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(04/14/09 5:30am)
The No. 13 Virginia women’s rowing team won 10 of 12 races Saturday against No. 19 Tennessee and Central Florida at Lake Monticello. The varsity boats, which swept their races, sought redemption after a disappointing showing last weekend against then-No. 16 Ohio State, a regatta in which the Cavaliers dropped three races.The morning session against Tennessee included victories from the Cavaliers’ Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, Varsity Four and Open Four. The Varsity Eight boat completed its race in 6 minutes, 36.8 seconds, defeating Tennessee’s boat by nearly 10 seconds. Meanwhile, the Second Varsity Eight boat also won comfortably in 6:38.7, compared to the Lady Vols’ 6:46.5. The Varsity Four dominated with 7:44.5, while Tennessee finished in 8:14.4. Additionally, the First Novice Eight won against Clemson, which competed in the regatta because of Tennessee’s lack of novice boats. The Virginia boats showed no signs of slowing down in the afternoon session against Central Florida. Three of the four boats that raced in the morning — the Varsity Eight, Varsity Four and First Novice Eight — improved their times in the second test of the day. Virginia’s only losses Saturday came from its Second Novice Eight boat, which dropped races against Clemson and Central Florida.The Cavaliers will prepare for Monday’s ACC Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where they will vie for their 10th consecutive conference crown.—compiled by Nick Eilerson
(04/14/09 5:29am)
The Virginia softball team dropped two games to North Carolina in Chapel Hill this weekend, suffering its fourth straight series defeat in conference play. The Cavaliers (24-14, 2-9 ACC) fell to the Tar Heels (37-7, 12-2 ACC) in a Saturday doubleheader 8-3 and 6-0 after Friday’s series opener was cancelled because of inclement weather. Virginia managed just five hits during the series; two of the hits were home runs from senior shortstop Carly Winger and sophomore pitcher/outfielder Nicole Koren, the pair of which accounted for all of the Cavaliers’ run support in the two games.Sophomore pitcher Allee Rife took the loss in the first game, giving up five runs on six hits in two innings, while freshman pitcher Stephanie Coates allowed three runs on four hits in three innings to take the loss in game two.The Cavaliers must not allow their conference struggles to permeate non-conference play. The team concludes the non-conference part of its schedule this week with a pair of mid-week doubleheaders against Norfolk State Tuesday and Hampton Wednesday.Norfolk State (15-20) has managed to keep games close regardless of the final result. A key element to this is its pitching staff, which has limited opponents to three earned runs per game. Highlighting Norfolk State’s pitching is junior Alyssa Velazquez, who has 85 strikeouts and a season ERA of 2.01.Hampton (17-16) also has kept the score close in most of its games, with an average margin of four runs per game between its opponents. The Pirates boast a strong offense, with three players batting greater than .300 on the season. Freshman infielder Kelsei Saunders is batting close to .394 with nine home runs.Of Hampton’s pitchers, senior Amanda Black leads the way with a 13-9 record, holding opposing batters to a .231 batting average.The Cavaliers, however, have played well in non-conference play this season, mounting a 22-5 record outside the ACC. They will look to continue that success later this week.—compiled by William Hrachovina
(04/14/09 5:25am)
Users of the Internet browser Safari can now access the Student Information System, said Teresa Wimmer, SIS technical director and project manager. Previously, SIS could not provide Safari users with full functionality, as the browser would lose track of cookies, Wimmer said. This made it so that Safari could not interact with SIS. Recent adjustments to SIS by University officials, however, seem to have addressed the problem, Wimmer said, as Safari users have not reported any problems accessing SIS since the changes were made. —compiled by Rodger Nayak
(04/10/09 5:51am)
It was a fowl disturbance, perhaps unlike anything ever seen on Grounds. Second-year Engineering student Piyush Srivastava returned to the University from a weekend at home to find an interesting new bedmate occupying his ground-floor Dillard dorm room.A large turkey crashed through his window March 29, shattering glass and eventually dying on Srivastava’s bed.“I saw this huge thing lying on my bed and glass shattered all over, the window completely broken,” he said. “I didn’t even realize it was a turkey. My suitemates told me it was a turkey. Luckily I wasn’t there. There was blood and glass all over my pillow.”Srivastava said he contacted his resident adviser about the dead turkey on his bed, and was told to call University Housing Division’s emergency hotline. The deceased bird was removed that day and Srivastava was provided with another dorm room until the mess was cleaned. Animal control departments were not contacted about the incident, he said.—compiled by Katie Bo Williams
