The Virginia softball team suffered two narrow defeats during a rare midweek road doubleheader against Radford yesterday.

Sophomore starter Melanie Mitchell allowed only one run in seven innings of work during the first matchup, but her performance went for naught as the Highlanders (33-15, 12-2) silenced the Virginia lineup. Senior pitcher Chelsea Kelley matched Mitchell’s performance nearly the entire way as she went 5.2 innings without surrendering a single run before giving way to senior hurler Kellie Snooks.

After sneaking out of a tough situation during her first inning of work, Snooks engineered a perfect seventh frame to allow Radford to hold on for a 1-0 victory and provide the Highlanders with momentum heading into the second tilt.

Despite early struggles, the Cavalier offense showed a spark of life during the first inning of the second game as freshman third baseman Erica Cipolloni homered with two outs to give Virginia a 1-0 lead. But the Highlanders responded with three unanswered runs throughout the second, third and fourth innings before adding two more during the sixth for good measure against junior pitcher Stephanie Coates.

Virginia will hit the road again this weekend as the squad travels to Raleigh, N.C. for a three-game series against N.C. State which will mark the Cavaliers’ final regular season ACC games.

—compiled by Ben Baskin

Student Council passed a bill Tuesday night which will create a committee to allocate $20,000 of unused programming funds from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs toward a pilot program to support large-scale green projects around Grounds.

The Green Initiative Funding Tomorrow program is Council’s answer to a 76 percent majority of voting students who supported a referendum proposing a “green” fund in University-wide elections in February 2010.

Although Council already has in place an Environmental Sustainability Committee, which works on sustainable initiatives at the University, Tuesday’s bill created a separate committee, which will be responsible for managing funding for extensive projects as well as selecting project submissions.

“It makes more sense to give it the due diligence,” Council President Dan Morrison said. “With an ad hoc committee we can provide the representation necessary to do the funds justice.”

The committee will consist of five undergraduate students, including Vice President for Organizations Aneesha Rao, two graduate students and three advisors, said Kyle Guest, task force leader for GIFT and co-chair of Council’s Environmental Sustainability Committee.

The advisors, who could consist of faculty, staff or administrators, would be the only non-voting members of the committee, Guest said.

“They’re going to be essential to evaluating these initiatives and bring an opportunity for partnership between students, faculty and staff,” he added.

Guest has been in close contact with Christina Morell, associate vice president for student affairs, in regard to the GIFT initiative.

Morell said while the $20,000 will go toward launching the GIFT initiative, supplementary and continuous support — which some Council members have suggested could be drawn from an additional $5 in student activities fees — has not yet been finalized.

“We want to test the concepts of GIFT before we determine a possible ongoing fund source,” she said in an email.

Guest emphasized that GIFT is only a pilot and must be successful in the fall to continue.

“[The committee is] burdened with the task of allocating money to the best projects possible,” he said.

The pragmatic success of similar initiatives on other campuses nationwide, however, leaves Guest optimistic.

“There are a lot of ideas that could definitely be feasible and could be implemented,” he said.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is seeking information on climate research done at the University. Photo by Elizabeth Weihmann

The University completed the next step in a year-long legal battle with Virginia Attorney General and University alumnus Ken Cuccinelli by filing a response brief with the Supreme Court of Virginia April 20. The attorney general’s office has 14 days to file a response to the University’s brief, at which point the state Supreme Court will set a date to hear the case.

The brief, filed in reaction to Cuccinelli’s appeal of an Albemarle County court decision, explains the University’s legal reasons for refusing to release documents related to former University Environmental Sciences Prof. Michael Mann’s climate change research.

Cuccinelli filed a civil investigative demand, the equivalent of a subpoena, seeking information in Mann’s documents, emails and personal correspondence he believes will show Mann committed fraud.

In a press release issued last May at the beginning of the controversy, Cuccinelli justified his investigation by saying he suspected the climate change data Mann used to apply for federal and state grants may have been false.

“The revelations of Climate-gate indicate that some climate data may have been deliberately manipulated to arrive at pre-set conclusions,” Cuccinelli said. “The use of manipulated data to apply for taxpayer-funded research grants in Virginia is potentially fraud.”

