WDET-FM exec pleads no contest, keeps job

Louis Lessem, WSU interim executive vice president and general counsel, issued a statement after a recent court appearance by WDET-FM General Manager Michael Coleman saying, "We are looking forward to continuing the momentum we are seeing at WDET under Michael's leadership." Coleman pleaded no contest to reduced charges in a case related to his previous job at an Ann Arbor radio station. Under his management, WDET experienced a net gain of 11,400 listeners in the January-March ratings period over the previous three months.

May 20, 2006

Cop fee threatens festivals

The city of Detroit may raise the cost of permit fees and the cost of police protection to as much as $80,000 for summer festivals. This could alter, or end, many summer events and festivals. Representatives for a number of downtown events met recently to discuss a strategy in view of the higher fees. The Detroit Festival of the Arts, which takes place on the Wayne State campus and surrounding streets in the Detroit Cultural Center , may confine itself next year to the WSU campus, which is state property exempt from many of the city's taxes, according to the article.

May 20, 2006

Concrete price-fix case vexes helpless consumers

Law professor Stephen Calkins is quoted on a point of law in an article about alleged price gouging and a lawsuit by 27 Indiana construction contractors against Indianapolis area concrete firms. He is former general counsel for the Federal Trade Commission.

May 20, 2006

Shareholders elect 11 to CMS Energy board

A list of incumbent directors elected to the CMS Energy board of directors includes Richard Gabrys, interim dean of the WSU School of Business Administration. He was re-elected to a one-year term.

May 20, 2006

Clemson names new engineering dean

Esin Gulari, chemical engineering and materials science professor at Wayne State has been named dean of Clemson University 's College of Engineering and Science, effective July 5. The story ran on the AP wire.

May 20, 2006

Taubman donates $3 million to WSU for classroom center

This article details the $3 million gift to the WSU Law School from philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman and notes that a proposed new building at the Law School will be named for federal judge Judge Damon J. Keith. President Irvin D. Reid pointed out that Wayne State students will benefit from Taubman's generosity for generations to come. "Mr. Taubman's generous gift in support of this project is still another demonstration of his strong commitment to Detroit and its institutions," he said. A photo of Keith and Taubman is included.

May 20, 2006

People making news

Karmanos Cancer Center appointed George Yoo, associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, as vice president of medical affairs. Richard Gabrys, interim dean of the WSU School of Business Administration, was elected to the board of directors for La-Z-Boy Inc., the furniture manufacturer.

May 19, 2006

From the middle: Lightened up on former worries

Writer R. Diane Moshier talks about her experiences dealing with cancer and the treatments she is receiving at Wayne State 's Karmanos Cancer Institute and blood tests at a local hospital. She also mentions her most recent visit to "the Wayne State doctor" who "was pleased with my progress."

May 19, 2006

Two Warriors earn All-Region accolades

Two members of the WSU baseball team have been named to the Rawlings/ABCA All-Region squad for the North Central Region. They are senior shortstop Jason Chapieski, who was named to the first team, and junior first baseman Jon Weisman, who received second team honors.

May 19, 2006

Second hearing on Detroit drug-search case shows deep divisions on Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has scheduled a second hearing in the case of a search for illegal drugs conducted by the Detroit Police in a private residence. The case was appealed in Michigan on the grounds that the police obtained the evidence with a warrant, but failed to "knock and announce." Exchanges between presiding justices and David A. Moran, the defendant's lawyer and associate dean of Wayne State's Law School, are included in the story.

May 19, 2006

Radio executive pleads no contest

The head of Detroit\'s public radio station WDET pleaded no contest Thursday to an embezzlement charge stemming from his former post at Michigan Public Media in Ann Arbor. Michael Coleman made the plea at a pretrial hearing in Ann Arbor, said Kevin Piotrowski, WDET public relations and promotion director. He is charged with one count of misdemeanor embezzlement for allegedly accepting meals and other perks. Louis Lessem, vice president and general counsel for Wayne State University, commented in a statement. "It's welcome news that Michael has successfully resolved this situation with the University of Michigan. We are looking forward to continuing the momentum we are seeing at WDET under Michael\'s leadership.\" A photo of Coleman is included.

