University researchers may shed light onto the body’s natural defenses against inflammation of arteries, which ultimately can lead to heart attacks and strokes, in a study published last month in Science.

University Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics professor Dr. Klaus Ley and Dr. Yuqing Huo, began investigating epoxyeicosatrienoic acid — or EET — during the summer of 1996.

They collaborated with colleagues at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

EET is a short-lived product of metabolism that can prevent inflammation in heart arteries. Inflammation refers to a body’s response to tissue damage and usually is characterized by pain, redness and swelling.

“EET blocks one of the most important inflammatory transcription factors,” Ley said.

Transcription factors are proteins effective in the initiation, stimulation or termination of genetic processes. They bind to promoters, turning a gene on and off. A promoter is a piece of DNA at the beginning of a gene that controls its expression.

EET inhibits the inflammatory transcription factor NFkB that would normally turn on the promoter. Increased levels of EET lead to less inflammatory cell adhesion to vessel walls. Without EET present, higher levels of white blood cells move into the vessel walls.

The enzyme that makes EET was discovered in the cells that coat the interior of blood vessels

EET previously was known to open blood vessels by relaxing smooth muscle cells in vessel walls. The study indicates that these molecules also have vascular anti-inflammatory properties.

“Before this research, EETs have been known for several years for their vasodilatory and other properties, our current study found that besides other properties, they can significantly inhibit expression of vascular cell adhesion molecules,” Huo said.

Scientists intravenously infused the EET compound into two groups of mice that had developed atherosclerosis — the progressive hardening and narrowing of the arteries over time.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering developed a mouse model suitable for investigating inflammatory cell adhesion in atherosclerosis. Models are used in research to mimic disease progressions.

The mice lacked apolipo-protein-E, a component of low-density lipoprotein, LDL. This altered their lipid/fat metabolism, making them more susceptible to atherosclerosis. These mice were similar to people with high “bad” cholesterol levels.

The scientists isolated a carotid artery in the mice to study the role of inflammatory adhesion molecules.

These molecules are expressed on the surfaces of cells that line blood vessels. The molecules bind leukocytes or white blood cells, which leads to inflammation.

Researchers observed the migration of inflammatory cells into atherosclerotic lesions using intravital microscopes. These tools were modified for use with living tissues. The microscopes can illuminate tissue with fluorescence and have special objective lenses that work underwater.

They then analyzed the migration rates of fluorescent-dyed cells using video recordings and a digital processing system.

Ley explained that the video recording allowed researchers to observe three stages of vascular activity. In the first stage, cells float though the artery, indicating normal blood flow. In the second stage, cells “roll” through the artery, showing the initial steps of inflammation. In the third and final stage cells stuck onto the atherosclerosis lesions.

“The next step is to find out which of these adhesion molecules are critical for atherosclerosis lesions,” Ley said. “Then we will have to go back to patients and see if there is any correlation between mutations in the genes for the molecules and disease.”

Ley is continuing research into various “bad” adhesion molecules that result in atherosclerotic plaque build up and how EET stops the adhesion molecules from being expressed. Future research into the role of EET involves manipulating the enzyme that synthesizes EET or changing the EET receptor.

EET itself does not have a future as a drug because it is too short lived, Ley explained. There is, however, the possibility of developing analogs — stable molecules that have similar biological effects — of the compound.

“Every piece of understanding that we got about how atherosclerosis works is likely to benefit patients,” Ley said.

JOE FRANTICALLY arrives a few minutes late to school, having forgotten to set his alarm after going to bed in the wee hours of the morning. In his rush, Joe is stopped promptly at the door by a security guard.

“Student ID card please,” the guard says. As Joe rips through his bag to find his missing ID, the security guard tells him that the t-shirt he is wearing is unacceptable because the design looks like it could be gang-related. Amid all this ridiculous confusion, Joe imagines the teacher of his no-tardies-tolerated class calling roll and counting his now-extreme lateness as an absence.

Believe it or not, all this frustration and inconvenience to Joe is in the name of security. Schools are trying any methods necessary to protect their students, but the American Civil Liberties Union fears — and rightfully so — that these new security measures come dangerously close to violating students’ civil rights.

In the wake of last year’s string of violent outbursts in schools across the country, educators and government officials have made it their mission to make schools safer for students. Numerous experts have voiced their opinions on how to rid America’s schools of violence — each time delving further and further into the adolescent mind and outlining the causes of and cures for teen violence.

