There’s a fungus among us at the University of Michigan.
Three Chinese nationals stand accused of smuggling a “potential agroterrorism weapon” into Michigan’s flagship university.
Had the feds not intercepted the plot, China might have been responsible for the second global health outbreak in five years. And it would’ve happened in our backyard.
As the FBI explains, the thwarted plot involves “a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon.”
“This noxious fungus causes ‘head blight,’ a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.”
Head blight. Covid-19. An Illegal voter who reports himself to authorities, then flees to China the day before Donald Trump takes office. Five spies at Camp Grayling.
Roughly 13,300 of the University of Michigan’s 53,000 students are on student visas, according to federal and U-M data. About 4,000 of those students are from China. And nine of them delivered the three biggest scandals in Michigan, all since October 2024.
Out-of-state students pay more money to attend the University of Michigan and often come from richer stock. That’s why we’ve ended up with a flagship university where only half of the undergrads are from Michigan.
U-M is looking for deep pockets, wherever it can find them. Even if it’s in partnership with Xi Jinping.
The out-of-state money is too lucrative for the school to turn away from. And so, it will take Trump to save the University of Michigan from itself.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late last month that the feds would “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” and would heighten scrutiny for future arrivals.
In the two weeks since, we’ve had three Chinese nationals charged in the fungus scandal. And it doesn’t feel like all the shoes have dropped just yet.
As the University of Michigan looks to make up for the Chinese students who will be forced to leave or kept from coming, might I suggest it start with the 90,000 new high school grads Michigan produces each year?
James David Dickson is host of the Enjoyer Podcast. Join him in conversation on X @downi75.
