Scene opens. Mid-day over Gotham City, a city that never sleeps because it is constantly victim to slews of super-villains. The camera sweeps over dozens of skyscrapers that look so real you swear you were flying over Gotham City in a helicopter. A deadening “thump” reaches all the way down to your gut as the camera zooms in and you follow the bank robbers in the opening scene as they prepare for one of the greatest heists in history. I waited all summer for this, and now, finally, I was seeing The Dark Knight in IMAX.
This was July 19. I have seen The Dark Knight one more time since then and am considering seeing it once more before it goes out of theaters. So I admit it: Being the end of August, this review is a little dated. But let’s be honest — you loved The Dark Knight, didn’t you?
Director Christopher Nolan’s box-office smash has broken several records since it opened July 18, and it continues to be one of the hottest movies in theaters today, more than a month after its release. It easily blew away Spiderman 3’s record for biggest opening-day revenue, grossing over $67 million. And, because of its lasting popularity at the box office, it continues to gain strength; it is now creeping up behind Titanic to be the highest grossing film domestically in history.
The Dark Knight’s success put a lot of things in the spotlight, namely the untimely and utterly tragic death of Heath Ledger, who, as his role as the psychotic Joker proves, was just hitting his stride as a serious actor. But another interesting issue the movie brings to the foreground is America’s demand for more superheroes.
I’m not talking about your average run-of-the-mill superheroes who save the day, get the girl and all that jazz. The Dark Knight’s success resides in the psychological struggles that plague these vigilantes and play out before our eyes on the big screen. These newfangled superheroes fight the good fight while carefully walking the line between right and wrong and between their personal and professional interests. Christian Bale as Batman wrestles with whether he should just kill the Joker when he has the chance, despite the fact that Batman’s central credo is to never kill.
And there is, of course, Ledger’s Joker. For a long time questions surfaced about whether the role was simply too much for Ledger, who was in poor health (mentally, emotionally and physically) during shooting. The Joker’s evil in The Dark Knight is a new kind of evil, one that is not done out of greed, passion or even vengeance. It is an evil that is purely for play, an evil so chaotic that throughout the movie, The Joker becomes less of a character and more of a metaphor, a manifestation of all the evil that is too crazy to be bottled up in one act or purpose. The Joker becomes the little devil playing on Batman’s shoulder, edging him on to keep up the good fight — it’s what gives the Joker a good laugh.­
With characters like these, we don’t just have a good time at the theater. These characters do much more work with much larger questions, specifically ethical quandaries. They question the power of the individual in relation to his responsibility toward society. You can bet that more comic book — sorry, graphic novel — movies are going in this direction. Superherohype.com, a hub for everything super and extraordinary, recently posted a release that confirms this new direction with films based on graphic novels. Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov told The Wall Street Journal that “[Warner Bros. is] going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it,” and that the “dark, brooding tone” of Batman in The Dark Knight is the angle the group seeks in superheroes. The upcoming Watchmen is exemplary of this, as will contain darker versions of classic characters like Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. Even the ultimate superhero gentleman, Superman, is getting a darker makeover in the not-too-distant future.
So what does this all mean for graphic novels? All I can say is don’t expect any more smart-mouthed funny guys like Hellboy or the first Hulk. From here on out, our superheroes are getting a lot scarier, a lot denser and way more interesting.