Most recently, school administrators have concluded that one of the most effective ways to combat random acts of violence in schools is to increase security to the point of making school buildings feel like a prison.

Schools across the nation are installing metal detectors, requiring students to wear identification badges, and installing cameras to monitor students in and outside school buildings. Still other public schools are implementing strict dress codes and forbidding certain attire, like a school in Allen, Texas, that suspended students for refusing to remove black armbands they wore to mourn Columbine victims.

Some schools have punished students for expressing discontent with the school on the Internet. Last year, a student in Stow, Ohio, was suspended from school for a personal web site entitled “Stow High School Sucks.” Ray Vasvari, the Ohio ACLU’s legal director, termed this an “invasion of student rights” (“ACLU explores security, students’ rights,” USA Today, Sept. 5).

The ACLU has a valid point — the Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that students do not necessarily relinquish civil rights when they set foot on school grounds. Instead, children and young adults can and should criticize the institutions they attend, in order to foster continual improvement.

Clothing and accessory restrictions also have been popular in the attempt to rid schools of crime. While symbols like those that represent gangs or illegal substances have not been allowed in the past, recently the crackdown has become excessive.

In one example, the Harrison County School Board in Mississippi prohibited a Jewish boy from wearing his Star of David pendant because it resembled a gang symbol. The ACLU sued on behalf of the student and the school board promptly reversed its decision.

The original school board decision demonstrates the unreasonable measures administrators are taking in an attempt to create safer school environments. Will symbols representing students’ ethnic heritage, organizations to which they belong, or even their favorite professional sports team soon be considered gang paraphernalia? The ability and right to voice an opinion — through speech, clothing and the like — is valued highly in this country. A few isolated incidents should not drastically change the way we treat all students. And they certainly do not warrant the revocation of basic civil rights.

In addition, these so-called improvements to the school environment may serve to squelch the creativity and individualism that is so important to develop in adolescents. That guy who dresses all in black may look funny, but that is the way he expresses his feelings. It is far better to express himself that way than through violent actions.

Letting students move freely throughout the school building during the day may not be the safest thing to do, but it will give the kids a sense of freedom and responsibility.

The bottom line is that children cannot grow in a positive manner if they are placed under stifling conditions. Forcing kids to dress identically and flash ID badges will foster resentment towards the school, making it feel more like a prison than a school. And if kids feel like they are under lock and key and constant surveillance, normal feelings of frustration could build into more dangerous emotions.

So do the kid a favor — forget the ID badge and let Joe go to class. Most likely, he’s more afraid of his teacher than of his fellow students.

(Erin Perucci is a Cavalier Daily associate editor.)

Brandon Streeter shattered four Clemson passing records in 1998. He threw for over 300 yards twice, 1,948 in all, and connected on nine touchdown passes over his final four games. And in return, all the first-year starter heard were whispers.

Whispers after every missed opportunity that a hotshot freshman named Woodrow Dantzler, the quarterback of the future, should be the quarterback of the present.

Through all the scrutiny, Streeter somehow managed to mold a motley group of inexperienced backs and receivers into a competitive unit. Losses to Duke, Wake Forest and N.C. State, however, simply are unacceptable in a program accustomed to making doormats of such schools.

The Tigers finished 1998 at 3-8, and while Streeter was deserving of little of the blame, he got most of it. That comes with the territory in Death Valley. Luckily, he can handle the heat.

“I think I learned a lot from last season,” Streeter said. “I especially learned how to deal with the pressure of playing quarterback. This year, I don’t feel as much pressure with the situation.”

But Clemson fans, who saw the team claim a national title in 1982, are not particularly interested in improvement. They want wins. And so the Dantzler whispers became shouts.

Consequently, Clemson hired Tommy Bowden away from 12-0 Tulane to spearhead a return to prominence. And with the Tigers desperate to win and Dantzler in the fold, a move was made. Streeter, the cagey veteran, and Dantzler, the athletic youngster, would split the quarterbacking duties. Somehow, though, Streeter put a positive spin on the situation.

“It wasn’t really frustrating for me, because it was out of my hands,” Streeter said. “I had to go out there every day and practice real hard and prove myself. That was all I could do about the situation, just go out there and do the best that I can do.”

Even after a 13-10 loss to Marshall in his Clemson debut, Bowden still hasn’t chosen his man.

