Children's Hospital of Michigan trustee Jane Iacobelli responds to Mary Kramer's Crain's Detroit Business editorial titled "Board intervention needed at WSU-DMC," saying it is "absolutely correct." Iacobelli wrote, "I have been worried and offered any help I could give Mike Duggan when this problem with The Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University medical school started over a year ago with the orthopedics department. It is now too big a problem to be solved by the dean of the medical school and Duggan.

Legal experts say the "blame-the-underling/ignorant CEO" strategy is risky when CEOs try to pin crimes on their financial officers because CEOs are responsible for who works for them. If Tom Noe, who is accused of embezzling more than $2 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, uses the "ignorant CEO" defense, there is a way to undermine it, according to Peter Henning, a Wayne State University law professor. Henning said the prosecutors can have other witnesses tell anecdotes reflecting the defendant's intelligence. The defendant might need to take the witness stand to combat those anecdotes. However, they have the option of not testifying, which is their right. "Part of what you do is show how smart they are, and show that this wasn't someone who was easily bamboozled," said Henning. "These cases are built on circumstantial evidence. Almost no one sends an email that says, 'Here's how I plan to steal.'"

A calendar item notes that Wayne State's Undergraduate Research Conference will be held on Friday, Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

Minority-student enrollment at colleges and universities increased by 51 percent in the decade ending in 2003, an improvement driven by growth in the number of Hispanic and minority-female students, according to a report scheduled for release today by the American Council on Education. Over all, the number of minority students on American campuses grew by 50.7 percent during the decade, totaling 4.7 million undergraduate and graduate students by 2003. During the same period, the number of white students increased by 3.4 percent, reaching a total of 10.5 million white students in higher education. Although the report notes rising enrollment and degree-attainment numbers for minority students, it says the proportion of African-American and Hispanic students enrolled in college was still not as high as that of white students. Hispanic students accounted for the largest increase in undergraduate enrollment among minority groups, rising nearly 70 percent from 1993 to 2003. By contrast, African-American enrollment increased by 42.7 percent, Asian-American enrollment went up by 43.5 percent, and the number of American Indian students rose by 38.7 percent.

The Arab American News is endorsing Casandra Ulbrich (Democrat), senior development director at Wayne State University, for the State Board of Education because "(her) deep understanding of education issues and her passion to address them make her the best candidate for the job." Ulbrich believes if we're serious about diversifying Michigan's economy, it has to start with providing a strong K-12 foundation, encouraging students to enter post-secondary education.

Douglas A. Fraser, president emeritus of the United Auto Workers, and Congressman John D. Dingell received the Reuther Humanitarian Award from Wayne State University Oct. 26. The award is named for the late 13-term UAW President Walter P. Reuther.

The Merrill-Palmer Institute at Wayne State University hosts its 23rd Metropolitan Teen Conference Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. The conference will host 300 ninth and 10th graders from more than 50 schools and organizations.

In a web-cam video, Russ Gibb - a retired teacher and former TV journalist/talk-show host best known for originating the "Paul McCartney is dead" hoax in 1969 - is endorsing Debbie Dingell (Democrat) in her run for a seat on the Wayne State University Board of Governors. "She's probably good for (WSU)," said Gibb.

A feature article examines the remarkable life of Wayne State University Board of Governors member and attorney Richard Bernstein, 32, son of prominent attorney Sam Bernstein. Bernstein, who was born blind, will be participating in the New York Marathon on Nov. 5. He was also recently chosen for the Athletes With Disabilities Hall of Fame. The award comes not only for Bernstein's barrier-free marathoning, but also for his taking on, at no charge, several major disability-rights cases, said Tony Filippis, founder of the Athletes With Disabilities Hall of Fame. A photo of Bernstein is included.

As the election nears and voters will be considering Proposal 2 - banning affirmative action programs - Wayne State alumni offer testimonies about the importance of affirmative action to their lives and careers. Luis D. Garcia, an alumnus of Wayne State University's Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies (CBS), credits the center for helping him achieve a college education. "I had very high test scores but very poor grades, and I would not have gotten into college without the center," Garcia says. "It wasn't a matter that they were lowering the bar to let us in. It was they were taking the extra step to reach out to us and let us know college was an option for us." Darnell Kaigler, a Southfield dentist and WSU alumnus, said he would not be where he is today if it wasn't for a scholarship program in the 1960s allowing black students to enroll at WSU. "Any attempt to rob the next generation of the opportunity to be whatever it is they want to be should be stopped," says Kaigler. A recent poll showed that Michigan voters are almost evenly divided on Proposal 2, with a large undecided block - nearly 15 percent - capable of swinging the issue. A photo of Kaigler is included in the front-page story.