Ever since Mike Stroud and Evan Mast began recording their unique fusion of electronica and rock on a simple PowerBook, their band Ratatat has steadily been accepted into the upper crust of the indie rock scene. With smash hit “Seventeen Years” — the first single off their eponymous 2004 debut — Stroud and Mast demonstrated their masterful combination of edgy guitar riffs and soaring synthesizer beats. It was not until the aptly named Classics, however, that the duo truly came into their own, with the fierce dance single “Wildcat” making converts of anyone who heard it.
Ratatat’s greatest strength comes in their ability to infuse a huge variety of songs and genres with their electronic/rock blend. In addition to remixes ranging from Björk’s “Wanderlust” to the Shout Out Louds’ “The Comeback”, Ratatat has self-released two volumes of rap remixes. Marking a distinctive departure from the more instrumental fare of their studio albums, these mix tapes reveal a lighthearted side of Ratatat’s typically airtight musical construction.     
Buoyed by their early success, Ratatat have assimilated elements of their remixes into their own music with LP3, their third studio album. Combing the electronica and rock world for instruments and influence, LP3 is a buffet of laden melodies supported by twittering background noises and driven guitar beats.  
Looking to take their music in a fresh direction, Stroud and Mast separated themselves from their Brooklyn roots, recording LP3 in a private studio in the Catskills. Obviously gaining confidence in their production abilities, Ratatat also managed to record their third album in just more than three weeks, without detracting from the quality of the music. And as a result of their work, each song possesses a distinct measure of polish and intricacy. Each song feels and sounds completely fresh, despite the fact that Ratatat have included many melodic references to their earlier work that aficionados will undoubtedly pick up on.    
From the opening single “Shiller” — with its haunting chords penetrated by textured electronic noise and thrilling guitar riffs — the album opens in a realm of melodic extremes. The guitar-driven “Falcon Jab” redefines how Stroud’s guitar can blend with Mast’s synthesizer, creating a fast-paced steeplechase between the two sounds. It’s only when one digs deeper into the album — hearing the reggae hooks of “Flynn,” the symphonic “Múmtaz Khan” or the cartoon-themed “Gipsy Threat” — does one realize just how diverse this album really is.
Of course, all this means the most ridiculous and uninspired song is actually the best on the album. Sounding like background music to a Donkey Kong arcade remake, “Mirando” and its menacing music video are obtuse references to the pop-driven synth-rock that plagued the 80s. Yet, despite being bouncy, cruddy and completely unintelligible, you’ll never be able to get its clownish beat out of your head.
LP3 is easily the best Ratatat album to date. Immediately enjoyable for the indie and dance fans who have surely listened to it already, it can also be a bit jarring for newcomers who have yet to fully appreciate Ratatat’s style. If listened to completely, though, LP3’s eclectic re-imagining of Stroud and Mast’s electronic/rock sound is an undoubtedly complete album that has something to offer for almost anybody.

Charlottesville-wide pre-game tailgate Friday
Want to see Al Groh off the football field? This Fridays After Five concert — free in the Charlottesville Pavilion — is Paint the Town Orange night. The performer, Big Ray and the Kool Kats, will perform a piece at 8 p.m. with the 260-piece U.Va. marching band. Cheerleaders, football players and coach Al Groh will lead the band as it marches down the Downtown Mall in honor of Saturday’s first football game versus USC. Be sure to pick up your Orange Fever shirts before Friday and hit up Fridays After Five to get pumped before tailgating even starts!
—by stephanie garcia

Singer/Songwriter turns to literature
For fans of country rocker Ryan Adams eagerly awaiting his next release, The Cardinals III/IV (recorded with, who else, The Cardinals): Wait no longer to hear beautiful musings from this singer/songwriter. As announced on his blog earlier this week, Adams seems to finding new outlets for his words — in the form of a book, Infinity Blues. Unfortunately for fans, the genre of this book is in question, as Adams has not released any further information about the book, aside from its title and the news that it will be released sometime in the future. Should songwriters venture into the literary world? Time will tell.
  —by stephanie garcia

T.I.’s “Swagger Like Us” leaks to Internet
Over the weekend, T.I.’s “Swagger Like Us” leaked  onto the Internet, and the minds of bloggers everywhere imploded. The credits for “Swagger Like Us” read like a who’s who of mainstream rap — T.I. brings along Kanye West (who produced the song as well), Jay-Z and Lil’ Wayne for guest verses. As if the song wasn’t marketable enough, “Swagger Like Us” also samples M.I.A’s red-hot Pineapple Express anthem, “Paper Planes.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up its promise — Kanye’s beat is mediocre at best, and none of the four verses are particularly memorable. Still, putting all that talent on one track makes for a great marketing strategy.
—by ethan hamlin