“If I’m called upon, I’ll be ready to take over,” said Dantzler, who completed four of six passes for 57 yards against the Thundering Herd. “There’s no controversy – it’s whatever coach decides. We’re both competitors – you have to be to be a quarterback. But we’re also best of buds out there. We keep each other on top of our game.”

Bowden has yet to decide and, in fact, may opt to platoon both signal callers all season. Ohio State won the Rose Bowl in 1997 featuring a two-headed quarterbacking monster in Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson. Last year, Florida coach Steve Spurrier found the two-pronged, Doug Johnson / Jesse Palmer combination potent enough to capture the Orange Bowl.

“If they both stay healthy, then [I'll] play both of them,” Bowden said in the Clemson media guide. “I was with a team at Florida State in 1979 when we played two quarterbacks and we were almost undefeated.”

But for Streeter and Dantzler, the task is not as simple as it sounds. In town fewer than six months, Bowden already has torched an offensive playbook backed by 102 years of smashmouth success and has implemented a system he describes as “a multiple formation, up tempo offense that uses a lot of no-huddle and shotgun formations.”

Welcome inside the mind of Tommy Bowden, son of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose offensive playbook rivals “War and Peace” in length and James Joyce in complexity.

“We learned about 90 percent of the new offense in the spring, and the rest in preseason, and it was pretty tough getting used to all the new plays and formations,” Streeter said. “I’m more comfortable with it now, though.”

The Tigers now offer a variety of looks, including spread-the-field shotgun formations that empty the backfield and flank as many as five wide receivers to the outside.

The two-quarterback, wide-open look produced mixed results in its first test drive. In the Tigers’ loss to Marshall, Streeter did complete 23 of 36 passes. Bowden called 42 pass plays in all, a far cry from the days when a Clemson quarterback threw 42 passes in his entire career.

“I think having two quarterbacks gives us an advantage,” Streeter said. “They don’t know which of us will play, so it’s difficult for defenses to adapt to the different styles.”

Virginia linebacker Byron Thweatt begs to differ.

“I think it might make it a little easier on us because each quarterback is going to do different things,” Thweatt said. “It shuts down their offense. When you put in a new quarterback, he has to get the speed and rhythm of the game.”

Whether Clemson uses one quarterback or two, Cav linebacker Yubrenal Isabelle knows the Tigers will be game.

“I know that Clemson is capable of beating you at any time,” Isabelle said. “We just have to get ourselves ready.”

Fourth-year freestyle swimmer Austin Ramirez was named yesterday as one of the 14 individuals who will compete on Team USA in the Bank of America U.S. Olympic Cup.

The meet will take place on the UC-San Diego campus this weekend, where the United States squad will compete against teams from France and Great Britain.

International competition is nothing new to Ramirez, who tasted glory in the Pan American Games, where he won the silver medal in the 400 freestyle.

Last spring in the ACC Championships, Ramirez won both the 500 and 1,650 free events. He also earned a nod to the All-American Honorable Mention list.

Closed door

Apparently, members of the North Carolina football team are taking steps to make sure they don’t suffer another rough start to their season.

After Saturday’s 20-17 loss to Virginia, players held a closed-door meeting, according to the Associated Press.

“We all know what it takes [to win] now,” offensive lineman Ryan Carfley told the AP. “We all went through last season and none of us want that to happen again. We sat and talked and set up a lot of things we want to happen. We haven’t forgotten about last year.”

Ryan named keynote speaker

Women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan will be the keynote speaker at the 1999 Nike / WBCA Coaching Clinics.

In addition to the Oct. 23 clinic in Philadelphia, Nike will host clinics in Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. Each of these clinics will have a collegiate basketball coach as their keynote speaker.

The clinics give women coaches the opportunity to learn more about their profession. Some of the tips highlighted are developing defensive skills, speed, agility and quickness training and developing a practice plan.

Leyland’s leaving

Colorado Rockies manager Jim Leyland put the issue of his retirement to rest, confirming an Associated Press report Tuesday that this will be his last season managing. He said he has no intentions of managing any other team.

Leyland is most famous for winning a World Series with the Florida Marlins. He also won three straight NL East Division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After taking over the helm at Colorado, the Rockies’ record has not been spectacular: They are now 62-78 after Tuesday’s loss to Montreal.

Miller Park opening delayed

Milwaukee fans may have to wait until April 2001 before Miller Park will be open to the public. A construction accident that caused the deaths of three workers has delayed the opening. The accident occurred July 14 when a crane collapsed and tons of steel fell on the stadium.