Members of Wayne State's Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Department appeared on "The Young Effect," hosted by Coleman A. Young, Jr. IS participants highlighted outreach efforts by IS to the United Auto Workers. This initiative with the UAW is designed to reach auto workers who have recently retired and/or took a buyout. IS representatives appearing on the program included: Cheryl Ford, senior in the IS program; Darrell Brockway, IS counselor and adjunct instructor; Michael Russell, IS adjunct instructor and WSU Law School graduate; and, Antonetta Johnson-Gardner, IS advisory board chair. The segment will be airing several times over the next month.

There may be a disadvantage to a small business if it lands a big client. Ed King, director of small business services at Wayne State University, says there are times when an increase in sales can be a bad thing. He has seen some firms get into trouble upon landing the big client. If a client represents more than 40 percent of a company's sales, that can pose a problem. "You may end up beholden to the whims of that firm. And, at that point, the customer truly begins to own the small business - lock, stock and barrel," says King, who advises small businesses to get rich slowly. "There is a thin line between fast, profitable growth and expansion through a client who will try to take over."

On Nov. 4, 1952, Cora Brown became the first African-American woman to win a seat as a state senator not only in Michigan, but also in the nation. An alumna of Fisk University and Wayne State University Law School, Brown was also a social worker and a police officer before entering politics. For two terms, she fought for civil rights, switching parties from Democratic to Republican. She was appointed assistant general counsel to the U.S postmaster general where she fought the distribution of pornography. She died in 1972. Article includes a photo of Brown.

Peter Lichtenberg, director of the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology, will speak at a new support group for adult children caring for elderly parents at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the New Hope Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Wixom. Contact information is provided.

Amanda Pressotto of Wayne State's women's tennis team performed at No. 1 singles, posting an 8-5 record through her first 13 singles matches. She has eight wins in doubles play. Stephanie Van Tuyl posted six singles victories, as well as played a hand in two doubles wins. Sargam Bhatt, playing primarily at No. 3 doubles, has been a part of six wins for WSU.

Northwood University's Antonie Ivy ran for four touchdowns in the Oct. 28 game against Wayne State University, where Northwood beat WSU 48-34. WSU's Joique Bell carried 30 times for 179 yards and touchdown for WSU (5-4, 5-3). He also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Trent Pohl. Bell's 40-yard scoring pass to Jake Weingartz opened the scoring with 8:18 left in the first quarter.

Two award-winning photojournalists Kael Alford and Thorne Anderson, who have collectively spent 18 months in Iraq, will give a presentation called "Unembedded: Independent Photojournalism in Iraq" on Nov. 29 at the Schaver Music Recital Hall at Wayne State. The event is free and open to the public. This coincides with the exhibition, "UNEMBEDDED: Four Independent Photojournalists on the War in Iraq," at WSU's Elaine L. Jacob Gallery from Nov. 17 until Jan. 12, 2007.

Tuesday, 11/14, 6 p.m. The Detroit Council on World Affairs will host Ambassador Afif Safieh, Palestinian representative to the United States. Safieh\'s lecture, "Palestine: How to Recapture the Historic Initiative," will be given in the Spencer M. Partrich Law School Auditorium at Wayne State University. Contact information is provided. Thursday, 11/16, 8:30-4 p.m. "Issues in the War on Terror: Investigations, the Media, and Article III Courts," will bring leading names in journalism, the U.S. government, and other fields to the Wayne State University Law School for a day-long symposium. The symposium will address the delicate balance that must be attained between fighting an effective war on terrorism and respecting civil liberties guaranteed to all citizens by the U.S. Constitution. Contact information is provided.

The Detroit Council of Baptist Pastors released the names of candidates they believe address issues of concern to the Black clergy in the Nov. 7 General Election. Included on the endorsement list were Debbie Dingell and Thomas W. Jones for Wayne State University's Board of Governors and WSU employee Casandra E. Ulbrich for the state board of education.

Several Michigan-based college coaches - including Wayne State University men's basketball coach David Greer - plan to campaign against Proposal 2, which would ban some affirmative action programs in the state. The coaches, who are appearing as individuals and not as representatives of the universities where they coach, will be attending a One United Michigan press conference today in Lansing.