Midwest
Some Michigan students disappointed over university's removal of diversity statements: 'Worrying'
Students at the University of Michigan expressed disappointment that the college’s administrators ended diversity statements that were used in their hiring practices.
“I guess when you hear the word DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), it definitely raises a lot of controversy just because of the way how, perhaps, some people are using it over others,” Jasmine, a freshman from Fort Wayne, Indiana, told Fox News Digital.
The art and design major explained further, “I think there definitely still needs to be steps taken to make sure that minorities are still seen on campus. But, that also doesn’t mean limiting the opportunities of people just because they’re of a certain race.”
Provost Laurie McCauley’s decision came from recommendations from an “8-member faculty working group,” which she tasked to “explore the use of diversity statements in faculty hiring and promotion at U-M and elsewhere, and to make a recommendation.”
“I don’t think it’s a good thing because I do think that there should be precautions in place to encourage people to think about the societal problems that continue to persist today,” said Ben, a graduate student.
The University Of Michigan North Campus signage in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
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The Florida native continued, “If there is no larger body suggesting that we integrate schools, then that wouldn’t have happened everywhere.”
“It’s slightly worrying for me,” said Schnaede, a theater and cognitive science major.
“Not necessarily even behind the tough debate about whether DEI is working or not,” the sophomore added. “I think it’s a decision that should be made by the greater U-Mich community so that includes faculty, students, and staff — not just the regents. Overall, it’s not a great idea.”
The University of Michigan Board of Regents, which has a 6-2 Democratic majority, has also had discussions about the future of the bureaucracy associated with DEI initiatives at the university.
“I think it’s a little sad, first of all. I think DEI is something you should address,” said sophomore Michael, a data science engineer.
Joseph, a senior studying architecture, was highly critical of DEI, telling Fox News Digital that it’s “great” that the university removed diversity statements in hiring practices.
“I really don’t feel that it’s necessary,” he said.
“I feel like students are just great how they are, and we don’t need to have people being selected by race or gender or anything like that. We are just unique students,” he said.
“I can relate to it. I have learning disabilities,” said Evan, a double major in economics and film, television, and media. “I don’t know if I fully deserved to come here.”
The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies Building is viewed on the central campus March 24, 2015, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
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“I don’t know if me having disabilities led more to me having an advantage over other people,” he added.
On the other hand, Black students at UM previously criticized their school’s DEI initiatives, per the New York Times. DEI on UM’s campus has been viewed as a failure by Black students,” as reported by the Times. One student called UM’s diversity efforts “superficial” and, despite the institution’s programs, they betrayed “a general discomfort with naming Blackness explicitly.”
“I agree with that,” Joseph told Fox News Digital, reacting in particular to the Black UM student calling DEI “superficial.”
“I think it’s trying to force students to come in not based on their merits. Instead, putting them in based on how they look or other aspects and not quite the representation,” he said.
Princess-J’Maria Mboup, the speaker of the university’s Black Student Union, told the Times that “the students who are most affected by DEI — meaning marginalized communities — are invested in the work, but not in DEI itself.”
“I think it makes sense,” Ben reacted to Fox News Digital. “But I think a lot of them would also agree that eliminating — any kind of top-down removal or defunding of things is not good for the community.”
Jasmine, who aspires to be involved with DEI efforts on campus, reacted to the Black students’ comments in the Times. She said that since she’s a freshman, she feels unqualified to discuss the school’s DEI programs.
Jasmine, a freshman from Fort Wayne, Indiana, studies art and design at the University of Michigan.
“As far as I’m aware, I personally have not interacted very much with the school’s DEI programs,” Jasmine said.
Furthermore, UM students addressed whether future students would feel included at the university after the diversity statement was nixed.
“I think their amount of inclusiveness probably won’t change more or less just because they are going to be inclusive, they probably are already going to do that,” Jasmine said.
“It’s just the wording that keeps changing. I just think it’s really a matter of what the experience will be like in the years to come, and I think that’ll speak more than anything else.”
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Detroit, MI
Where to watch Houston Astros vs Detroit Tigers: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 26
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Friday as the Houston Astros visit the Detroit Tigers.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Houston Astros vs Detroit Tigers?
First pitch between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (ET) on Friday, June 26.
How to watch Houston Astros vs Detroit Tigers on Friday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, June 26, 2026, at 6:34 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for June 26 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Milwaukee’s current wastewater treatment contract holder, Veolia Water Milwaukee, is under fire, with some calling for an audit.
A look at MMSD’s South Shore and Jones Island wastewater plants
A look at MMSD’s South Shore and Jones Island plants as leaders weigh a contested $700M, 10-year operations contract in Milwaukee.
It goes without saying that Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is an essential community asset.
Recently, MMSD has been in the news and not in a good way. The MMSD Commission voted to approve an audit of the district’s private wastewater operator. This is less than six weeks after the community organization Common Ground launched a public campaign calling for an audit of Veolia Water Milwaukee, alleging mismanagement of the Jones Island and South Shore wastewater treatment facilities.
