Michigan Citizen writer Cliff Russell referenced his participation in "The International Roots Symposium" recently held at Wayne State University. A variety of speakers were on hand discussing the relationship between Black Africans and Black Americans. According to Russell, the aim of the discussion was to develop strategies that will forge closer social, political and economic bonds between Black folks on the two continents.

A. Alfred Taubman, local philanthropist and industrialist, is donating $3 million for the development of the Damon J. Keith Classroom Building and the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. The buildings are named in honor of U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon J. Keith. "We are pleased and proud that the planned new center at our law school will be named after distinguished Detroit citizen and federal Judge Damon J. Keith and that his longtime friend and civic booster Al Taubman is partnering with us in making this important project a reality," said Wayne State University President Irvin D. Reid. The law school will acknowledge Taubman's donation during the Wayne First Campaign on Thursday, May 25.

The station reported on the May 5 peace symposium here at which three Nobel Peace Prize winners spoke. Ali Moiin, one of the organizers and chairman of the Shirin Ebadi Foundation, explained the purpose of the conference and mentioned the keynote speakers, all of whom are Nobel Laureates. The WSU Honors Program was a co-sponsor and primary organizer.

During a Detroit Tiger game, a fan caught a foul ball in his beer cup. Local 4's Roger Weber was on location at Wayne State's Matthei Physical Education Center to test the odds of such an occurrence happening again. After setting up a cup in the bleachers, Weber tried hitting and throwing a baseball into it from different distances. He was unsuccessful. Jay Alexander, head coach of Wayne State's men's baseball team, assisted Weber by pitching to him and providing instruction. Weber also interviewed John Skaggs, Warrior freshman first baseman, who said that he attributed the "baseball in the beer cup" to a deliberate attempt by the fan to catch the ball. The odds of catching a ball in a cup were calculated at 1 to 2,336,400. The story aired during Local 4's 5 p.m. newscast.

"The Virtual Motor City," a joint Wayne State Library System and Walter P. Reuther Library project, is highlighted in a news brief. The project consists of online images from the Detroit News Collection dating from 1900-1980. The photos capture Detroit\'s history including Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy sections, to name a few. Users may browse by topic, decade, and more. A link to the "Virtual Motor City" Web site is provided.

During the recent Labor Summit on Affirmative Action and Segregation in Detroit, Governor Jennifer Granholm said Michigan's Legislature has repeatedly singled out Detroit for punishment by cutting funding for Wayne State University and earmarking mass transit funds and increased tax revenues for every city except Detroit. Granholm added that the Republican Legislature is "all about division" - rural residents from city dwellers, black from white, and haves from have-nots.

Wayne State could be a loser under preliminary state budget plans discussed by lawmakers yesterday. Under the plan, already passed by members of the House Higher Education Subcommittee, WSU would be the only four-year public university in the state to receive less money this year than last. "At some point you have to ask if this is in any way a vote of no confidence in what the university is trying to do," President Irvin D. Reid told members of the subcommittee. The House Appropriations Committee and the full House would still need to approve the plan. Then members of the House and Senate would have to work out differences in their bills before submitting a final version to Gov. Granholm.

An article about the contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States mentions that Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki designed the McGregor Memorial Conference Center on the Wayne State University campus. He also designed the famous twin towers of the World Trade Center .

Detroit Receiving Hospital appointed Patricia Brown as chief of internal medicine. She was formerly educational coordinator for the division of infectious diseases in the department of internal medicine at Wayne State University .

A concert by the university's dance ensemble will feature the work of four alumni who have created new dances. Among them is Leslie Williams, currently a faculty member at Wayne State University .

Marlo Jenkins has become Detroit 's first certified provider of FastTrac, a comprehensive entrepreneurship education program. "Our job at TechTown is to provide people who want to start businesses with as many high quality resources as possible, says Executive Director Howard Bell. "Marlo is certainly fulfilling that goal. . . ." The item mentions that TechTown is Detroit 's only research and technology park.

The annual Wayne State University film and media arts festival, "MovingMedia," set for May 12-13, will explore the often misunderstood realm of Experimental Film and Video. In addition to the annual evening showcasing the best film and video works produced by the WSU Media Arts program, this year's festival also will feature screenings, guest filmmakers and panel discussions focusing on a range of historically important and contemporary experimental films. Contact information and event details are provided.

Janice E. Hale, professor of Early Childhood in Wayne State's College of Education, commented about Constance F. Gipson's new book titled "The Black Man's Guide to Parenting." Hale said the book is filled with valuable information and good advice, and that Gipson is to be congratulated for the precision with which she addresses the difference African American men can make when they are actively involved in raising their children.

The $3 million gift to the Wayne State University Law School from philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman is covered in a story accompanied by a photo of Taubman. The gift, the largest single amount ever given to the Law School , will help fund a new classroom and office building that will also house the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. Keith and Taubman are longtime friends. The university is in the midst of a $500 million capital campaign, which is well over halfway toward its goal.

Booth Newspapers ran an AP story about hearings before the House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee regarding testimony by the presidents of Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan . The universities were united in their appeal for increased funding because of unique costs and missions that separate them from the state's 12 other public universities. "We depend on you . . . for the resources needed to perform the immensely important work with which we are entrusted," President Irvin D. Reid told committee members. But Western Michigan University President Judith Bailey warned against separating schools based on the ratings of their research levels. "It begins to fragment the overall picture," she said. "I believe it is problematic." Proposals made by Gov. Granholm and the state Senate would give each of the three major research universities a 2 percent increase for next fiscal year. WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and WLNS-TV in Lansing aired brief reports based on the AP story.

An article about Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, mentions that she will be speaking at a symposium at Wayne State Friday evening. A sidebar includes more details of the event and a phone number for information. Ebadi, an Iranian-born human rights lawyer and activist, also will speak Saturday evening at the University of Michigan .

A feature about retiring Macomb Daily executive editor Mitch Kehetian notes that he received a Lifetime Achievement Award recently from the journalism faculty of Wayne State University . A WSU alumnus, he said the honor meant more to him than any other he has received.

This article talks about a production of Wayne State University 's Black Theatre Touring Company, which was presented in the Marine City area on April 26. The play "Buses" tells the story of a fictional encounter between Rosa Parks and Mary Ellen Pleasant, a lesser known civil rights figure. Marine City High School teacher Jay McCullough says he brought his English and drama club classes to the play "because there isn't a lot of diversity in our community."

A group of metro Detroiters are trying to expand Thursday's National Day of Prayer into a broad celebration of the nation's diversity. A Conference titled "When Strangers Become Neighbors" will be presented at Wayne State Thursday, 8 a.m. till noon, to mark the 20th anniversary of these diversity gatherings in metro Detroit. Following the conference, participants will pray inside the McGregor Memorial Conference Center or outside in Gullen Mall. The WSU conference will likely be the largest interfaith event going on in southeast Michigan.

Mr. Lawrence Patrick, former director of Wayne State's Biomechanical Research Center, died of complications from Parkinson's disease at Four Seasons Hospice in Hendersonville, N.C. He was 85. Patrick earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Wayne State in 1955. He had already become the university's research director in 1946, and later became director of WSU's Biomechanics Research Center in 1965. A pioneer in automotive safety design, his work led to advancements in the development of the airbag. He also employed cadavers to test seat belts, safety glass for windshields, collapsible steering columns, dashboards and many other safety features. In addition, Patrick was a professor at the university for nearly two decades.