A little extra learning
A graying professor tucked away in a library of old books, muttering to himself. A stressed graduate student frantically retesting results in a laboratory, anxiously checking the clock each minute.
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A graying professor tucked away in a library of old books, muttering to himself. A stressed graduate student frantically retesting results in a laboratory, anxiously checking the clock each minute.
Brian Gomez, the second-year College student who passed away last month after a year-long battle with a rare form of cancer, told his girlfriend, Morgan Watts, a line that has stuck with her ever since, as the two of them waited in a hospital while her sister underwent open heart surgery.
For many students, frequenting popular coffee establishments and restaurants on the Corner for drinks and tasty dinners during the weekends is a common rite. Others prefer to go to the Barracks Road Shopping Center for lunch and dinner when there is time to spare. But there are some alternatives further away from Grounds that aren't so well known to those who wish to bypass the usual hot spots and discover hidden gems around the City of Charlottesville.
Most University students do not worry about where to sit in lecture halls, how their medical regimens will interfere with assignments and how they will enter and exit a building. For students who live with disabilities, however, these are just some of their daily concerns, and the decisions they make may often need to be considered long ahead of time.
As a brand new transfer student hundreds of miles away from her home and family in South Korea, fourth-year College student Hyoyeol Chong found herself with nowhere to go during the holidays last fall. Because of the high cost of returning home, Chong planned to remain alone on Grounds for Thanksgiving until a friend offered to host her at her home in Northern Virginia.
University students make many decisions during their four years at college, the most common of which usually include whether to live on Grounds or off, which internships to apply for and how to balance a social life and their studies. The decision to take their romantic relationships to the next level, whether through marriage or engagement, is a one that most students do not anticipate making during their college years. But for those who choose serious relationships, decisions about housing and jobs are often already predetermined.
It's a history that's been brushed aside for years, but now, in light of recent events that have brought its pernicious past to light, students are working to recognize the role of slaves in the University's history.
Each year, University students must face the decision of whether to live on Grounds. While some students prefer the resources and security of on-Grounds living, others enjoy the responsibility and independence that comes along with living off Grounds. Many of them may be willing to pay the price for this potentially liberating feeling, but once they move off Grounds, they face an added layer of financial concerns.
Who is your greatest influence or inspiration?\nMy grandfather is my greatest influence but he isn't the only one. He taught me discretion and how to work behind closed doors. He taught me how to foster and to appreciate the power of high impact without noise. My grandmother taught me the importance of claiming myself. My mother taught me that "when a job is 'large,' you do it all." My father taught me that in the face of crisis, you must do your best work. Academically, a teacher of English literature, Roger Moore, a native of New Zealand, was one of my greatest influences. One of my most empowering moments was when I had written a paper on the poetry of T.S. Eliot. He read it and said that my paper on "The Waste Land" was better than his lecture that he was about to give, and so I should teach the class the next day. It was very empowering to a 16-year-old to hear this. There were other teachers in the classics who were equally influential in teaching Latin, French, Greek and ancient history. It's the aggregate of their impact that I will always remember. There is a team behind me.\n\nWhat is the most beneficial aspect of teaching?\nAt this point in my life, I reap the highest rewards from unexpected places. Recently, a parent came to me and said that she wanted to introduce her daughter to me. She asked me to do for her daughter what I had done for her some 25 years ago. Another student, who just got accepted into medical school called me only yesterday from the Dominican Republic. She apologized that she couldn't come to see me in person and told me that she was doing field work before beginning medical school in the fall term. She was accepted into six medical schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University and Jefferson Medical College. She received a full scholarship to Vanderbilt and plans to go there. She happens to be the daughter of the woman I recruited into medical school and a residency program in pathology. I recruited her father into internal medicine and a dermatology residency here, as well. As I sit here, anything can happen; anything from a student knocking at my door and telling me that she has been accepted into 10 law schools, and eventually choosing to go to Columbia University School of Law, to another student walking me to tell me about his arrest by the police after a party. The benefits from teaching and mentoring are huge. Every contact is potentially meaningful. No contact is small in value.
To many students at the University, college is an opportunity to explore different interests and take a wide variety of classes to decide which career to pursue. Many students switch study paths in the middle of their undergraduate journeys. Some go beyond just changing their major, though, and switch schools entirely.
Moving away from home and gaining new perspectives are experiences many first-year students expect. There are several additional challenges specific to about 5 percent of University students, however. These are the students who journey to the United States from their home countries to attend the University.
