A three-day orientation for Detroit's new City Council is under way on the campus of Wayne State University. The program kicked off Monday morning, providing attendees with an overview of the council's divisions, commissions and boards and legal policies. The orientation, at the Wayne State University Public Safety building on Cass, is set to resume Tuesday with presentations from the City Council's Legislative Policy Division on contract procurement and approval processes, ordinances and resolutions, zoning, economic development and Community Development Block Grant funding. Other topics to be touched on include emergency manager orders, budgeting processes and ethics. The event will culminate Wednesday at the university's Alumni House with remarks from Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and Mayor-elect Mike Duggan prior to the new City Council being sworn in by City Clerk Janice Winfrey.

The Presidents of Michigan's three research universities opined about the threat of sequestration to the state's research efforts. "If Congress does not restore rationality to America's budgeting process, first by ending the reckless across-the-board sequestration cuts that became the budget default in March, the engine of America's quality of life will begin to seize…Today, it is innovation and talent that fuel our economy, secure our freedom and ensure an improved future. They are vital components of America's success, and we in Michigan take a backseat to none in producing them. But as presidents of Michigan's top three research universities, we must tell you that the warning light is on." The three universities, which comprise the University Research Corridor (URC), enroll a quarter of the state's college students and conducts more than $2 billion annually in research and development. "One of the nation's top innovation clusters, the URC helps bring some of the world's most talented people to our state and equips our own students to compete globally." The writers warned: "If Congress can't stop digging this hole by Friday, yet another round of across-the-board sequestration cuts takes effect in January. That means deserving new research projects going unfunded and, perhaps, some existing programs gutted. Promising young researchers could be cut loose, program infrastructure would start to unravel and more hard-won ground would be lost."

Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson and his fiancee, Jacqueline Page, flew to Los Angeles this weekend for a celebration of their milestone birthdays: He turned 60 on Nov. 28; she turned 50 earlier this week. They planned Friday night, while hosting friends and family for pizza and wine in their hotel suite, to announce another milestone: They're getting married Saturday during a 10 a.m. ceremony. "Since everybody has been asking (when we are getting married) and a lot of people will be present anyway, we thought it would probably be as good a time as any," said Wilson, who began his term as WSU's 12th president in August. "I feel very fortunate that we found each and we're together," Wilson said. "We both feel that way."

Oakland Community College nursing graduates could have a bachelor's degree in five semesters from the Wayne State University College of Nursing program through an agreement the two schools signed recently. "We are very excited about this opportunity. We are launching the first cohort this January, and the goal is to make it easier for students to achieve and earn a bachelor's (degree) in nursing," Ahmad M. Ezzeddine, associate vice president of Wayne State University Educational Outreach and International Programs, said recently. Ezzeddine said that because of an articulation agreement, which specifies the number of transfer credits and estimated length of time required to finish a degree, between the schools, OCC students have a more specialized path into nursing.

Wayne State University Law School Professor Peter Hammer is taking his human rights work far beyond Detroit with a recent appointment to the Board of Directors of the Center for Khmer Studies in Cambodia. Travel to Cambodia is nothing new for Hammer, director of Wayne Law's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. He's also chairman of the nonprofit, non-governmental organization Life and Hope Association, a program to educate and care for disadvantaged women and children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. He has spent a part of every summer there for several years. And he's been doing grassroots work for justice and human rights in Cambodia since 1993.

When the first Noel Night launched, 6,000 people converged on the cultural center. Forty-one years later, Noel Night continues Saturday to bring entertainment, food, shopping and the spirit of Christmas to the Midtown area. Organizers estimate some 50,000 people braved the cold last year to experience all the area has to offer. Wayne State University venue events include: Wayne State University Art Department Gallery: Exhibit from graduating seniors and winter art market; Bonstelle Theatre: " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" performances at 2 and 7 p.m.; The Hilberry Theatre: "Big Love" performances at 2 and 8 p.m.; Old Main Building: Performances, art exhibits, anthropology exhibits, planetarium, hand crafted goods for sale and more; Wayne State University Press: Shopping. 40 W. Hancock; Welcome Center: 2013 Metro Detroit Annual Design and Build Competition to benefit Gleaners Food Bank; WDET-FM (101.9) Open house with on-air hosts and hot chocolate. 5-10 p.m. Saturday

