Posted on Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 6:33 a.m.
Senate panel to U-M: Thumbing nose at legislature could come at a price
By Cindy Heflin
A Michigan Senate panel Thursday linked nearly $5 million in aid for the University of Michigan to compliance with reporting rules for embryonic stem cell research, MLive reported.
Mary Sue Coleman.
“The university is thumbing its nose at the Legislature,” he said.
Members of the state House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education grilled U-M President Mary Sue Coleman last month on stem cell research.
Comments
BhavanaJagat
Mon, Apr 23, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Science and Court of Law : I am rather amused to read the view shared by Sparty that the funding issue could be decided by a Court of Law. If this issue involves a 'subject' under scientific investigation and research, the nature and status of the 'subject' must be established using proven scientific principles. I am simply asking our readers to pay attention to the 'subject' involved in this research. By applying knowledge provided by Biological Science, I suggest that human embryo has consciousness, has intelligence, and has memory of its own living experience. The term 'stem cells' represent a human embryo that is experiencing its own growth and development. When this embryo is implanted, it uses the memory of its own living experience; and it grows and divides as some of its cells experience what is described as 'programmed cell death'. The Constitution gives the Right to Life and people have no right to undermine the basic, foundational principle of the Constitution. A Court of Law may infact determine that people of Michigan have violated the Constitution of the United States of America.
Sparty
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
I suppose absent that $5 million in State Aid, the University would be forced to raise the $5 million another way ... perhaps by raising tuition? I'm sure that's a possible consequence of the republicans playing with fire against a voter approved ballot initiative, a constitutionally autonomous public university, and their petty partisan game playing. Another possible consequence could be yet another US Federal District Court lawsuit challenging this reporting requirement given the voter approved initiative, but how many federal lawsuits can the State handle given the number already pending since the republicans took over?
BhavanaJagat
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 2:01 a.m.
Autonomy vs Accountability : The autonomy of a public university does not confer freedom from accountability. If the University could provide a fifty page response, it must provide the information that has been called for. I would have appreciated if the University has not provided that fifty page response and has claimed its privilege not to answer questions. It appears that University wants to get the funds and at the same time evade its responsibility to account for human embryos used in research. Each embryo represents an individual with individuality because it is Conscious and has Intelligence to perform its living functions. It is not about religion or politics. It is about life and it is about human status in nature.
seasons
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : noon
There is a reason why separation of church and state is essential for a healthy governance. Wasn't the issue of stem cell research already settled in this state by ballot? Yes, Michigan sure needs a change in Lansing; we need people who are didicated to serving the state and the people in the state in the best way possible. This bally-hoo is an example of ill informed and ideology driven petty micro-managing.
aataxpayer
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 2:56 a.m.
This is nothing less than GOP politically motivated harassment of The University of Michigan.
Sparty
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
Public Universities = autonomy guaranteed within State Constitution, have funding to fight State's attempts to blackmail them on various illegal issues. Republican Legislature and Governor: Ought to read State Constitution
jcj
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
I expect if the U thinks it has been wronged they will fight it. Might as well waste our money on a lawsuit instead of fluff for the big shots!
leaguebus
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 5:12 p.m.
Didn't these dogmatic church and state conflicts get solved with the Scopes Monkey Trial? Oh, I forgot, the dogmatics cannot ever leave well enough alone when it comes to their religion. Lets just talk about jobs. We lost a bunch of research jobs to California when the legislature started messing with Stem Cell researchers. Then the 2009 Stem Cell initiative passes here in Michigan and the Republicans still try to block stem cell research by drowning it in paperwork. Time to vote these rascals out of office. Sign the Rickster recall petition.
Space Cowgirl
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.
I really hate to be "that guy," but the fundamentalists actually won the Scopes trial. The conviction was later set aside by the appeals court due to a technicality, but it wasn't until the late 1960s that the Butler Act was repealed. Sadly, if you've been following recent news, it seems TN never got over that.
ann_arbor_guy
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
So this is the same party that is running on the national level for smaller government and less bureaucracy. What a bunch of hypocrites, they love to micromanage all aspects of our lives. We better vote them out before they can decide who gets medical coverage and who can't, whoops too late for that one too!.
