The "College/University Theater" section lists "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The Moon Marigolds," which will be presented from Oct. 12-21 as part of the Wayne State University Department of Theatre's Ph.D. Directors' Series at the Studio Theatre.

Frank Wu, dean of the Law School , is co-author, along with William Kidder of the University of California-Davis, of an op-ed piece on how Asian Americans have benefited from affirmative action and how claims that they would benefit if affirmative action programs were discontinued are false. They contend that Asian Americans are being "used and abused" by opponents of affirmative action who say Asian Americans would have greater opportunities for admission to college if affirmative action programs were abolished. Wu and Kidder cite a recent study that examined the numbers of Asian Americans in law schools before and after affirmative action bans took effect in three states. There turned out to be fewer Asian Americans in those schools after the bans. "It is possible," they conclude, "for reasonable people to have different opinions about the fairness and effectiveness of affirmative action. It would not be productive, however, for us to believe that Asian Americans must oppose Blacks and Latinos as the face of the nation changes profoundly and irrevocably."

An editorial endorses Carrie Lynn Fuca, 33, a Wayne State University Law School graduate, for 16th Circuit judge in Macomb County .

An article about the Michigan Technological University volleyball team includes details of the Huskies 3-match victory over Wayne State on the Warriors' home court last weekend.

NextEnergy was also able to land a significant United States Department of Energy grant to build the National Biofuel Energy Lab in partnership with Wayne State University, DaimlerChrysler, Robert Bosch, Delphi, Biodiesel Industries, and the U.S. Army Tank and Armament Command (U.S. Army TACOM). The biofuel technology development lab is part of NextEnergy\'s Biodiesel Value Chain Initiative, an approach to researching and developing biodiesel use, including innovative agricultural methods to grow energy crops, fuel optimization and state-of-the-art biodiesel production.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in a decision unveiled yesterday, ruled on a case that tried to determine which workers -- in this case, nurses -- should be classified as supervisors and prohibited from joining unions. Reaction to the decision has included charges that the NLRB ruling will further weaken organized labor. Ellen J. Dannin, Wayne State law professor and former NLRB attorney, suggests that the National Labor Relations Act, which gives workers the right to organize, is remarkably pro-labor.

General Motors changed its corporate bylaws Tuesday in a move to thwart hostile actions by large shareholders such as billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. The corporation's board of directors voted to require any shareholder planning a "consent solicitation" to inform the company ahead of time in writing. A consent solicitation allows stockholders to act by written consents to proposed stockholder actions in lieu of voting at an annual meeting. Peter Henning of the Wayne State University Law School explained that GM's move would require a shareholder such as Kerkorian to alert GM management before soliciting other shareholders to obtain their support for a proposed alliance with Renault-Nissan or other action. He said the changes by the GM board are intended to be "an early warning system" for GM of any potential shareholder revolt. "It's a defensive measure. It's a standard anti-takeover, anti-proxy move," Henning said. The story ran in numerous newspapers around the country, including the Akron Beacon Journal, Charlotte Observer, Fort Worth Star Telegram and the Houston Chronicle, to name a few.

Wayne State University will host its second annual E2Detroit Conference for small business entrepreneurs on Thursday and Friday. Participants will have an opportunity to listen to speeches from successful entrepreneurs such as Daniel Gilbert, found of Quicken Loans/Rock Financial; Chris Illitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings Inc; and David Brandon, CEO of Domino's Pizza. Registrants also will be able to pitch their products and services to potential investors. A Web site and phone number, along with additional details, are provided in this brief write-up.

An article offering tips on how educational institutions can cut tech procurement costs and control spending includes information from John Camp , chief information officer at Wayne State . He pointed out that WSU has three procurement programs that complement one another. First, the university issues a procurement card to employees who have spending authority, thereby empowering them to make online purchases. Controls are in place to prevent excess spending or unauthorized purchases. Second, the Purchasing Department has set up a direct online order system with certain vendors who have contracts with the university. That speeds up turnaround time and paperwork. Third, WSU posts RFPs and RFQs on the Purchasing Department's Web site to foster competition among vendors. Camp was one of two university CIOs interviewed for this article on eProcurement. The other is from Drexel University .

