibility that students may not be allowed on campus in traditional ways for extended periods of time, risk mitigation will become an … important driver of digital transformation and allow universities to continue enrolling — and serving — students,” co-wrote James DeVaney, associate vice provost for academic innovation.
Harvard Business Review -
May 12, 2020
“Our research found that it is possible to devise procedures that promote the goals of Title IX while simultaneously affording students (accused of sexual assault) the opportunity to be heard. Rather than promote these models, however, the new regulations compel schools to allow cross-examination — putting a sizable thumb on the scale in favor of the due-process rights of the accused. If lawyers are brought in to conduct cross-examination, professional ethics require zealous advocacy in defense of the accused. Wealthy students are more likely to be able to hire skilled attorneys, well-versed in strategies to destroy witness credibility and distort the campus process,” wrote Sandra Levitsky, associate professor of sociology; Elizabeth Armstrong, professor of sociology and organizational studies; and Kamaria Porter, doctoral student in higher education.
The Washington Post -
May 12, 2020
The ability of a virus to evade detection makes it difficult to treat with medications, says Adam Lauring, associate professor of internal medicine, microbiology and immunology, and ecology and evolutionary biology: “The earlier you take the drugs, the better, but by the time someone comes into a clinic, there’s already been a lot of growth of the virus, so drugs may slow the virus down, but it may be too late to stop the damage at that point.”
NBC News -
May 11, 2020
“If we’re going to use these technologies, we need to be very careful that they’re constrained specifically for the purposes of the pandemic, and not used for anything else,” said Kentaro Toyama, professor of information, on the role that technology will play in tracking and combating the coronavirus — possibly at the expense of personal freedoms. Meanwhile, precautions should be taken when out in public, including limiting the number of customers inside stores, taking employees’ temperatures and asking bus riders to wear masks. “There’s no such thing as zero risk, but these are things we can do to lower risk,” said Joseph Eisenberg, professor of epidemiology.
Bridge Magazine -
May 11, 2020
“A company’s compliance with the guidance alone would not insulate it from state law liability, but it would allow the company to argue, in defense to a tort claim, that it had acted with reasonable care to protect its workers,” said Nina Mendelson, professor of law, commenting on new federal workplace guidelines that say meat processing companies must make “good faith” efforts to keep workers safe.
USA Today -
May 11, 2020
“Consumers are going to be more worried about getting into Ubers and Lyfts than into taxis, and they’re going to be more worried about going to who-knows-who’s house or apartment under Airbnb than they will be about going to a Hilton or Holiday Inn,” said Erik Gordon, clinical assistant professor of business. “If you look at lodging, if you look at rides, the sharing platforms face a bigger customer confidence hurdle than the traditional players.”
The Associated Press -
May 8, 2020
“Cognitive arousal works both ways. Take advantage of that. Figure out what relaxes, amuses or excites you. If an action thriller helps you switch your worries off, go ahead. Escapism can be a wonderful boon,” said Jan Van den Bulck, professor of communication and media, in a story about how binge-watching during the coronavirus pandemic can be a healthy and calming escape.
Detroit Free Press -
May 8, 2020
Michigan needs contact tracing to contain the coronavirus, but it must be combined with social distancing and adequate testing, says Angela Beck, clinical assistant professor of health behavior and health education: “It’s hard to know how ready we are (to ease social distancing) because we have limited testing capacity. … If we remove those restrictions too soon or too broadly, we can expect a likely increase in case count.”
Michigan Radio -
May 8, 2020
“There is this issue of moral distress, where you feel like what’s happening to patients is not in line with your understanding of morals and ethics. If you feel like there is a patient you normally would save and that patient is dying, that is going to be really hard on health care providers,” said Srijan Sen, associate professor of psychiatry, who likens the toll of the coronavirus on health care workers to that of soldiers at war.
Bridge Magazine -
May 7, 2020
“A rigid limit on bank size would be one of the most straightforward steps policymakers could take to preserve financial stability. … Most importantly, limiting the growth of the United States’ biggest financial institutions would shield consumers, the financial system and the broader economy from the all-too-familiar risks of dangerously large banks that we experienced in 2008,” wrote Jeremy Kress, assistant professor of business law.
The Hill
