An item in the events column mentions that Wayne State scientists will discuss ethical issues in science on March 19 at a free forum held at Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit.

Peter Markus, recently named Detroit Urban Writer-in-Residence at Wayne State, will lead a series of free writing workshops open to the public. The next is scheduled for April 3, 6-8 p.m., at the David Adamany Undergraduate Library.

Six in 10 Michigan citizens believe the state must spend more money on its public universities to boost the economy and produce the workforce of the future, 2 in 10 feel that Michigan's Big 3 universities - Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan - deserve a bigger share of the funding because of all the research and development opportunities they offer that other schools do not. The presidents of the Big 3 recently made their case to lawmakers asking that they consider the Big 3 separately from Michigan's other 12 public universities regarding funding decisions. The presidents said that research universities can provide Michigan with jobs in fields such as science, medicine and engineering that can help revive the economy. Gov. Jennifer Granholm supports the revised budget proposal providing for a separate allocation of money for the Big 3, though she said all 15 public universities should get the same 2.5 percent boost.

Michigan's community colleges are seeking legislation that would allow them to offer a bachelor's degree in nursing, which concerns 4-year schools such as Wayne State University. Barbara Redman, dean of the WSU College of Nursing, questioned the need for community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in nursing when WSU already has the means to train new nurses. Funding is an issue, according to Redman. For example, she said WSU has state approval to admit as many as 220 students this fall in its undergraduate nursing program, but in practice can only admit 160 students because it doesn't have the money to hire needed faculty. "Why would you start up a whole new infrastructure when it's already in place? We don't believe this is necessary," said Redman. "We are accredited, have the infrastructure, have the ability to take more students… I think we have the capacity, so why not fund us?"

In a sidebar titled "Honoring Heroes," the Rare Foundation recognized nine everyday heroes, including Gregory Auner, professor in the Wayne State University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Auner developed the Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems Program at WSU, developing new materials, devices and methods for a variety of applications that are helping solve problems, such as delicate fetal and infant surgeries, auditory and visual implants to restore failing eyesight and hearing loss, and chemical detection using robotic platforms.

A "Science and Ethical Responsibility" forum featuring Wayne State University scientists will be held tonight from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. A phone number is provided for further information. Another brief mentions the Technology and Emerging Sectors Career Fair co-sponsored by Wayne State University and TechTown this Wednesday at the Next Energy Center. A Web site and phone number are provided for further information.

Today's intern is focused on getting practical experience in his or her chosen field. Potential employers need to contact the internship office at the schools they're targeting. "With as many possible sources for interns as we have, it's best to at least start with us as a portal so that we can facilitate the search process," said Ron Kent, director of career services at Wayne State University.

In a guest column, Pearson, director of Wayne State's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, wrote about America's role in Iraq. "No matter how good our intentions, Iraqis on all sides of the conflict as well as groups throughout the region see the American intervention as a proto-colonial war - a war of vengeance against Saddam and Ba'athists, a war for control of oil, a war to surround Iran, a war to remake the Middle East," he wrote. The time is right for a U.S. withdrawal. America's forces need to be pulled back to avoid provocation and allow responsible participation in multilateral regional security arrangements.

Wayne State University hosted the FIRST Robotics Competition over the weekend, where 34 teams participated. This event was geared for schools - primarily from the metro area - lacking the funding to travel to competitions.

Wayne State University assistant law professor Brad Roth commented on Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's push for a new constitution that would cement the country's democracy; it was not an attempt to move Taiwan toward "de jure independence" as China has alleged. According to Roth, Taiwan became a political entity when it gave up asserting its jurisdiction over China.

In an opinion piece, Tom Watkins, president and CEO of TDW and Associates, a business and education consulting company, references a report he authored on public education for Michigan Virtual University and Wayne State University. Watkins writes that it is imperative that Michigan's system of public education lead the way in preparing citizens for success in the global economy. To do so, Michigan must cast off outdated laws and public policies that hinder public education.

Thirty-four teams competed in a regional robotics tournament held at Wayne State Saturday as part of the annual FIRST Robotics Competition. This article described a few of the teams entered in the event, including one from Mexico.

A profile on Michael W. Long, president and CEO of Velcura Therapeutics in Ann Arbor, notes that he has bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Wayne State.

Dr. Wanda Whitten-Shurney, a clinical assistant professor in the Pediatrics Department of Wayne State University's School of Medicine, discussed Sickle Cell Disease on WGPR's Community Lifelines Show.

Kami Pothukuchi, Wayne State University professor specializing in urban planning and food systems, commented on how Detroit has quietly become the nation's center for urban farming. "What's going on is quite a phenomenon," said Pothukuchi. "You have a community that needs fresh food, and you have open land. The two are coming together."

In an op-ed piece, President Irvin D. Reid, President Mary Sue Coleman of the University of Michigan and President Lou Anna Simon of Michigan State University, write that the state should approach funding for higher education as an investment. "Michigan must increase total funding for higher education with strong support for all 15 public universities," they write. They also point out that, while the three research universities have many things in common with the other universities, the trio has even more in common with each another. Over the past six years, they have applied for more than 1,300 patents and helped launch 97 new companies using technologies created on their campuses. This has a direct and immediate impact on the state's economy. The three presidents emphasize that, while they continue to support increased funding for all 15 public universities, a separate appropriation for WSU, MSU and U-M is an important step in facilitating their ability to produce the technologies required for Michigan's economic transformation. Individual photos of the presidents accompany the piece.

This AP story that includes expert comment by professor Peter Henning of the WSU Law School, was published widely today in media outlets in the U.S, Canada, England, Australia, and Hong Kong. The story is about General Motors plans to seek relief from its $68 billion post-retirement health care obligation in contact talks with the UAW. The company said in papers filed with the SEC Thursday that health care costs are its biggest competitive disadvantage. In the filing, GM said it is working to improve internal accounting controls, but if it can't fix them permanently this could "adversely impact the company's ability to report its financial condition accurately and in a timely manner." Henning, a former SEC attorney, said GM's filing uses accounting language commonly used in the wake of a wave of corporate scandals in recent years. "It shouldn't be a significant concern for investors," he observed, "because it's more on the reporting side and not on the recording of transactions." But he said if account reporting continues to be a problem over time "then it becomes a real concern."

A California criminal case against former Hewlett-Packard chairwoman Patricia Dunn and three others has ended with Dunn being cleared by a judge of all charges. Dunn had been accused of violating privacy laws by pursuing boardroom information leaks. The judge cited the defendant's battle with cancer as one reason for dismissing the charges. Some legal experts think the state's case was weak to begin with. WSU law professor Peter Henning said the case was a stretch and that "getting there would have been difficult."

Wayne State economist Josh Hendrickson is quoted in this story about lost work time due to employee participation in office pools and conversation about the annual college basketball playoffs. The downtime estimates include time spent tracking game scores online and even watching games. But Hendrickson sees flaws in traditional time-theft estimates by outplacement staffing firms and others. He points out that computers that provide access to game scores also are largely responsible for a huge jump in productivity over the past 20 years and that idle workers may be doing their employer a favor if they surf rather than distract busy co-workers. He also points out that the presumption that the average worker has no downtime is erroneous. Time wasted on "March Madness" is likely being stolen from time that would have been wasted in other ways.

Special contributor Lawrence Johnson provides a brief review of "The Elephant Man," playing at WSU's Hilberry Theatre. Johnson writes that the Hilberry's production, directed by David Magidson, "boasts a solid cast, vibrant sets and costumes and smart direction."