Follow the rules

Most writers learned the “rule of three” early in their journalism studies. The principle suggests that things arranged in threes are more satisfying, effective, and memorable than other numbers.

The Googleverse will tell you that the rule of three has many applications beyond the written word. Superstitions, blessings, and tragedies seem to arrange themselves in threes. Landscapers, decorators, and photoshoppers live by the number. It can be charming. It can be lucky. It can be holy.

And lest we forget, the Grim Reaper sure seems to like it. He was busy this month at Michigan as three iconic figures recently passed away.

Academics

Known as” The Dude” to students and alumni, James Duderstadt was the University’s 11th president from 1988-96. With a zeal for technology, innovation, and equality, he left a wide-ranging impact on the institution. His vast teaching and research interests included diverse applications of physics and mathematics, nuclear systems, science policy, information technology, higher education policy, and engineering education. Duderstadt also held the title of University Professor of Science and Engineering and was a former provost and dean of the College of Engineering. “My interest has always been in building things — theories, projects. If you’re interested in building things, you eventually get interested in building organizations,” Duderstadt told an Ann Arbor News reporter in 1985.

Arts

James Earl Jones won a U-M scholarship and began his studies as a pre-med student before switching to drama. He joined the ROTC while on campus, then spent two years in the army before coming back to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955. He told the Michigan Daily that he felt U-M gave him a sense of “the scope of humanity.” By 1971, he’d amassed quite a fan base among Michigan students who petitioned for him to be the voice of CRISP, U-M’s old class registration telephone system. (This petition did not succeed, to their dismay.) More recently, Jones became the voice of Michigan football’s pregame hype video that introduces the team before they run out of the tunnel.

Athletics

Greg Harden, MSW ’91, best known as the mental coach for thousands of U-M student-athletes and countless others around the world, passed away after complications from surgery. During his time at Michigan (1986-2020), Harden became known in many circles as the school’s “secret weapon” for his work behind the scenes helping Wolverine athletes achieve peak performance. He devoted several decades to a career as a life coach, motivational speaker, executive consultant, and social worker. He retired from full-time service as associate athletic director and director of athletic counseling for Michigan Athletics in 2020, but continued to work with athletes and teams at Michigan. “My real obsession is to convince an individual that they must determine for themselves what sort of man, what sort of woman they want to be. The goal is to make people experts on themselves,” he said.

Real or imagined

The experts tell us there are many reasons we believe “death comes in threes” despite the obvious fact that the numbers are much, much higher. We only notice what we notice. It’s conditioning and culture and coincidence, most likely. That may be true, but it’s small comfort in the face of such profound loss.