For nearly a decade, The Oculus interdisciplinary research journal has been staffed and contributed to entirely by undergraduate University students. In many cases, the publication has given students an opportunity that may otherwise have been unknown to them.
For more than four decades, the University's Semester at Sea program has changed the way students see the world. This semester is no exception.
When most people think of hotels, tall buildings with dozens of rooms and diligent wait staffs may come to mind. Small, uniform spaces of single and double beds equipped with a television, telephone and complementary set of shampoo, conditioner and hand soap complete the picture.\nBut thanks to Collegeweekends.com, a temporary lodging company based in Charlottesville, people may begin to rethink the typical hotel stay.\nCollegeweekends.com allows students and local residents to turn their homes into hotels of their own. It connects travelers with short-term and vacation rental properties by listing available housing options in college towns.\nThese options are alternatives to hotels - particularly during peak times of year like football season and graduation - when hotels tend to book fastest, owner and CEO Gordon Sutton said.\nTravelers can use the site for free to browse property profiles and rent a location. The site allows them to contact the property owner, who then determines the cost and makes final arrangements. Those who register with the site pay a $179 annual fee for a basic listing and $229 a year for a premium listing, which includes more pictures of the property.\nSutton, a 2001 University alumnus, decided to launch the site in 2004 after recognizing an absence of adequate accommodations for guests in college towns. He added that most owners opt to vacate the premises while renters occupy it, but others decide to rent out only a portion of their home at one time.\n"As a student, I was aware of the demand that exists," he said. "There is often a ton of people around town but not enough places to stay. The site is a logical solution."\nSutton added that as a student, he wished he could have had the chance to make additional money by renting.\nSecond-year Law student Rebecca Gantt said she has used the Web site to rent her property and build additional income for about a year.\n"The service helps me to make the mortgage," Gantt said. "There is always a shortage of housing in the area, and it's nice to add to the supply."\nIn a slowing economy, it seems like more people have turned to the Web site as a more affordable alternative to expensive hotels, Sutton said.\n"People are financially stressed right now," he said. "It's hard to make mortgage payments. Using the Web site, they can make a dent in their payment in one weekend and generate additional income."\nAs a listed property owner, Gantt has also noticed an increase in site usage. Compared to last year, she said she has received substantially more rental inquiries this year.\n"A lot more people ask for discounts, too," Gantt added.\nDespite the nation's economic slump, Gordon is confident in the's Web site ability to generate a profit. Collegeweekends.com offers a 300 percent profit-back guarantee on the annual listing fee that owners must pay to list their properties.\nCurrently, a free trial is available to new customers, Sutton said.\n"This is the best marketing tool to use," Sutton explained. "We offer a quality listing service."\nCollegeweekends.com prides itself not only on its affordability, but also on its quality of service. Sutton said that during the five years he has been owner and CEO of the site, no complaint of damage has ever been reported.\n"It's incredible," he said. "Those who rent properties on the site are usually grateful for a place to stay. They are very respectful."\nGantt, who rents out her home once or twice a month, agreed, noting that she has not experienced any property damages or misconduct.\n"Naturally, I am initially a little nervous leaving my property with renters, but my experiences have always been positive," she said. "The renters are usually alumni or somehow connected with the University. They always leave my home clean."\nA guest once drank her apple juice during their visit but immediately reimbursed Gantt and wrote her an apology letter.\nTo protect owners in case damage or misconduct occurs, the site provides an agreement that guarantees full legal recourse. The Web site also takes measures to protect owners from scams and furnishes a rental agreement drafted by lawyers, Sutton said.\n"We screen all owners, talk to them and follow up before they are listed on the site," Sutton added. The Web site allows renters to post reviews as well, making it easier for potential guests to determine which property will best suit them.\nBecause of the success that the site has seen since it launched five years ago, Sutton recently decided to expand the business throughout the nation. The service is now available in at least 12 college towns in 11 states where the demand for housing during certain periods is especially prevalent.\nAs an alternative to pricey hotels at busy times of the year, the University Alumni Association recommends Collegeweekends.com on its Web site, among other options.\n"Collegeweekends.com is an excellent option for alumni who don't want to stay in a hotel or have a big group," said Mary Elizabeth Luzar, the assistant director of Student and Young Alumni Programs. "From what I've heard, the site works well for both parties involved"