Dale Thomson, Wayne State's Center for Urban Studies, provided an assessment of housing needs in Oakland County that was discussed by the Oakland County Board of Trustees. The major issues facing Oakland County are economic trends and housing affordability.

The Hilberry Theatre, Wayne State University 's graduate theatre company, opens its 44th season with Noel Coward's "Private Lives" on Friday, Oct. 6. A phone number and Web address are provided for tickets and further information.

Commenting on his team's 36-13 victory over Wayne State Saturday, Grand Valley State head football coach Chuck Martin has praise for Warrior's tailback Joique Bell, who ran for 209 yards and two touchdowns against the Lakers. "I put ( Bell ) in the top one percent of the kids we've ever faced in my seven years at (GVSU)," Martin said. "He's a special, special player. I've now seen Joique Bell in five games on tape, and I haven't seen anybody hit the kid yet. It's scary."

Wayne State University has hired Washington lobbying firm Patton Boggs L.L.P. to represent its interests in the Capitol. The university also is seeking a person to serve as director for federal relations. The director will be based at the university's federal affairs office, which it plans to keep open so that its administrative staff and faculty members will have office space when they visit the Capitol, said Harvey Hollins, vice president of government and community affairs. WSU expects to close the posting for that position after this week, he said.

David Magidson, director of WSU's Center for Arts and Public Policy, is quoted in an article that speculates on what it would take to make the city of Jackson a magnet for arts and culture. "You don't just cook up a cultural town," Magidson said. "It takes hard work, just like everything else." Magidson and his staff have studied how cities can tap into some of the billons generated by the arts for Michigan 's economy. They have identified five broad stages in a report called "The Arts and Culture Process of Economic Development: An Effective Resource for Community Growth." Since Magidson's WSU center did not get a state grant to offer arts planning service to a city next year, the city chosen would have to come up with $10,000-$15,000 to cover costs.

The hosts of the morning show talked with one of the runner-up contestants for tickets the station is giving away to a Tigers-Yankees playoff game. The interviewee mentioned that he is a Wayne State graduate who formerly played on the Warriors baseball team. Wayne State was mentioned a number of times during the conversation.

Today's edition includes a substantial write-up about the E2Detroit Conference, set for Thursday and Friday on the Wayne State campus. "The event promises "tons of useful information on both E's - entrepreneurship and excellence," the article says. Anyone who wants to create, expand or enhance their business or their business knowledge will benefit from the panel discussions, comments by speakers, and networking opportunities. A Web address is provided for more information.

A story about a 15-year who has the rare Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a neurological disorder, includes comments by James Garben, associate professor of neurology at the School of Medicine's Center for Molecular Medicine. He points out that the disease is often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy and explains the genetic cause of the disease. Since the disease is inherited from a recessive gene, potential parents can undergo genetic screening to increase the chance of their not giving birth to a child with the disease.

Marketing professor Jeff Stoltman of the School of Business Administration commented about Cadillac's new ad campaign - "Life. Liberty . And the Pursuit" - which debuted Sept. 29. The campaign uses different types of music in 15 TV spots. It follows one that used Led Zeppelin's music to help breath new life into the brand's stodgy nameplate in the face of stiffer foreign competition for luxury car customers. "We want to tell the story of what American luxury means," said a spokesman for the ad agency that created the campaign. Stoltman noted that "campaigns go through a wear-out phase. After a while, people just tune it out."

A story about a Port Huron city ordinance that limits the types of businesses that can move into first-floor storefronts on parts of a main downtown street includes observations from Robin Boyle, WSU professor of urban planning. The ordinance was intended to ensure that downtown businesses remain retail oriented, but some building owners say the law unduly restricts them from filling their buildings. "It is quite difficult to impose a certain proportion of ground-floor uses that have to be retail when the economy is difficult," Boyle said. "There needs to be a balance."

A scene in one of the films ("InZero") mentioned in this article on the entertainment page was filmed at Wayne State University and other locations in Detroit . Episode 6 of the sci-fi serial will debut this evening at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak .