Chamber of Commerce supports eliminating State Board of Education

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has called for abolishing the State Board of Education and giving the governor power to appoint the state superintendent. The chamber's proposal also would give the governor power to appoint the governing boards at Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan. The appointments would require approval by the state Senate. A similar measure last year died without action. "I can tell you the three universities who have their boards elected would prefer to keep it that way, for a variety of reasons," said Mike Boulus, director of the Presidents Council, which represents the state's public university presidents.

April 23, 2005

Senior remodel to stay at home

Thomas Jankowski, associate director for research in the WSU Institute of Gerontology, is quoted in an article about the challenges facing older people with infirmities who wish to stay in their home. He said people 65 and older are "much healthier than they used to be. They're much better educated; they're more active and engaged. . . . I think they are going to be a tremendous resource for the country."

April 23, 2005

Jeff Gerritt: From death row, to vindication, to voice for justice

Jeff Gerritt's column about the experiences of former death row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth, who was released from prison after DNA evidence exonerated him of murder, mentions that Bloodsworth spoke at Wayne State recently at the invitation of professor Marvin Zalman of the Criminal Justice Department.

April 23, 2005

Earth Day Celebration: Detroit's race to plant trees

A story about tree-planting in Detroit as part of Earth Day activities includes a comment about the activity from volunteer Michael Watley, 20, who is a business major at Wayne State. Watley has worked with a group called Green Corps in Detroit since 1999.

April 23, 2005

Oakland U. touts capital plan

Wayne State is mentioned in a story about Oakland University's capital campaign, which kicks off publicly today. Oakland has raised $63.5 million since 2002 in the silent phase of its campaign. Wayne State is trying to raise $500 million for research, facilities and its endowment, the article says. Michigan State and the University of Michigan are also in the midst of fundraising campaigns.

April 22, 2005

Location, land make Novi a hot spot

An expansion of Twelve Oaks Mall confirms that the city of Novi will remain a growth magnet in southeast Michigan. However, some critics say the city's success in drawing new development while older communities stagnate underscores a lack of regional planning. Kurt Metzger, research director in the Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State, pointed out that the region often functions "as 250 individual communities, all competing against one another for business and new residential development. And I think it\'s just so counterproductive. . . . We don\'t need to be using up all this land," he said. "We don\'t need to be creating new communities on and on and on.\"

April 22, 2005

Stained by permanent ink

Jack Lessenberry, journalism instructor here, is quoted regarding the flap over Detroit Free Press writer Mitch Albom's fabrication of part of a sports story. "Albom is really the only recognizable name they have,\" says Lessenberry who writes a column critical of the media for the Metro Times in Detroit. \"I think they will bend over backwards for marketing reasons to not fire him unless they absolutely have to.\"

April 22, 2005

The ruffle inspires fashion at DIA

Wayne State fashion design student Leeanna Laliberte is quoted in a story about a fashion show at the Detroit Institute of Arts tonight. Laliberte designed an evening gown for the runway fashion show, which challenges local designers to draw inspiration from the museum\'s installation of works by the 17th-century Dutch portrait artist Gerard ter Borch and to reinterpret the ruff, or ruffle. \"I really wanted to make a piece of art,\" says Laliberte. "This was quite time-consuming. On one sleeve alone there are more than 88 cupcake liners."

April 22, 2005

People on the move

Albert J. Dib of Grosse Pointe Park, who practices in employment law and medical liability litigation at his firm, Dib, Fagan and Brault PC, has joined the adjunct law faculty at Wayne State University Law School.

April 22, 2005

People making news

Kim Trent, regional manager for Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., was named president of the Wayne State University Organization of Black Alumni. Other new officers are president-elect Larry Polk, treasurer William Butler, public relations committee chair Tara Young, Tonya Corbitt, Debra Montgomery-Hugh, Katrenia Hosea-Flanigan, Delgreco Harden, Cheri Anderson and Jacqueline Esters.

