The Vice President for Student Affairs office sponsored an open forum last night with Tom Farrell, University vice rector on the Board of Visitors, and Board member Syd Dorsey in the Kaleidoscope Diversity Center in Newcomb Hall. Approximately 30 people attended the forum.
Farrell opened the forum voicing what he described as a concern among Board members.
"We are very unhappy with the current undergraduate housing situation," Farrell said. He noted that the University is unable to guarantee housing to all students and expressed displeasure with city landlords' pressure of early lease signings.
Farrell added that the Board is seeking measures to cope with housing problems. He added that proximity to central Grounds along with high construction costs impede development.
Farrell also voiced concern that new housing would not draw a large student resident pool.
"We are not going to build [new housing] unless we have a guarantee that students are going to live there," he said.
Farrell and Dorsey also raised the topic of requiring students to live on Grounds through their second year.
Several attendees supported the idea, arguing that the requirement would bring about a greater sense of community among students and that it would reduce stress for students seeking housing during their first semester at the University.
Others argued that the requirement would be unfair to second years, who have traditionally had the choice of finding their own housing. One member of the audience added that the idea would hurt the budgets of fraternities and sororities, which depend on rental revenues from second-years.
The Board members and students also discussed hiring policies, after a student suggested that increased minority faculty will be needed to maintain high minority graduation rates.
"There are requirements for departments to look for faculty as diverse as the student population," Dorsey said. She added that the student body "should see improvement in that regard."
However, both Dorsey and Farrell added that some potential faculty recruits opt to teach at institutions in more urban areas rather than in Charlottesville.
Other topics discussed during the forum included pedestrian safety in crossing Emmet Street, domestic partner benefits and the current state of the University Honor System.
Dorsey stressed the importance for the Board to be open to student input in order to make the best decisions regarding University policy.
"[Students] are the reason we're here," she said. "I don't want the opinion that the Board is out of touch with the students because the students are what the University is all about. I want to make sure I know the issues ... I want to ensure that I am doing what is best for the body of the University"
Read More
Two measles cases confirmed in Charlottesville this spring
By Nicolas Biernacki | 30 minutes agoVirginia’s first case was confirmed in April, with the patient being a child under the age of 5 and from the Northern part of the state.
Summer construction on Grounds disrupts traffic, foot pathways
By Ford McCracken | 7 hours agoOne of the two largest disruptions to traffic is at the three-way intersection of McCormick Road, Rugby Road and University Avenue.
What is U.Va.’s Faculty Senate?
By Adeline Miller | 4 days agoThe Senate is able to represent the faculty perspective to legislative bodies through positions such as the faculty representative to the Board of Visitors.
