Wayne State University (WSU) held its commencement ceremony at Ford Field in Detroit recently with a student commencement speaker being from Amherstburg. Alexandra “Alex” Leroux spoke at the 4 p.m. ceremony on May 8. Leroux, a graduate of General Amherst High School, said graduates received an e-mail several weeks ago where they were invited to express interest and submit a draft of their speech and, as long as they were in good academic standing, be up for selection.

Wayne State University is adding a state-of-the-art robotically controlled observatory to its assets. But, the Dan Zowada Memorial Observatory is located on 40-acres in the mountains of New Mexico.

A bionic vest that reduces worker fatigue and can prevent injury is the focus of The Fix. The National host Andrew Chang visited in Michigan, where workers on the assembly line are equipped with an exoskeleton suit to reduce strain on their bodies — and he tries one on to see just how big of a boost it can give. 

Robert Sedler, a professor of law at Wayne State University, examines the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and people’s right to remain silent. Supreme Court Justices have previously ruled that the government cannot compel people to speak its message or associate with ideas they do not hold. The Supreme Court will decide two right-to-silence cases this term. “The First Amendment protects a person’s right to convey his own message, to voice her own ideas and not to be compelled to publicly disclose personal beliefs and associations,” he said. “When the government tries to compel a person to speak its message, these rights are seriously damaged. The right to free speech is likewise violated when people are required to associate themselves with an idea with which they disagree.”

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. The multi-nation agreement was designed to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear armament in exchange for the elimination of sanctions against the country. The Iran deal was the result of a long negotiation process during the second term of President Barack Obama. Trump said the agreement’s 10-year life span was part of its inherent flaws, and that the United States will be safer pulling out of the agreement. Trump has explained how leaving the deal would make the U.S. safer. In fact, many experts say exiting the Iran deal only creates instability in an already fragile region, and hobbles the ability of the United States to negotiate agreements with other nations in the future. Wayne State University senior lecturer of Near and Middle East history and politics Saeed Khan agrees. “There’s no wisdom in this,” says Khan. “It…calls into severe question America’s credibility around the world in adhering to any deal beyond one presidential administration.” Khan says the move could even “aptly designate America around the world as a pariah state.” 

Janine Lanza, associate professor and director for the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Program at Wayne State University, examines the intense interest many Americans have in the affairs of British royalty. “Our history and Constitution forbid noble titles from taking hold in this country. American culture traditionally prizes individual achievement and accomplishment rather than status conferred by birth,” she says. “However, the pomp and ceremony of Old World royalty have captivated a country with a brief history and no traditions to rival the pageantry that marks such royal events.”

Wayne State University invested $6.6 million last month to acquire the NextEnergy Building in Detroit and will use the building in part to create an urban technology innovation consortium.

A 2012 archaeological dig by Wayne State University uncovered hard evidence of a Purple Gang gambling room in the basement of this 19th century building, as well as the collapsed remains of a tunnel that allowed those in the know to access the space.

The founder of the Detroit-based engineering firm LGC Global has gifted Wayne State University's College of Engineering $1 million for an endowment to provide full tuition scholarships to Detroit Public Schools Community District students.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget Mary McCormack will deliver the keynote address at Wayne State University Law School’s Com­mence­ment ceremony on Monday, May 14.

The Kresge Foundation and Wayne State University officials today announced a $2 million student-managed investment fund that complements a course designed to teach students the essentials of portfolio management and stock evaluation and selection. 

Kristen Kaszeta, manager of BHC at Wayne State University, shares reasons why Building Healthy Communities is essential in Michigan. 

It may be time for your child to have his tonsils removed, explains Dr. Bianca Siegel, an ENT at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Wayne State University. 

The stakes are higher for business students at Wayne State University who will have a chance to get real-world experience managing a $2 million investment portfolio.

Wayne State University has installed banners in its football stadium recognizing all 3,500 recipients of America's highest military honor.

Mike Addonizio is a professor of education policy studies at Wayne State University. “It substantially increased per-pupil funding for the lower revenue school districts,” Addonizio says. “And it also slowed down the growth in revenue for in what had been the property-rich school districts.” 

There’s a growing concern about HIV in Detroit. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services more than 11,000 people are living in metro Detroit with HIV and more than 40 percent of them are in Detroit. Nearly 5,000 people live in Detroit with HIV. 

Pai-Yen Chen, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award, the organization’s most prestigious accolade for up-and-coming researchers in science and engineering. 

Kristin O'Donovan, assistant professor of political science will explore the limits on policy learning about disaster mitigation after a community has experienced a disaster.