The ladies of Playboy are often stereotyped as beautiful, sweet and rather simple, intellectually speaking. The House Bunny, Columbia Pictures’ new comedy, doesn’t stray far that model. Though the film makes an effort towards greater emotional depth, it doesn’t quite achieve its goal. Anna Faris is a hoot, but the rest of the film falls short of her example.
Shelley (Faris) is blissfully living her dream in the Playboy Mansion. When she is suddenly ejected from the household, Shelley wanders Los Angeles looking for a new home. She stumbles onto a college campus and finds the answer to her prayers: sorority houses! Shelley becomes the housemother of the struggling Zeta Alpha Zetas, who are desperately in need of her makeover skills. If they can get 30 new pledges, they can save their house and maybe learn about themselves in the process.
That the plot of The House Bunny is completely ridiculous is a given — I doubt anyone in the audience walked in expecting to see gritty realism — but there is a level of artifice that makes the suspension of disbelief difficult. The characters are exaggerated types: the smart one, the political one, the evil queen bee and so on. The film is a fantasy, which is made more obvious by Shelley’s occasional voiceover references to fairytales. Life in the Playboy Mansion is even depicted as an idyllic home full of good cheer and lots of love, a place where any girl could live happily ever after.
Kristen Smith and Karen McCullah Lutz, the authors of The House Bunny, portray this fairytale mindset in their other films such as Legally Blonde and other cute girl power flicks. Much like its predecessor Legally Blonde, The House Bunny comes with a message: Be yourself and you can do anything — as long as your hair is shiny and your makeup is perfect. The House Bunny also stresses the importance of great parties and popularity in achieving success, which seems to undermine the intended message of the film while simultaneously reinforcing Greek life stereotypes. Despite the flawed message, however, the film is earnest in its delivery and ultimately kind-hearted.
Anna Faris is the heart of the film. She generates nearly all the laughs. Faris always commits completely to a role, as in her character in all four Scary Movies, and she plays dumb extremely well. When she isn’t on screen, boredom instantly sets in; Anna Faris is the reason to see The House Bunny.
Even though Faris is clearly the star of the film, the rest of the cast is likeable. Emma Stone and Kat Dennings are actresses on the rise that are worth watching. American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee and The All-American Rejects’ front man Tyson Ritter offer up capable, if somewhat odd, performances. Christopher McDonald and Beverly D’Angelo are comedy veterans who don’t disappoint. Colin Hanks is pleasant enough as Shelley’s love interest, but he doesn’t really make that much of an impression.
Overall, The House Bunny is exactly what you would expect: It’s cute and light and pretty funny. There’s no way it will become a comedy classic, but it won’t induce the same kind of disgusted shudders as something like Step Brothers either. If you’re in the mood for cinematic cotton candy, go ahead and see The House Bunny. Just don’t forget your water bra.

This summer Hollywood continued its trend of turning Broadway musicals into films with Mamma Mia! The movie, inspired by the hit songs of 1970s rock ensemble ABBA, has its ups and downs but ultimately leaves audience members slightly disappointed.
The story centers around an island wedding. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is getting married and wants her wedding to be perfect — but she has a problem. Thanks to her mother’s promiscuous past, she doesn’t know who her father is. Despite his mysterious identity, she wants to find him and have him walk her down the aisle. Her search leads her to three potential fathers, and each is invited to the wedding. Her plan is to talk to each one and discover which one is her real true dad.
Along with its happy-go-lucky wedding theme, one of the biggest assets to this movie is the ABBA songs. When people come to a show already knowing the songs, they can sing along. Much of the comedy of Mamma Mia! comes when these songs are hidden in the plot. Like a treasure hunt, characters unexpectedly burst out into favorites like “Take a Chance on Me,” “Dancing Queen” and, of course, “Mamma Mia.” Unfortunately, while these songs are welcomed with open arms by audience members, the connection between song and plot often seems a bit forced.
Another more substantial weakness is the male cast. In particular, Pierce Brosnan (one of Sophie’s potential fathers) and Dominic Cooper (Sophie’s fiancé) offer unimpressive performances. These two performers had fairly large parts and took usual musical theatre over-exuberance to an extreme. Their over-the-top portrayals left the audience laughing at serious parts of the movie and would have been better used onstage than on screen.
The main female performers, on the other hand, were brilliant. Meryl Streep was dynamic as Donna, Sophie’s mother. She shocked many audience members with her impressive singing and the dramatic switch from her chic Devil Wears Prada role to the frantic ex-hippie mother of the bride. Seyfried is also charming as Sophie ­— her large eyes and smile seemed to light up her face as she sang and made her potentially disastrous efforts to have the perfect wedding seem adorable.
Unfortunately, the leading ladies were not enough to live up to the sterling reputation of Mamma Mia! Some audience members left Mamma Mia! wanting to see the Broadway version — not because of how great the movie was, but because they wanted to see how much better it could be. Perhaps Mamma Mia! is simply better suited for the stage.
It’s almost impossible to analyze a Broadway musical turned movie without pondering why Hollywood keeps making these films. Are they simply made in a last-ditch effort to boost Broadway ticket sales (such as with Rent, now scheduled to close Sept. 7)? Is it so people who can’t go to Broadway shows can still enjoy their magic? Anyone who has been to Broadway can tell you there is no way to capture its splendor on screen, and few shows survive once a movie version is out. In the end, it would seem we settle for movies that don’t quite hit the mark of Broadway excellence, Hollywood stays rich, and Broadway makes some short-term money. While Mamma Mia! is currently listed as an open-ended run on Broadway, one worries about how long it will remain that way.

