FLOC sets its sights on future flights

José Cuello, associate professor of history at Wayne State University, commented extensively about the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), a Toledo based union of migrant workers, and its chances for success in organizing the tobacco companies. "The tobacco companies are vulnerable," Cuello said. "An industry battered by lawsuits on behalf of consumers stricken by cancer and other bad publicity doesn't need to add 'exploitation of workers' to its publicity rap sheet."

October 3, 2004

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Peter Pestillo, chairman of Visteon Corporation, was the guest on the \"Leaders on Leadership\" program, co-produced by Detroit Public Television and WSU School of Business Administration. Through questions from host Larry L. Fobes, Director of the School\'s Institute for Organizational & Industrial Competitiveness, from SBA students, viewers learned about Pestillo\'s leadership in making the former parts business of the Ford Motor Company into an independent, publicly held firm.

October 3, 2004

People on the Move

Dr. Jeffrey Clarke, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the WSU School of Medicine, was appointed chief of staff, medical affairs, at Harper University Hospital.

October 2, 2004

Hazel Park says 'No' to Proposal 2

Hazel Park has joined the cities of Ferndale and Ypsilanti in formally opposing Proposal 2. Several Detroit City Council members have come out against the proposal. In an Oct. 11 memo, Wayne State President Irvin D. Reid declared that the University will fight to keep domestic partnership benefits for their employees should the discriminatory amendment pass. According to Reid\'s memo, \"While the scope of the proposed Constitutional Amendment is uncertain, Wayne State University will continue to offer domestic partner benefits and defend its right to do so. The University\'s Board of Governors fully supports the administration\'s position on this matter.\"

October 2, 2004

WSU to fill dean post

This article notes that Wayne State\'s School of Medicine is planning to name an in-house candidate interim dean by next week, Provost Nancy Barrett said Thursday. The interim post was created when Dr. John Crissman, medical school dean, resigned last Friday after WSU told him it was not renewing his contract. Leading candidates include two Detroit Medical Center department chiefs -- Dr. Brooks Bock, emergency medicine, and Dr. H. Michael Marsh, anesthesiology -- as well as Robert Frank, WSU associate dean of medicine.

October 2, 2004

Gay marriage ban headed for passage

A front-page story in the Saturday Detroit News and Free Press about a proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution to prohibit gay marriage includes a comment from professor Peter Eisinger of the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs. He says he opposes a ban, noting that "people ought to be able to do what they want if they don't harm others." The article mentions that Eisinger is a political science professor and includes his photo on the front page.

October 2, 2004

Bush, Kerry scrap over war in Iraq

Bernard Brock, professor emeritus of communications at Wayne State University and a debate expert, comments about the presidential debate, saying he felt that Kerry won. Bush "said such things as 'it's hard work,' 'a free Iraq is important' and things like that he repeated over and over and did not advance his position beyond what he has said in his stump speeches," Brock said.

October 1, 2004

Consult on Vioxx, users told

Merck & Co. halted the sale of Vioxx worldwide because data from a three-year study conducted by the drug company discovered that participants in the research had double the risk of a heart attack. Dr. James Leisen, director of rheumatology at Wayne State University, said his staff has not seen any heart problems associated with Vioxx. \"I don\'t think people should be alarmed,\" he said. \"There are safety concerns, but that is primarily with higher doses - 50 milligram doses. Those taking it won\'t be in trouble if they take the 25 milligram dose,\" Leisen said.

October 1, 2004

Surge in employment predicted

Kurt Metzger, research director for CULMA's Center for Urban Studies, says metro Detroit\'s labor force is older than that of Chicago, Atlanta or Phoenix. About 22 percent of Detroiters are between the ages 45-64 and are nearing retirement. Metzger says there\'s a real concern that when baby boomers leave the work force our economy could sustain crisis levels. \"In southeastern Michigan, we have smaller numbers of younger people and they will not be able to keep up with the job demand.\"

October 1, 2004

Ig Nobel awards pay tribute to world's oddballs

Criminal Justice professor Steven Stack, together with colleague James Gundlach of Auburn University, won this year\'s medicine Ig Nobel for their 1992 country music and suicide study. The annual lg Nobel awards, presented at Harvard University, recognize a distinctive mix of unusual research and scientific satire. The awards are conferred a week before the Nobel prizes are offered in Stockholm. \"I\'m happy about it. It gives you some national recognition for your work,\" Stack said.

