Per the NY Times, the University of Southern California on Thursday announced that it will pay more than $1.1 billion to the former patients of a campus gynecologist accused of preying sexually on hundreds of patients, marking what university officials called “the end of a painful and ugly chapter in the history of our university.” The staggering sum — a combination of three sets of settlements with more than 700 victims of Dr. George Tyndall — sets a record for collegiate sex abuse payouts, compensating a generation of young U.S.C. women. This settlement must have the University of Michigan administration, attorneys and insurance companies shaking in their boots as they try to deal with the sexual abuse claims of Dr. Anderson, who worked for the the univerity’s student health service and the athletic department.
In the meantime, Michigan Medicine has recently been named one of the top health systems in the world according to Newsweek Magazine’s list of Worlds Best Hospitals. They were named the 23rd best in the world and 8th best in the country. As one who worked there for 32 years, I am always amazed at the miracles that happen there every day. We in SE Michigan are blessed to have such a great institution in our backyard.
Leah and I both received our second vaccines on Tuesday, Yesterday we both struggled with various symtoms. Leah was fatigued with a slight fever while I felt like I had arthritis in every joint in my body. It hurt to move. Tylenol every four hours kept things under control. I went to bed early which is why I didn’t write my blog yesterday. Today we are doing much better and close to being back to normal.
Yesterday and today, I received notice that Radrick Farms Golf Course was closed for health and safety reasons. It turns out there was a barricaded gunman situation in a home nearby which finally ended after 36 hours when the gunman was taken into police custody late Thursday afternoon. Authorities say after the hours-long stand-off, which involved shots fired at police, the gunman put down his weapons and peacefully surrendered. Authorities say around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, deputies were dispatched after receiving a call from family that their 32 year old son was suffering a mental health crisis and had assaulted his parents. He was said to be heavily armed, wearing a flak jacket and had multiple magazines strapped to his body. I ask again when are we going to address the mental health crisis in this country. With over 390 million guns in this country it doesn’t take a lot of effort for someone with mental health issues to gain access to guns.
Stay safe. Wear your mask properly. Wash your hands regulary. Social distance. Schedule your vaccine.
Quote of the day: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) , “This is infuriating. I would like to ask my Republican colleagues: Why are you so afraid of democracy? Why, instead of trying to win voters over that you lost in the last election, are you trying to prevent them from voting?”
Orchid of the Day: Dan Gilbert, the billionaire business owner and a driver in transforming downtown Detroit over the past decade, said he plans to invest $500 million in the city’s neighborhoods over the next 10 years.
Onion of the Day: Governor Andrew Cuomo who arranged special access to government-run Covid-19 for members of his family and other influential people as the pandemic descended on New York last year. Cuomo’s popularity is dropping like a rock.