Upon his death in 2000, this pioneer in human genetics was lauded as one of U-M’s greatest scientists. But a post-mortem assault on his honor provides a cautionary tale of what can happen when ideas become weapons and an appetite for outrage overcomes the search for truth.

Before COVID-19, the college campus could be described as America’s ‘last idyll.’ Perhaps that is why so many mystery writers over time have set their tales of terror at a fictionalized University of Michigan.

When she died in 1924, Madelon Stockwell, BA 1872, was believed to be the richest woman in Kalamazoo, Mich. A half-century earlier, she was the first – and only – woman to enroll at U-M.

When an influenza epidemic threatened the American effort in World War II, the War Dept. drafted scientist Tommy Francis to combat the killer virus. Francis’ team at U-M developed the world’s first flu vaccine.

William “Buck” Dawson – who claimed membership in 19 student organizations (not to mention meeting Marlene Dietrich) – may have been the last of a passing breed, the Big Man on Campus.