Numerous independent investigations have cleared Mann’s name of any wrongdoing.

Josh Wheeler, associate director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, said Cuccinelli has failed to provide adequate evidence supporting his subpoena. This overstepping of legal bounds has caused the center and several other organizations to file amicus curiae briefs — documents submitted to the court providing alternative arguments for a case — arguing against the attorney general.

“The brief does not take a position on Prof. Mann’s research or on the validity of his research, we simply are disagreeing in that the attorney general is over the reasonable interpretation of the statute,” Wheeler said. “We are not challenging that the attorney general cannot issue CIDs on universities. Nor are we saying that universities don’t have to disclose this information. All we’re saying is that he has to be able to justify the subpoenas on some objective statement regarding why he suspects fraud.”

Last August, Albemarle County Circuit Judge Paul Peatross Jr. also found the CID lacked sufficient evidence and noted only one of Mann’s five grants could be investigated. Consequently, Peatross dismissed the CID, prompting Cuccinelli to file the appeal with the Supreme Court.

In the height of this legal battle, courts must be mindful of the far-reaching effect this case will have on future issues of academic freedom, said Kent Willis, executive director of the Virginia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which also filed an amicus curiae brief against the attorney general.

“Courts to a certain degree have a tendency to rule on the narrowest of grounds,” Willis said. “And that’s what the circuit court did. We wanted to remind both courts that at the bottom line here is academic freedom, and if you allow a state official to gain access to what are essentially private conversations between scientists, that will chill those kind of communications and scholarly discussion.”

A decision to uphold Cuccinelli’s CID likely would restrict the discussion of controversial topics in academia, Wheeler said.

“Anytime an academic puts forth a novel or controversial theory or hypothesis, under the attorney general’s interpretation they can be investigated for fraud,” he said. “All their emails, all their correspondence and all their documents pertaining to their research can be subpoenaed. I think it would discourage professors from challenging the status quo, which is really what their research is supposed to do, for fear of being the target of a fraud investigation.”

THROUGHOUT history, we have seen our once narrowly defined gender roles progressively expand. Today, women serve in the armed forces, work as surgeons and participate in the highest levels of government. Men are stay-at-home dads, have careers in nursing and are even self-defined feminists. Yet every day, women and men are typecast according to their gender in destructive ways.

We all have heard these stereotypes — men are “strong,” women are “weak,” men should act “manly,” women should act “girly,” he is a “stupid jock” and she is a “dumb blonde.” And columns such as “The guy’s guide to a girl’s workout” (April 19) rely on them in an attempt to be funny.

Gender stereotypes are so pervasive we sometimes do not even recognize them. Instead, we laugh at them and promote them. Negative gender stereotypes are damaging, however. They affect both men and women, and they restrict individuals who are otherwise incredibly unique and talented.

Stereotypes are harmful because they offer an oversimplified image of a particular individual and undermine the characteristics that make each person unique. Boys and girls learn from an early age that to fit into society, they must conform to certain gender-based expectations. These standards are socially contrived and restrict the personal choices of maturing women and men. Though we may not buy into these generalizations, they nevertheless manifest in subtle ways and have larger effects in society than we might imagine.

A recent film study conducted by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, for example, found that women in Hollywood are “seen and not heard.” Of the top 100 grossing films of 2008, women held only 33 percent of the 4,370 speaking roles. Women also were more likely to be seen naked and in sexualized clothing than were male characters. Such stereotypes contribute directly to misrepresentation of women and lead to endemic disparities in the workplace. For example, women still face a 20 percent pay gap and will earn $13 trillion less in worldwide annual income than their male co-workers.

Furthermore, the progress we have achieved in terms of gender equality is fragile. Even the laws protecting women from sexual discrimination remain dubious. Recently, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia declared that the Constitution does not protect women from discrimination. Scalia has argued repeatedly that the term “person” included in the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment may not apply to women. Though this may seem absurd, the mere fact that one of the nation’s Supreme Court justices would question the Constitution’s role in protecting women’s equality shows the need for increased constitutional protections, as well as rejections of the tired gender stereotypes.

