Plan for UM future: Interview with interim UM System President Mike Middleton

ABC 17 anchor Marissa Hollowed spoke with interim UM system president Mike Middleton about a range of topics from the new MU office that will include civil rights in Title IX and his take on the protesting of racial issues nationwide.

Here are some notable quotes from Middleton during the interview:

Mike Middleton served as a civil rights lawyer for the federal government.

“I do have some background dealing with issues with race, inequality, equity and inclusion, so that background should be helpful in getting us a solution to that difficult problem.”

“We should not have a separate set of rules for Title IX enforcement and another separate set of rules for discrimination and marginalization.”

When asked about adding civil right to Title IX he said, “The idea is to track the complaints and report regularly to the community on how they’ve been resolved or that they have been resolved… I’m a big believer in using data to drive policy.”

“My number 1 priority is to restore confidence and trust in the university.”

“Secondly, which is equally important, we’ve got to get a handle on the current crisis.”

“I am optimistic about our future… we’re poised to have some serious, honest discussions.”

“I think we’re in the position to make some real change, meaningful change.”

“This is not some people being ultra thin-skinned or whiners or whatever.”

“I think it’s hard for people who have not been marginalized to understand the depths of the feelings that these students are expressing.”

“I think the way this movement has spread across the country tells us there is clearly something there that needs our attention.”

“We’ve got to resolve this, this has gone on for much much too long.”

“My entire life has been involved in this as a victim, as a lawyer, administrator, as a teacher… we gotta stop.”