October 1, 2004

People on the news

Wayne State University's Law School appointed Francesco Reale director of finance and operations.

October 1, 2004

Power & Controversy: The Cheney legacy

(The report appeared in a number of papers across the country -- among them the Tri-City Herald of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, Washington.) Muriel Dobbin of the Washington Bureau of this news service says win or lose, Dick Cheney will be remembered as the most powerful and controversial vice president in American political history. Professor of history and foreign policy, Mel Small, said, "No vice president has ever played a role so central to the administration, and Cheney anticipated it," he said. "He took the job because he understood its potential significance."

October 1, 2004

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The station reported on the late-night news that there was an assault on the third floor of the Purdy/Kresge Library. A shot of the library and the mall area were included in the report. Three students were interviewed and said they feel safe on campus and one pointed out that he felt WSU has the situation under control.

October 1, 2004

WSU Continues criminalizing professors

An editorial traces the history of a complaint against two Hispanic professors in the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies at the university and contends that the two are being treated unfairly by the administration. Also on the page is a lengthy letter from The Friends of CBS organization to the WSU Board of Governors reviewing the history of the center and calling for a meeting with President Reid to discuss the future of the unit.

September 30, 2004

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Wayne State students participating in the 2004 Presidential Debate Watch, held last night at the Student Center Building, were interviewed on WJR regarding their views on how the candidates fared. WWJ evening news anchor Paul Snider noted that Wayne State University students would be participating in the debate watch program. Snider added a statement that he attributed to an unnamed university source, "The program is designed to get citizens involved in the political process by having them watch the debates and then talk about them, rather than listen to political pundits and spin doctors.\"

September 30, 2004

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Wayne State University students were among the participants in an in-studio post-debate program during the 11 p.m. newscast. They offered comments about the performance of the candidates and whether the debate had persuaded them to switch party allegiance.

September 30, 2004

Station changes: Money, listener losses spur WDET changes

Vanishing subsidies and harder-to-get donations prompted an audience examination at WDET 101.9 FM, leading to several program changes. For a public radio station that gets 62 percent of its $3.8 million budget from individual donations, that was a problem that had to be fixed, said General Manager Caryn Mathes. \"Public stations have to be aware of the time spent listening because that relates directly to giving,\" Mathes said. \"If we see we\'re reaching diminished numbers of people, the cost of a show becomes critical.\"

September 30, 2004

Moore urges nonvoters to get involved

Filmmaker Michael Moore's stop at Wayne State's campus, part of his "Slacker Uprising Tour," drew an estimated 3,000 onlookers. Moore said he will be making more than 60 appearances between now and Election Day as part of an anti-Bush campaign.

September 30, 2004

Wayne Co. minorities soar

Minorities are fueling the population growth of Southeast Michigan and the minority population has become the majority in Wayne County, according to just-released census data. Researchers say the trend is largely driven by birth and migration patterns. Oakland County\'s largest percentage gains came in the Asian population, with Asian Indians and Chinese leading the way, according to Wayne State demographer Kurt Metzger. He explains that many Asians come to work for high-tech companies. Wayne County\'s Hispanic population grew 10.7 percent from 2000 to 2003. \"One of the attractions is the lower cost of living here,\" said WSU history professor Jose Cuello. He said the majority minority factor does not have great significance yet in terms of politics or culture.

September 30, 2004

Northville teacher aids needy Afghans

A story about how elementary school teacher Khris Nedam led a fund-raising drive to build a schoolhouse in Afghanistan, mentions that she worked with Wayne State University to obtain grant funds that allowed two teachers and two students from Afghanistan to visit Amerman Elementary School in Northville. While in the area, the visitors attended an international education conference at WSU.

September 30, 2004