Beyond gender discrimination, stereotypes also promote gender violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence affects 25 to 50 percent of all women in heterosexual relationships during their lifetimes. Trying to live up to society’s preconceived notions of masculinity, some men enter relationships with ill-formed notions of power and control. Moreover, gender violence affects individuals of all races, ethnicities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. Buying into gender stereotypes reinforces a culture of violence that ruins lives.

In our society, it is still widely acceptable to poke fun at gender stereotypes. Sexist jokes are condoned under the guise of amiable humor. We are meant to laugh, not take offense. If we do not laugh, we are considered a killjoy.

The reason some women may take offense at sexist humor, however, is quite simple. Every day, women are told by the media and entertainment industry in the United States that their most attractive qualities are their age, weight and sexual appeal. Intellect, talents and beliefs pale in comparison to beauty and youth. Catcalling, street harassment, lewd remarks, whistling, leering, honks and disparaging sexual comments are common occurrences. Domestic and sexual violence are widespread, and underlying these lifelong social problems is the gender stereotype. It tells us that men and women are different in certain ways and that these differences are inherently negative for women.

If we lived in a perfect world, gender would be a non-issue. People would be judged and rewarded for their personal merits rather than their biological differences. The United States has a long and embattled history of social oppression as a result of difference, however. This history calls for heightened self-awareness when it comes to gender issues. Despite what some may believe, we do not yet live in a post-gendered society. Women continue to face gross disparities and real discrimination.

Gender is an emotive subject. Sexist jokes quickly become a source of pain. As a result, our conversations concerning gender should be handled with care. Relying on stereotypes is destructive and only reinforces false images that perpetuate social inequalities.

Throughout the years, we have seen drastic changes in what men and women can and cannot do. Rather than place others in boxes, we should celebrate all that is wonderful about individualism.

Ashley Chappo’s column normally appeared Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at a.chappo@cavalierdaily.com.

Charlottesville received national recognition Tuesday for it’s walkability. Photo by Will Brumas

The City of Charlottesville Tuesday received one of 11 national “Walk Friendly Communities” awards designed to commend communities for their commitment to pedestrian safety.

Awards were given based on demonstrated “commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans, and policies,” according to a statement released by the City Tuesday.

The UNC Highway Safety Research Center’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, which is responsible for announcing the winning communities, evaluated the safety, mobility, access and comfort factors contributing to a walk-friendly environment.

Charlottesville’s Pedestrian Safety Committee efforts to increase walkability helped the City earn silver level distinction. Current committee work involves pedestrian access and safety initiatives as well as looking ahead to future improvement.

On the Walk Friendly Communities website, Charlottesville is commended for its excellent transit system, high percentage of intersections with push-button signals and the design of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall.

“A recent construction and redevelopment project ensures that the mall will remain an active pedestrian destination in the heart of the City for years to come,” according to the website.

Sponsors of the inaugural program include FedEx and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

­­­—compiled by Audrey Waldrop

Larry Sabato hosted a panel on economic solutions yesterday, highlighting changes to social security, medical care and the prescription drug industry. Photo by Will Brumas

A panel of experts on the national debt crisis met yesterday to discuss different possible methods for remedying the county’s growing debt.

Former Wyoming Republican Sen. Alan Simpson, co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and David Walker, founder and CEO of the Comeback America Initiative and former head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, were brought to the University by the Center for Politics to discuss the nation’s deficits.

Panelists highlighted the importance of cutting social security, one of the largest components of the current budget.

“Fix Medicare,” Simpson said. “The only way you will fix Medicare is to reduce doctors’ money and to make patients pay more and to affluence test them to make sure you know how much they’re willing to pay.”

Current studies project that if the social security system remains the same for the next 20 years, the system will not able to provide as much aid as it does now.

“If you don’t do something with the solvency of the system, you’re going to waddle up to the window in 2032 and get a check for 32 percent less,” Simpson said.

Simpson also said he believes without remedying the social security problem, America will not be able to sustain itself financially.

