In an editorial, Dan Pero, who served as chief of staff under Gov. John Engler, writes that Gov. Jennifer Granholm's idea of separating the funding for Michigan's largest three research universities - Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan - is a bad idea for students and businesses. Pero wrote that the three university presidents downplayed the equally important contributions of Michigan's 12 other public institutions, which award two-thirds of the state's undergraduate degrees. He added that the research at Western Michigan University - his alma mater - is integrally intertwined with teaching as opposed to the Big 3.

A coordinated push by Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan for more state funding is being seen as a hostile move by the state's other public universities, according to this article. "It's a bad idea whose time has come," former WSU provost and current president of Western Michigan University Diether Haenicke said in testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education in Flint Friday. Oakland University President Gary Russi also was critical of the plan. He said the proposal by the state's three research universities "has the very real potential to be divisive and counterproductive, and damaging to Michigan's economy." In testimony before the committee in Detroit Wednesday, President Irvin D. Reid pointed out that research conducted by the three universities remains the state's primary means of producing new talent and bringing Michigan residents a stronger quality of life. It is unclear how the funding debate will affect the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, but Executive Director Mike Boulus said he doesn't expect any spillover from the situation. "The issues of distribution methods relative to funding are not new," he observed.

Under a Michigan House bill introduced last week, Michigan's three largest research universities would have to report to the state on activities ranging from economic development to university spin-off companies in exchange for being funded separately from the state's other public universities. "We're essentially recognizing that these three research universities have a unique mission and task for the state of Michigan," said Greg Bird, director of communications for the state budget office. The bill, introduced by Rep. Pam Byrnes, a Chelsea Democrat, embodies Gov. Granholm's proposal to place funding for Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan in a separate appropriations bill from other universities. It is not clear how the bill, proposed for the 2008 fiscal year, would fare in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Republican State Rep. Wayne Kuipers told the Grand Rapids Press recently that he thought the proposal by WSU, U-M and MSU to separate their funding from that of Michigan's other public universities was "a little arrogant." Kuipers asked, "Why should the three universities get more? They're all educating students." Historically, the three universities have received more money because they focus on expensive research programs. But other institutions that have seen rapid enrollment increases are seeking more money too.

The transformation of the neighborhood between Wayne State and Midtown Detroit in recent years has been amazing, according to Randal Charlton, former CEO of Asterand plc and now WSU's entrepreneur in residence. He said he sees the university's TechTown becoming like a Home Depot for biotech, serving the needs of life science researchers. Charlton was a member of a panel last week that discussed "What's Next for Midtown/New Center."

Tuition is expected to rise at the state's 15 public universities this year, even if they get a boost in state funding. "We can't take another tuition increase or another fee," said Cindy Chidi, a Detroit junior who is studying nutrition and food science at Wayne State. Nancy Barrett, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at WSU said, "I can't guarantee what our board is going to do, but I think it's fair to say there's going to be some increase." Student Ashley Terhune of Detroit indicated that she is distressed about possible increases. "My financial aid, when I first started here, it covered everything. Now it doesn't." She is working 32 hours per week and taking four classes this term. An accompanying list shows tuition and fee rates for Michigan's public universities for the past five years.

A $3.1 gift to the WSU Law School is the focus of this story about the generosity of attorney and alumnus Carl Ziemba, who passed away recently. The Law School learned of the gift shortly before Ziemba died on the day before his 85th birthday. Dean Frank Wu explained that Ziemba came to the school one day to discuss donating his books, which the school later accepted gratefully. Ziemba had mentioned casually that he also had been thinking about making an additional monetary gift. But that was the last the school heard from him until last fall, when it was learned he had left the largest gift ever to the Law School. The money is to be used to fund need-based scholarships. Wu said the school's handling of the books donation was an important factor in the later bequest. "It was important to value him for his books," he explained. "Respecting Mr. Ziemba and sharing his love of books is what led to the enormous bequest."

The station did a live phone interview this afternoon with Dr. Gerald Shiener, assistant professor of psychiatry in the WSU School of Medicine, regarding the Tara Grant murder case, the insanity plea and the psychological impact on the children.

The "People" page mentions two Wayne State-related appointments. Lisa Whitmore Davis has been named development director at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Jerome Vaughn has been named news director for WDET-FM.

The weekend events page lists the play "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," at WSU's Bonstelle Theatre through March 11. Showtimes and ticket information are given.

The Wayne State University men's fencing squad participated in the individual portion of the Midwest Fencing Conference Championship at the University of Notre Dame. In the men's epee, two Warriors - senior Marek Petraszek and freshman Slava Zingerman - reached the finals.

In his Names and Faces column, John Smyntek leads with the WSU Law School's March 24 Treasure of Detroit Gala, noting that he will emcee the ceremonies. He mentions the honorees, the entertainment and how to get tickets.

A list of upcoming events at Fox Valley Technical College mentions that the speaker for a Tuesday lecture on "Sexual Orientation" will be John Corvino, philosophy professor at Wayne State University.

A listing of special events notes that the Detroit Public Library is offering a tribute to Black History and Women's History Month with an exhibit titled "The Fabric of Time," created by Wayne State professor Michele Valerie Ronnick. The exhibit explores the contribution of women involved in black classicism. One piece in the exhibit is a quilt made from pieces of the cloak that Mary Todd Lincoln wore on the night her husband was assassinated at Ford's Theater. A photo of Ronnick accompanied the brief write-up.

The first item in the paper's "news quiz" feature is a photo of President Irvin D. Reid with Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon and University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman giving testimony before a state appropriations subcommittee last week. A question below the photo asks readers what messages there were delivering. The answer provided was "pump more money into the state\'s top three universities to help the economy recover."

The Wayne State University women's hockey team defeated Niagara 3-2 on Friday in a semifinal of the College Hockey American tournament at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, advancing to the finals for the first time in history. Sophomore Melissa Boal led WSU (15-17-1) with two goals and junior Valery Turcotte stopped 19 shots. In other news, the WSU men's hockey team (11-20-2) beat Robert Morris 5-2 on Friday.

The Wayne State University women's fencing squad placed fourth out of 17 schools with 545 points at the 2007 Midwest Fencing Conference team championship held March 4 at the University of Notre Dame. WSU placed third in epee, fourth in saber and seventh in foil. Select members of the WSU fencing squad will return to Notre Dame March 10 for the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Law professor Erica Eisinger is quoted in a story about a federal court decision in a suit by female prison inmates claiming sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The suit claims a 2000 amendment to a civil rights act denying prisoners protection against racial, sexual or religious discrimination is unconstitutional. Eisinger, an expert on civil rights litigation, said she doubts legislators' justification for the change. "I think the ulterior motive was to punish prisoners," she said.

The Wayne State University Law School's Tenth Annual Treasure of Detroit Gala will be held at the Gem Theatre in Detroit on Saturday, March 24. Each year, distinguished alumni and friends of the Law School are honored at the Gala.

Bobby Smith, a member of the Wayne State University men's fencing team, is profiled in this story. A Junior Olympian in the under-20 age division, Smith finished tied for third in the Midwest Conference Championship at Notre Dame during the 2004-05 season earning Team All-MFCC Honors for Wayne State. Story includes two photos of Smith.