There has been no final decision on when the stadium will be completed. The last home game at County Stadium, the Brewers’ current home, was scheduled to be Oct. 3, Milwaukee’s last home date of the 1999 season. If the opening of Miller Park is delayed, County Stadium will continue to house the Brewers until construction is complete.

Four days after knocking off the nation’s third-ranked team, the Virginia women’s soccer team continues its season-opening road trip with tonight’s match at James Madison.

The No. 13 Cavaliers (1-1) split a two-game set in the Pacific Northwest last weekend, dropping a 2-0 decision to Oregon State before rebounding to hand No. 3 Portland only its ninth home loss of the decade. Now the Cavs face an in-state rival that has taken them to overtime twice in the past three meetings.

Madison (1-1) lost eight starters and more than half of the scoring output from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, but hung tough Sunday in Happy Valley against fifth-ranked Penn State before swallowing a 4-2 defeat.

Starting keeper Beth Manghi and three forwards, including Therese Wolden, one of the program’s most prolific scorers, are gone from last year’s No. 25 Dukes, but their replacements have filled the void.

Senior Aimee Grahe’s move up top from flank midfield has been a great success thus far. The tri-captain, starting regularly for the first time, has all three of the Dukes’ goals, including the lone tally in Madison’s season-opening 1-0 win against West Virginia.

With Grahe and redshirt freshman Teri Joyce spearheading JMU’s typically speedy attack, the Cavaliers will defend in bunches.

“They are very quick and athletic,” Virginia coach April Heinrichs said of the Dukes. “They play like their hair is on fire.”

The Cav defense should be able to contain that explosive offense, with second-year Ashley Meeker and fifth-year Carryn Weigand patrolling the backfield and third-year keeper Julie Harris manning the net behind them.

Third-stringer Ashley Mowery started in goal at the end of the preseason, when Heinrichs kept Harris and fourth-year Megan Boehm on the bench for failing their preseason fitness tests. Heinrichs now has reinstated both keepers, however she will stick with Harris, who started the first two games, in goal tonight.

Asked if Harris had simply beaten out her more experienced teammate for the starting spot, Heinrichs’ response was noticeably clipped:

“Julie Harris will start for us,” she said.

At the other end of the field, sophomore Sam Wilson takes over in net for Manghi, who tied the school record for saves with 14 against the Cavaliers last year. Superstar forward Angela Hucles and third-year midfielder Katie Tracy will lead the charge against Wilson.

Tracy, who was named yesterday to Soccer America’s Team of the Week, is one of a handful of the Cavalier’s native Virginians who will be playing tonight against familiar faces from high school. JMU junior Beth Burgess teamed with Tracy at Richmond’s James River High School.

“She’s one of my best friends,” Tracy said. “She lives right down the street.”

But friendship aside, the Cavs know if they are to pick up a win in Harrisonburg, they cannot play like they did at Oregon State.

“Maybe it was jet lag,” fifth-year Jill Maxwell said with a smile. “I don’t know what happened. Hopefully we got it out of our system.”

I honestly thought I’d seen everything in college football.

I saw a dreadlocked behemoth of a bride don a lovely lace wedding gown and tie the knot over the summer. With Mike Ditka. On the cover of a national publication.

I saw a 24-year-old woman single-handedly corrupt the most prestigious program in the game, a school that plays “like a champion” every Saturday right in front of Touchdown Jesus himself.

I saw what happens when an Alabama banker’s ego goes unchecked and the deer caught in the headlights of the tycoon’s big business operation happens to be named Bowden.

And don’t get me started on the bowls – especially that one played on blue Astroturf in mid-December tucked away somewhere in Idaho. Is that a bowl game or a punishment?

Oh, and how dare I forget the epitome of confusion and the dream of Jeff Sagarin, known simply as the Bowl Championship Series. Too bad it’s not as simple as it sounds. Just ask Kansas State about that.

But was I ever wrong. My innocent, naive gridiron eyes hadn’t seen a darn thing until a couple of weeks ago when I scanned the morning sports section and came across the following headline: “Suzuki to Sponsor Heisman Trophy.”

What?

I guess I should have known it was coming the second I heard that the Rose Bowl had a sponsor, or the moment I realized that the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl is played on turf. Or the first time I noticed the Ford Motor City Bowl even existed. Shame on me for knowing that.