In the United States, approximately 4 million babies are born each year; however, the number of premature births has led the March of Dimes and individual states to look at contributing factors to prematurity, which is the leading cause of newborn death. For the sixth consecutive year, Michigan lowered its preterm birth rate, from 12 percent in 2011 to 11.8 percent in 2012. Partnering with state health officials and local hospitals, the Perinatology Research Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Wayne State University and Detroit Medical Center have indicated that it is possible to reduce preterm birth rates by a universal risk assessments with a cervical ultrasound at 19-24 weeks gestation, said Dr. Roberto Romero, chief of the Perinatology Research Branch and program director for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics. An international, random clinical trial has shown that vaginal progesterone applied daily in the case of a short cervix reduces the risk of preterm birth by 44-45 percent. It reduces the rate of respiratory distress syndrome by 60 percent. Romero said that combining universal cervical ultrasounds with vaginal progesterone is cost-saving. "The state of Michigan would save $19 million per year by implementing this policy, and the U.S. would save $500 (million)-$750 million per year," he said.

Groups of students from seven metro Detroit high schools gathered at Wayne State University Law School to talk about race, hoping to bridge their differences, bust stereotypes and build foundations for a better world. The third annual Keith Students Youth Civil Rights Conference on Nov. 15, was run by law students who are active with Wayne Law's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. The event was sponsored by the Keith Center, Wayne State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and Keith Students for Civil Rights.

Why is it important to welcome new faces, ideas and entities to Detroit? How can this be done while maintaining the city's unique identity, authenticity and pragmatism? The 2013 Van Dusen Urban Leadership Forum will pair New York Times bestselling author and comedian Baratunde Thurston with community leaders in Detroit to explore this very idea. The public lecture and panel discussion take place at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Wayne State University's Community Arts Auditorium. Thurston will share his insights on the topic of welcoming, specifically discussing ways we might try new ideas while respecting local context and nostalgia. A curated panel of Detroit leaders will join the discussion following the keynote address. The event is free and open to the public.

In separate interviews, law professors Peter Henning and Laura Bartell commented on the anticipated ruling today on Detroit's eligibility for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Bartell predicted Judge Rhodes will shy away from offering any hints on pensions. "People read all sorts of things into any remark a judge might make in an opinion," she said. "If he wants to send a signal, he can certainly put something in there to send a signal." Henning said, "If the city were not to be allowed to go forward with the bankruptcy, it would face thousands of lawsuits because it hasn't been paying its debts since the initial bankruptcy filing. So what you would have is a number of different creditors filing for claims, and they could even try to seize assets."

Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson is featured in a wide-ranging interview conducted by Michigan Chronicle editor Bankole Thompson. Topics included graduation rates, research, Detroit and Midtown's resurgence, community engagement, higher education funding, Wayne State's urban mission and advocacy for students.

During coverage of "America's Thanksgiving Parade," announcers on various television affiliates across the nation talked about Wayne State University's sponsorship of the parade pointing out several facts about the university.

An all-star lineup of business and political leaders pitched entrepreneurship as the key to Detroit's comeback yesterday at the rollout of Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses program in the city. Speaking at a Ford Field news event were investor Warren Buffett, Gov. Rick Snyder, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, Mayor Dave Bing and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., plus three Michigan congressmen and assorted others. The event marked the rollout of the Detroit version of Goldman Sach's program to support the creation of thousands of small businesses in America. Under the program, Goldman Sachs contributes $15 million to support small businesses through two local lending funds, the Invest Detroit Foundation and the Detroit Development Fund. Another $5 million supports an education component to help entrepreneurs learn the basics of growing and managing a business. Wayne State University is included among the colleges offering classes.

Oakland Community College nursing graduates could have a bachelor's degree in five semesters from the Wayne State University College of Nursing program through an agreement the two schools signed recently. "We are very excited about this opportunity. We are launching the first cohort this January, and the goal is to make it easier for students to achieve and earn a bachelor's (degree) in nursing," Ahmad M. Ezzeddine, associate vice president of Wayne State University Educational Outreach and International Programs, said recently. Ezzeddine said that because of an articulation agreement, which specifies the number of transfer credits and estimated length of time required to finish a degree, between the schools, OCC students have a more specialized path into nursing. Nancy T. Artinian, professor and interim dean of the College of Nursing at WSU, said the program started to address the need to prepare more nurses with a baccalaureate degree. "The health care system is ever-changing, thus leading to changing roles for nurses, and opening up numerous other opportunities for nurses," Artinian said.