(04/10/09 5:37am)
Two recent Student Council initiatives share the same problem: both treat the symptoms instead of the disease. When Council identifies a problem at the University, it should not just create a superficial solution that does little to effect real change. It must instead address the source of the problem to have a meaningful impact on the lives of students.Council recently announced an agreement reached with Parking and Transportation to extend the time period in which students could park at the Newcomb Parking Garage for a flat rate of one dollar. Council has been working on this project since last semester, originally proposing free late-night parking for students. In the end, it made only a small gain for students: the one-dollar rate will start at 10 p.m. instead of 12 a.m. The time and energy put into this project could have been used to improve Safe Ride, a late-night transportation solution available to everyone, or to fundraise for the FreeRide program, which will likely face funding shortages should Council decide to make the program permanent. Council President John Nelson said Council has been in continuous talks with University Police Chief Michael Gibson and others about improving Safe Ride. Nelson also said the late-night parking program is not costing Council or students, so no money has been lost to this endeavor. Nelson acknowledged one problem with the late night parking initiative is that few students know about it and therefore are unlikely to use it. A strong publicity campaign will be needed to ensure that students take advantage of the program, especially during exams. Had students known about the flat rate for late-night parking prior to Council taking on this initiative, it is likely fewer students would have complained about the lack of late-night parking options in the first place. Council could have spent time working toward raising awareness about the existing late-night parking options, but instead spent months working for free late-night parking.Council has also started an off-Grounds housing scholarship fund for low-income students. Because the scholarship will only help six students, however, Council would have been better served by lobbying the University for changes in on-Grounds housing. On-Grounds housing options are often small and cramped, or if not, significantly further away from Central Grounds than many off-Grounds locations. On-Grounds housing is also not available to students who are not taking classes during the summer. These reasons can cause students to prefer off-Grounds locations, either because they want to stay in Charlottesville during the summer, or so they do not have to move several times a year. If Council worked with the University to improve on-Grounds housing so that more students wanted to live on Grounds, it would have a wider and more substantial impact, especially on low-income students in the University community. Council has good intentions when it sets out to address students’ concerns. But if Council wishes to enact significant improvements across Grounds, it needs to start with the root of the problem.
(04/10/09 5:31am)
The No. 42 Virginia men’s golf team will head to Wallace, N.C. this weekend to compete in the River Landing Intercollegiate, a two-day 54-hole tournament hosted by N.C. State. The event will include 36 holes Friday and 18 Saturday at the par-72, 6,942-yard River Landing Country Club.The Cavaliers hope to continue building off their solid play in March, during which they finished either first or second in three of the four tournaments they entered. Their most recent showing was a second-place finish at the Hootie @ Bulls Bay Tournament in Awendaw, S.C., which featured nine teams ranked in the top 50. Virginia finished ahead of seven teams with a higher ranking, including No. 5 Clemson and No. 14 South Carolina.Sophomore Will Collins leads the Cavaliers with a 72.35 stroke average. His fourth-place finish at the Hootie @ Bulls Bay Tournament marked his third top-5 finish in his last four outings. His 6-under 207 total was the best tournament score of his career as a Cavalier, and it was the fourth time he has placed in the top 10 of an event.Sophomore Amory Davis and freshman Bruce Woodall recently placed in the top 10 at the Rehoboth Beach Spring Invitational, an 18-hole event hosted Monday by UPenn. Davis fired a 73 to finish fourth individually, while Woodall posted a 74 to earn seventh place. Woodall will make the start this weekend; Davis will play as a non-scoring individual.Four of the fifteen teams competing in this weekend’s event are ranked in the top 50, N.C. State (15), Wake Forest (26), Virginia (42) and Michigan (45). Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia Tech also are scheduled to compete.—compiled by Nick Eilerson
(04/10/09 5:30am)
