A WMU trustee steps down from the board. State universities launch a marketing campaign to trying to encourage people to get four year degrees. Vice President Mike Pence was in Michigan Wednesday as was his predecessor Joe Biden.
A Western Michigan University Trustee is stepping down. William Pickard has served on Western’s board for two years. Board chairman Jeffrey Rinvelt announced during Wednesday’s board of trustees meeting that Pickard would no longer be able to serve as a Western trustee, but did not give a reason for his resignation. Last September Pickard along with former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer and the late Ronald Hall were honored with the naming of the Hall-Archer-Pickard Housing Complex. Pickard’s term runs through December 31, 2020. Members of Western’s board are appointed by the governor.
(Michigan Radio) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it will give a disabled Nigerian man time to leave the United States voluntarily. Francis Anwana has lived in the U.S. since the nineteen-eighties, when he came to Michigan to attend schools for the deaf. Advocates say his planned deportation should be stopped altogether on humanitarian grounds. Anwana is also cognitively impaired. Flint Congressman Dan Kildee has introduced a so-called private bill that, if passed, would offer Anwana permanent legal residency.
(MPRN) The Michigan Association of State Universities has unveiled a new marketing campaign. It touts the benefits of graduating from a four-year university. The association says 40 percent of students don’t pay full price for their degrees due to grants and scholarships. The association says Michigan ranks 35th nationwide in the number of people with four year degrees.
(MPRN) Former Vice President Joe Biden was in Michigan Wednesday to help Gretchen Whitmer raise money for her gubernatorial campaign. Whitmer faces Republican Bill Schuette in the race to be Michigan’s next governor. In Grand Rapids, current Vice President Mike Pence was in town to talk about President Donald Trump’s tax policies.
(WGVU) Pence also paid respects to the DeVos family Wednesday. More than a thousand people attended a public visitation at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for Richard DeVos. The Grand Rapids businessman, community leader and philanthropist passed away last week at the age of 92. Thursday is the invitation only celebration of life for Rich DeVos.
In men’s soccer, Western Michigan won at Cincinnati Wednesday 3-1. The Broncos improved to 3-4 overall with the win. Western will host the University of Maryland Baltimore County Saturday afternoon at the WMU Soccer Complex.