The Statue of Liberty is a representation of Libertas, a Roman liberty goddess. In her left hand she carries a tabula ansata inscribed in Roman numerals: “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” (July 4, 1776).

Dear Members of the University of Michigan Campus Community,

Many members of the University community have asked about their rights and responsibilities, as public employees, in campaigning for or against a candidate or ballot initiative. We have developed the following information to help you understand the many activities in which you may engage, either as private citizens or as members of our campus community, as well as those for which University resources cannot be used, under Michigan law.

First, individuals, including those who are members of the University community, may participate fully in political activities, provided they are acting on their own behalf and using their personal time and resources. However, Section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act prohibits public bodies and anyone acting for a public body from using public resources to support or oppose a candidate or the qualification, defeat, or passage of a ballot proposal.

Thus, if public resources are not involved, faculty, staff, and students have great leeway to engage in political activities. Here are some examples of the kinds of activities in which faculty, staff, and students may engage as individuals on their own time, provided they do not use University resources and do not say or imply they are acting on behalf of the University:

• Donating money to support or oppose a ballot initiative or political candidate.
• Acting as a campaign volunteer by writing letters, making phone calls, knocking on doors, or distributing flyers in support of or opposition to a candidate or ballot proposal.
• Organizing or attending rallies in support of or opposition to a political candidate or ballot proposal.
• Writing letters to the editor or op-ed pieces supporting or opposing a political candidate or ballot initiative.
• Giving speeches and participating in debates for or against a particular candidate or ballot proposal.
• Writing to elected officials to express personal opinions on a candidate or ballot initiative.
• Renting University facilities for campaign-related events, on the same terms available to any member of the public under applicable use policies for that facility, provided that fundraising will not occur at that event.

The Michigan law includes several exceptions that permit limited use of public resources for certain political activities that would not constitute support for or opposition to a candidate or ballot proposal. Here are some examples of activities in which faculty, staff, and students may generally properly engage under the law, even if public resources are used:

• Conducting scholarly research on the effects of a ballot initiative or political issue on the University, on the state, on the economy, etc.
• Compiling and assembling data and other factual information on the effects of a ballot proposal or on candidates’ positions.
• Disseminating factual material and/or the results of scholarly research on a ballot proposal or political issue to news organizations and academic journals.
• Posting factual material about ballot proposals or political candidates and/or the results of research on a ballot initiative or political issue to a University website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.
• Planning conferences, forums, symposiums or panel discussions on campus, or inviting guest speakers (including, in some circumstances, candidates) to campus, to discuss campaign-related issues.

Faculty, staff, and students cannot, however, use public resources to engage in political activities for or against a candidate or ballot initiative. Here are some examples of political activities that use public resources in a manner that is generally not permitted under Michigan law:

• Sending out a campaign mailing using University stationery or postage purchased by the University.
• Using an official University e-mail list or listserv to campaign for or against a ballot initiative or candidate running for office.
• Using University equipment to copy material supporting or opposing a ballot initiative or candidate, subject to existing departmental policies regarding personal use.
• Conducting a political campaign from a University office or other University facility, or otherwise using University resources, such as a University-provided telephone, computer, e-mail address, social media account, etc., to conduct such a campaign.
• Purporting to carry on a political campaign in the name of the University or purporting to speak on behalf of the University when supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot initiative, whether in speech, writings, or social media postings.

If you plan to engage in any politically related activities using University resources, it may be helpful to seek additional guidance to ensure that the activities are constructed so that they do not appear to constitute support for or opposition to a candidate or ballot initiative.

Further general information, including frequently asked questions and answers, has been posted to the University’s website. Please direct additional questions to Maya R. Kobersy in the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel at (734) 764-0304 or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Cynthia H. Wilbanks, Vice President for Government Relations
Timothy G. Lynch, Vice President and General Counsel

During the twenty-five years since its inception, the Wolverine Caucus has been a forum where a wide variety of U-M faculty members share their expertise with legislators, lobbyists, advisors and alumni. Their research informs the public policy debates that directly impact Michigan residents.

In January 1993, then-Dean Garry D. Brewer introduced New Directions for the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the first ever Wolverine Caucus. Twenty-five years later the SNRE has become the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), and thousands of its graduates work across Michigan to protect our natural resources and create a more sustainable future. Professor Brewer’s presentation at the Caucus began a quarter-century of engagement that continues to this day and connects the University of Michigan to state policymakers.