Space Cowgirl
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
Personally, I'd like to see the documentation U-M provided to the legislature as well as the five questions that the subcommittee is insisting haven't been answered. Call me crazy, but my initial reaction is that the subcommittee, headed by members of a party that has proven time and again to be against this sort of stem cell research, is moving the goal posts. I know that, in light of recent events, there are a lot of people who would think the worst of the University, but I would imagine the scientists involved are unlikely to risk losing their funding and damaging their reputations by improperly reporting on their studies.
Dog Guy
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
In Aristophanes' Birds, some con men set up Nephelokokkygia (Cloud Cuckoo Land) in the sky both to remove themselves from the common work and woes of mankind and to intercept the tithes and worship men must pay to gods. U of M has taken Nephelokokkygia as its operating model.
Mike S
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 4:11 p.m.
So you are suggesting that the University doesn't provide any actual services, it's sole purpose is to intercepts your taxes from a strategic location? That's an interesting theory. Can you point out where in Nephelokokkygia they educated mankind and researched science and technology to improve the lives of humans? Did Nephelokokkygia at least provide a coliseum for the distraction and amusement of the masses?
a2grateful
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
$5,000,000. 42,000 students. $119 per student. Stupid, stupid legislature!
xmo
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.
If U of M wants the money then they have to comply if not, they don't get the money! Sounds simple to me, what's all of the fuss about? This is not City of Detroit where the Michigan Government gave billions of dollars away over the years just to keep them voting Democrat!
Sparty
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
Shouldn't be a problem .... tuition can always be increased, right? Is that what you want in order for the illegal games the republicans are playing to be trumped by the University?
ffej440
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
I guess you are unaware that Detroit is owed over 200 million from the State of Mich. Also what would be the point of giving billions to get Detroit votes when the State elected a Republican Gov anyways ? Seems like a flawed theory.
anarboran
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
The legislature has no business micromanaging any university in Michigan. This is one place our state constitution got it right. I fully support UM thumbing its nose at those clowns. I'd take it a step further ... If those clowns are gonna act like Moe, Larry, and Curly, then let UM give 'me an eye poke too.
jcj
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
I prefer some kind of over site as to what kind of research MY tax dollars are being spent on! I am not talking specifics here. I don't care what the research is for! You may feel fine with the U of M and their research. But I would bet the farm you would not be OK with a conservative publicly funded University doing research into an area you have an ideological issue with! Are you willing to be same minded across the board? I doubt it.
anarboran
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.
No, sorry jcj, but you are WRONG! (Shall we yell at each other more?). This move by the fools in the legislature is nothing but pure ideological politics. This is exactly why our constitution allows our universities to run themselves, to keep politics out of education and research. This is exactly where UM should draw a line in the sand and stand up for the principle of keeping politics out of research and education.
jcj
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
WRONG! If the U of M does not think the legislature has a right to "thumb their nose" then pay the consequences or go to court! The topic is immaterial. But I suspect if it were a topic you disagree with the U on you would then play the other side!
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:48 a.m.
It's nice somebody is finally standing up to the UM. Our Mayor won't do it, of course, because he works for them. No conflict of interest there, huh?
motorcycleminer
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
10-4
Ricardo Queso
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:47 a.m.
Don't worry, the $4.7 mil from the game in Dallas, and not taking the band along, will help cover the gap.
jcj
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
It's about time the hierarchy at the U of M figure out that they don't ALWAYS get to do things their way without paying for it! Does not matter WHAT the topic they ARE contrary to their belief accountable to someone!
mike gatti
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:18 a.m.
So the Senate wants to punish them for doing too much homework?
Vette96drvr
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:09 a.m.
Would someone please inform the senate that the university is above their law. If they do not feel the need to report child sexual assault or child porn they CERTAINLY do not need to worry about stem cell legislation.
Townie
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 11:06 a.m.
The Republicans love to talk about jobs and jobs creation but then when their ideology says otherwise they block stuff like this. Time to vote the clown circus out of office.