Senate approves new regulations for stem cell research

With a 25-12 vote the Republican-controlled state Senate has passed a bill that would require stem cell researchers to establish oversight committees and submit annual reports to the state. The new regulations are supported by anti-abortion groups. Critics say that the new rules are an attempt to override the 2008 constitutional amendment that lifted the [...]

In Open Meetings Act lawsuit response, U of M calls transparency law Unconstitutional

The University of Michigan Board of Regents is trying a new defense in relation to the state’s Open Meetings Act. According to a story on AnnArbor.com, the board is arguing in defense of a lawsuit filed in Feb. for an alleged violation of the Open Meetings Act, that the act is Unconstitutional.

U of M refuses to reveal details of Dow relationship

Despite a history of ethically challenged research funded by corporations — and Dow Chemical specifically — the University of Michigan is refusing to release internal documents that could reveal problems with a study that downplays the dangers of dioxin.

Public funds invest in outsourcing American jobs

One of the ironies of the modern economy is that people who have good jobs with pensions, and public institutions like universities, are underwriting the off-shoring of American jobs through their pension funds.

ACLU asks U of M to permit political speech in dorms

The ACLU of Michigan has sent a letter to the University of Michigan urging them to change a school policy that forbids canvassing for political candidates or causes in the university’s dormitory halls. You can see the letter here (PDF). The current policy allows only candidates themselves to canvass in residence hall, not their advocates. [...]

Dow-funded U-M researcher at odds with DEQ

State officials say that a Dow Chemical-funded University of Michigan study on dioxin exposure in the Saginaw River watershed has spurred misperceptions about the contamination threat caused by Dow — and they say U-M’s lead researcher has not fully cooperated in efforts to address the problem.

U-M assembly rejects lower standard for student punishments

The University of Michigan is currently considering a number of changes to its rules governing student behavior and one of the changes under consideration would have lowered the standard required to find a student guilty of violating university rules from one of “clear and convincing evidence” to one of a “preponderance of evidence.” The change [...]

U-M researchers discover how HIV-accomplice works at assisting in infection

ANN ARBOR — Researchers at the University of Michigan have published two articles about how a collection of spread out peptides on the surface of sperm cells are able to assist HIV in being more effective in infecting other cells, the university says. The peptide tangles, discovered in 2007, are called semen enhancer of viral [...]

Dow-funded U-M dioxin study criticized for bias

For the last six years, University of Michigan research funded by Dow Chemical has figured prominently in public discussions over what to do about the dioxin contamination caused by the company in the Saginaw River watershed. Federal and state environmental agencies have warned that U-M’s Dioxin Exposure Study has failed to answer crucial questions and that its results are being misinterpreted.

Despite this, the U-M’s lead researcher on the project — a man some environmental health scientists say should not be seen as an objective because of his track record of working for industry interests — is actively insisting his study should shape regulatory action on dioxin.

University presidents disavow letter supporting cuts only budget

A letter from Business Leaders for Michigan which encouraged state lawmakers to support the budget framework agreement between Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township) and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester), has some Michigan university president’s running for political cover.