Christopher Noakes, the 39-year-old Charlottesville resident who pled guilty to two charges of sodomy in an February attack on a University student, was sentenced Tuesday to serve 40 years in prison, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Katherine Peters said.
Peters said she believes this is a positive outcome for the commonwealth’s attorney’s office and noted that given Noakes’ age, “a 40-year sentence is considerable and it is tantamount to a life sentence.”
Peters added that Noakes may be eligible to apply for geriatric release if he maintains good behavior, but added that is “unlikely that Mr. Noakes will be going anywhere.”
Nicholas Repucci, Noakes’ attorney, said Noakes accepted his sentence as part of a plea agreement.
The charges against Noakes were in reference to an assault that occurred Feb. 21 on the 1600 block of Grady Avenue, Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo said.
Longo said the victim, a white female University student who was 20 years old at the time, was walking west on Grady Avenue early in the morning. The victim was talking on her cell phone when she heard footsteps coming from behind her and turned around to see a black male with a knife demanding money from her.
The victim surrendered her purse, Longo said, and the perpetrator then threw her cell phone into the bushes nearby before he “assaulted her in the area of her head and face, knocked her to the ground, threatened her with a knife and performed a sexual act.”
Longo added that the victim’s phone remained on after it was thrown, which “precipitated timely police response” at about 2 a.m.
After attempting to flee the scene, Longo said, the perpetrator was apprehended, positively identified on the scene by the victim and later identified as Noakes.
Longo said that in this case, the victim did not know her attacker, but “the vast majority of reports of sexual assault” involve victims who are acquainted with their aggressors.
Claire Kaplan, director of sexual and domestic violence services at the University Women’s Center, said once or twice a month she hears a report of sexual assault in which a University student is victimized. She noted, as Longo did, that attacks by strangers to the victim are “quite rare” and said they statistically comprise 10 to 15 percent of sexual assault cases.
“The most likely perpetrator of a sexual assault against a U.Va. student is a U.Va. student,” Kaplan said, adding “the single best way to be safe is to try your best to be in control of your own faculties when you are with other people.”
Kaplan also added that “there is no right and wrong” when it comes to protecting oneself against attack, because typically, individuals walking alone are cautioned against talking on cell phones, but in this case that factor expedited the victim’s rescue.

As the Class of 2012 faces the challenge of adjusting to college life, the University’s upperclassmen are also having to adjust to a change on Grounds: the disappearance of trays in the dining halls.
Though it may have come as a surprise to many students, Director of Dining Brent Beringer said the abolishment of trays in the Newcomb, Runk and Observatory Hill dining halls has been two years in the making.
Exploration into environmental sustainability began with the formation of Green Dining, Beringer said, which is a consortium of all sustainability groups on Grounds, including students, faculty and staff.
“From there we experimented with ‘Trayless Tuesdays’” Beringer said, adding that Green Dining also encouraged students to use fewer trays last year through a poster campaign. In a spring survey, about 84 percent of students supported the removal of trays from dining halls.
Taking into account student and faculty opinions — as well as the thoughts of the Charlottesville community — Beringer said dining halls decided to go fully trayless this school year.
The main purpose of the trayless policy, he said, is to conserve water.
“The dining rooms on Grounds are the most water-intensive buildings,” Beringer said. “Our biggest use of water is washing trays. If you can do anything to alleviate water usage, the simplest [way] is to eliminate trays.”
Ben Chrisinger, chair of the Student Council Environmental Sustainability Committee, said although dining without trays may take some adjustment, the environmental impact is worth the effort. In addition, Chrisinger suggested that the change may save students money.
“Something to point out is just that if you consider how much utility costs have gone up as well as food prices, it would be reasonable that meal plans would have to go up in price if we had not cut the trays out of the budget,” Chrisinger said.
Chrisinger added that the only complaints he has heard have come from upperclassmen.
“I think it’s being received fairly well,” he said. “I haven’t heard [many] complaints from first-year students. The only complaints are from people who have been here a while and [had] gotten used to living around trays.”
Third-year College student David Goslin said while removing trays may positively impact the environment, not having trays may prove to be inconvenient.
Several students, however, mentioned that they did not even use trays when they were available.
“The trays aren’t really necessary,” fourth-year College student Samuel Young said. “When I did have a meal plan I would carry my plate without a tray.”
Richard Kovatch, associate vice president for business operations, said the trayless policy is not the only environmental sustainability initiative the University will introduce this year.
“Right now we’re just introducing a lot of the programs that we’ve been working [on] with the various student groups,” Kovatch said, listing the introduction of locally grown and organic foods and biodegradable containers as examples of programs currently in progress.
“We’re continuing to expand those programs and looking to roll out a composting program hopefully within next month, [though we’re] waiting for state approval,” Kovatch said. “These programs will support the overall goals of the University with respect to sustainability.”
The Environmental Sustainability Committee also has several programs to be introduced this year, according to Chrisinger, including an on-Grounds farmer’s market to be held in Newcomb Plaza Monday.
“We’re bringing in vendors from the Charlottesville City Market to promote the whole idea of buying food more close to home,” Chrisinger said.