A $60 million mixed-use development is in the works for a 1.5-acre parking lot owned by Wayne State University at Cass Avenue and Canfield Street in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. The Wayne State University Board of Governors voted Friday for WSU to enter a memorandum of understanding and long-term lease with Birmingham, Mich.-based Broder & Sachse Real Estate Services, after soliciting requests for proposals (RFPs). The nine-floor development, expected to be complete in 2016, calls for 248 market-rate apartments, 19,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, a 120-room hotel and a conference center. "In addition to providing much-needed housing and hotel and conference facilities, this project will enhance the connection between our main campus and our medical campus, as well as further promote Midtown as a walkable and bikeable neighborhood," Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson said in a statement. "Wayne State remains committed to being a leader and catalyst for economic growth in Detroit."

The "New in Sports" column puts the spotlight on Wayne State University athletics. From construction projects to competitive teams and players in the NFL, WSU is getting noticed for something other than being a great university in the heart of Midtown Detroit. The piece also notes upcoming events, including the Trammell/Parrish baseball camp on Dec. 8. Additionally, six former Wayne State student athletes will be inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame for 2014.

A $60 million apartment, retail, hotel and conference center is slated for Midtown following approval Friday by the Wayne State University Board of Governors. The board approved a memorandum of understanding and long-term lease with Broder & Sachse Real Estate Services, which will develop the 1.5-acre site at Cass and Canfield that is now a parking lot. The project is proposed to include 248 apartments, 19,000 square feet of retail space, a hotel with up to 120 rooms and a conference center with capacity for 300 people. "In addition to providing much-needed housing and hotel and conference facilities, this project will enhance the connection between our main campus and our medical campus, as well as further promote Midtown as a walkable and bikeable neighborhood," said Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson. "Wayne State remains committed to being a leader and catalyst for economic growth in Detroit." Construction is expected to start late next fall, with completion by 2016.

Ben Burns was a legend of local journalism, a former executive editor of The Detroit News who spent two decades turning know-nothing kids into reporters as head of the journalism program at Wayne State University. Many of them went through the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity, which Burns helped found at Wayne State in 1984. Burns died at his Grosse Pointe home 14 months ago of acute myeloid leukemia. In his honor, WSU has established the Ben Burns Endowment for Journalism, which hopes to fund multiple scholarships in his name.

The challenge facing Detroit is all about leadership and forging a consensus about what a post-bankruptcy Detroit can and should be. The lack of leadership and a cohesive narrative defining a future Detroit has people like Matt Seeger concerned. Seeger, dean of the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, is an expert in crisis communication and response. "In the absence of a strong, future-oriented and well-articulated narrative, other voices have come in to fill the gap in Detroit," Seeger said. "What we have is lots of second-guessing, blame and a high degree of uncertainty that has extended over a long period. Timing is very important in a crisis. You need to get out there and offer the narrative quickly and early. Earlier this month, a group of state and local power brokers, including Gov. Rick Snyder, Bill Ford, the presidents of Michigan State and Wayne State and others stumped for Michigan and Detroit in New York in meetings with site selection consultants and financial journalists, as well as businesspeople with ties to Michigan universities.

This extensive feature story focuses on Wayne State University's commitment to Detroit and its resurgence amidst bankruptcy. "We are Detroit and Detroit is Wayne State," said Ned Staebler, Wayne State's vice president for economic development. "We've been here since 1868; we'll be here [in] 2168," he added, echoing the sentiments of the university's leadership, including its board of trustees, its president and other administrators. Wayne State is closely following the issues relating to Detroit's bankruptcy. The university's Honors College course on American cities, which includes a special emphasis on Detroit, has woven the latest chapter of the city's history into class discussions. The city's bankruptcy has also been the topic of least two university-wide forums, including one this week convened by former Wayne State President Irvin D. Reid. Reed's Forum on Contemporary Issues in Society (FOCIS) assembled Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and Mayor-elect Mike Duggan with a panel of experts from across the country.