Although students will face the grind of classes as usual today, many Charlottesville and University community members will commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
The University tragically lost a member of its community Jan. 4 when fourth-year College student Monica Long was killed in what police are now calling a murder-suicide case. According to Albemarle County police, Long's husband, 42-year-old Arnold R.
Fourth-year College student Monica Long's untimely death may direct attention to the often-ignored presence of domestic violence at the University. Domestic violence is a more pervasive concern than many students realize, according to Claire Kaplan, a sexual assault coordinator for the University's Women's Center. "There seems to be a high level of denial among undergraduates that this is a problem," Kaplan said.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt, an international effort to commemorate victims of the disease, was displayed yesterday in the Newcomb Hall Commonwealth Room for the University community. Members of the public can view the Quilt from 10 a.m.
The Inter-Fraternity Council announced its decision yesterday to bring both Kappa Alpha Order and Zeta Psi fraternities to trial for charges of racially offensive acts. Allegations of improper conduct first surfaced Nov.
Despite reassurances that students would be able to register for classes after a three-day postponement, officials opted to shut down the ISIS system and wipe out all of its processed registration yesterday. The Office of the Provost and University deans made the decision around noon. Their announcement was not a result of technical malfunctions, but a response to student complaints of registration inequity, said Don Reynard, ITC director of applications and data systems. According to Reynard, ISIS was blocked yesterday so that the Registrar's Office could undo student registration that already had been entered into the system, and then reprioritize registration dates. Earlier in the week, ISIS faced a memory management problem, but ITC administrators don't "anticipate any future problems," Reynard said. University Registrar Carol Stanley said registration could be activated as early as Monday, but Student Council President Micah Schwartz said registration likely will be delayed until after the Thanksgiving holiday. If this occurred, registration could overlap this semester's final exams, Schwartz said. Although such a scenario would be "less than perfect, it's worth cleaning the slate," he said. Stanley said she estimates over 100 students have submitted complaints to the Registrar's Office, the Office of the Provost and ITC, urging administrators to start over the registration process. "The student voice is always a concern and a factor," Stanley said. In addition, officials received input from the Registrar's Office, the Office of the Provost and student representatives, she said. Although the decision largely was made to appease students, not everyone will be satisfied by the decision, Stanley added. "We're hopeful it'll take us back to a situation where a majority of people are satisfied," Stanley said. According to Schwartz, complications with ITC earlier this week enabled students of lower registration priority to "slip through the cracks." "This was unfair not only to Rodman and Echols scholars, but to fourth years who have been waiting for priority," Schwartz said.
The temporary suspension of Kappa Alpha Order and Zeta Psi Fraternity by the University's Inter-Fraternity Council has triggered widespread and immediate response from the entire Greek community. The fraternities currently face charges by the IFC and their national headquarters for displaying racially offensive costumes during a joint Halloween party. According to Aaron Laushway, assistant dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta sororities also are being investigated. "Kappa Kappa Gamma expects it members to promote integrity and respect for others and appreciation for the worth of all individuals," Kappa Kappa Gamma President Sarah Wilson said. Kappa Alpha Theta President Ginna Innamorati declined to comment on the investigation. According to a press release issued by Kappa Alpha's National Administrative Office, the fraternity will remain suspended until the office completes its own investigation of current allegations.
In a recent report, University of California faculty found that changes to their school's admissions policies had no significant impact on the racial makeup or academic quality of its incoming freshman class. The study, made public this week, examined the repercussions of a new policy in effect at the university's six most selective campuses: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara. Under new policies adopted in November of last year, the admissions criteria of these institutions have been expanded to include non-academic factors, such as special talents and encounters with adversity. Called "comprehensive review" by the university's admissions officials, the policy already has sparked controversy as a potential means of averting Proposition 209, which outlaws the use of race in University of California admissions.
In collaboration with Madison House, the newly established Inter-Greek Committee held its first significant community event Saturday as a means of kicking off its long-term agenda. The IGC, founded last spring, is a 12 member organization comprised of two executive and one non-executive member from each of the four Greek governing bodies: the Inter-Fraternity, Inter-Sorority, Black Fraternal and Multicultural Greek Councils.
With their simultaneous announcements Wednesday to drop early decision admission, Yale and Stanford universities have sparked national scrutiny of the admission policies practiced by other competitive institutions, including the University. The early decision program, which requires that students enroll if accepted, is implemented by most of the country's selective colleges. But beginning next year, Yale and Stanford will use only "early action" programs, allowing students to apply during the fall without being bound to enroll if accepted. Yale and Stanford's new early action programs will restrict its applicants from applying early to other colleges.