“You can’t bring home the bacon now because the pig is dead,” he said.

Baker proposed improving the health care system as an essential means for decreasing the nation’s debt.

“Our long-term debt story is essentially a health care story,” he said. “We spend more than twice as much per person on health care, and the projections assume that that debt is going to grow.”

Although Baker agreed the debt problem is related to health care, he did not blame Medicare and Medicaid outright, instead citing other components of health care, such as prescription drugs.

“The problem is not Medicare and Medicaid; the problem is health care,” he said. “We spend $300 billion a year on prescription drugs. We have an incredibly backward way of backing prescription drug research.”

Baker emphasized the importance of economic growth in reducing the nation’s budget deficit.

“The economy needs to be front and center,” he said. “There was a surplus in 2000 because the economy grew much more than we expected.”

Unlike Baker and Simpson, Walker referenced statutory budget controls in effect during the 1990s, highlighting the problems that occurred in 2003, the year after these budget controls ended.

“Let’s get an agreement to bring back statutory budget controls that don’t come into effect until 2013,” Walker said. “Specific debt as a percentage of the GDP, with automatic default mechanisms, to first slow the debt then try to decrease it.”

The panelists painted a bleak picture of both the Republican and Democratic plans for dealing with the budget crisis.

“Let’s get real,” Walker said. “These people have to deal with these issues in 60 days. They haven’t been able to deal with it for years. What makes you think they can deal with it in 60 days?”

Charlottesville residents pointed to the increasing partisanship of government as a reason for the inability to adequately deal with the debt crisis.

“America’s a pragmatic country, but it seems that a lot of Washington is being driven by ideology,” said David Bicknell, a Charlottesville resident in the audience.

Isaac Wood, communications director of the Center for Politics and former Cavalier Daily opinion columnist, said the event was organized to raise awareness of the nation’s debt.

“We really want people to get all the facts that they need about the situation regarding the debt, in order to make sure that people are able to form opinions after understanding the actual facts rather than just talking points from one side or the other,” Wood said.

It is particularly important for University students to be aware of the growing debt as they are the ones that will bear the brunt of it, Wood said.

“As students we don’t know much about the nation’s debt, but it’s important for us to be aware of it so we can act accordingly,” fourth-year Commerce student Tony Chung said.

Whether University students feel empowered enough to be able to deal with the debt crisis remains to be seen.

“As a student there’s not very much you can do about it,” Chung said. “You just accept it and go along with your life. I’m not going to go to the nation’s capital and lobby for decreased taxation. I’m just going to accept it.”

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics, said this issue will remain pertinent to University students as it will directly impact their lives.

“This panel was for you and about you,” Sabato said. “This is about your future. Stay interested in the issue. Don’t let this be the end; let it be the beginning.”

For most students, when finals roll around, good diets usually take a backseat to food and drinks that quickly satisfy hunger or temporarily raise energy levels. But the best choices for staying alert are often healthier snacks and earlier morning study sessions.

Third-year College student Shivesh Puri has three finals and five papers quickly approaching and described his stress level as an 8.5 on a scale from one to 10, “but that will probably go up,” he said. Puri said he usually cooks for himself throughout the school year, but toward the end of the term, he has less free time and often will opt for easily attainable prepared or junk food.

David Zinczenko’s book “Eat This, Not That!” cites healthier options for people such as Puri, offering better dietary options pertaining to stress, late night study sessions and early morning energizing breakfasts. The book lists blueberries as one of the best natural foods when you need a “brain boost,” because their antioxidants protect the brain from “free-radical damage” and “improve cognitive processing.”

This “brain-boosting” section also recommended coffee, which has been proven to enhance short-term memory and increase problem-solving skills.

“Coffee can be effective as a ‘pick-me-up’ substance or can interfere with sleep,” said Melanie Brede, a registered dietician at Student Health, “One cup of coffee has an eight-hour metabolism cycle, so it will take eight hours for the caffeine in one cup to completely leave your system.”

Brede said energy drinks also have dual effects. She explained that while the drinks’ multiple stimulants may raise attentiveness, they can increase anxiety, a potentially harmful side effect for a student who is already nervous about taking a test.

