Obstetrics and Gynecology Prof. Ed Goldman discussed the impact of federal rulings on the University's stem cell research at yesterday’s Senate Assembly meeting.

Goldman spoke about Federal Judge Royce Lamberth’s August 2010 preliminary injunction, which if it stays, will prohibit federal funding for the creation of new stem cell lines and for continued research on existing stem cell lines.

Though a 2008 proposal allows the creation of stem cell lines in Michigan, Goldman said that without federal funding, many University researchers will leave the state to go to California, where in 2004, voters passed a measure that allows billions of dollars of state funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research.

Goldman said University researchers are currently involved in developing stem cell lines and have recently created three new lines. They are also involved in nine different projects concerning stem cells, including a study on severed spinal cords.

Senate Assembly forms health plan advisory task force

Senate Assembly members also voted to form an advisory task force to create faculty involvement in health plan incentives at yesterday’s meeting.

According to the University Record, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Laurita Thomas created a Member Engagement Health Plan Design Committee to develop a health plan in which healthy behaviors are rewarded, with possible monetary incentives. The new health plan could be put in place as early as 2012.

Statistics Prof. Ed Rothman, chair of Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs — the University’s leading faculty governance body — said the committee was concerned that the health plan incentives will be based on outcomes rather than participation. He said he feels this could discourage faculty who have a genetic disposition to health problems from participating.

Biology Prof. John Lehman, who is also a SACUA member, said he was concerned about the secrecy of the Member Engagement Health Design Committee, which he said withheld the minutes and documentation of the meetings from interested parties.

“We’ve got to articulate the principles that we feel should be in place as faculty,” Lehman said.

Associate Voice Prof. Steve Lusmann, who is also a member of SACUA and is on the Member Engagement Committee, said though he feels the committee is more open compared to others in the past, he supports the formation of a faculty committee that could contribute ideas to the health design committee.

Lusmann added that he feels the new health plan will not be a problem for those with pre-existing health concerns.

“If you are engaging in a healthy behavior, if you do have a problem with weight…we want you to eat in a healthier way, we want you to exercise. All of these things need to be addressed,” Lusmann said. “If you are addressing obesity, if you are addressing your health concerns, you do not get penalized.”

Under the passed motion, Lehman stated that the Senate Assembly reserves the right to issue its own report in early 2011, with the complete disclosure of all of the administration’s sub-committee materials. It also asked the administration to halt policy decisions until the Senate Assembly report is completed.

Officials discuss housing largest freshmen class

Linda Newman, director of University Housing, spoke at yesterday’s meeting about the University’s efforts to house this year’s freshman class, which is the largest in University history.

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