If slithering snakes make you cringe, you are not alone: Recent studies conducted by a University professor and a University alumna suggest fear of snakes is a trait present in people from birth.

Developmental Psychology Prof. Judy Deloache, lab director of the Child Study Center, and Dr. Vanessa LoBue, a University alumna, found that both toddlers and adults have an innate fear of snakes.

The purpose of the experiment, Deloache said, was to show that humans have a basic predisposition to identify different kinds of threats. The experiment tested whether children and adults have an inborn bias to detect snakes very quickly.

“I have a snake phobia,” Deloache said. “And I’ve always found it fascinating that this is one of the most common fears around.”

LoBue noted she had similar motivations for conducting the study.

“I always thought it was fascinating that so many people are afraid of snakes,” she stated in an e-mail.

The study focuses on snakes, Deloache explained, because they have been perceived as a threat to humans since very early in evolutionary history.

“Our ancestors throughout evolutionary history would have been faced with the predicament of escaping potentially dangerous snakes,” LoBue stated. “The ones who detected their presence very quickly would have been the ones most likely to survive and reproduce.”

The study tested 3-year-old children who had no previous experiences with snakes, and adults, LoBue explained, and participants were presented with nine pictures on a touchscreen monitor.

“The pictures were either of a single snake among eight non-snake distractors [like] frogs, flowers, or caterpillars, or a single non-snake among eight snakes,” LoBue stated.

Participants were instructed to find the snake target picture as quickly as possible and touch it on the screen, LoBue stated.

“What we found is that both the adults and children detected the snake targets more quickly than the flower, frog or caterpillar targets,” she noted.

The results of the study corroborated the initial hypothesis that humans are predisposed to quickly perceive the presence of snakes.

“Other people have done research with adults using similar procedures, so [fear of snakes] had already been established in adults,” Deloache noted. “What’s new to our work is that this applies to 3-year-old kids.”

Following the shootings at Virginia Tech last April, Education Prof. Dewey Cornell found that Virginia high school students have become more likely to report a threat of violence in their schools.

In the Virginia High School Safety Study conducted last April, about 7,400 freshmen from 296 high schools across the commonwealth were surveyed about the atmosphere of their school, the amounts of structure and support offered, and their willingness to report a threat of violence, Cornell said.

In comparing survey responses, “we found students surveyed after the Virginia Tech shooting showed an increase in willingness to seek help,” Cornell said, adding that about 75 percent or more of students surveyed said they were likely to seek help if a fellow student talked about killing someone.

According to a summary of the study, 85 percent of students agreed that they would tell a teacher if a student brought a gun to school.

Cornell said the goal of the study was to determine what the optimal practices are for high schools to establish low rates of violence.

“We want to know what conditions are associated with low victimization rates, low bullying and teasing and ultimately higher achievement rates and graduation rates,” Cornell said. “We measured student perceptions of how much they feel that their teachers cared about them, wanted them to do their best, listened to what they had to say and treated everyone fairly.”

Megan Eliot, a graduate Education student working with Cornell, said the amount of structure — including physical security measures such as metal detectors, as well as school rules and emotional support offered in high schools — was the subject of scrutiny throughout the study.

“Both structure and support were positively correlated with safer conditions in schools and higher performance on SOL tests,” Cornell said. “We found that in schools where students perceive the climate as more supportive, there were lower levels of both teacher and student victimization.”

According to the study report, victimization rates were higher in schools with gangs but lower in schools with strict dress codes. Also, schools with higher rates of teacher victimization were correlated with lower passing rates on standardized exams; however, the report stated there is not necessarily a causal relationship between these figures.

Only ninth-grade students were surveyed, Cornell said, because that is the most difficult transition year for high school students; however, Cornell added that he plans to follow up with the students surveyed.

“We would like to see what the eventual graduation rate is of those ninth graders,” Cornell said. “Over the next four years we hope to see how their adjustment to ninth grade predicts how they will do over their high school career.”

The Honor Committee introduced its newly appointed Executive Committee at its meeting Sunday night, also discussing a bylaw amendment and announcing two scheduled open trials.

Outgoing Vice Chair for Trials Brian O’Neill said that while two open trials are scheduled, the possibility exists for the accused students to change their minds and close their trials.

“Basically, [accused] students have the right to open or closed trials,” he said. “We are not obligated to admit students if the student decides to close his or her trial.”

O’Neill noted the first upcoming trial will be Saturday at 10 a.m., while the second is scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 10 a.m.

Tickets to next weekend’s trial will be free of charge, O’Neill said, and will available on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 3 outside room 468 of Newcomb Hall.