Puri said he does not find caffeine productive for studying.

“My body is sensitive to stimulants; I just get jittery,” he said.

Instead of caffeine, Brede advocates drinking plenty of water throughout exam week, because dehydration leads to fatigue.

“Eat This, Not That!” notes that ice cream and other sugary foods cause sudden surges of glucose, giving the feeling of a “sugar high.” However, people will feel a “crash” after the initial energy rush, Brede said.

Additionally, these types of foods can decrease concentration during long periods of time, and snacks with a high saturated fat content can inhibit blood and nutrient flow to the brain. “I suggest thinking about if you’re actually hungry,” Brede said. “If you are, eat something. If you’re just tired and need a ‘pick-me-up,’ do something else besides eating — get up and walk around for a little while before continuing to study.”

Graduate Education student Deanna Koch said she maintains generally healthy habits throughout the year: she eats the same lunch every day, drinks one cup of coffee per day and ensures she gets at least eight hours of sleep each night.

“I’m probably not a typical student in that respect,” she said.

Some students may be more prone to cramming all night for a test, but getting enough sleep is certainly important to stay focused while taking an exam.

Foods that may help you fall asleep include nonfat popcorn without butter, which makes the body produce serotonin, a neurochemical relaxant; oatmeal with bananas, rich in the sleep horomone, melatonin; and sesame seeds, which contain tryptophan, the amino acid found to incite drowsiness.

A glass of warm milk — rumored to help one fall asleep — actually has the opposite effect because of the high amount of protein which boosts energy levels.

“It is important to recognize that point where you’re so tired that it would be more effective to get a night’s sleep, or even just taking a nap, and waking up to study in the morning, as opposed to staying up all night,” Brede said.

For those early morning exams, the book notes that eating breakfast is one of the most important things to do, not only to boost energy levels but also to start one’s metabolism to burn calories.

A few of the preferred breakfasts listed in the book include eggs with whole wheat toast as a protein source, cottage cheese with berries for a low, steady level of blood sugar and wheat cereals for high doses of fiber.

As for breakfast foods to avoid, the book cited a bagel with cream cheese along with donuts and pancakes, because the “fast-burning carbohydrates will cause a dip in energy and a spike in hunger.”
One of the best tips for nutrition during exam week, Brede said, is to eat before the test, giving you the energy to recall information and perform well.

Koch said after watching her roommates lapse into irregular sleep patterns and unhealthy eating habits and from her own work as a student-teacher, she sees many of the typical practices of students during finals week as detrimental to their well-being.

“Some can handle the stress well, but for a lot of students, it’s a general experience,” Puri said. “It’s a trend — a solidarity with almost everyone — to sleep less and eat worse.”

During times of high stress, it may be easier and more convenient for students to fall into unhealthy habits, but students looking to maintain their bodies as well as their GPAs should not sacrifice sleep and healthy eating.

Whenever I pull out my fashion magazines to show my mom the latest trend that I’m dying to have, she always rolls her eyes and laughs. When I ask her why she is laughing, she tells me, “That was in style back when I was in school,” or, “I remember wearing that back in the day.” Therefore, her constant advice is: hold on to certain things because chances are one day they’ll come back into style. As I have gotten older, I’ve to come to realize that she is completely right; there is a kind of recycling of ideas and designs you see in the fashion industry — but I’m not so sure about the saving clothes part.

One example: leggings. I’m sure this is a trend with which plenty of us University students are familiar. I even remember those elementary school days when I was pretty much obsessed with wearing my floral leggings to school and I begged my mom to let me wear them every day. While I am thrilled that this trend has made a comeback, I must say I’m glad that I did not hold onto those floral leggings because (a) obviously they would no longer fit anymore and (b) they were incredibly tacky.

