<p>DETROIT &mdash; The University of Michigan will keep the name of a prominent Michigan Republican on a campus building <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-elections-jocelyn-benson-64e3fb9e8ec977ed1807d742456d72de">despite his description</a> of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and two other Democrats as “witches.”</p>
<p>President Mark Schlissel said he shares the disgust over Ron Weiser’s “misogynistic and violent comments.” But he also noted that Weiser “has done much good” and that the naming of a building was part of a donation agreement.</p>
<p>“It is important to all those who enter into agreements with the university that we maintain our reputation for honoring our contracts,” Schlissel wrote in a Thursday <a href="https://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/06/Response-on-Weiser-Hall.pdf">letter </a> to people who want Weiser Hall to be renamed.</p>
<p>“In addition, were we to decide to violate the contract and remove his name from a building, we would be obligated to return the associated gift,” Schlissel said.</p>
<p>Weiser is chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, a philanthropist and an elected member of the university’s governing board. </p>
<p>In March, he called Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson “witches” during a meeting of Republican activists. He said the GOP would prepare for a “burning at the stake” in the 2022 election. </p>
<p>Weiser later said his words were "poorly chosen.” Democrats, who are a majority on the university’s Board of Regents, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/censures-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-jocelyn-benson-f67f2720e483be4dc0278b55eedb71fd">issued a censure</a> or formal statement of disapproval.</p>
<p>In his letter, Schlissel said peoples’ lives are “complex and sometimes even contradictory.”</p>
<p>Weiser and his family “have demonstrated extraordinary support for the academic mission of our university, including a broad array of initiatives ranging from research into democracy and diplomacy to food allergies, diabetes, and student support on all three U-M campuses," Schlissel wrote.</p>
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