In Brief
Former Detroit Lions players Robert Porcher and Luther Ellis will be on hand at Wayne State for a "Big Man Camp," June 9-11, for football players in grades 8-12.
Wayne State in the news
WDET launches 'Night Train' with Mick Collins June 3
WDET-FM 101.9 is featuring the "Night Train" program hosted by Mick Collins on Saturdays from 7-9 p.m. "When we were looking for a Saturday night host, I thought about WDET's long history of opening its doors to musicians and artists of all types and letting them explore their musical interests in ways that go beyond what they do in a recording studio or concert stage," said Allen Mazurek, WDET program director. "Because of his musical interests, and given his place in Detroit's music history, Mick's was one of the first names that came to mind."
Planned study of Fentanyl at Wayne State University
The early-evening news broadcast included a report based on a June 2 Detroit News story about a planned study at Wayne State aimed at determining the effectiveness of a new form of fentanyl that could reduce illegal use of the drug because of uncomfortable side effects if used illicitly. Reporter Jeff Vaughn, who filed his report from beside a Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences sign at the School of Medicine , mentioned that the university declined to disclose the name of the pharmaceutical company that is sponsoring the study.
WSU test pays heroin addicts
Under research sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, Wayne State University will pay some heroin users to take the painkiller fentanyl, according to this article. The study will be conducted at WSU's Jefferson Avenue Research Clinic. While drugs laced with fentanyl are suspected in over 50 Wayne County deaths in recent weeks, the study itself has been planned for months. The version of the drug that will be tested is aimed at easing pain but has been modified to produce uncomfortable side effects if used illicitly. Dr. Mark K. Greenwald, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences, will lead the project. "I feel very confident," he said, "that this study will be conducted safely and volunteers will receive the highest possible standard of care." In a pull-quote accompanying the story, Greenwald says, "This is the kind of (test) that is needed so the lawful use of medicine is honored."
Power brokers save a seat for Windsor
History professor John Bukowczyk is quoted in Bill McGraw's column dealing with the mayor of Windsor 's more visible role as a player on the political and economic scene of southeast Michigan . Mayor Eddie Francis was invited to participate in the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual policy conference on Mackinac Island this week. Bukowczyk, director of the Canadian Studies program here and one of four authors of a book about the U.S.-Canada border, points out that "given the proximity of southwestern Ontario and southeastern Michigan , there are natural economic connections that neither we Detroiters nor our counterparts in Canada have exploited as much as we could and should have."
OutFront: Tightening noose
Law professor Peter Henning provides expert comment in an article about three partners in a law firm who allegedly directed millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to people who agreed to serve as plaintiffs in the firm's lucrative securities lawsuits. Henning discusses some aspects of the case.
Shalom, Rabbi Kaufman
The Wayne State University Press is mentioned in this article as the publisher of the book Contemporary Jewish Philosophies by Rabbi William E. Kaufman. The newspaper article deals with Kaufman's retirement as a clergyman, educator, author and columnist after 42 years.
LIFESTYLES: Reunions
The Wayne State Law School classes of 1956 through 1981 will have a reunion gathering on June 14 at the school. Details and contact information are provided.
Economic plan starts paying dividends
In this op-ed piece covering a wide range of initiatives to improve Michigan's economy, Gov. Jennifer Granholm mentions her efforts to create a new Merit Award Scholarship that would allow every student in the state to obtain $4,000 to attend college or receive technical training "so they can compete in the 21st century economy."
Marketing will be key to growth as enrollment patterns shift, conference speakers say
College branding and marketing will grow in importance as institutions have to rely more heavily on adult students and online education to increase enrollment, industry experts said at a recent conference sponsored by an education-research and consulting firm. While enrollments are expected to increase in the next decade, the overall rate of growth is projected to drop. But the adult-student market, which is increasingly geared to online programs, should remain robust. Conference panelists said the keys to successful marketing include understanding what makes an institution unique, staying true to the institutional mission, finding underserved students, understanding what motivates potential students, and developing messages for specific audiences, such as women and minorities.
Enrollments keep rising, and most are women, says annual report on 'Condition of Education'
Data from the U.S. Department of Education's annual report, "The Condition of Education 2006," indicate that the number of female college students is rising. Women now earn more degrees than do men in a range of fields once overwhelmingly male. These include business. And women earn as many degrees as men in such male-dominated professions as medicine and law.
