Girl Dad x3, Lawyer, @umich Regent. Michigan fan. Swiftie. 2024 Walloon Lake Water Balloon Toss Champion.
Get in touch: jbacker@umich.edu
Aug 25 • 14 tweets • 3 min read
So I want to talk a little about what happened here, and I think it's both illuminating and an important moment to talk about the future of our party and our country. This thread may take a minute...
So I want to first talk about how this started. I moved to the voting area to cast my votes for Regent Illitch and Regent Diggs. They were and are outstanding colleagues and our University is better off with them on the board. (2/x)
May 17 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
After our board meeting today, I want to make a few things clear:
One, we have nine public meetings per year, in which we hear from the public in 2 or 5 minute slots. ALL members of the public are welcome to speak.
Today, we did not have a single speaker from the encampment sign up to address us. Not a single protestor wanted to take their opportunity to address the entire board and president and EOs.
May 15 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Around 4:40 A.M., a masked intruder came to the door of my family's home with a list of demands, including defunding the police. My three daughters were asleep in their beds, and thankfully unaware of what transpired.
This form of protest is not peaceful. Public officials should not be subject to this sort of intimidating conduct, and this behavior is unacceptable from any Michigan community member, especially one led by someone who called for the death of people they disagree with.
Jan 22 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
Okay so now that the @Lions and @JaredGoff16 have made the upcoming NFC championship game it's time for me to tell the Jared Goff Story, in public. It's not that long but it just is worth remembering.
So back when I was a person of little/no importance (I would argue that hasn't changed but whatever), I was a young lawyer and Jared Goff was the QB at Cal. I also like to go see random college football stadiums. In June 2015, that included Cal Memorial Stadium.
Oct 25, 2023 • 37 tweets • 5 min read
So I've been receiving a ton of emails from terrified Jewish parents about what's happening in Ann Arbor and on other campuses around the country. I want to share my thoughts here and publicly because I think this is important. Follow below into the thread.
First, with a small technical caveat...this thread may go up over the course of today. Might take a few to get all my thoughts out there.
Aug 6, 2023 • 17 tweets • 3 min read
So I've been holding my tongue for a couple days on the conference realignment, Round 2023. But now its nap time on the shores of beautiful Lake Walloon in Northern Michigan so here goes...
Lets get the good stuff and the disclaimers out of the way: I have a tremendous respect for @SantaJOno and Warde Manuel when it comes to protecting the interests of the University of Michigan. Full stop. They are my guys, and I'm proud of the work they do.
Jul 5, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Think in the medium term with this. You need your stars and potential stars to get compensated *now*
Also, a couple additional thoughts about this: first, I’ve seen a few of these contracts for HS kids floating around the internet. The usual suspects (“advisers”) with no experience in sports management are playing a really reckless game with 16-17 year olds.
Jul 5, 2022 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
So even though I’m technically still “on vacation” I want to add some thoughts on #NIL, the future, and where it’s going. Ride with me for this quick thread.
First, let’s lay out what’s happening. There’s two restrictions that some schools have to live under: first title IX, which (I’m being basic here) requires equal funding for mens and womens NIL. Meaning, hire an NIL coordinator for both, they better be doing both genders.
May 8, 2022 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
This is my nightmare scenario, too. @umich relies on talent from all over the world, as students, as staff, as faculty, and of course, as medical professionals. A thread.
Students from out of state do fill a funding gap from the state. They also provide a lot of Michiganders (like the one typing) their first interactions with friends from different states. Some of these turn into the biggest businesses in the world (like @Google)