Yes, the Downtown Athletic Club, where names like Johnny Rogers, Mike Rozier, Gino Torretta and Desmond Howard reign supreme, has succumbed to the all-encompassing and unavoidable blight known simply as commercialism.

It wasn’t that the Heisman Trophy ceremony was all that exhilarating, because frankly, it wasn’t. The winner of the award was all but a foregone conclusion, and even if the outcome wasn’t as obvious, fans didn’t honestly care that much.

Charles Woodson ripping the prize from Peyton Manning’s grasp didn’t stunt my growth or appear repeatedly in surreal, Fellini-esque dreams. I honestly didn’t care, except for the fact that it was football, and it was tradition, and it was great.

But now a group of notoriety-hungry jet skiing, Tonka truckers are spoiling college football’s proudest tradition.

I think I’d rather watch the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.

Forget the fact that every writer west of the Prime Meridian votes for the award, or for that matter, that Burger King used to sponsor a halftime Heisman update on ABC. It was still the Heisman Trophy.

Suzuki agreed to a three-year, $1.5 million pact with the Downtown Athletic Club, compelling some to chastise the DAC for getting ripped off worse than Ricky Williams in contract negotiations. One-and-a-half million dollars or a buck fifty, it’s not about the money. Principles are being sacrificed, traditions jettisoned.

Which brings me to Thomas Jones. I badly want TJ, the embodiment of a student athlete, to bring the Heisman home to Charlottesville. I don’t want to see him anywhere near John Heisman on jet skis.

After all, with Virginia’s dismal parking predicament, where would he park the Suzuki?

The unheralded Jones quickly is earning a reputation as the nation’s most underrated player. He deserves better.

To make Jones’s name a little more household, why not pool some money together, say … heck, I don’t know … $1.6 million? Then make it the Thomas Jones Heisman Trophy. Or how about the Heisman Trophy presented by Thomas Jones. It can be Jones’s choice. After all, it’s his award.

That way he’d forever be linked to college football’s most coveted prize.

And for that matter, why not have the leading candidates each choose a company to represent them when they head to New York to vie for the honor of being college football’s best player?

“From the University of Wisconsin, proudly presented by Kibbles & Bits, Ron ‘Great’ Dayne. (Crowd applause brought to you by the Clapper.)”

But seriously, Jones deserves better than this, and so does college football.

Hey, at least we can still count on Notre Dame.

Oops.

Led by Ryan Trout’s four goals, the Virginia men’s soccer team avenged Sunday’s loss with an 8-1 thrashing of a helpless Appalachian State squad in front of 1,038 spectators at Klockner Stadium last night.

Trout, a third-year forward, tied the Cavalier record for goals in a single game by registering four goals on seven shots. Midfielder Steve Totten, and forwards Sheldon Barnes and first-year Ryan Gibbs also found the back of the net as part of the Virginia’s blowout victory.

“I got a lot of good passes today,” Trout said. “Sheldon had a good ball to me. It’s good to get a win.”

On an emotional high following their demoralizing loss to Gonzaga in last weekend’s Coca-Cola Classic, the Cavaliers (2-1) dominated the match from the opening whistle.

The first half was played almost entirely on the Mountaineer side of the pitch, with Virginia’s front line launching shot after shot against Appalachian State goalkeeper Will Floyd.

“We were making a statement,” Cav coach George Gelnovatch said. “We’re not out here to embarrass anybody. We just wanted to throw some things into that game that we were missing. Part of our theme for tonight was that regardless of the score, regardless of the opponent, step on the field and compete.”

But until the 18th minute, Floyd was getting the better of the Cavs, allowing no goals on Virginia’s first seven shots. Barnes started the Cavalier onslaught by sending a high cross from the right side of the goalie box past a Mountaineer defender to Totten, who headed the ball beyond Floyd’s outstreched arms.

Once Totten landed the first blow, the flood gates opened against the Mountaineers (0-2). The Cavs added two more quick goals, scoring three goals on three successive shots.

First came Totten’s header, then a curious free kick by Ryan Trout that seemed so effortless that the crowd was unsure if it even landed. In the 25th minute, Trout easily scored again after Barnes juked Floyd and sent a cross to the left side.

“Ryan is a talented dribbler and he strikes the ball very well,” Gelnovatch said. “He’s a dangerous guy. Against teams like this, he looks pretty good.”