I was briefly on a six-member MMSD advisory committee for the 1998 United Water Services contract. Now 28 years, and 2008, 2018, contracts later, the question is what firm to hire for the 2028 contract. I read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Urban Milwaukee articles, whistle-blower letters and other materials and jotted down concerns listed below (there are others):
- Veolia cut corners on treatment time and process chemicals
- Veolia allowed MMSD assets — buildings and process equipment — to deteriorate
- Veolia provided inadequate staffing
- Employees, particularly those who questioned management, were treated poorly
- Reversing these conditions will be very expensive, if it is even possible to do so
Aren’t these issues sufficient to disqualify Veolia from future consideration?
MMSD has an innovative civil engineering history.
The national American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) designated the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage Treatment Plant a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark when they honored Milwaukee in 1974 for developing the waste-activated sludge treatment process and pioneering a beneficial reuse of biosolids (Milorganite). MMSD has also been recognized for the Deep Tunnel and many innovative infrastructure and flood management projects over the years.
Wisconsin has a strong civil engineering community, which includes the American Society of Civil Engineers-Wisconsin Section (ASCE-WI); five civil engineering university programs with three —Marquette, MSOE and UW-Milwaukee — in Milwaukee); as well as many technical school and apprenticeship programs. Civil engineering projects require many types of expertise and skills.
Is anyone asking questions such as what should be the future of wastewater treatment in Milwaukee? Or what do citizens know about wastewater treatment? Or what do citizens need to know about treatment options to make informed decisions about parameters such as feasibility, public health, environmental protection, costs and financing?
Before the next contract is decided and awarded, shouldn’t human waste generators (citizens), civil engineers and the wastewater industry be asking some of these important questions?
Carol Diggelman, PhD, Emerita Professor, Milwaukee School of Engineering, where she taught for over 30 years, has since retiring, resumed volunteer activities with the League of Women Voters and organized many programs at the intersection of infrastructure and natural resources.
Minneapolis, MN
Reform, money and trust: Council members’ key criteria for Minneapolis’ next police chief
Minneapolis leaders agree the next police chief is a critical choice, but it remains unclear whether the mayor and City Council can align on a candidate.
Mayor Jacob Frey declined an interview on the topic after announcing the hiring process and timeline earlier in the week. But 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke with City Council Member and Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee Chair Jason Chavez and Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw, the prior Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee Chair.
All agree the police chief is one of the most important roles in Minneapolis.
Asked what it would take to get enough members on board with a candidate so that they can be confirmed, Council Member Vetaw said, “I think we’re figuring some of those things out, but what I hear from all council members is someone who’s strong on reform and wants to actually get reforms done right.”
Vetaw added that the next permanent chief should also have a strong record on slowing overspending.
“We need somebody who’s really going to reel that in and handle our money with care. I think those are two things that I hear from all of my colleagues,” she said.
Brian O’Hara resigns as Minneapolis police chief after report shows he interfered with investigation into his conduct
Asked the same question, Council Member Chavez agreed on key candidate criteria, but he expressed less confidence in the hiring process.
“Well, I mean, I’ve cleared out — I’ve laid out some of the things that I would like to see in a candidate,” Chavez said. “And then I want us to feel included in this process, so they can hear our feedback, and I want there to be robust community engagement. I don’t think that it’s oppositional to this plan. I guess my only thing is I want to make sure that all 13 members are included in this process.”
“I really care about community engagement, I really care about the criteria, and I want to make sure that the police chief that comes into Minneapolis is strongly committed to police accountability,” he continued.
“People want transparency and accountability. They want someone who can speak to the community, and it’s truthful,” Vetaw said.
“Like, we’re all looking for the same kind of leader.”
The question comes as Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette, as the head of the department overseeing MPD and nominated by Mayor Frey in April, remains without enough City Council votes to be reappointed. Vetaw supports Barnette, while Chavez does not.
Vetaw said the lack of agreement over Commissioner Barnette is not an omen for the process of hiring a new MPD chief.
“I don’t believe that what’s happening with the commissioner is a direct reflection on the process for searching for a new chief. I think this council certainly separates those two,” she said.
“Do I want to move fast? Absolutely not. I want to move at a pace where we get the best person for the job … and I think we all want that. This is one of the most important roles in the city of Minneapolis.”
Chavez said he hopes the process leads to a chief he can support.
Asked if he believes he’ll be able to put his vote behind the candidate ultimately nominated by the mayor at the end of the process, Chavez said, “I would hope so.”
“And I want to be able to vote for a chief,” he continued. “I just think that we have to make sure that there’s a robust process that includes all council members, and that ensures that the voices of our community are not being left out.”
Former Chief Brian O’Hara was unanimously confirmed in 2022, though the council had a few different members at the time.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mayor Frey said, “Mayor Frey has been very clear that the search for a new police chief will be a collaborative process that includes community, City staff, and Council Members.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS will continue tracking the selection process, including its cost to taxpayers.
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