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Thursday, October 16, 2025

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ACADEMICS

UMich named top 20 university by U.S. News & World Report University of Michigan moves up from last year’s 21 and keeps spot as No.3 in top public schools nationwide

MATILDA SOPHIA MOTTOLA & AANYA PANYADAHUNDI Daily Staff Reporters

On Sept. 23, the U.S. News & World Report announced its 2026 Best National Universities Rankings, moving the University of Michigan up to No. 20 from last year’s 21 and preserving its spot as No. 3 in top public schools nationwide. The U.S. News & World Report calculates its rankings based on various criteria including graduation rates, first-year retention rates and more. Excellence is measured across fields such as business, engineering, nursing and psychology and rankings do not take into account extracurricular opportunities, acceptance rates or class sizes. The U.S. News & World Report also released rankings by university programs. The Ross School of Business and the College of Engineering both maintained their position of No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, while the School of Nursing climbed three spots to No. 6. Several other U-M programs were also recognized, including psychology at No. 5 and economics at No. 14. In an email to The Michigan Daily, University spokesperson Kay Jarvis wrote the University’s mission of serving the state sets it apart as a public institution. “The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the

Matthew Prock/DAILY

people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future,” Jarvis wrote. “And U-M’s vision is to be the defining

public institution, redefining the power of higher education in service to humanity.” In an interview with The Daily, LSA sophomore Jacob Avram, vice chair of the University’s Central Student Government communications committee, said while college rankings do have an impact on the college application

process, the University stands out beyond that. “I think people know what (the University) is,” Avram said. “People know what it stands for and I don’t think it necessarily impacts a student’s decision to apply here, whether it was ranked 20 or 15 or 25, because I think the University speaks

for itself and I think our alumni network also speaks for itself.” In an interview with The Daily, LSA sophomore Tyler Hart, Vice Speaker of CSG, said the University’s national reputation is reflected not only in its undergraduate programs but also across graduate and talent-based programs.

“I think other ways we exemplify the truly extraordinary nature of this university is through our schools and their own ranking, not only in, you know, political science or business, but also through our grad schools or law school or medical school,” Hart said. “I think what’s most unique is our School of Music, Theatre & Dance being so incredibly highly ranked. It is a reflection of how well-rounded our university truly is.” Hart said the people and energy on campus are what makes the University special, from the diversity of the student body to the excitement students bring to daily life. “What attracted me to this university was the people, the atmosphere, the diversity of the student body, the sheer intellectual intelligence and the excitement and joy that I saw in every student,” Hart said. “People not only love the place and the city of Ann Arbor, but they also love this university more than anything else.” Jarvis wrote the University is pleased to rank among the nation’s top universities, but that there is more to the University than its rank. “Rankings are not the basis by which we measure ourselves,” Jarvis wrote. “Our success is rooted in the strength and creativity of our community. And we measure ourselves by delivering on our mission and serving the people of Michigan and the world.”

ADMINISTRATION

“For Gaza We Rise” rally brings 400 people, marks second year of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza

200 University of Michigan community members gathered Tuesday evening, hold moment of silence and prayers for victims of the attack

Pro-Palestine activists mark second year of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza GLENN HEDIN

Daily Staff Reporter

The streets of Ann Arbor were filled with the sound of chants and drums Tuesday evening as about 400 people marched in “For Gaza We Rise,” a rally organized by the TAHRIR Coalition, a coalition of more than 90 pro-Palestine student organizations. The rally marked the second year of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 more being taken hostage. Israel’s following military campaign has killed more than 67,000 people and has now been classified as a genocide by the International Association of Genocide Scholars and the United Nations. The activists first gathered at Regents Plaza to hear from a series of speakers, including Public Health senior Erek Mirque. Mirque said the University of