If you have heard opera music outside Newcomb Hall recently, you may have been within earshot of a rehearsal for Opera Viva’s spring opera performance, Mozart’s Don Giovanni. For the past few weeks, the 20-person cast and 15-person student orchestra pit has been working both indoors and out to prepare for the series of performances that will take place in the Newcomb Hall courtyard this weekend.The show tells the story of Don Giovanni, “a womanizing, immoral guy ... who is always trying to seduce other women,” said Melanie Ashkar, the play’s director and a second-year College student. Don Giovanni, which is Mozart’s adaptation of the classic Don Juan legend, mixes drama and humor and will be performed by a cast that consists of both undergraduate and graduate students, she said. “We had so much incredible talent come out of the woodwork,” Ashkar said, adding that cast members responded well to the show’s modern adaptation and many of its challenging aspects. Students researched and explored many of Don Giovanni’s underlying themes, including murder, promiscuity, sex, rape and drug and alcohol abuse. They then adapted and examined those themes in a modern college setting.“I’ve been in a lot of shows, but I’ve never directed before,” Ashkar said. “It’s been a really big challenge.”The performance is co-sponsored by the University Program’s Comittee, the Parent’s Committee, the McIntire Department of Music and the Cultural Programming Board, said Haley Anderson, the show’s production manager and a second-year College student. Despite the weather, long rehearsals and the occasional chilly evenings, “It’s been extremely, extremely rewarding,” Ashkar said. —compiled by Betsy Graves
(04/09/09 5:43am)
This past week was marked by a disturbing level of personal attacks against Mary Siegel, the Honor Committee’s vice chair for investigations, for her role in the open honor trial of Jason Smith. More than 250 students signed an online petition for her removal from the Committee. More than 450 joined a Facebook group with the same aim. Though the anger of the student body about the result of the trial may be justified, the petition and the Facebook group picked the wrong target. Fortunately, the administrators of the Facebook group have taken a step in the right direction by toning down their attacks and changing the group name from “Remove Mary Siegel” to “Justice for Jason Smith.” Others who take issue with the recent verdict would also do well to remember that it was a product of the entire honor system, not any one individual.By all accounts, Siegel did exactly what she was supposed to do under the current system. She saw an instance of lying at the University and reported it. Regardless of her affiliation with the Committee, that is clearly the right of any student here. Her report went to the Investigative Panel, which decided it was more likely than not that an honor offense occurred. The case then went to trial and a student jury deliberated for four hours until it decided that the accused student was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The single sanction was applied, and the guilty student’s enrollment was discontinued.We can no more blame Siegel for the result than investigators, Investigative Panel members, student jury members or counsels involved in the trial. Even those unhappy about the verdict — for all their complaints about Siegel’s inside connections — acknowledged the fairness of the accused student’s counsel during the trial. If anything, the publicity associated with an open trial ensured that the Committee was more careful than usual about its procedures. Within the system that we, the students, have put in place, Siegel acted appropriately.Setting aside the ad hominem attacks against Siegel, students have voiced legitimate concerns about the verdict. Some have argued that a jury composed disproportionately of first- and second-year students may have held an idyllic view of the honor system without considering its negative repercussions. Others believe “making excuses” is not the same as telling a bald-faced lie. There may even be some who question if anything done during a one-credit pass-fail seminar during a student’s fourth year really merits expulsion. And even though the trial’s open nature made some information more readily available, some students also have expressed dismay about the system’s general lack of transparency.Those students opposed to the verdict do have several avenues more appropriate than attacking Siegel for addressing their concerns against the trial. If they believe that the jury panel was not appropriately composed, they can push for new bylaws mandating a minimum number of jury members from an accused student’s year on the jury. If they believe that Siegel’s status within the Committee affected the verdict, they can argue for a more stringent code of ethics. If they have a problem with the application of triviality or the single sanction, they can propose a referendum to address such issues on next year’s ballot.Whichever path they choose, those upset with the trial should not blame the messenger. If they truly believe the outcome was unfair, they should set their sights much higher.
