In the news

GVSU again lags in deal setting per-student cash

Wayne State University would receive 0.2 percent more funding under a $1.73 billion higher education funding deal struck by Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The agreement would award Grand Valley State University a 7.5 percent increase in per-student funding -- the largest percent increase awarded to any state university - and Saginaw Valley State and Oakland universities 7.1- and 7.2-percent funding boosts, respectively. The University of Michigan and Michigan State University would see their state funding increase by 0.4 percent.

OU could receive $3.4M more

Oakland University could see a $3.4 million boost, or 7.2 percent overall increase, in funding this year if a pending state budget plan wins approval from legislators and Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The proposal would raise Oakland\'s per-student base appropriation from the state with $3,650, which compares to $8,139 per student that the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University would receive. Michigan and Michigan State would see their state funding increase by 0.4 percent and Wayne State would receive 0.2 percent more.

Nitric Oxide May Prolong Women's Fertility

Nitric oxide may help women preserve their fertility by fighting the effects of aging on their ovaries. "Eggs from older women may be particularly sensitive to aging after they are released from the ovaries," said Husam Abu-Soud, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in Wayne States School of Medicine. "As a result, the time available for optimal fertilization of these women's eggs may be quite a bit shorter than the time frame in younger women."

Local Comment: Bush picks for high court don't threaten Roe v. Wade

In an op-ed piece, WSU law professor Robert Sedler argues that the Supreme Court will not overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, even if two conservative judges nominated by President Bush are appointed to fill the vacancies on the court. He points out that any nominee to the court who receives Senate confirmation "will operate within its institutional framework." He further states that "it has been very rare for the court to overrule a decision solely because a majority of justices now on the court would have decided the case differently had they been on the court at the time of the decision."

Family, church ties to South show in Katrina relief efforts

Robin Boyle, chair of the Geography and Urban Planning Department, is quoted in an article about Detroit and Michigan 's role in helping Hurricane Katrina victims. "The shape, the demographic structure, the size of Detroit in many respects reflects the movement of people from the South, from many states in the South, to find employment in the Midwest and in industrial centers," he said. Mike Smith, director of WSU's Walter P. Reuther Library, noted that there are many connections between Detroiters and friends and relatives in the South. "A lot of folks came up to work and went back to retire in the South," he said

Plans for development of Vernors site lose fizz

Plans for private retail and residential development on the former site of the Vernors ginger ale plant, now owned by Wayne State University , broke down recently after more than a year and 11 plans. Negotiations between the university and Wayne South University Village , a partnership of The Hubbell Group in Detroit and Chicago-based Marquette Property Investment broke down because of differences over the scope of the project. The university hopes to identify a new partner and a plan for the 6-acre parcel before the end of the year and to start building in 2006, said WSU Executive Vice President Meredith Gibbs. She said the South University Village partnership submitted a plan that "was very creative and made a very good use of the site." But the two sides could not agree on size.

Detroit Thermal gets rate hike for steam system

State regulators have approved new rates for Detroit's steam-system company, but it is not likely to end disagreement between Detroit Thermal and some of its customers, such as Wayne State University, which has considered the possibility of leaving the steam supply and building its own boiler plants. "This rate situation could make it even more important for us to leave," said John Davis, CFO and vice president for finance and facilities management." He said he had not seen the decision by the state Public Service Commission, but his initial impression is that it could have "a significant impact on our costs, in times of budget constraint, which is not good for us."

Scattered by storm

An article about the relocation of New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina includes a comment by David Bonior, university professor of labor studies at Wayne State . He pointed out that "people are going to want to go home, if they can, even though in this case it may be very difficult. I also think people are going to be willing to share what they have. They'll be willing to sacrifice to help others get back on their feet." The article looks at the financial, political, social and psychological ramifications of the massive relocation effort.

On U.S. campuses, religious students' ties cross faith lines

On American college campuses, traditionally devout students are forging close ties across religious lines that once seemed impenetrable. With or without institutional encouragement, believers of varied stripes are bonding in these collegiate settings. Many students are finding kinship with others who pray, read scripture and keep a Sabbath holy - even if it's not their own. The article mentions that forums for Christians and Muslims have been happening at Wayne State University in Detroit for about six years.