Three more cases of mumps infections are suspected in University students. These cases are in addition to the two cases reported last week.
All three cases are currently being investigated by the Health Department, Student Health Director James Turner said. A final opinion is expected to be released today. In the meantime, the two students living in residence halls have been sent to their homes in Virginia.
In addition to the cases on Grounds, at least two more probable cases have been identified in the greater Charlottesville community, Turner said.
No links have been uncovered among the five probable cases on Grounds since Sept. 10. All suspected cases involve students who have received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
A mumps infection can initially seem like a cold or sore throat, Turner said, adding that the infection can spread not only from shared living quarters, but sneezing or coughing in crowded classrooms as well.
Turner said beyond being vaccinated, preventative measures should emphasize frequent hand-washing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Turner said also that students must remember not to share glasses in social activities such as beer pong or other drinking games.
Over 19,000 University students are vaccinated, Turner said.
"We're not talking about ebola or the bird flu here," he said. "It's a public nuisance -- no reason to be scared, but it's legitimate to be concerned."
-- Compiled by Meghan Doletzky
UJC votes to propose change to committee's constitutional amendment process
The University Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to propose a change to their constitution last night.
The proposed change would require "at least a two thirds vote of those full-time students voting providing that at least ten percent of full-time students vote on the proposed amendment."
Currently the UJC constitution can be changed with by a simple majority of students voting.
"There's no reason why the student body shouldn't be able to amend the constitution but the constitution is so important it should require a sizable number of students to change the constitution," said Connor Sullivan, vice chair for first-years.
Students will have an opportunity to vote on the change beginning Oct. 13 when the University Board of Elections polls open.
"Essentially we proposed it because at this point it's just a simple majority that has to change it and this would create the typical constitutional rhetoric that is put into constitutions," UJC Chair Raleigh Anne Blank said.
-- Compiled by Maggie Thornton
Barber brothers donate $1 million to Capital Campaign
While hosting the dinner launching the University's $3 billion fund-raising campaign Saturday night, former University football stars Tiki and Ronde Barber, current National Football League players, made a $1 million gift to the University's capital campaign.
Tiki Barber is a running back with the New York Giants, while Ronde Barber is a cornerback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"For us, at this time in our lives, to be able to do this is phenomenal," Tiki Barber said. "We've both done pretty well as NFL players and, as a result, have made a great living. A lot of that is a result of being here at the University, not only being mentored and guided as football players, but guided as people. The meaning of philanthropy is being able to make a difference to those who helped push you up."
The Barbers' gift will be split in two $500,000 segments, one benefiting the McIntire School of Commerce, where both received their degrees in 1997; the Young Alumni Council; the University of Virginia Children's Hospital; the Virginia Athletics Association; and the Alumni Association's Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund. The other $500,000 is being labeled by University news sources as a "challenge" to other young alumni to also contribute to the capital campaign.
"We want to emphasize that now is the time for our fellow alumni to join us," Ronde Barber said. "U.Va. has an ambition to compete with all of the great universities in the country, and we are going to lend ourselves to be a vessel for the University."
-- Compiled by Matt Dickey
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