April 21, 2005

Student journalists have limited rights

A former journalism instructor at Mercy High School, says her contract was not renewed because she allowed a student editorial to run without first receiving approval from the principal. She claims that prior approval is a violation of her students' right of free speech. But Ben Burns, director of journalism at Wayne State, observes that "it's one of the basic rules of publishing that you never surprise your publisher. It's true in every paper in the land and it's true in a high school system as well." But he pointed out that some schools allow student newspapers more freedom than do others, noting that The South End at Wayne State is not censored in any way by the university administration.

April 21, 2005

'Evita' musical next on stage at WSU's Bonstelle Theatre

The hit musical "Evita" will be presented at WSU's Bonstelle Theatre, April 22-May 1.Winner of seven Tony Awards, the play follows the life of the legendary Eva Peron, wofe of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron. WSU faculty member Nancy Lipschultz directs and Jennifer Sessions has the title role. Ticket information is included, along with a photo of three cast members.

April 21, 2005

Researchers find promising cancer-fighting power of synthetic cell-signaling molecule

Wayne State professors Eva Schmelz and Paul Roberts are mentioned as among collaborators in a study that revealed that an anti-cancer compound called Enigmois may be effective in treating several types of cancer in men and women. An article about the research has been published widely in online medical newsletters this week. Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology also were involved in the research.

April 21, 2005

The Local List

"Conversations with Authors" will be held at 1 p.m., April 27, featuring Stanley Crouch, an essayist, novelist, columnist, television commentator, literary and music critic, who will be the honored guest speaker at the Undergraduate Library at Wayne State.

April 21, 2005

Warrior Softball Fifth In Great Lakes Region

The Wayne State University softball program is ranked fifth in the Great Lakes Region, according to the NCAA Division II women\'s softball committee poll released yesterday. Many WSU players are listed among the conference leaders, including shortstop Sue Verbeem, who is third in the league, with a .357 batting average.

April 21, 2005

People making news

Kim Trent, regional manager for Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., was named president of the Wayne State University Organization of Black Alumni. Other new officers are president-elect Larry Polk, treasurer William Butler, public relations committee chair Tara Young, Tonya Corbitt, Debra Montgomery-Hugh, Katrenia Hosea-Flanigan, Delgreco Harden, Cheri Anderson and Jacqueline Esters.

April 21, 2005

Census projections suggest erosion of Michigan political clout

Michigan is likely to lose two more U.S. House seats and some of its political clout over the next 25 years as its population growth continues to decrease. The 2000 census placed Michigan\'s population at 9,938,444, eighth highest in the country. It is expected to reach 10,694,172 by 2030, dropping the state to 11th. \"As with economic forecasts and everything else, these numbers could change,\" said Kurt Metzger, research director at the Center for Urban Studies at WSU. If the census projections are accurate, by 2030 Michigan will have only 13 House members, the fewest in a century.

April 21, 2005

Theatre

Wayne State University\'s Hilberry Theatre presents "Henry IV, Part I,\" William Shakespeare\'s story of coming of age. The play continues through May 5 and performance times vary. Tickets range from $22-$13.

April 21, 2005

New approach for cancer - Enigmols!

Novel anti-cancer compounds called Enigmols suppress the growth of human cell lines representing cancers of the prostate, breast, colon, ovary, pancreas, brain and blood, and reduce tumors in three animal studies. In addition, Enigmols did not show side effects at effective doses, according to the research conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University and Wayne State University. The studies were funded by the National Cancer Institute. Collaborators to the research at Wayne State are Professors Eva Schmelz and Paul Roberts.

April 21, 2005

Fans celebrate 'Star Wars'

Matthew Kapell, a Wayne State anthropologist and historian, was quoted on America's obsession with Star Wars firms. It\'s not just something they do on weekends,\" says Kapell, "It\'s almost a religion.\" The \"Star Wars\" franchise has been successful because creator George Lucas stuck to a simple, universal story about good vs. evil and a hero\'s attempt to save the day. Today through Sunday, thousands of \"Star Wars\" fans will arrive in Indianapolis for \"Star Wars\" Celebration III, a prelude to the May 19 release of \"Revenge of the Sith,\" the sixth and final installment of the \"Star Wars\" series.

April 21, 2005