(04/08/09 11:11am)
Barely beyond the halfway point of the 2009 season, the Virginia baseball team has already hit 30 home runs.With sophomore centerfielder Jarrett Parker’s ninth bomb of the year last night, the Cavaliers reached the 30-home run mark for the fourth time in coach Brian O’Connor’s six-year tenure as Virginia cruised past Stony Brook in an 8-0 win.The most home runs O’Connor has ever seen in his time at Virginia came in 2005, when the Cavaliers belted 35.Senior pitcher Robert Poutier earned his third win in just his fourth start of the season, allowing five hits and two walks in five innings while striking out eight. Sophomore pitcher Robert Morey entered to start the sixth and delivered four shutout innings while allowing two hits. Junior designated hitter Michael Stephan was the only Seawolf to reach base more than once last night, as he knocked a single and a double.The win yesterday proved far easier than the last time around against Stony Brook. Last season, the Cavaliers won two games of a doubleheader 6-4 and 3-0, needing a five-run eighth inning in game one to emerge with a victory. Junior right fielder Jeremy Nowak torched Virginia for four hits in eight at-bats in the two-game set last season; last night, Nowak went 0-4 with two strikeouts.Virginia (27-5, 8-5 ACC) pelted Stony Brook starting pitcher senior Jonathan Kalkau early, as he allowed three runs on three hits and five walks in the first two innings. Jonathan rebounded to pitch a scoreless third but was replaced by sophomore pitcher Joe Goglia in the fourth, who allowed three runs on four hits in his first inning of work.The Cavaliers tacked on their final two runs on Parker’s two-run shot in the eighth off junior pitcher Matt Harloff.Each of the three hitters at the top of Virginia’s lineup had multi-hit performances — Parker, sophomore left fielder John Barr and sophomore second baseman Phil Gosselin. Sophomore first baseman Tyler Biddix also had a multi-hit night in his first start of the season, coming up with two hits and a walk.The Cavaliers return for the second part of their two-game tilt against Stony Brook tonight at Davenport Field.—compiled by Paul Montana
(04/08/09 11:07am)
Men’s BasketballIt’s old news by now, but North Carolina took home the national championship Monday night, routing Michigan State 89-72 in front of a NCAA Championship-record crowd of 72,922 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. It was the fifth championship for North Carolina and the second national title for coach Roy Williams during his career.Here are a few perhaps lesser-known interesting tidbits about the game:1. After the game, Michigan State senior guard Travis Walton said to reporters about the Tar Heels, “You’re looking at a team that could probably beat the worst team in the NBA.”The worst team in the NBA is the Sacramento Kings, for whom Rashad McCants currently plays; McCants was the second-leading scorer of the only other North Carolina team to win a championship under Williams, in 2004-05.2. Even as Michigan State made a mini-run to cut its deficit to 16, Michigan State alum Magic Johnson was spotted walking down the alleyway leaving the arena with around 3:30 remaining in regulation.3. With the win, North Carolina’s senior class of Tyler Hansbrough, Bobby Frasor, Danny Green and Mike Copeland became the winningest class in school history with a 124-22 record, surpassing Quentin Thomas’ 123-win mark from last season.4. The Tar Heels won every game in the NCAA Tournament en route to the championship by double digits. The last team to accomplish that feat was Duke in 2001.5. North Carolina’s win also made President Obama happy, as he picked the Tar Heels to win it all on Sportscenter before the Tournament began. President Obama also picked the Tar Heels to win the championship on the campaign trail last March, but the team fell short in the Final Four, disappointing Obama.“Now, for the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you all last year — you let me down,” the president said on Sportscenter. “This year, don’t embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I’m counting on you. I still got those sneakers you guys gave me.”They didn’t disappoint. With the Tar Heels’ win, Obama bounced back from picking just one team correct in the final four to posting a bracket that would have finished in the top 20 percent of ESPN’s 5 million person pool.BaseballACC baseball saw a Saturday filled with exciting finishes. In the most compelling matchup of the weekend, No. 3 Georgia Tech downed No. 5 North Carolina in dramatic fashion, with a little extra punch, albeit needlessly so. With the score knotted at six apiece in the 10th inning, Georgia Tech senior catcher Jason Haniger belted a grand slam in the llth inning to send the Tar Heels packing. The win was the only one of the three-game set for the Yellow Jackets, however, as North Carolina won its first series in Atlanta since 1998.Wake Forest also held off Virginia Tech in extra innings, as Carlos Lopez hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th, lifting the Demon Deacons to a 15-14 win in Blacksburg.