Since its inception in spring 2003, Musicians on Call has been on a mission to deliver the sweet sounds of instrumental music to a deserving audience. The group, however, seeks to bring more than melodies, chords and notes to listeners. Musicians on Call, which is made up of members who play a variety of instruments, seeks first and foremost to bring comfort and inspiration to those who listen.“Musicians on Call’s main objective is to provide soothing music to patients, employees and guests in the lobby or small waiting rooms at the University of Virginia Hospital,” said Michelle Wang, third-year College student and copresident of the group.Members of the organization, who meet as a whole two to three times a semester to share and collaborate, sign up on a voluntary basis to play their musical instruments in pre-approved public areas at the hospital. Some members meet on a regular basis to practice in small groups, forming ensembles, Wang said.While some performers have an extensive background in music, boasting more than a decade of musical experience, potential members should not be intimidated. The group holds auditions at the beginning of each academic year, during which the organization’s leaders evaluate potential performers’ musical capabilities.“We have a certain standard, but we don’t require a lot of experience or skill,” Wang said. “We just make sure that the instrumentalist can play fluidly.”Most of the performers play instruments of a softer type, such as the piano, string and wind instruments, but Wang and copresident Betty Xiong, a third-year College student, assure potential members that instrumentalists of all types are welcome.First-year College student Patrick Melmer, who has been involved with Musicians on Call since his first semester, began playing the acoustic guitar, his instrument of choice, in seventh grade. “Initially, I wanted to learn how to play the guitar to start my own rock band like many teenage boys dream of doing,” Melmer said. “Since then, music has done a world of good for me. I don’t know what I would do without it.”Melmer said he wanted to get involved with Musicians on Call before even coming to the University. “The summer before I came to U.Va., I found Musicians on Call online. The name of the group stood out to me.”Musicians on Call is more than just an opportunity for students to entertain others by playing their instruments. Volunteering through the organization is also a way to relieve stress.“Playing my guitar at the hospital keeps my hopes up. It’s a great break from the stress of my course load,” Melmer said. “Playing with Musicians on Call gives me the opportunity to connect with music, my biggest hobby. It’s really exciting for me.”Through his involvement with the group, Melmer has been able to further pursue his other interests as well. As a premed student, Melmer uses the opportunity to familiarize himself with the medical environment.Although performing in the hospital, and in any public location, can be very fulfilling, Melmer said it can also be initially challenging because many musicians experience nervousness.“As a musician, you have to become vulnerable,” Melmer said. “Even though you practice, you never know how people will react. As a performer, I know that feeling all too well.”Melmer said while he experienced nervousness at first, the feeling dissolved after a few strums of his guitar. “Music creates a peaceful atmosphere and calms people,” he said. “In turn, the musician feels that way, too.”In this way, instrumentalists also receive the satisfaction of helping to alleviate hospital guests in pain or dealing with a great deal of stress, Xiong said.“There is a social and personal aspect to music,” Wang said. “Musicians on Call gives performers the chance to use their skills in a compassionate way.” She added that group members seek to provide a sense of comfort in such a tense environment. “Playing for patients and guests at the hospital allows us to express our wish to help others through our music. This translates well in a hospital setting.”The music is usually well received by patients and visitors at the hospital. People will smile and sit down to enjoy the songs, Melmer said, sometimes even complimenting the musicians. “Everyone turns around and listens. Young children especially enjoy the music. Some will just stand and watch.”When performing, volunteers must adhere to a dress code, which prohibits offensive clothing and open-toed shoes, but are otherwise free to perform as they prefer, Xiong said. Each musician is allowed to select his or her own music.“Musicians in our group play out of their own inspiration,” Xiong said, explaining that musicians usually practice and perform on their own.One of the unique aspects of Musicians on Call is the diversity among its members. The group is made up of students with different majors, of different years and from different cultures. Though the group is quite diverse, Wang said the one thing every member has in common is a love for music and service.“Members of Musicians on Call are passionate about music, sharing and reaching out to others,” Wang said.One of the organization’s goals is to branch out and perform in more locations and intimate environments, such as intensive care units, waiting rooms and around the community. The group is currently working on constructing a visiting musicians program that will allow musicians to do just that, Wang said.Aside from the feel-good service aspect of being a member of Musicians on Call, another benefit is being able to express your unique style, Melmer said. “Everyone who is interested should audition,” Melmer said. “The great thing about Musicians on Call is that everyone in the group has a different style and technique, and that’s a good thing.”