Trout scored twice more, in the 31st and 54th minutes. Then, with 30 minutes to go, Gelnovatch replaced Trout and six of his other Cavalier starters for a clean-up crew of reserves.

Among those entering the game were Gibbs, a high school All-American and the most highly touted recruit from Virginia’s bumper crop of blue-chippers, and midfielder Kenny Arena, son of U.S. National Team coach Bruce Arena. The youngsters impressed, playing well against the Mountaineers’ first unit.

“It’s not an ACC opponent, but I did see some things that were better out there. We scored some goals, and we saw some young people out there in the second half,” Gelnovatch said. “We found some guys that will help us in future games.”

The Cavs dominated on both sides of the pitch, holding the Mountaineers to only five shots on goal while recording 24 of their own. Appalachian State’s only goal came on an unassisted shot by midfielder Andy Simpson, who lofted a soft ball just to the left of keeper Kyle Singer’s outstretched arms. Despite his one blemish, Singer, who played poorly against Gonzaga, was relaxed and ready to stop the opposing attack throughout the game.

Singer “got a finger on the goal that was scored, and it just got by,” Trout said. “He did the things he had to. He played with a lot of confidence tonight and acted how a Division I keeper should.”

Trout scored his fourth goal by completely catching the Mountaineer backline off guard. Dribbling outside the 18-yard box against two defenders, the Cavalier forward turned and launched a long blast towards Floyd. Even with ample time to react, the Mountaineer keeper watched the ball sail into the net.

(This is the first in a two-part weekly series on faculty diversity)

Although a recent study shows that universities and colleges have hired more women and minority faculty members in the last seven years than ever before, University officials say all its departments will have to step up efforts in recruiting or the door of equal opportunity may slide shut.

According to an American Association of State Colleges and Universities newsletter, the report, published by the National Center for Education Statistics, shows that faculty who have seven years or less experience tend to be more diverse than faculty with more experience and tenure.

The pattern reflecting more diversity among untenured, new faculty is most apparent with women. Women comprise only 28.5 percent of senior faculty but 40.8 percent of new faculty.

The study also found that blacks hold 4.6 percent of experienced faculty positions, compared to 5.7 percent of the less-experienced faculty.

Karen Holt, University director of equal opportunity programs, said the Center’s study reflects the situation at the University, although the number of black faculty members may be on a downturn.

“The percent of faculty that are women is steadily increasing, but the increase in minorities has stopped and may even be declining,” Holt said. Because the percentage of black faculty is so small “even one or two departures can make a big difference,” she said.

One concern is that the pool of qualified black candidates may be shrinking because fewer blacks are seeking a Ph.D., the degree a faculty member must hold, she added.

Some administrators said they worry that the decrease in new black faculty members may not reverse unless the University makes a concerted effort at minority recruitment.

“With the economy being as it is, there is a greater pressure to go to business school,” Holt said. “Also, most universities are not expanding faculty positions right now.”

Asst. Dean of Students Glenna Chang said more minority students should be encouraged to earn their Ph.D.

Chang said there are still barriers hindering blacks from getting jobs, but that Affirmative Action programs help offset the obstacles.

Although the University supports Affirmative Action, each department has leverage in deciding how actively they will recruit minority applicants, she said.

“Some departments are going above and beyond what is required by the state by advertising and seeking certain contacts,” she added. “Some departments don’t.”

African-American Affairs Dean M. Rick Turner said the University’s commitments to diversity will not be enough to increase the number of black faculty members.

“Unless there is incentive placed on departments to seek out viable black candidates, there will be no improvement,” Turner said. “The [Board of Visitors] has to really commit itself to hiring more African-American members, or it won’t happen.”

The election season is coming on full force at the University, where last night students had an opportunity to hear both Democratic and Republican candidates for state and local offices pitch their platforms.

The candidates, who, coincidentally, were invited by the University Democrats and College Republicans on the same night in Cabell Hall, went on to discuss the issues that most concerned them, including education and health care.

Ed Wayland, a Democratic candidate for the state House of Delegates, spoke first at a meeting of University Democrats, where he stressed that this election cycle is crucial, since the majority in the Virginia General Assembly is up for grabs. Currently 21 Republicans and 19 Democrats hold seats in the Assembly.

Wayland described his specialty as “working with ordinary people [to] make their lives better.”