(04/08/09 11:06am)
Student Council takes more than five weeks after spring elections to establish its new executive board, committee chairs and committee members. Because this process is ongoing — committee member applications are due Friday — the new Council has been prevented from accomplishing anything significant during its first two weeks in office. If Council were to move recruitment of new committee members to the beginning of the semester and choose the new executive board and committee chairs more quickly after elections, the transition from old to new Council would be much shorter.The current recruitment process is staggered: the new executive board members are selected, then the executive board selects the new committee chairs and the committee chairs select the new committee members. This process is logical, but the time it takes to complete is time that could be better spent. The appointed executive board members were not selected until just before they took office March 23. Committee chair applications were due the same day and the new chairs were not selected until a week later. Council would be better served by selecting executive board members two school weeks after elections and selecting new committee chairs the following week. Council President John Nelson said the reason for the lengthy recruitment period was a desire for adequate publicity — Council wanted students to have sufficient time to apply. But those applying to the executive board were likely already involved in Council or knew they wanted to apply for positions, and would have been aware of the due date for applications. Committee chair positions, on the other hand, require significant time for publicity, but three school weeks is more than adequate, even allowing for Spring Break.There are also compelling reasons for Council to select new committee members prior to the transition. It is not necessary that committee chairs personally approve the members of their committee, only that committee members are enthusiastic about their positions. Council recruits new committee members at the start of the fall semester and should instate a similar recruitment process for the spring semester. If the recruitment process occurs at the beginning of each semester, when students are looking to join new organizations, publicity efforts will be more effective. Future Council transitions will also be much simpler because the new executive board and committee chairs will already have committee members in place, ensuring the continuity of ongoing projects. If Council cuts the selection process from five weeks to three, it can begin work as soon as it transitions from the old to new Councils. Nelson noted one of the benefits of the drawn out selection process is the quality of candidates who apply. This benefit will not be lost if Council begins to publicize the application process early. As long as Council thoroughly publicizes the application process, an earlier due date should not be detrimental to the quality of the applicants. Nelson said the selection process is designed to be a “balance between doing things as quickly as possible and as effectively as possible.” If that is true, Council should move the selection of committee members to the beginning of the semester and accelerate the selection of the executive board and committee chairs. Then, when Council transitions, it can become fully functional as quickly as possible.
(04/07/09 5:02am)
A small fire broke out in Norris House in Hereford College around 10:15 p.m. yesterday, Charlottesville Fire Department Captain Larry Antonacci said. Antonacci noted that heavy smoke was sighted coming from the second floor of the building. He added that no injuries were reported and that the fire was confined to one room. Numerous fire trucks and University police officers arrived on the scene promptly and the fire was quickly extinguished. University Police Sergeant Dan Stuart said no one at the scene was completely sure about what caused the fire but noted that “the call came in as the microwave caught on fire.” “They’ve got it under control,” said Pat Lampkin, vice president for student affairs, who was at the scene of the incident. “I’m just getting here to take care of the residents.”—compiled by Sarah Wooten
(04/07/09 4:50am)
When considering the benefits of the honor system, it is often easier to grasp concrete examples than to attempt to explain the system’s philosophical underpinnings. But in reality, the honor system does not regularly afford students tangible benefits. It may be true a student can lose his wallet and have it returned, or leave his laptop unattended without fear of it being stolen. These are manifestations, however, and not the intent of the University’s honor system. The honor system is the outward expression of the belief that University students hold each other to a higher standard. The true benefits can only be realized if students commit to upholding the community of trust, and this will only happen when all students understand the value of honor.Students should not hesitate to hold their peers accountable for acting honorably. Single sanction is not the only way to stop students from committing honor offenses. Simply telling a fellow student you witnessed him committing an honor offense can go a long way toward preserving the community of trust. Students do not have to look to the Honor Committee to uphold the values of honor — they can do so themselves.One noticeable lapse in the honor system is evident from signs in the libraries: “Thefts have been reported. Please guard your valuables.” If the University is a community of trust, why are students’ possessions being stolen? The nature of the University as a public institution means that students are not the only ones who walk these Grounds. People outside the community of trust are allowed into our University. Because of this, students must take a more active role in upholding the community of trust. Students should not hesitate to ask other students to keep an eye on their belongings, or to remain aware of their surroundings. If students actively work to promote the community of trust, the tangible benefit of being able to leave belongings unattended will follow.Education is key to ensure all students understand the community of trust rests in their hands. The Committee has education and outreach programs, but those too often rely on the examples of tangible benefits to explain the honor system’s value. Committee Chair David Truetzel said, “Showing tangible benefits can help foster appreciation of the philosophical aspects of honor.” Though this is true, the concrete benefits of the honor system should be realized as the examples they are instead of the purpose of the system itself. To reinforce the true benefits of the honor system, Truetzel said the Committee is looking into ways to reach out to prospective students and impart the importance of the honor system to University life. He noted this will require a lot of support from the administration, but any efforts in this direction are laudable. Though it may be difficult to coordinate an effective effort to educate prospective students, it is undeniably worth exploring better education of all incoming students on their responsibility to uphold the honor system. At the “Honor benefits benefit” held last week, fliers were passed out detailing five benefits of the honor system. Four of the benefits listed were concrete and unlikely to affect every single student at the University. But one did: “University graduates earn a reputation for honesty that they carry with them as professionals.” Benefits like this one are the result of active student participation in the community of trust. Before the true benefits of the honor system can be realized, however, students must understand the responsibility the honor system entrusts to them.