Since its beginning in fall 2003, ReMiX has been bringing the sounds of hip-hop and R&B to life through a capella. The group, which consists of 16 active members including sopranos, altos, tenors, basses and beboppers who blend together to sing popular songs, is the only a capella group at the University that specializes in R&B music.“Our mission is to bring good music to U.Va.,” said fourth-year College student Brandon Rogers, president of ReMiX. The members of ReMiX meet on Grounds at Cabell Hall twice a week to practice songs and collaborate.While some of the members have a background in music, anyone, no matter what their level of experience, can audition during the group’s fall and spring tryouts. “When I first auditioned for ReMiX, I didn’t know much about music or even what a capella was,” Rogers said. “When they handed me the music, I tried to fake it, but later I learned that to be a member of ReMiX, all you have to do is know how to sing.”Even students who are not musically inclined can support the group as well. Rogers said coming to events where the group is performing and showing support is a great way to get involved.Fourth-year Education student Monet Bernard has been a member since her second year, but tried out for ReMiX three times before she made the group. According to Bernard, every audition was worthwhile. “The things that you work for the most are the things that are worth the most,” she said.While Bernard just recently began getting serious about music, she said singing is something she has wanted to do for a long time.“I didn’t get to do anything like this in high school,” Bernard said. “But it’s something that I’ve always wanted to explore. I have always loved to sing, but I didn’t get the chance to express myself in that way before. It was never realistic and I never had time before now.”Through her experience with the group, Bernard was able to further explore her interests.“ReMiX helped me to realize that music is one of my passions,” she said.For some ReMiX singers, the group has served as a springboard to a future in music artistry. Rogers said some members of ReMiX have gone on to pursue professional singing careers. He noted that Travis Tucker, a recent University graduate, went as far as to try out for American Idol and become a finalist.Although ReMiX is one of many a capella groups at the University, Bernard insisted that it is unlike the others.“ReMiX is so different,” Bernard said. “We explore different genres of music and aren’t afraid to be unique. We all have different personalities and love to have fun making music. That‘s what it’s all about.”Third-year College student Mia Logan agreed that ReMiX is distinct from other groups on Grounds.“ReMiX’s unique sound attracted me to the organization,” said Logan, who has been a member for two years. “I had seen other a capella groups but there were none like ReMiX. The sound was fresh and the harmony was ‘tight.’ It was just different.”While ReMiX is made up of diverse personalities and music types, it also has a diverse group of fans.“I’m surprised,” Rogers said. “We have a big following. All kinds of people enjoy our music.”In addition to singing in ReMiX, members also come together to arrange music and to make sure each song is synthesized to perfection.“In ReMiX, I am not just limited to singing,” Bernard said. “I also get to arrange and express myself in a unique way. I can sing everything. I can sing alto, rap or beat box.”While making music in the group is a fun experience for the members, it requires hard work and dedication.“It takes work to sound this good,” Logan said. “There is nothing like being in a small group. You must be aware of your own voice in addition to knowing how to blend and harmonize with the rest of the singers. It takes musical skill.”To keep up with the increasing demand for performances, the group recently established a new public relations committee.“I hope to see more of our members on TV soon,” Rogers said.To get more publicity, members usually chalk around Grounds, participate in Dorm Sing concerts and perform at other events.“We just try to sing as much as possible,” Rogers said. “We try to show our faces to the University every chance that we get.”Although taking part in the organization requires hard work and dedication, there is nothing more rewarding than sharing memorable experiences and forming meaningful relationships, Logan said.But singing as often as possible while balancing the responsibilities of school at the same time can be demanding, according to Rogers.“Sometimes it’s hard to keep a positive morale in the group,” Rogers said. “Many members have to deal with stress and it often carries over into our practice.”While balancing their extracurricular singing with class work can be difficult, ReMiX values the support it get from fans. “We are really thankful and appreciative for the support of all of our fans,” Rogers said. “We are really happy about everything that people do to sustain our group.”While the fans serve as an integral support base for ReMiX, the members themselves also have an important relationship with each other. ReMiX, in addition to serving as an a capella singing group, also doubles as a family, Rogers said, describing the nature of the group as welcoming.“We’re all crazy but we have a good time,” he said. “It just works. I don’t know why but we make good music.”Both Rogers and Bernard described the group’s members as extremely talented individuals who come together to sing. Although all of the members are different and unique in their own ways, they are all similar when it comes to their love for making music.“We’re like our own little community,” Logan said. “Being a part of ReMiX makes you a part of another little world.”Rogers added that he hopes the group will improve every year that it remains active.“I want ReMiX to be a permanent organization here at the University,” Rogers said.For some members, ReMiX is a place to develop lifelong relationships, to build a foundation for a future in the music industry and to share with others a love for the art of singing.“I feel that ReMiX is one of the biggest highlights of my life,” Rogers said. “I know that together we are capable of doing great things, so why not try?”Members of the group encourage students to share the experience of singing in a unique a capella group.“If you love music, ReMiX is full of people who share the same love,” Logan said. “Come out. We are the one and only of our kind here at U.Va.”
