This article in the Chronicle's online version, reports on the formation of an alliance by nine of Michigan's smaller public universities to lobby against separate funding for Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan, as proposed in Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget for the next fiscal year. In recommending the appropriations change to the governor, President Irvin D. Reid and the presidents of U-M and MSU pointed out that it is inappropriate for the state to use a higher-education financing formula that treats the research-intensive universities the same as other public universities. (See the second item in the 3/20 media report for more details.)