(04/07/09 4:39am)
The No. 7 Virginia women’s rowing team had mixed results against No. 16 Ohio State at Lake Monticello Saturday, winning four races but also losing some key battles. The Cavaliers’ Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four boats all fell to the Buckeyes’ squads.The Novice Eight, Second Novice Eight, Second Varsity Four and Third Varsity Four attempted to offset the losses, all emerging victorious. Three of the races were won with a margin of at least 19 seconds, and the Novice Eight won by 6.2 seconds.The Virginia Varsity Eight, meanwhile, came up just short, finishing about two seconds behind the Buckeyes’ time of 6:33.4. The loss was somewhat surprising because the Ohio State Varsity Eight lost to UCLA the week before — a boat Virginia defeated by six seconds that same weekend. The Cavaliers’ Second Varsity Eight, which entered the day with an unblemished record, also saw less than stellar results. It completed its race in 6:46.7, but a quicker Ohio State boat finished in 6:38.5.The Cavaliers will head back to Lake Monticello Saturday to take on Tennessee and Central Florida.—compiled by Nick Eilerson
(04/06/09 5:20am)
An honest opinion When faced with stacks of glossy brochures and magazines highlighting the best aspects of various institutions, it can be difficult for prospective college students to know what daily life would be like at any particular university. A recently created blog moderated by Global Students Council offers a useful, honest picture of the University from current students’ perspectives.The purpose of the “World of Wahoos!” blog is to give prospective international students an insider’s view regarding aspects of student life ranging from classes to extracurricular activities. A commenting feature also allows readers to ask questions and receive feedback from current University students. The blog’s features are beneficial not only for prospective international students, but also for prospective American students. Out-of-state students considering attending the University may not have friends or relatives who previously studied on Grounds, and therefore may have few personal connections that they can use to learn more about the University. An opportunity to interact with current University students via a blog could encourage more students to seriously consider applying to the University or accepting their offers to study on Grounds.For this blog to be as useful as possible, it requires effective advertising. GSC currently works with the Office of Admissions to inform international students about the blog and also plans to include information about it in future admissions packets. It would not be difficult — nor would it detract from the blog’s goal — to ensure that other prospective students are aware of this resource. The Office of Admissions should place a link to the blog in a prominent location on the University’s admissions Web page. If more people become aware of the blog, this student-run site could help the University continue to attract a high-quality, diverse group of students. Going green Members of the University community ought to strive for sustainability on a daily basis, rather than only thinking about energy reduction during special occasions, like Earth Hour. Earth Hour is meant to effect sustained change, not to be observed annually as a single deviation from wasteful standards. Yet it seems that sustainability has not yet become a lifestyle at the University. It only takes a few seconds to flip light switches and shut down electronic devices, for example, yet pedestrians walking across Grounds late at night can regularly see lights shining in vacant dining halls and classroom buildings.Reducing wasteful energy usage is not only compatible with the University’s attempts to become more environmentally friendly; it is also economically pragmatic. In the current economic climate, there is no reason why the University should not try to reduce its energy bills in an effort to avoid having to reduce other expenses relating directly to academics.Improving the University’s energy consumption will not be possible, however, with only the support of administrators or facilities management staff members. Other community members also need to realize that every hour should be treated as Earth Hour.