Incumbent state Sen. Emily Couric (D-Charlottesville) spoke next, emphasizing three main agendas in both her campaign and her current position as senator: affordable access to quality healthcare, education and economic growth that will not compromise quality of life.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Republican state senatorial candidate Jane Maddux ensured students at the College Republicans meeting — held less than an hour later — that she upholds basic conservative principles, such as lower taxes and less government control.

Although historically it has been difficult for a challenger to beat an incumbent, Maddux said her race against Couric is by no means over.

“I have a wonderful grassroots campaign that is gaining momentum every day,” Maddux said.

College Republicans President John Blair agreed that Maddux will give Couric a run for her money.

“I think if you look at [Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III's (R)] success in the district, it would be foolish to say Maddux doesn’t have a good shot,” Blair said.

All three candidates stressed how important it is for students to participate in the political process and how much they need everyone’s help. More than 75 students attended the speeches, with a majority attending the University Democrats’ program.

One student said his reason for attending Maddux’s speech was to form an educated opinion about the political race.

“I don’t know enough about one candidate or the other,” first-year College student Jeff Scherr said.

Other students already were familiar with the candidates’ platforms and wanted to show their support.

“I like [Couric's] issues, what she stands for,” first-year College student Tiffany Casey said.

University Democrats President Rhodes Ritenour agreed Couric has “a very solid platform. [She is] one of the best leaders in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

All three candidates wanted to emphasize to students that they are regular people, just like their constituents.

Couric, who lives near Grounds on Rugby Road, stressed her close proximity and ties to the University.

Maddux, who owns a hair salon in Charlottesville, joked that she was just like a member of the family.

“I am just like your mother,” she said, to the laughter of the audience.

Wayland also said that he was down to earth, saying that he “stand[s] for people,” while his opponent, Paul Harris (R-Albemarle), is “dramatically out of step with the mainstream community.”

Students said they related well to the candidates.

Couric “seems like she’s a common person,” third-year College student Vesla Weaver said.

Maddux “doesn’t seem like the average politician,” second-year College Monique Miles said.

With elections quickly approaching, the candidates have until Nov. 2 to communicate with voters and make their positions clear.

Both University Democrats and College Republicans will be helping their candidates by providing manpower to distribute literature, registering voters and campaigning door to door in the community.

Continuing review of the Honor Committee’s bylaws has prompted Committee members to question how an honor case should be handled in between the Investigative Panel and the trial stages.

Recent discussion has centered on the possibility that a biased Executive Committee could abuse their power by unjustly dismissing a case.

“Some cases may be fundamentally unfair to the accused student, and there is the need for a mechanism to dismiss them,” Graduate Arts and Sciences Rep. Alistair Findeis said.

But “the current bylaw is flawed, for three reasons: It lends itself to abuse by biased counsel, it possesses the potential to involve an unlimited number of Committee members in an early stage of the process, and it concentrates too much power in the hands of the Executive Committee,” Findeis said.

When a student is suspected of an honor offense, evidence is gathered and presented before an Investigative Panel. Known as the I-Panel, it is composed of three rotating members of the Committee. If two-thirds of the I-panel determines it is more likely than not that the student committed an honor offense, he then is formally accused and a trial is held.

But Dec. 6, the Committee passed a resolution that allows an accused student to request a pre-trial grievance panel to drop the case before it goes to trial if the fundamental fairness or timeliness has been violated.

In a case last May, an accused student requested a pre-trial grievance panel because portions of the tape of his I-Panel hearing were inaudible. Three members of the Executive Committee called for a grievance panel, appointed themselves as the grievance panel and then dropped the case.

The incident caused one Committee representative and two support officers to request Committee Chairman Hunter Ferguson’s resignation.

Now some concerned Committee members want to eliminate the pre-trial grievance panel to avoid possible abuse.

At Honor’s weekly meeting Sunday, Findeis proposed a bylaw change that would eliminate the panel, prohibiting cases from being dropped between the I-Panel and trial stages.

Committee Rep. Mark Melson said he would be in favor of such a change.

“My opinion on the pretrial grievance panel is that essentially it is an unnecessary step in the process,” Melson said. “The possibility exists that the charge could be dismissed because of some technicality before the student goes to trial. The University has a right to try that student.”

But Vice Chairman for Trials Carter Williams said he did not want to eliminate the grievance.

“If properly used it can serve a good purpose,” Williams said. “It is better to have a pre-trial grievance than a post-trial grievance.”

Ferguson said the Committee will examine the options at its meeting Sunday.