Moving into dorms, attending orientation, navigating Grounds and registering for fall semester classes for the first time aren’t experiences reserved solely for first-year students. Associate Dean Of Admissions Gregory Roberts said about 530 new transfer students endure these same ordeals along with incoming first-year students every fall. Though transfer students and first-year students share some of the same new experiences and challenges, their journeys navigating the University are often quite different.While first-year students are experiencing University life for the first time, transfer students have a previous college experience to compare with their new life at the University. Second-year College student Erin Avery, who transferred from Northern Virginia Community College this fall, said the University is much different than her previous college.“There is more of a historical surrounding here,” Avery said. “There are also more activities and more student life.”Fourth-year College student Yali Izegbu, who transferred from George Mason University in fall 2006, also noted differences between her previous school and the University.“At George Mason, there are more commuters, more diversity, more intimacy, but less socialization,” she explained. “Academically, it is the same for me, but the classes are set up differently when it comes to labs and lectures here. At U.Va, students have a lot of support, though.”Such differences can spark students to transfer. For some, it is the difference between their current college’s academic programs and those at the University that inspire a move.Avery switched schools because the community college she attended near her home only offered a two-year program.“I had to transfer in order to complete a four-year program,” Avery said. “I heard that U.Va. is a good school and I fell in love with it when I came to visit.”For others like Izegbu, it’s not the length of the program but the academic rigor involved. “The biology program here at U.Va seemed better, in my opinion,” she said.While transferring can help students achieve their academic goals, adjusting to a new school can be a necessary challenge in order to reap the benefits of the University. While Avery said she was surprised at how well she had transitioned, Izegbu’s adjustment was not as immediate.“Honestly, it was kind of difficult for me to transition socially in the first two weeks,” Izegbu said. “It was like a heavy weight, like experiencing your first year again.”At first, she said, it was difficult to meet people because everyone had already formed their own groups.“You really have to be outgoing and find people like yourself,” she explained. “No one will just come up to you.”Fourth-year College student Claudelle Gehy, who transferred from American University, said she felt similarly during her first year after arriving at the University.“U.Va. is much bigger than American University,” Gehy said. “Sometimes, in certain dorms, it’s more difficult to meet people. You really have to make the extra effort to put yourself out there and join activities. You have to find people with strong common interests. After I found more people like myself, it was a lot easier for me.”While socially integrating into the University may pose a challenge to transfer students, so too can the new classes and academic rigor.“You really need to be aware of the expectations and work caliber here,” said Izegbu, who described the difficulty of the workload at both her previous school and the University as being fairly equivalent. Gehy said after taking her first exam, she knew what to expect academically. “I also learned to ask for help when I needed it,” she added.Assistant Dean Frank Papovich, noted the challenges of being a transfer student go beyond academics and integrating into the student body.“Transfer students face different challenges that many other traditional students don’t,” he said. “In addition to adjusting to the new level of academic work, some work part-time jobs, commute long distances and have families of their own. All must find ways to overcome these additional challenges and put forth the extra effort.”The University provides resources to assist transfer students with their adjustments: In addition to orientations to help guide students through the University, transfer students are also assigned advisors to work with them and help them to navigate the transitional process when they first arrive. Papovich said these advisors keep up with students’ academic process while they are enrolled.Papovich said his advice to transfer students is to take the time to assess the change required to advance their overall performance and match what is expected at the University.While switching colleges may be challenging on a number of levels, for some, the benefits out weigh the difficulty adjusting.“It was definitely worth it to transfer here,” Izegbu said. “The transition was different, but it shaped how I look at things. I’ve grown as an individual, met new people and learned new things.”
Step It Up should not be mistaken for a dance team. The organization is dedicated to stepping, an art form that, according to second-year Engineering student Rochelle Upshur, moves beyond conventional forms of dance.
Since its inception about six years ago, Oluponya Records has sought to support future stars.