Following Saturday’s open trial, the Committee will transition into its new term and Executive Committee April 7, outgoing Chair Ben Cooper said.

“I am really excited to help them transfer into office, and I think they have some phenomenal ideas,” he said.

Cooper, along with other members of the Executive Committee, will be replaced by newly elected Chair Jess Huang, Vice Chair for Investigations Blaire Hawkins, Vice Chair for Education Ryann Burke, Vice Chair for Trials Sophie Staples, and Tyler Alexander, vice chair for community relations.

The Committee took its annual retreat last weekend to elect the Executive Committee and outline goals for the next term, Huang said, but elections ran longer than expected. The incoming Committee plans to establish clear goals this week, she said.

“Elections took so long … [which] really speaks to the fact that we have very qualified members of the Committee,” she said.

Staples echoed Huang’s sentiments, noting the background of the elected Executive Committee.

“All of us have served as support officers,” she said. “We all have had experience [in the Committee].”

After introducing the new Executive Committee members, the Committee proposed an amendment to its current bylaws.

Committee member Eric Flow said current bylaws do not properly instruct juries on how they should view cases.

The proposed amendment, Flow explained, asks the jury members to objectively judge whether the accused student had dishonest intentions when committing the alleged offense.

Josh Hess, outgoing vice chair for community relations, voiced concern regarding the amendment.

“I think it is important that each of us think what we want the intent standard to be,” he said noting the changes will have an impact on cases.

Flow said it is important to inform juries to consider cases objectively rather than subjectively, and he encouraged members with concerns to propose alternate suggestions.

Cooper said the Committee hopes to make any revisions needed and to vote on them next week.

Survey data recently released by the Honor Committee suggests an increase in positive student opinion of honor and polarization in terms of the single sanction, said Josh Hess, vice chair for community relations.

When asked “In general, how do you feel about the honor system at the University of Virginia?” there was an increase in the “very positive” responses, from 21.6 percent to 42.3 percent since 2002, Hess said.

Although this seemed to be a positive indication for the Committee, Hess said, data showed student opinion of the system can decline over time.

“Generally students are more likely not to change their opinion,” he explained, “but those that change are more likely to have their opinion decline rather than improve.”

Opinions of the single sanction also differed from previous surveys, Hess said, noting “students seem to be more polarized in the issue since 2002 and 2000.”

Answers to “I fully support the single sanction” and “I do not support the single sanction” rose from 19.5 percent to 29.4 percent and 17.7 percent to 27.5 percent, respectively, since 2000, Hess said.

Vice Chair for Trials Brian O’Neill said the data also indicated statistically significant differences among ethnic groups on certain questions.

Minority students are more likely to feel the honor system treats students unfairly based on race, origin and athletic status, he said, while white students do not.

For the first time, Hess said, the survey asked University students what issues they would like the Committee to focus on in the future.

“Minority students think the Honor Committee should focus on increasing diversity of the Committee and support officers,” O’Neill said, noting black students’ disproportionate interest in the Committee focusing on “the disproportional rate at which minority students and/or athletes are reported for honor offenses” was also statistically significant.

Chair Ben Cooper said the statistics should not be overly extrapolated for generalizations but also acknowledged their importance.

“I think these numbers are very useful in providing where the student body stands,” Cooper said. “Since 2002 we haven’t had a real check of the student body on these issues.”

The survey was sent to 2,000 students, 915 of whom responded, according to Hess. The data was compiled by the Institutional Assessment and Studies Office, and the sample size was deemed representative of the University population, he added.

Two teenage suspects have been charged with multiple felonies in the shootings on Interstate 64, which occurred early Thursday morning.

According to a Virginia State Police press release, Slade Allen Woodson, 19, of Afton, Va. and a 16-year-old male from Crozet have been charged with a total of 10 felony counts of malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, shooting at an occupied vehicle and destruction of property. Woodson faces additional charges for shooting into an occupied dwelling and destruction of property in two shootings that occurred in Waynesboro the same night as the shootings on I-64.

Shell casings from each scene along I-64 have also been matched by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to a gun owned by Woodson, the report stated, but additional testing is still being conducted by the ATF lab.

“Based on the evidence collected at this stage of the investigation, we do not anticipate any additional arrests related to these crimes,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, according to the report.

Although Albemarle County schools were closed Thursday as a result of the shootings, the University’s schedule did not change. University Police Lieut. Melissa Fielding said the difference in scheduling is due to the fact that University students are already on Grounds, or very close to Grounds, while Albemarle County students must travel greater distances to attend school.