However, not every trend that has resurfaced from my younger years is one I used to be particularly fond of back then. Going to church Easter Sunday was something I dreaded as a child because we had to get up early, but most of all I hated the itchy, uncomfortable Easter bonnet my parents insisted on strapping to my head despite my fierce, relentless protesting. Although I do not look back upon those moments fondly, I’m excited that this trend has re-emerged in my life in a tradition known as Foxfield.  Now I find myself searching desperately to find the perfect hat to match my sundress to achieve that “Kentucky Derby”-esque look. When I told my mom, she couldn’t help but gawk in disbelief, remembering the terrible Easter hat struggles. She never thought the day would come when I would insist on wearing one by choice. Even though I embrace the tradition of donning a hat to Foxfield, I’m thankful I did not put aside my old Easter bonnets from my childhood in hopes of wearing them in the future because I probably would end up being a source of entertainment and mockery for my friends.

At this point in our lives, most of us have realized and experienced the “trend recycling” that occurs in the fashion world. It’s not so much a change in fashion, but a change in our willingness to partake and embrace these particular trends.

Twenty years from now if leggings came back in style, I probably will smile and reminisce as I buy my daughter her first pair of leggings. I would take the backseat on this trend since I would be at that time in my life when my metabolism slows down and such styles are better left to young people. As for the hat, chances are after college you’ll find it sitting somewhere in my dusty attic, no longer of use to me since those days have come and gone. Perhaps my daughter will want it to wear to Foxfield when she’s in college, provided that wearing vintage things is still in style.

Kristin’s column runs biweekly Thursdays. She can be reached at k.ulmer@cavalierdaily.com.

I was sitting on the steps of the Rotunda the other night. I was not naked, running up the steps like my first-year self. I was not garbed in a gown, descending the steps like my fourth-year self will. I was just sitting, actively talking and passively hanging in the balance between my college beginning and ending. My friend asked me: “What would you tell yourself then about what you know now?”
I think “then” referred to my first day at college. I made up some answers to placate the questioner. In reality I needed a lot more time to ponder what I would write in a letter to myself. “Then,” I realized, went back as far as my memory reached. This is what I would tell her:

Fuzzy, formless Connelly of my early, early years, don’t fade anymore than you already have. The “dirt and worms” stuff they try to feed you does not warrant tears, for the dirt is not dirt and the worms are candy. The pretty older girls in school will not be in your class next year; they are still older and will keep their distance. Your hair will grow out once Mama stops cutting it “to show your pretty face.” The girls you follow around and swing next to and pretend to listen to are, as you already guessed, not really your best friends. Sissy is the best companion you’ll ever need.

Shy, scared, smart Connelly of middle school: it will be over soon enough. The girls who whisper about you will stop whispering in a few years, for they’ll have nothing left to say. You will grow out, then up. The ‘A’s’ you get in eighth grade geography will stay on your high school report cards, always ranking you at least five places higher than your sister. Hold this over her head when she deserves it. When you finally think you’re pretty at 13, don’t stop thinking it. You are.

Early high school Connelly: you are not missing out. You might as well keep worrying about your lack of attendance at parties in fields and at houses where parents are out of town because I know I can’t stop you. But trust me that things get better when you can drive, even if Mama follows behind in the red jeep, quietly turning around when you’ve reached your destination. The girls with the older boyfriends and the perfectly flat ironed hair will live at home one day, never experiencing the real “best four years” of their lives. Stop envying them. Keep running with boys at track practice, for once you stop you’ll inevitably join the debate team and never be that fast again.

Sixteen-year-old Connelly: one day you will be 17. And that heart that was so full and then so empty slowly will fill up again. A boy will like you, and then another. Keep playing the twin card until it happens.

Connelly before college: don’t be afraid to be afraid. You won’t lose your sister just because you live in different dorms. You might make new friends, though, and that’s something you never really have done; don’t worry, there will be enough aggressive friend seekers that you won’t have to initiate too many new relationships. Cry a lot on your mother’s shoulder because in college you can only cry in the shower — or walking home in the dark, but, really, that’s a little dramatic. Don’t do too much because you’ll be busy soon enough. Just lay out and get tan. Tan looks good in the hundreds of pictures you’ll take on the first night in your dorm.

College Connellys, both the scared first year and the scared second year: hold on to the good things. I could tell you to study more for French tests, but you’d still get a ‘B-’. I could tell you to stop hanging out with the newly single boy, but you still will text him. I could tell you how not to mess up, but then I wouldn’t have any stories to tell.