Federal funding for academic science and engineering research and development failed to outpace inflation for the second year in a row, according to a report recently released by the National Science Foundation. As a result, the University is tapping into reserves to support research teams and turning toward other sources of potential funding.
According to a NSF press release, federal funding for research and development expenditures has declined 1.6 percent since 2006, once adjusted for inflation. This decline primarily affects the physical sciences, engineering and technology, and biosciences, said Thomas Skalak, University vice president for research.
About 80 percent of all research money at the University is dependent on federal research money from the National Institutes of Health, according to James Savage, University executive assistant for federal relations.
Though the decline will lead to greater competition for federal funds among universities, Skalak said he believes the University will continue to be competitive, citing highly ranked programs, excellent facilities and the “talent that we attract”.
To further increase its competitiveness, Skalak said the University is making an effort to feed funds into research in promising areas, such as the current collaborative effort among the electrical engineering, physics and chemistry departments to research alternative energy sources.
The University, led by President John T. Casteen, III, has been teaming up with other higher education institutions to convince members of Congress to increase federal funding and support NIH, Savage said. Additionally, because the decrease in funding disrupts research, the University has been tapping into reserves to float research teams.
The University also is relying on outside sources to fund scientific research. Skalak said the University is “highly committed” to acquiring private philanthropic resources and is also pursuing corporate collaborations, hoping to increase corporate funds from 10 percent of research funding up to 30 percent. He added that these partnerships are beneficial to corporations as well, because most have downsized or outsourced their internal research and development operations.
“They are looking to the nation’s universities to harness their basic research capability,” he said.
Skalak emphasized the importance of the physical sciences, engineering and technology and the biosciences, noting that many other areas of study that receive greater federal funds than the physical sciences are dependent on scientific research and development. As an example, he cited nanotechnology, the current focus of the Engineering School, and its potential to affect homeland and cyber security.
“Investment in basic technologies in physical science and engineering can pay dividends in more than one national area,” Skalak said.
Although the NSF would not comment on the data, according to the press release, the two-year decline in federal funding in constant dollars is unprecedented for the 35-year data series; however, Savage said 2009 “looks much better”, noting that Congress just passed a bill appropriating close to $300 million for the physical sciences and is looking to increase NIH’s budget.
Skalak added that with the promise of a new administration, the future of research and development is optimistic.
“We are hopeful that there will be an increase in recognition in the value of sciences to the nation’s competitiveness in a global economy,” he said.