“Given the close proximity of the shootings to one of the high schools, they didn’t want … students driving into the danger or to bus students into an area where this occurred,” Fielding said. “They felt that given the time of the incident and the hour in which students would be coming into that area, they didn’t want to take any chances.”

Although University students were still expected to attend classes as usual, Fielding said the University did take measures to ensure students’ safety.

“We had a heightened police presence and security presence during that time until we felt it was no longer necessary,” Fielding said, adding that e-mails about the situation were also sent to students as soon as information was available from the Virginia State Police.

Although the University increased security measures during this particular situation, Fielding said it is difficult to increase security indefinitely.

“There is no entrance to Grounds,” Fielding said. “It’s not like we’re a gated community.”

–Victoria Hinton contributed to this article.

The Virginia women’s lacrosse team prevailed 13-9 in Durham to beat Duke Saturday, becoming the first team to defeat the Blue Devils at home in 19 games.

Virginia got out to a strong start against the Blue Devils with an 8-2 halftime advantage. Junior attacker Jenny Hauser led Virginia (8-2, 3-1 ACC) with five goals, and seven players scored for the No. 4 Cavaliers.

Virginia gave a strong defensive performance, winning eight of 11 draw controls and gaining 14 of 25 ground balls. Virginia sophomore midfielder Brittany Kalkstein led the team with three draw controls and four ground balls.

The No. 5 Blue Devils (7-3, 2-2 ACC) scored four of the final six goals of the game. Virginia, however, never relinquished its lead after Hauser and senior attacker Kaitlin Swagart put Virginia up 3-1.

The Cavaliers next face Old Dominion at Klöckner Stadium Wednesday night at 7.

–compiled by Ryan Williams

The Maryland men’s lacrosse team tarnished the top-ranked Cavaliers’ perfect record Saturday, handing them a 13-7 defeat at Byrd Stadium.

The Terrapins (7-2, 2-1 ACC) scored first and maintained the lead for the full 60 minutes. Maryland goalkeeper Jason Carter allowed just one goal in each of the first and fourth quarters, thwarting the attempts of Virginia attackmen senior Ben Rubeor and junior Danny Glading. Although midfielders senior Peter Lamade and sophomore Brian Carroll were somewhat more successful offensively, by halftime the Cavaliers trailed 9-3.

“I thought we had some good chances early, and Jason Carter made some great stops early in the game,” Virginia coach Dom Starsia said to Virginia Athletics Media Relations. “He seemed like he came up with a big save whenever they had to have it.”

Accustomed to playing their best lacrosse in the third and fourth quarters, the Cavaliers (9-1, 0-1 ACC) hoped to dominate the second half much as they had against Syracuse and Towson when unanswered goals by Rubeor and freshman Rhamel Bratton cut Maryland’s lead to 9-5. The Terrapins quickly regained control of the contest, however, and maintained at least a four-goal advantage for the remainder of the game.

“We got completely outplayed by a Maryland team that was right on top of their game today,” Starsia said to Virginia Athletics Media Relations. “This is certainly a bump in the middle of our long road, but Maryland carried the play today and won a game that they certainly deserved to.”

­–compiled by Megan McDonald

After splitting the first two games of the weekend series with N.C. State (19-18, 3-6), the Cavaliers found themselves down by a run in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday. With one out and runners on second and third, freshman Alison Pittman hit a ground ball to first base.

“Coach told me to take it down the right side so that’s what I was trying to do,” Pittman said. “I was just trying to tie the game up.”

Pittman’s ball got away from the first baseman, allowing freshman Jennifer Bowles to score from third. Senior Meghan O’Leary, after a brief pause at third, followed Bowles home for the 8-7 walk-off hit?.

“When I saw the ball was booted, I turned and I was running hard for home,” O’Leary said. “And I slid down as I crossed home plate and it was great. I don’t remember the last time I had that feeling. It was a huge win for us … Everyone came together. Everyone had a piece of that win.”

Virginia (11-23, 4-5) started and ended the weekend strong, beginning with a 4-0 win in game one of the doubleheader Saturday.

Junior righthander Karla Wilburn threw a complete game shutout against the Wolfpack, striking out three. It was Wilburn’s second career shutout and her first of the season.

Offensively, eight Virginia starters had at least one hit. O’Leary punched through two hits and scored three runs, and senior Lindsey Preuss knocked in two runs on two hits for Virginia.

Things turned around completely for Virginia in the second game, however, when N.C. State junior Mendy McKenzie took the mound.