May 19, 2006

Mark Stryker: Joe Lovano to drop in, jam

Joe Lovano, legendary tenor saxophonist, will perform with the Wayne State University Big Band and his own quartet at 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, in the Allesee Rehearsal Hall, Max M. Fisher Music Center. Contact information was provided.

May 19, 2006

Rapid diagnosis of mini-strokes saves time and money- with no harm to patients

Researchers from Wayne State University and William Beaumont Hospital presented a paper at the 2006 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting describing rapid protocol to Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), which is also known as a "mini-stroke." As many as 30,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with TIA. The researchers looked at the use of an Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol, as well as other treatment methods, and how these protocols might lower treatment costs and shorten hospital stays.

May 19, 2006

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The Michigan Technology Leaders event gave its 2006 Michigan Corporate Partnership Award to SpaceForm Inc., a spinout company of Delphi Technologies Inc., a unit of Delphi Corp. The award is intended to identify, create, support and honor significant partnerships between Michigan companies and local individuals or groups benefiting the technology community. It is noted that SpaceForm has collaborated with organizations and institutions such as Wayne State University, NASA and Automation Alley in its commercialization of Delphi\'s patented \"deformation resistance welding\" technology.

May 19, 2006

Preservation Wayne marks its 30th year

A story about the 30th anniversary year of Preservation Wayne includes a photo of the Mackenzie House on the WSU campus and notes that it was once the home of Wayne State founder David Mackenzie. The structure currently serves as headquarters for Preservation Wayne and the University Cultural Center Association.

May 18, 2006

Kresge Foundation makes $3 million challenge grant to Wayne State

Wayne State University has been awarded a $3 million challenge grant by The Kresge Foundation for construction of the Richard J. Mazurek M.D. Medical Education Commons. The medical school will receive the money provided it can raise an additional $20 million to fund the project. "Education is a very strong category in our grant program," said Kresge President John Marshall III. "When public universities do fundraising with individuals and corporations, that's tapping into a potential for gift support that we are very happy to assist."

May 18, 2006

Ancient human and chimps mixed

Derek Wildman, assistant professor in Wayne State's School of Medicine, commented in a recent Nature story about recent findings about the origin of species. The study found that ancestors of humans and chimpanzees may have interbred and exchanged significant numbers of genes after the initial split between the species.

May 18, 2006

Peace Action hold 6th Peace Builder Celebration May 21

David Bonior, Wayne State University professor, will be the keynote speaker at the Peace Action of Michigan's 6th Peace Builder Celebration at Focus: HOPE, 4 p.m., Sunday, May 21. The event will feature a silent auction and a dinner. Contact information and ticket prices were provided.

May 18, 2006

NPR gives WDET-FM a boost

More people listened to WDET this winter than last fall, according to Arbitron. That means the station has more listeners now than before the programming changes put through by station manager Michael Coleman in mid-December. In simple numbers, the station\'s average quarter-hour share (people listening for at least five minutes during any 15-minute period) is now 161,000 listeners, compared to 149,600 in the fall book. \"Certainly we have some work to do, but we\'re very encouraged by the numbers,\" says Kevin Piotrowski, WDET\'s public relations director. \"Knowing that some listeners went away, but we still have a net gain of more than 11,000 listeners, that means that those listeners were made up for, plus, plus.\"

May 18, 2006

WSU Gets Grant For Planned Medical Complex

Detroit\'s Wayne State University School of Medicine will use a $3 million grant from The Kresge Foundation to help fund a new 34,000-square-foot, two-story complex to serve students and the community. The planned Richard J. Mazurek M.D. Medical Education Commons is to offer School of Medicine students "one-stop shopping" for all administrative, support and learning services. In addition, the complex will serve the community by offering educational programs, health information services and the commitment of WSU medical students to serve those in need.

May 17, 2006