The average SAT scores of Virginia’s graduating high school seniors remained nearly the same as last year’s average, as recently reported by the College Board, while the average SAT score of the incoming first-year class at the University is up 15 points from last year.
This year, the average total SAT I score in math and reading for a first-year University student is 1322, compared to last year’s average of 1307. The commonwealth’s average score, meanwhile, increased by just a point: from 1022 in 2007 to 1023 in 2008.
According to Dean of Admissions Jack Blackburn, though the University’s 15-point increase was a “pretty good jump” for one year, there has not been any significant upward trend in SAT scores over the past few years.
“If you did a very long study, [it would] probably show that the scores are going up a little bit but nothing dramatic,” Blackburn said. The average SAT score, for example, of the 2006 incoming class was 1325, while the average score for the 2005 incoming class was 1320 and the score for the 2004 class was 1330.
Although the writing portion of the test is not used in this score, Blackburn noted that the admissions office still pays close attention to this portion of the examination when evaluating applicants.
“We’ve always put a lot of stock in the writing score,” Blackburn said. “Some of the other colleges that are critical [about] that part of the test are missing the boat. It is another piece of [information] that lets us make better decisions about applicants.”
Blackburn noted, however, that for the most part, students with high SAT scores tend to perform well when they arrive at the University.
“The students with extremely high scores tend to do very well here, so we do know that’s a pattern,” Blackburn said. “The extremely high scores tell us a lot about a student, so they can help.”
Overall, though, Blackburn said he believes that while the SAT scores are “helpful” in the admissions process, they are certainly not the most significant part of it.
“I would say that they’re not the most important factor in our applications by far,” Blackburn said. “The most important factor is the high school record … We put our greatest stock in performance.”
Although the University believes a student’s overall record is more important then his SAT score, high-school students are in no hurry to dismiss the test, said Brandon Kosatka, director of student services for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
“I don’t think [students] are doing anything different than in years past,” Kosatka said. “They’re taking it seriously. It’s certainly another variable in the college admissions process, and they’re realizing that in this very competitive process they need to do as well as they can.”

Less than four months ago, when the countdown to final exams entered single-digits and thousands of University students scurried across Grounds to meet study buddies and print term papers, the increasing stress level of many U.Va. students was easily discernible. At the bus stops, in the dining halls and at the libraries, students could be seen studying the information scratched down in notebooks and bound by thick texts.
And for some, namely second-years who had not yet declared a major, a heavier question loomed. Muddling thoughts about biochemistry and architecture was the consideration of: “What will I do for the rest of my life?”
Last spring, Jenni Lopez and Robert Molster were among the second-years who needed to select and declare one of 47 majors offered by the College.  
As required, they enrolled in major degree programs prior to the last day of their fourth semester. They presented plans of study to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, including between 18 and 30 credits in their chosen major subject. They had those plans approved by an official advisor.
As third-years, both Lopez and Molster have decided to change their declared field of study. Lopez will pursue a degree in biology rather than her psychology and Molster hopes to study engineering rather than history.
The decision by Lopez and Molster is not uncommon at the University.
To change majors, students must complete a Change or Deletion of Major form. For students in the College, the form may be picked up from the Garrett Hall lobby or downloaded from the University’s Web site.
Although the process may vary slightly depending on a student’s school and area of study, all students must create a new plan of study.
They are often required to take summer courses in order to fulfill the necessary 18 to 30 credits.
Lopez, who by the end of her second year had finished most the requisites for the psychology major, said that the process of switching her major to biology was not a difficult one.
While she had to spend the summer months catching up to her peers, Lopez praised the professors of biology department, whom she said helped her immensely.
“They were really good in that they wanted me to do what was best for me,” she said. They were really nice about it.
After deciding on a future career in zoology, Lopez said that for her, the extra course load will be worth the change.
“I’ve always wanted to work with animals…[and] I don’t want to be one of those people who gets a psych degree and then ends up doing marketing or retail.”
Molster’s choice to change his major came after he took a natural abilities test this past summer. Having tested out of his math/science requirements before arriving at the University, Molster focused on fulfilling University requirements in his first two years. Before declaring his major the end of his second year he took several history classes, but very few classes relating to the new major he will pursue in engineering.
“I like history; I liked the professors and I thought the courses were interesting, but I started thinking about what I want to do after college,” said Molster, who plans to transfer from the College to the Engineering School. “I’ve always been good at math and building.”
While Molster has just begun to investigate what Lopez described as a relatively easy process of changing his major, he said that much of the information needed to do so is still relatively unknown to many students.  
“The whole process of declaring majors is hidden. You have to seek it out,” he said. “It’s not like the rules of the dorm or explanation of a V-Soc where they sit everyone in a room and explain it to you at the beginning of the year,” he said.  “[The process] does take some initiative.”
In addition to changing majors, Molster will also be required to transfer schools, from the College to the Engineering School.  
Like Lopez, he stressed a desire to leave U.Va. having acquired not just a degree, but the right degree – even if getting the right degree takes a bit more time and energy to earn.
“You don’t want to waste your time here,” Lopez said. “To me its worth it because now I’m doing something I want to do.”
Lopez said that determining what that “something” is, comes at different times for different students and that changing your mind is worth the extra effort if you are willing to commit it.