McKenzie held the Cavaliers hitless through six and two-thirds innings before junior Sarah Tacke hustled down the line to beat out an infield single in the bottom of the seventh inning. McKenzie struck out three and walked five in the 5-0 Wolfpack victory.

In the final game of the series, the Cavaliers struck early, scoring three runs in the first two innings before N.C. State broke out for four runs in the top of the third.

After chasing sophomore starter Lindsay Campana, the Cavaliers were held in check once again by McKenzie, who entered the game in the bottom of the third. Virginia did not score again until the sixth.

“Obviously it wasn’t a pretty game, but we showed a lot of heart,” Virginia coach Eileen Schmidt said. “It started out strong, went into a bit of a lull, but got the momentum back. That’s what we needed.”

Virginia fell behind 7-3 on three N.C. State home runs, two off Wilburn and one off senior Whitney Holstun. But the Cavaliers were looking for a comeback.

“I just think it was our determination to not let another game slide away,” Pittman said. “We wanted to prove to ourselves that we could do it. We could battle back and we could win, and it was time for us to make a statement.”

Virginia scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but left the tying run on second base when Holstun struck out swinging.

The Cavaliers would not go away quietly, and it was Tacke, who broke up the no-hit bid on Saturday, who sent a single down the right field line in the bottom of the seventh to get things started.

Bowles came in to pinch-run, and O’Leary singled up the middle. An error, one of seven on the day for N.C. State, put Bowles on third and O’Leary on second before Pittman finished things off.

“We had a sense of confidence and we just knew that we had this game,” O’Leary said. “We knew that we were a better team. I think we can really carry this through the rest of the conference, which is huge.”

The Virginia men’s tennis team maintained its flawless record this weekend as it rolled over ACC foes Miami and Florida State. The Cavaliers defeated Miami 7-0 Friday and Florida State 6-1 Sunday, which continued the team’s trend of allowing no ACC opponents to score more than 1 point.

No. 1 Virginia (21-0, 7-0 ACC) saw marked improvement in its doubles play in both matches. The Cavaliers have dropped the doubles point four times this season and have struggled to sweep all three doubles matches. After practicing doubles every day last week, the Cavaliers saw their hard work pay off as they swept all six doubles matches. The doubles lineup involved new pairings at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. At No. 2, junior Dominic Inglot paired up with freshman Michael Shabaz for the first time and won both matches 8-1.

“There’s a lot of confidence between both of us,” Shabaz said. “We both serve big so it puts a lot of pressure on our opponents and if we make a few returns and get a break, it’s pretty tough to beat us.”

At No. 3 doubles, senior Ted Angelinos and sophomore Lee Singer won 8-4 against Miami, and freshman Sanam Singh and sophomore Houston Barrick defeated Florida State 7-6.

The most anticipated match of the weekend was between No. 1 senior Somdev Devvarman of Virginia and No. 4 junior Daniel Vallverdu of Miami, likely the highest ranked player Devvarman will face in ACC play. Devvarman did not leave any room for questions, however, as he cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

No. 28 senior Treat Huey fell behind 4-1 in the first set against Miami junior David Rosenfeld. Huey then rallied to win nine straight games and finish the match 6-4, 6-1.

“The guy was hitting some great backhands, and I knew I just had to keep playing my game,” Huey said. “I’ve been playing real well all week in practice. I just told myself, ‘He’s going to cool off. There’s no way he can keep doing that.’”

One question for Virginia has been the recovery of No. 5 Inglot, after he suffered an injury and sat out earlier in the season. Although Inglot proved his doubles abilities, he struggled in singles, winning 7-5, 7-6 against Vivek Subramanian of Miami and losing 7-6, 6-4 to senior Sam Chang of Florida State.

“Dom’s up and down,” Boland said. “He was right there, and it just kind of got away, but his doubles was strong. He’s getting healthier so he’s been getting the repetitions each week in practice.”

The Cavaliers have displayed continued improvements, particularly in the bottom of the lineup. After losing several matches earlier in the season, Shabaz is on a 7-0 winning streak and beat both opponents in straight sets. Similarly, Barrick dropped two matches in the National Team Indoors tournament but has now won eight in row. Singh and Angelinos remain undefeated in duals play, and Singh recently moved into the national rankings at No. 97.

“Our two freshmen, Singh and Shabaz, are striking the ball well,” Boland said. “Particularly over the last month, they just keep getting better and better with each practice. [This weekend's matches are] probably as well as Michael’s played so far.”

The win against Florida State gave Virginia its seventh victory against a top-10 opponent this season, and both wins extend Virginia’s home winning streak record to 23 matches, dating back to a loss to Miami in 2006.