Michigan’s administration was complicit in crimes against humanity through their refusal to divest from companies affiliated with Israel. “We are here today, two years after the start of the current iteration of this genocide — the death, the massacre, the blood of children spilled — and all supported by the University of Michigan administration,” Mirque said. “It is every upper level administrator that is complicit in the massacre of Palestinian children, in the massacre of our loved ones overseas.” The Michigan Daily reached out to the University’s Office of Public Affairs for a response to this description of the University’s financial ties to Israel-affiliated companies. Communications Manager Brian Taylor wrote in an email to The Daily the University has a long history of free speech on campus. “Freedom of speech is a bedrock principle of the University of Michigan community and

essential to our core educational mission as a university — it is reflected in our history, policies and practices,” Taylor wrote. “The university has long welcomed dissent, advocacy, and the expression of the broadest array of ideas, even those that could be unpopular, upsetting or critical of the university.” Rackham student Nia Hall spoke at the rally and said she believes some of the University’s actions towards protesters, such as the use of plain-clothes surveillance and repeated issuing of disciplinary charges, constitute violations of freedom of speech. Hall referenced an email sent by Interim University President Domenico Grasso as an example of perceived hypocrisy regarding freedom of speech on campus. “Grasso sends out those corny emails quoting about ‘good fences make good neighbors’,” Hall said. “He talks about the First Amendment and free speech … while letting campus cops and private security spy on students, beat protesters and share DPSS reports to justify punishment. That’s not good fences. That’s a police state with better branding.” Pro-Palestine groups on campus have faced challenges in achieving their goals. Former University President Santa Ono promised to double down on investments into Israeli companies, and the current University administration recently rejected proposed changes to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities that would have enshrined political protest as a protected form of speech.

Students supporting Israel host vigil honoring 2-year anniversary of Oct. 7 attack

CARTER CARINO Daily Staff Reporter

About 200 University of Michigan students and community members gathered on the steps of Hatcher Graduate Library Tuesday evening for a vigil commemorating the twoyear anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel. The Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 more being taken hostage. The resulting Israeli military Caleb Rosenblum/DAILY campaign in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 people and was Israeli flags are put on the grass by the Diag at the Oct. 7 memorial Tuesday. classified as a genocide by the “We gather not only to mourn I think it’s really important United Nations in September. but to bear witness, to ensure that people understand that The vigil was organized by a that the memory of Oct. 7 is you don’t need to back down team of representatives from never forgotten,” Wiseman said. just because you know someone various student organizations, “Using those who are lost as doesn’t like you for who you including the University’s a reason to bring closer those are.” chapter of Students Supporting who remain is the greatest gift In an interview with The Israel, Michigan Israel Public we can give to those who can Daily, Rackham student Ian Affairs Committee, Wolverine appreciate it.” Rosenberg said he attended For Israel, iLEAD, Dialogue LSA sophomore Abigail the vigil to remember the lives Across Differences: a J Street Gelfand, iLEAD president, led of those killed on Oct. 7 and be U Affiliate, and Michigan a prayer for the hostages and a part of the community that Hillel. It included a moment of civilians killed on Oct. 7. In an attended it. silence and prayers for the Oct. 7 interview with The Michigan “It’s more important than victims and the 48 hostages still Daily, Gelfand said speaking ever to remember those whose held by Hamas. helped her show solidarity with lives were lost and whose lives Earlier Tuesday afternoon, the other Jewish people and she changed forever on Oct. 7,” groups hosted a tabling event on hoped the event gave people Rosenberg said. “I came here the Diag, displaying images of a better understanding of the to show the support of those the victims of the Oct. 7th attack. Jewish community on campus. people, to come together with At about 6 p.m., several speakers “The Jewish community my community who’s been addressed the crowd from the on campus, and the Jewish completely changed in the last steps of the Graduate Library. community in general, isn’t two years and for us to support LSA senior Elijah Wiseman, trying to twist some narrative,” each other, to cheer each other Hillel Governing Board vice Gelfand said. “All we’re trying up in the wake of such horrifying president of external relations, to do is be stronger than the hate events and such difficult times opened the vigil, saying it is against us. All we’re trying to do that have happened since.” important to reflect on the is stand together … and support CONTINUED AT lasting impact of the attack. each other in times of hate, and MICHIGANDAILY.COM

Madalyn Braun/DAILY Activists at the “For Gaza We Rise” event gather at Regents Plaza Tuesday evening.

CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM

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