Two letters to the editor address the WSU-DMC contract negotiations. In one, a Detroit resident expresses concern about the possible loss of "valuable services given to us by Wayne State University doctors." She urges DMC CEO Mike Duggan to "please settle the differences for the good of the people who depend on your services." The other, from Dr. Edmund Barbour, president of the Wayne County Medical Society, urges that practicing physicians be seated at the negotiating table along with the administrators and mediators who are doing the negotiating. "The physician community has a great stake in getting a positive outcome," he writes. "Detroit is not an island in health care. We are a community of physicians treating a region, and WSU is a community institution."

In an editorial, the State Journal points out that Michigan could face a shortage of 6,000 doctors by 2020, and the projected shortage could become worse if Wayne State and the DMC do not settle their differences. "These are two big organizations at an impasse, threatening the residency program," said Dr. Paul Farr, president of the Michigan State Medical Society. The newspaper urges Gov. Jennifer Granholm to get personally involved in the negotiations if necessary.

The above were among TV outlets that ran brief online reports about the WSU-DMC negotiations, as picked up from the AP wire. It is likely, though not confirmed, that they also mentioned the situation during on-air news broadcasts.

A pro-Israel group named Stand With Us Now says the son of a prominent Palestinian intellectual should not be considered for a law professor post at Wayne State, but local leaders of Palestinian and Arab descent say the effort is part of an attempt to marginalize their community in Metro Detroit. Wadie Said, son of Edward Said, a scholar and outspoken Palestinian activist until his death in 2003, is a candidate for one of several WSU Law School faculty positions. He is a lawyer and professor in California. Stand With Us Now has outlined its objections in a paper addressed to President Irvin D. Reid and Dean Frank Wu. The Michigan director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee accused the Jewish group of "political labeling, political profiling and political blackmail." Robert Cohen, executive director of the Jewish Community Council in Metro Detroit, said he is confident the university will fill the law school post based on qualifications, in the spirit of academic freedom.

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has appointed Marla Stone as administrative manager in the business office. A photo of Stone accompanies the article. Also, the following four faculty members were appointed: Kevin M. Geltz, assistant professor and clinical coordinator for the physician assistant studies program; Adam F. Kempa, director of the radiation therapy technology program; Kathleen Kath, director of the radiologic technology program; and Dennis M. O'Brien, assistant professor in occupational and environmental health sciences.

Wayne State University presented its plan for accreditation of five residency programs jointly operated with the Dearborn-based Oakwood Healthcare System, while the Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan met with numerous doctors - including WSU School of Medicine department heads - to enlist support for independent DMC programs and residencies. Medical school faculty and students are opposed to Duggan's efforts to sever ties with WSU and set up the DMC's own residency program. The two entities have been locked in a contract dispute worth about $80 million. The contract ends Dec. 31.

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) named Wayne State's Paul Winters Coach of the Year, while Freshman of the Year honors went to Warrior running back Joique Bell.

An editorial takes issue with the election of Wayne State University's Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. The editorial states that very few voters in Grand Rapids, Escanaba and Detroit knew much about the candidates for the boards, but voters still had to choose. "It's a lousy system, one that defies common sense and ought to be changed." The newspaper suggests that Gov. Jennifer Granholm appoint the board members, subject to confirmation by the state Senate because she already selects board members for Michigan's other public universities.

Both stations provided background information about Wayne State's GO-GIRL program which is currently accepting registrations for the winter semester. Contact information was included with the reports.

The Michigan State Medical Society released a statement Wednesday saying Michigan faces a critical doctor shortage if the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University don\'t reach an agreement by the time their contract expires on Dec. 31. One of the issues at the root of a contract dispute between the DMC and WSU\'s School of Medicine is how doctors are compensated for the work they perform at the DMC. On Oct. 25, a national accreditation board threatened to shutter the medical residency programs the institutions jointly operate if an agreement isn\'t reached.

The Michigan State Medical Society weighed in Wednesday on the contract dispute between Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center, declaring a \"state of emergency\" because of the potential effect of the dispute on the state\'s supply of doctors and patients\' access to health care. \"This is not a test of wills or a political game to be played between a hospital administrator and a group of physician educators,\" said Dr. Paul Farr, president of the independent physicians organization that represents 15,000 doctors statewide, in a statement. \"This impasse has catastrophic implications for our whole state.\" The medical society, which represents the nearly 1,000 residents in the WSU-DMC residency program, said Michigan will have a deficit of 6,000 doctors by 2020.

Wayne State University's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has appointed four faculty members: Kevin M. Geltz, assistant professor and clinical coordinator for the physician assistant studies program, who also has a clinical practice at Henry Ford Health System; Kathleen Kath, director of the Radiology Technology Program; Adam F. Kempa, who has taught at WSU for 24 years, as director of radiation therapy technology; and Dennis M. O'Brien, assistant professor in the occupational and environmental health sciences.

Palestinian Ambassador to the United States Afif Safieh spoke at Wayne State University's Law School as part of his three-day U.S. tour Tuesday evening. The event was hosted by the Center for Conflict Resolution and the Detroit World Affairs Council Arab-Israeli conflict. Safieh called Arab Americans in Detroit \"the cradle of the American-Arab adventure\" and said the Palestinian \"battle of independence and statehood will be either won or lost in Washington.\"

Audi of America is mounting an effort to reshape its image away from world-class German engineering to be \"more American,\" its top U.S. executive said Wednesday. Edward A. Riordan, professor of automotive marketing at Wayne State, says Audi\'s strategy is similar to what BMW has tried to do. \"BMW is the model for this campaign,\" Riordan says. \"They\'ve exhausted the German engineering shtick and the natural movement is to combine lifestyle with performance.\"

Thomas Abowd, Wayne State University anthropology professor, will give a lecture titled "From Beirut to Baghdad: Globalization and Human Rights in the Middle East and Beyond" at 7 p.m. tonight at Worcester State College.

A lineup of holiday entertainment events includes \"A Christmas Carol\" by Wayne State University's Bonstelle Theatre. The play will run from Dec. 8-17. Contact and ticket information is provided.

A calendar item notes the appearance of Jamie O'Neill, author of "At Swim, Two Boys," at 7:30 p.m. at Wayne State's David Adamany Undergraduate Library. Contact and registration information is provided for the free event.

This article examines the controversy over the candidacy of professor Edward Said for a WSU Law School faculty position (see above). The article says Said is being considered for a professorship in criminal law and procedure. Jonathon Weinberg, who heads the faculty committee charged with interviewing and recommending candidates, estimates the committee will meet with 30-40 candidates by the end of the year. Both he and Dean Frank Wu declined to comment on the candidates or any opposition or support. Said currently teaches at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

A story about General Motors problems with the SEC regarding bookkeeping practices includes comment by law professor Peter Henning, a former SEC attorney. GM has appointed a new controller and chief accounting officer. "GM may be trying to elevate its accounting position to try to give it more heft," Henning said. He speculated that the action might be intended to head off any federal enforcement action against the automaker for certain accounting practices.

Peter Henning of the Law School is quoted in an article about the federal SEC ordering the city of San Diego to hire an independent financial consultant to ensure the city doesn't defraud investors when borrowing money. Since the SEC's investigation of the city finances is completed, Henning said that, in his opinion, it may not be necessary for the city fathers to give an overseer too expansive a role in the city's finance, though it does make for good public relations.