Parola Perspective: On Afghanistan Evacuation. By Purple Walrus Press Contributor Brooks Parola.

 82,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan…but let’s continue to promote this major media and GOP narrative that this has been a disaster…as compared to what? Vietnam? Please! We left all kinds of people behind. As compared to Trump? Please! He had racist Stephen Miller undermining attempts to bring Afghans to the states.

No, it hasn’t been perfect, mistakes were made and ANY president would have made similar ones, or many that could have been worse. I’ll challenge anyone to dare say that evacuating 80,000 people in a week and a half is somehow a “failure”.

This is an incredible challenge, a difficult and imperfect process no matter who implements it. Stop drinking the GOP/big media kool-aid and at the very least, start carefully considering what Biden’s accomplished.

To Wear A Mask, Or Not To Wear A Mask, That is the question: Mask Confusion.

By Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

I don't know about you, but the whole mask wearing thing is very confusing. I mean, I don't know when or when not to put the damn thing on anymore. To wear a mask, or not to wear a mask, that is the question of the day. I know I'm not alone in this dilemma. I think we are all in a state of mask confusion.

Lately, when I pull into the parking lot of a grocery store, take Fresh Thyme Market on Washtenaw for example, I find myself scanning the parking lot to scope out whether or not folks are wearing their masks as they exit their cars and head into the grocery store. Recently, I observed that people were wearing their masks when headed into the store from the parking lot. So, I in turn would slip on my mask before getting out of my car. I thought my peer pressure years were over. Apparently not.

More recently, I would say that around 50% of shoppers in a grocery store are wearing masks while other shoppers are maskless. During these last couple weeks I would find myself feeling quite conflicted on the issue. I would ask myself, were the folks not wearing a mask the same people who were refusing to wear a mask a year ago? Also, were those wearing a mask going overboard with caution? Very tricky situation.

Of late, I have become brazen. Last Friday, I went into Fresh Thyme Market in Ypsilanti wearing my EMU mask. Suddenly, while standing in the potato section I had a revelation! I decided to release myself from the confines of  my mask right then and there amongst the potatoes.  I mean, I'm fully vaccinated, right? I stripped off my mask and stuffed it in my back pocket.

I wondered, would anyone notice that I entered the store wearing a mask only to discard it minutes later in the potato section? I really don't know. Further, if folks did notice that I had suddenly removed my EMU mask in the potato section would they even care? Who knows? One thing I do know is that we are all going through a bit of mask confusion these days. Now, please pass the potatoes.

Dozens of Former Michigan Football Players Who Say They Were Victims Of Dr. Anderson Will Hold A Press Conference Wednesday To Demand Action From University.

By Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

At least twenty-four former University of Michigan football players who claim they were sexually assaulted by U-M physician Dr. Robert Anderson while they were student-athletes will hold a press conference Wednesday morning demanding action from the university. The press conference will be held outside of Michigan Stadium. 

According to a Tuesday press release, former students-athletes and other students will, "Call for immediate action ahead of this week's U-M Board of Regents meeting."

Over the past year hundreds of  U-M students have accused Dr. Anderson of sexually assaulting them at the university. Anderson's career at Michigan spanned a period from the 1960's until 2002.

Last Thursday, Matt Schembechler, who is the son of Bo Schembechler, and two former Michigan football players, Gilvanni Johnson and David Kwiatkowski, called a press conference coming forward to state that they were victims of Anderson and that they told coach Schembechler that they were abused. All three said that Schembechler did not do anything to stop the abuse.

Concerns Over EMU Sexual Assault Cases: EMU President James Smith Statement Regarding U.S. Rep Debbie Dingell Letter to Dept of Education.

Photo Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

 Amid a federal lawsuit, criminal charges, and a letter from Representative Debbie Dingell to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cadona relating to sexual assaults reported at Eastern Michigan University, EMU President James Smith has released the following statement.

We welcome and appreciate Congresswoman Dingell's concern about this matter and share her interest in the safety and well-being of our students. We have stated from the outset our willingness to further engage in a review of University actions related to these cases, and this remains our commitment. 

We appreciate the Department of Education’s support of institutions’ Title IX compliance efforts, and we would welcome its review of our actions, which are also currently being assessed by the independent external firm of Cozen O'Connor -- a national specialist in Title IX work. The University is committed to learning every detail as to whether our processes related to these cases were followed and, if not, why not and what steps should be taken so that our students are protected and feel supported in reporting sexual assault. We have stated from the beginning of this matter that we are committed to full transparency in this process – and the Cozen O’Connor report will be made public when it is finalized later this spring.

I want to reiterate my deep and unwavering support for all survivors of sexual assault, and our commitment to do everything we can to provide a safe environment for our students. There is no place for sexual violence in our community. 

The survivors who have come forward are showing incredible bravery in choosing to tell their stories.

Protecting students is critical to the University’s educational mission. Our staff in law enforcement, Title IX, student affairs, and elsewhere work tirelessly every day to try to create a safe and supportive community for students, faculty and staff. 

The University has initiated several actions in recent years to create greater awareness and encourage the reporting of sexual assaults. Much of this has been accomplished as a result of grants we have been awarded by the State of Michigan in recognition of these efforts. Details can be found in this Title IX grants update. 

James Smith, Ph.D. 
President, Eastern Michigan University

Hate To Say It But Michigan COVID-19 Rate Is Surging: Statement From Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

 

Photo Jeff Brown Purple Walrus Press.

Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

I hate to say it folks, but currently the COVID-19 rate is surging in Michigan. In fact, Michigan has the highest rate of COVID-19 in the nation. While many states are showing a decrease in the number of COVID 19 cases, the same cannot be said for Michigan. On Wednesday, the state's seven day average for daily cases was 2,073...the highest since the middle of January. Why we are having what appears to be a significant surge of COVID-19 here in Michigan I really don't know, but the truth is that there is a surge.

On Thursday Congresswoman Debbie Dingell addressed this rise in COVID 19 cases in the state in a post. Read her statement below:

"Day 367. Michigan needs to pay attention. Our numbers are not going in the right direction. On Wednesday, the state reported 3,164 new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the seven-day average of new daily cases to 2,073, the highest seven-day average since Jan. 18. The total number of COVID-19 outbreaks statewide rose this week by 9% over last week to 645. The biggest proportion of outbreaks are tied to the K-12 school settings. A couple of schools in my district have had to close for quarantines for a week or two. And hospitalizations are up. We know we have different strains of COVID in the state. There are more than 725 known cases of the very contagious B.1.1.7 variant in the state and we account for 15% of the known cases of that strain in the U.S. We have had one identified case of the South Africa variant. We need to be aware. We could be headed for a dangerous surge and none of us wants that. We all need to keep following the guidelines. We need to get vaccinated and if we are vaccinated still use a great deal of common sense which includes wearing mask and keeping our distances."