Instead of telling you to do things differently, I am telling you to stay the same. Fuzzy, formless Connelly and 16-year-old Connelly are one in the same; they both want things that are good and sweet and short-lived and then they want some more. Keep eating too much candy like you have for 19 years. Keep making inappropriate jokes to the dismay of your sister. Keep calling Mama when you need to cry. Keep seeking out people who make you laugh and see if you can make them laugh even harder. Keep wanting to be happy more than you want to be rich or successful or well-rested. Keep writing letters to yourself.

I can write to myself, the younger me, and pretend that I know a lot more now than I once knew then. But as I reach my halfway point in these painfully wonderful four years, I think I could learn a lot from the happy little girl with boy-short hair and Oreo-covered hands. She’ll grab the hand of her matching self — the best companion she’ll ever have — and confidently walk in the direction of her future, not needing any letters, for she’s got everything she needs.

Connelly’s column runs weekly Thursdays. She can be reached at c.hardaway@cavalierdaily.com.

We are obsessed with love: legislating legitimate forms of it, institutionalizing it through marriage and other unions, depicting culturally accepted norms in the media. Turn on any radio station and you’ll hear it. Newsmakers debate it. The word permeates our daily lexicon: “Don’t you love it when that happens?” or, “I love that dress on you.”

Novelist Laura Dave — like others before her — attempts to elucidate some of the intricacies of love in the modern era. Her first novel, London is the Best City in America, struggled with the nature of infidelity and failed relationships. Her second, The Divorce Party, examined the growing phenomenon of parties celebrating the termination of a marriage, much like our celebration of their inception. And in The First Husband, to be released mid-May, Dave explores the difficulties of long-lasting relationships in a fast-paced, globalized, career-driven world. What should we give up for a significant other? And what happens if the sacrifices aren’t worth it?

“I write without knowing what will happen,” Dave said in an interview with tableau. “But I always ask myself a question as I write. Often that question has to do with commitment, which we all struggle with.”

Commitment to writing, however, was never a question for Dave. “I always wanted to write ever since I was very young,” she said. “Since elementary school, I wrote stories. That was what I always wanted to do.”

After finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Dave worked briefly in film. “I wanted to work in the day and write at night. But I quickly learned that didn’t work,” she said, laughing. “If I wanted to write, then I needed to just write. I began to look for places to write full-time, places that encouraged craft.”

For Dave, that place was the University. Here, she learned to focus on the craft she always has loved. Complimenting the “extraordinary” faculty, Dave explained, “I learned the lesson that it’s always about the writing. I learned how to get up and work. The emphasis in the program was not on publishing — it was on learning how to become the best writer you can become.”

This dedication to craft can be seen in Dave’s accomplishments: after graduating from the MFA program in 2003, Dave’s first two novels were published to critical acclaim and have been optioned as films by Universal; her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, Glamour and The Huffington Post.

It can also be seen in her writing itself, where the polished prose never interferes with her quick wit and relatable characters. Dave emphasized that good writing is not just artistic brilliance; it’s hard work. “I write maybe a hundred drafts,” she said. “That sounds crazy, but it isn’t really. Good writing is rewriting. The more you write, the more you figure out what’s really happening, and the more honest your work becomes.”

This honesty and commitment shines through on her every page. In The First Husband, her characters are confronted with difficult situations that force them to rethink their identities and identifications, their dreams and relationships with others. Yet one of the marvelous things about her books is that they point out the contradictions and difficulties of love while still managing to preserve some of the reasons why we need relationships.

“In my books you only see [the characters] take the first step toward living a better life — something like happiness, something like being true to themselves,” Dave said. “But I like to leave them in a moment of hope, a moment of discovery. It suggests that a story goes on from there.”

This sense that the story is not finished, that the characters will continue to grow and mature and find themselves, permeates her work. And it is this sense of hope that enables Dave to resonate with her readers by suggesting that, despite the uncertainties of modern love, there is still much to be said about the fulfilment that comes out of a committed relationship with others and with yourself.