Ford agrees to pay state fine

Ralph Kummler, dean of the College of Engineering, commented about Ford Motor Company's agreement to pay the state $55,000 following allegations by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that Ford's Wixom assembly plant exceeded acceptable air-emission levels several times since 1998. Kummler said the volatile organic chemicals (VOC) typically released through air emissions do not pose health or environmental hazards. "An emissions limit is something that the DEQ does to try to mitigate things, but if you violate the emissions limit, you don't necessarily create a health problem," Kummler said. "Most of the time, the reason for having limits is because (emissions) contribute to the ozone problem, and I'm pretty sure that there is no significant ozone problem in Wixom."

December 17, 2004

TechTown welcomes new neighbor

The Research Coordination Center (RCC) of Neurorecovery Inc. (NRI) is moving to TechTown's TechOne Building this month. Howard Bell, TechTown executive director, said the move "underscores our commitment to providing the services and environment that can attract businesses from around the country. We are committed to Neurorecovery's success." A photo of TechOne accompanies the story.

December 17, 2004

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The early-morning news carried a brief film segment on last Thursday's graduation ceremonies, mentioning that the university permitted the sister of a graduating student who was shot in a Detroit carjacking to participate in commencement on her behalf.

December 17, 2004

Emory Chemists Reveal Challenge to Reaction Theory

Chemistry professor Arthur Suits of Wayne State collaborated with professor Joel Bowman, an Emory University theoretical chemist, in research that challenges the long-held "transition-state theory" that has guided chemists in how they view the way chemical reactions proceed. The scientists demonstrated that formaldehyde (H2CO) exposed to light rays can decompose to hydrogen and carbon monoxide via a path that skirts that reaction\'s well-established transition state entirely.

December 17, 2004

Five Volleyball Student-Athletes Named To GLIAC All-Academic Team

Five members of the 2004 Wayne State University women\'s volleyball team were named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team. To be eligible for the athlete must have: a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale); must be a starter or key reserve; and must not be a freshman or first-year transfer student. The Warriors who received the honor were Darcie Amsdill, Toni Purgatori, Elisa Joris, Kelita Sinclair, and Megan Smolen.

December 17, 2004

For health, stay cool this Yule

These were among several newspapers and electronic media that did follow-up reports on the birth control pill controversy. Dr. Barbara Alving of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funds and oversees the women's health study, said the work by researchers at Wayne State had not been reviewed by the study's leaders or the government before it was presented. A new analysis determined that the findings were flawed.

December 17, 2004

Choir offers holiday rarity

Among featured pieces at the Dearborn Holiday Choral Festival Saturday will be "Song of Reflection & Psalms of Praise\" composed by Wayne State University faculty member Augustus O. Hill. Based on texts from the Book of Psalms, this Vanguard Voices commission offers a meditation on the shortness of life followed by a joyous celebration.

December 17, 2004

2 Pointers in WSU Engineering Hall of Fame

Jim Croce, president and CEO of NextEnergy, and Brian Geraghty, director of design analysis engineering at Ford Motor Co., were recently inducted into the Wayne State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame. Photos of Croce and Geraghty accompany the story.

December 16, 2004

Wayne State administration meets with C.B.S. advisory board

An opinion piece by publisher Dolores Sanchez notes that Jack Kay, interim dean of the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs, recently called a special meeting of the Chicano-Boricua Studies (CBS) Community Advisory Board. Andre Furtado, interim director of CBS, presented an update on the center's activities. A letter to Kay and Provost Nancy Barrett titled "An inside look at Dr. Chinea and Dr. Cuello," is reprinted. The author, Stephanie M. Alvarez, identified as a former part-time faculty member at CBS, discusses her positive experiences working with professors Jorge Chinea and Jose Cuello.

December 16, 2004

Bonstelle's 'Anne' a great family show

Theatre columnist Robert Delaney praises the Bonstelle Theatre's product of "Anne of Green Gables" in this review. "There are a number of good performances in this undergraduate production," he writes, "but what makes this show so worth seeing is the outstanding portrayal of Anne by Danielle Cochrane." A photo of Cochrane in turn-of-the-century dress accompanies the article.

December 16, 2004

Officials praise tough stance of Canadian government

Carl Freeman, a Wayne State University biology professor, commented about the Ontario government's decision to level charges against Royal Polymers, the company that dumped cancer-causing chemicals into the St. Clair River during last year's power blackout. Freeman said Canada's crackdown on the company shows that the spill was more than just a minor incident. \"That stuff is incredibly dangerous. And, of course, it\'s to industry\'s advantage to tell everyone that they have nothing to fear,\" Freeman said.

December 16, 2004

Macomb makes inroads in Middle East

According to the American Community Survey, performed by the U.S. Census Bureau, Macomb County was home to an estimated 14,400 people of Arab descent and 12,025 Chaldeans in 2002. The 2003 survey estimated that those numbers jumped to 17,416 and 16,583, respectively. An unidentified Wayne State University demographer recently told the Macomb Daily that the numbers in the census review likely are a bit low.

December 16, 2004

Granholm: Higher-ed funding deserves another look

This is one of several articles by news services around the state that reported on Wednesday's release of the Cherry Commission Report on higher education. The commission was charged with recommending ways to double the number of Michigan adults holding degrees or certificates in the next decade. Paul Massaron of the WSU Board of Governors said Michigan needs to begin phasing in a plan that could possibly lead to a "K-16 guarantee to everybody who wants it." It could begin with a phase-in of tuition-free community college, he mentioned. Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she will give all levels of education equal priority in coming budget talks.

December 16, 2004

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Against a video backdrop of students receiving their degrees at WSU commencement ceremonies Thursday evening, the station noted that Wayne State permitted Nina Lowery, sister of a graduating student who was shot and seriously injured recently in a carjacking near her home, to march in the graduation ceremonies on her sister's behalf. A cameraman from WDIV-TV (4) also covered commencement proceedings.

December 16, 2004

Birth control pill controversy

The early evening news included a report by medical reporter Lila Lazarus on the birth control pill controversy that resulted from a report by the WSU School of Medicine. Lazarus mentions that "federal officials are now backing away from findings of a study that found that birth control pills may reduce the risk of heart attack." The government says there is no relationship between the pill and reduced heart disease. Dr. Susan Hendrix of the Medical School explained that the study was a preliminary analysis of oral contraceptives and heart disease. She pointed out that the pill is one of the safest medications and that a person's physician is in the best position to give advice on whether or not to use it. Lazarus mentioned that the school has apologized for any confusion caused by the report.

December 16, 2004

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In this report on the birth control pill issue, the station interviews Dr. Susan Hendrix, who points out that the earlier-announced findings of the report were preliminary and that "we are still looking at how to do the right analysis of the data." The news anchorperson noted that the university has pledged to publish its findings after reviewing the data.

December 16, 2004

Analysis: affirmative action stirs debate

Frank Wu, dean of the Law School, is quoted in a UPI wire service story about the latest controversy over affirmative action programs regarding law school admissions. UCLA law professor Richard Sander contends in a study that affirmative action programs are harmful for black law school students. He says the number of black lawyers may decrease because of the attrition rates caused by admitting students who can't do the work. Opponents claim his data is flawed. Wu points out that Sander uses old data from 2001 to support his conclusion that without affirmative action there would only be a 14 percent decline in the number of African-American applicants. More recent data would show a more significant 35-45 percent decline, Wu believes. "What is certain," he says, is if law schools were to adopt Sander's policies there is little doubt that colleges and universities will become segregated."

December 16, 2004

Federal inquiry begins into whether colleges broke election laws

The Federal Election Commission is investigating whether colleges violated a ban on corporate donations to political campaigns by allowing controversial filmmaker Michael Moore to appear on their campuses during the presidential election campaign and paying him a speaker's fee. David Hardy, an Arizona lawyer, filed complaints against a dozen institutions. In the complaint letter, Hardy quotes from Moore's speeches, including one at Wayne State University, where he said, "We're visiting all 20 battleground states, and our goal is to remove George W. Bush from the White House."

December 16, 2004

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This NPR station in New York City interviewed Professor Jeffrey Abt of the Art and Art History Department about a King Tut exhibit that is scheduled for a U.S. tour. The exhibit has stirred controversy because of a projected $30 admission fee and the fact that it is being organized by a for-profit group on behalf of the Egyptian government. WNYC, claiming over a million listeners, is reportedly the largest public radio station in the country.

December 16, 2004

Men's hockey players listed in national statistics

Several Wayne State University men\'s hockey players are listed among the nation\'s best in this week\'s NCAA statistical report. Freshmen forwards Tylor Michel and Stavros Paskaris are tied for third in the country with 20 other skaters with two short-handed goals. Sophomore right wing Nate Higgins is tied for fourth in the country with three game-winning goals.

December 16, 2004