Doctor, doctor: Farmington couple earns Ph.D.s together
A feature story profiled Ahmad and Colleen Ezzeddine, both receiving their doctorate degrees at the May 6 commencement at Wayne State University . The husband and wife team also work at the university; Colleen as an adjunct instructor in the Communications Department; and Ahmad as an assistant dean for executive and professional development in the School of Business Administration . Colleen, who earned her Ph.D. in organizational communications, said the outdoor commencement was great and that she was happy to participate in the university's first on-site graduation ceremony in nearly 80 years. Ahmad, who finished his doctorate in business and industrial engineering, remarked that they had a beautiful day. "There's a sense of accomplishment. Instead of waving at her, or her waving to me, it was nice to be right next to each other." A photo of the couple at the commencement ceremonies is included.
Clinton Twp. running out of room
Robin Boyle, chair of the department of geography and urban planning, comments about the challenges facing built-out communities. He says they must deal with the lack of buildable space, a fear of change for both residents and officials and stagnant tax revenue. A solution, Boyle said, is for such communities to examine and draft plans to turn vacant and underused sites into new developments.
Fentanyl made in illegal labs
Authorities suspect the painkiller fentanyl, mixed with either heroin or cocaine, is to blame for a spike in drug overdose deaths involving 50 people in Wayne County during the past two weeks, including two on Wednesday. Mark Greenwald, Wayne State University psychiatry professor, says there are still a lot of questions, but all evidence points to it being a mix that came onto the street from illegal networks. According to experts, the drug is being clandestinely manufactured, but not in the Detroit or Wayne County area, and that it was brought here and sold here.
Alternate scenario: CV could close
Wayne State University law professor Stephen Caulkins commented about the proposal by Times-Shamrock Communications to buy the Times Leader newspaper in Wilkes-Barre , Penn. The deal has led to speculation that the Wilkes-Barre area would become a one-newspaper town and that antitrust laws may be violated if the transaction goes through. Caulkins said that nothing prevents the buyers from talking with Justice Department officials even before making a bid on the Times Leader or before a deal is in place. "It's very common to talk ahead of time," he said.
Study Finds Ways To Improve Detection Of Blood Clots In The Lung
A new study of a commonly used imaging test of the chest to detect potentially deadly blood clots in the lung shows that extending the scan to the legs \"where the clots typically originate\" or adding a standard clinical assessment significantly improves physicians\' abilities to accurately diagnose pulmonary embolism. A sudden and potentially deadly blockage in a lung artery, pulmonary embolism affects an estimated 600,000 Americans each year, making it the fourth most commonly occurring cardiovascular problem in the United States . \"This study suggests that chest CT angiogram for detecting dangerous blood clots in the lung is good, but sometimes it is not enough,\" noted Paul D. Stein, MD, professor of medicine at Wayne State University , and lead author of the study. \"We can more accurately detect or rule out pulmonary embolism by taking pictures of the leg veins in addition to pictures of the lung arteries,\" he said.
LOCAL COMMENT: At Delphi, fairness for all is on line
David Bonior, university professor of labor studies at Wayne State and chair of American Rights at Work, wrote an opinion piece about the Delphi dissolution and the efforts of the UAW to protect workers' rights. The UAW has been a vehicle for communication between employees and management helping union workers to negotiate an array of attrition and retirement plans that suit their circumstances, Bonior writes. A photo of Bonior is included.
Business briefs
DeMaria Building Company of Novi and Detroit has been awarded three projects for Wayne State University , totaling $12 million. Bid Packs feature renovations, building additions and boiler installations to 14 separate buildings at the Detroit campus.
Too many state students can't compete for jobs
Cynthia J. Pasky, president and chief executive of Strategic Staffing Solutions and chairperson of the Detroit Regional Chamber, writes in an opinion piece that Michigan 's educational system must be overhauled in order for the state to compete for jobs. "Too many of our young people are leaving school unable to compete for 21st-century jobs. And our employers are not being provided with the trained and trainable work force that is a must if we are to compete successfully in a world economy," Pasky writes. She further opines that we should place equal value on a university education, a community college education, a technical training program or a work force development program.
Inflation for Higher Education Jumps in 2006
Inflation for higher education will increase 5 percent in the 2006 fiscal year -- the largest increase since 2002 -- as colleges are experiencing increases in operational costs like utilities, according to figures released on Thursday. Although employee salaries and benefits continue to be large expenditures for colleges, they were not as much to blame for the rise in inflation this year as the increase in costs of heating oil and gas, according to Verne Sedlacek, president and chief executive officer of Commonfund.