In the news

University presidents make case for state funding at Econ Club

Presidents of the state's 15 public universities on Monday called for a reversal of state funding cuts to Michigan's "most important public investment," its 15 public universities. In a speech delivered at the Detroit Economic Club luncheon at Cobo Center, Oakland University President Gary Russi said Michigan's universities are vital contributions to the state's economy, yet the state is investing nearly $250 million less in them than four years ago.

Oakland maintains its swing status

Kurt Metzger, demographer with Wayne State University\'s Center for Urban Studies, said Oakland County's Democratic shift has stemmed in part from growing populations of black, Jewish and Hispanic voters in the county, many of whom have migrated from Detroit and Wayne County. \"You tend to think of African Americans as this kind of across-the-board voting demographic, and therefore, as the African-American population increases across Oakland County, that drives the Democratic vote,\" Metzger said. But, he added that within Oakland County there has been a newer movement of more upwardly mobile blacks from places like Southfield to Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield and Commerce Township. Along with that socioeconomic movement could come a change in voting patterns.

White enrollment climbs at black colleges

Increasingly, white students are enrolling at the nation's 120 historically black colleges and universities. In the past quarter-century, the number of white students at these campuses has risen 65 percent, from 21,000 to nearly 35,000 - an increase driven partly by court orders aimed at desegregation and partly by interest in programs the schools offer. Most of the influx of white students has come at public institutions, which receive funding from federal and state governments. Such colleges are pressured to increase their white enrollment - even as affirmative action requirements at some other universities are waning.

Study proves the effectiveness of Vfend for the treatment of candidemia

This article focuses on results of a study headed by Dr. Jack D. Sobel, professor and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the WSU School of Medicine. The study found that Pfizer's Vfend antifungal treatment is an effective treatment for patients with candidemia, an often-fatal hospital-acquired bloodstream infection. "Because of Vfend's broad spectrum of activity against infections caused by yeasts and moulds, it is a good first-choice treatment option for immunocompromised patients who are at risk for those types of infection," Sobel said. Results of the study also appeared in several other online medical newsletters.

On the go!

Wayne State hosts Detroit Docs International Film Festival with screenings Nov. 12-14. Lectures and workshops by university experts and filmmakers will run throughout the event. Wayne State's Hilberry theatre company performs in repertory: "Blithe Spirit" by Noel Coward," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," by William Shakespeare and "Mother Courage and Her Children." Bonstelle Theatre, Wayne State's undergraduate theater company, presents "A flea in her ear" by Georges Feydeau.

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Jim Press, executive vice president and COO of Toyota Motor Sales USA and a managing officer of the parent Toyota company in Japan, was the guest on \"Leaders on Leadership\", co-produced by WSU\'s School of Business Administration and Detroit Public Television. The program\'s host, Larry Fobes of the School of Business Administration, and the WSU student audience questioned Press on leadership of a sales organization achieving tremendous growth despite a tough economy, and in comparison to sales results by other auto makers.

DETROIT DOCS: Film fest continues to grow, with more documentaries from around the world

A front-page story in the Entertainment section discusses this year\'s Detroit Docs festival running Thursday through Sunday at Wayne State University, the Detroit Film Center, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Birmingham 8 theater complex. More than 30 filmmakers will appear with their films and in workshops. When Detroit Docs started in 2002, there were about 30 films. An audience of about 1,000 attendees in the first year doubled in the second. This year, with new venues, reasonable ticket prices and a solid lineup, organizers hope to attract close to 4,000 people. A sidebar item lists the Wayne State locations for film viewings and offers details about the free opening gala 7-10 p.m. Thursday at the Wayne State Welcome Center.

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On his Sunday early morning show, Warren Pierce mentioned that the sports wire in front of him omitted the score of Saturday's Wayne State football game at Ford Field, giving only the Central Michigan vs Eastern Michigan score from the doubleheader at Detroit's newest football venue. He gave the WSU vs Hillsdale score and said Mike O'Hara, a Wayne State alum who is a sports writer for the Detroit News, would probably want to talk about the game during his sports report later in the show.

College heads: High school should be harder

State university officials welcome the State Board of Education's looming recommendations to toughen high-school graduation requirements. But they say it's just as important to change mindsets as it is to prepare minds. A non-profit coalition of family and education organizations called Your Child last week launched a six-week radio campaign in several Michigan markets to increase community attendance at grassroots forums about the need to increase commitment to education. The spots feature Wayne State President Irvin D. Reid, Western Michigan President Judith Bailey and Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon. They encourage parents and high school students to attend one of many forums planned around the state.