Garry D. Brewer

“Having wonderful support from the top leadership of the university and also from many new dean colleagues was crucial, and it was given often, constructively, and with good effect. Coming to Lansing for your event was one of the earliest public airings of ‘New Directions.'”
-Professor Garry D. Brewer

Many of the topics covered by Wolverine Caucus forums remain relevant for decades, even as times change. Public discussion on environmental issues has only amplified since that first Wolverine Caucus forum in 1993. Themes discussed in the 2001 presentation on Political parties, the Courts, and Legislative Redistricting are as prominent today as they were then. Years from now, what insights might be plucked from the 2018 forum when the robot Cassie Blue walked through the halls of the Michigan State Capitol? Do the 2016 and 2017 forums on the role of 3D Printing in medicine suggest an amazing new frontier in life-saving healthcare technology? It remains to be seen, and the 2019 series, which includes discussions on trade and autonomous vehicles, promises to cover topics grounded in today but facing tomorrow.

Marianne Udow-Phillips

“I think the Wolverine Caucus is a great platform – a wonderful way for alums to hear about the work of the University, and for U-M to reach out to provide continuing education and connections to our colleagues in Lansing.”
– Marianne Udow-Phillips

The relevance of topics at the Wolverine Caucus forums grows with the importance of contemporary issues. Speakers often return again and again as the conversation and policy implications evolve. In June of 2010, Marianne Udow-Phillips, Executive Director of the U-M Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation, spoke to a packed room about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She returned five years later, as the national landscape continued to roil with debate over the subject, and spoke again to further inform the discussion regarding the impact of the ACA. She was accompanied by Dr. John Ayanian, the Director of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovations.

Dr. John Ayanian

“The Wolverine Caucus provided an excellent forum to report on the benefits and challenges of the Affordable Care Act in early 2015, including the launch of the Healthy Michigan Plan that has expanded Medicaid coverage to many Michigan adults. This event brought legislators, their staff members, and other state officials together with alumni and friends of the University of Michigan for an open and balanced discussion of health care reform in Michigan and the nation.”
– Dr. John Z. Ayanian

The state of politics has been an ever-present topic of conversation for Michigan dinner tables, and so too has it been an enduring fixture for the Caucus. In 1998, Professor Michael Traugott from the Center for Political Studies at the Institute for Social Research spoke to the Caucus for the first time about the upcoming midterm election. He returned to present ten more times and addressed various topics including 9/11, campaign finance, and political polarization. Marking the conclusion of the 2018 series in September he will give his eleventh presentation entitled: Elections 2018: Is There a Big Blue Wave Coming?

Michael Traugott

“I always enjoy going to the state capital to talk to Michigan alums about politics because they are an attentive and knowledgeable audience. Many of them either work in state government or for groups that have strong political and policy interests. They always ask good questions, and they expect comprehensive answers. I also think that it is part of my responsibility as a faculty member to engage with the public about my research and explain how it affects their lives.”
-Michael Traugott

Whether it’s Smart Cars and College Affordability from the 2014 series, or Youth Violence Prevention and Census Outcomes from the 2011 series, the Wolverine Caucus will continue to connect the depth of U-M expertise and research to the government in Lansing, and encourage open dialogue between presenters, policy-makers, and the community. All events are open to the public, and events are recorded and made available to local cable outlets and on the internet.

About the Wolverine Caucus:

Cynthia Wilbanks, University of Michigan Vice President for Government Relations, oversees the Wolverine Caucus. Events are coordinated by Lansing Service Center Director Veronica A. W. Johnson, Ph.D, who created the Wolverine Caucus and has managed the forum since its inception. For twenty-five years the Wolverine Caucus has been an opportunity for the University of Michigan, legislators, and the community to engage with each other on a myriad of important issues affecting the State of Michigan.

Veronica A. W. Johnson, Ph.D, Director of the Lansing Service Center

“Over these years the Wolverine Caucus has been an important platform to bring UM expertise on issues impacting every sector of society.

In addition to policymakers, the Wolverine Caucus programs engage countless U-M alumni who work in and around state government, as well as informing citizens on many topics, and sharing with many via social media, YouTube, and public television broadcasts.

We are grateful for the invaluable partnership of the Wolverine Caucus Co-Chairs Craig Ruff and Tom Scott in helping to identify relevant topics as they come to the forefront, making our forums very timely with current policy debates.”
-Veronica A. W. Johnson, Ph.D

Physics is a fundamental science and provides the foundations for solving both cosmic mysteries and practical problems. In 1995, the University of Michigan Department of Physics began sharing some of the latest ideas in the field with the public in the Saturday Morning Physics lecture series. Designed for general audiences, the lectures are an opportunity to hear physicists discuss their work in easy-to-understand, non-technical terms. The multimedia presentations include hands-on demonstrations of the principles discussed, along with slides, video, and computer simulations.

Saturday Morning Physics Fall 2018 Schedule: