With today marking the final day of publication for The Cavalier Daily before Winter Break, now is the time to continue our tradition of giving the "Pink Flamingo" awards to the people and groups who have made the news during the past semester.
The "Fast Food" award goes to University Dining for speeding up service at Newcomb Dining Hall by creating a dedicated To-Go Room. The room's limited food selection, inconsistent policies and inadequate labeling appear to have succeeded in thinning out the crowds at Newcomb by driving students to other dining locations where they can fill their to-go boxes with the same variety and quantity of food that is available to those who dine in.
The "Slow Burn" award goes to the Lawn and Range residents who are attempting to raise enough money to repair their rooms' decrepit chimneys and install a fire suppression system so they can safely use their fireplaces again. Unfortunately, it does not seem likely that smoke will be rising from the chimneys any time soon - the group has raised less than $500,000 of the estimated $3.7 million that is necessary for the project.
The "Speak No Evil" award goes to the Honor Committee for striving to keep the University safe from those who would violate the body's sacred confidentiality rules. The Committee has made tremendous progress toward the ultimate goal of eliminating any public discussion of the honor system, as evidenced by the fact that only two students unaffiliated with the Committee showed up at its weekly meetings in October and November to offer their opinions of proposed informed retraction legislation.
The "Church Mouse" award goes to Student Council for staying out of the headlines throughout much of the semester. Although some may be annoyed by Council's lack of any major initiatives, it at least refrained from engaging in any misadventures that would draw negative local and national press attention to the University - something which cannot be said of a couple other student government groups on Grounds.
The "Tent City" award goes to Occupy Charlottesville, whose Lee Park encampment became another notable feature of the already distinctive downtown environment during October and November. The group is currently in limbo, having been evicted from the park and denied permission to relocate to Grounds, but even if its camping days have ended it will always occupy a special place in our hearts.
The "Ambitious Alumnus" award goes to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who is expected to announce next week his plans to run for governor in 2013. Cuccinelli has been a consistent antagonist of his alma mater since becoming attorney general last year, issuing legal opinions challenging University policies and regulations and filing a civil investigative demand to gain access to the emails of former Environmental Sciences Prof. Michael Mann. There is no truth to the rumor, however, that it was the climate-skeptic Cuccinelli who crashed a vehicle into the Greenhouse apartment building on 14th Street in September.
The "Quick Turn-Around" award goes to head football coach Mike London, who helped the team become relevant again in only his second season at Virginia. Students from Northern Virginia who have given up on the hapless Washington Redskins can rejoice that now there will be at least one football game worth watching during Winter Break, since the Cavaliers' 8-4 record qualified them for a bowl for the first time since 2007.
The "Ol' Faithful" award goes to our readers who have kept up with The Cavalier Daily throughout the semester. We appreciate your interest and support, and wish to remind you that outdated newspapers make for much better wrapping paper during the holiday season than does any of the glitzy stuff they sell at the Hallmark store.
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