(04/06/09 4:50am)
Napatra Fourth-year Architecture studentMajor? ArchitectureSexual Orientation? StraightWhat extracurriculars do you participate in? University Guide Service, Alternative Spring Break, Sustained Dialogue, UJC (past), Thai Student OrganizationWhat do you like to do in your free time? Hang out with friends. I’m a fourth year so that’s all I do.What are the physical and personality attributes you are looking for in a date? Funny, outgoing, intellectual.What are your religious affiliations? Buddhism — TheravadaWhat are your favorite TV shows? Grey’s Anatomy, The Office (I’m very original.)What’s your favorite food? Thai, Indian, anything fusion. I’m a big eater so anything really.Describe your ideal date (not person but outing). A spontaneous date. I also enjoy dining out a lot, so that’s always an option.Do you smoke? NoAre you outgoing or shy? OutgoingWhat do you want to do when you graduate: Move to China. If you were a member of the circus, who would you be and why? Probably one of the acrobats. They wear pretty outfits!Describe yourself in one sentence. I’m a spongy bird; I’m always curious about everything — big or small — and I’m very liberal. JohnFourth-year Commerce studentMajor? Finance and Information TechnologySexual Orientation? StraightWhat extracurriculars do you participate in? Greek Life, Best Buddies, Intramural sportsWhat do you like to do in your free time? Any outdoor activity, spend time with friendsWhat are the physical and personality attributes you are looking for in a date? I’d like an outgoing girl who has a sense of humor and brings up topics of discussion on her own. I am most attracted to shorter girls that are athletic/healthy looking. I’m not scared of curves.What are your religious affiliations? Methodist, but I’m not really practicing.What are your favorite TV shows? Discovery Channel, Curb your Enthusiasm, The OfficeWhat’s your favorite food? I just like to eat. Hardshell crabs are my favorite though.Describe your ideal date (not person but outing)? My ideal date would be a nice dinner, followed by an activity like karaoke or something.What are deal breakers (won’t date a smoker, age, etc.)? Deal breakers would be someone who smells bad, or is really overweight, or doesn’t have a sense of humor [and] someone who acts too slutty.Do you smoke? NoAre you outgoing or shy? I’m loud and personable, but around girls I find to be attractive, I would say that I am shy.What do you want to do when you graduate? Have fun doing a job that doesn’t seem like work.If you were a member of the circus, who would you be and why? I would probably be the ring leader because I am good at orchestrating things, however, I could also be a clown because I can juggle and balance things on my nose.Describe yourself in one sentence. I am a handsome guy with a great sense of humor and a passion for fun that still believes in chivalry.Napatra: I was pretty excited because I’ve never done anything like this. I just wanted to try things out and have fun.John: I wasn’t really excited; I would say just kind of curious and in anticipation of the evening. Before the date started, I was thinking that I would ... meet somebody fun and possibly get some laughs out of the evening. I was definitely not nervous.Napatra: I wasn’t nervous at all. I just had a mentality that I was going for a date to just enjoy the meal and have fun with it, rather than being conscious of how the date is going to turn out and who it’s going to be. He picked me up at the Chapel at 7:00 on Sunday and right when I got into the car, I realized that we had met before when we were both first-years. John: So Napatra and I actually first met when I snuck into an International Students dinner the third night of my first-year, with my Brazilian suitemate, Tomaz. So I was sitting at the table — and still very much a cocky high school jock — and apparently I said some things at this dinner that were funny to the other Brazilian sitting at the table and this other girl from Thailand who ended up being Napatra. Then, Napatra and I had interacted on several occasions at parties, but neither of us could precisely remember where or when. But we were definitely familiar with each other’s faces.Napatra: I guess U.Va. has proven once again that it is a pretty small school. It was more like “Oh, you!” kind of impression as opposed to meeting someone completely new. Although we had met, we hadn’t talked or gotten to know each other so it was still pretty much a blind date.John: She seemed very nice. I didn’t realize she lived on the Lawn, so when we figured that out, we started talking about who we knew in common and eventually started to talk about dinner. I told her we had some decisions to make about where we wanted to eat. We decided to go to The Local in Belmont, which she was really excited about. I was excited because I knew they had really good food.Napatra: He seemed pretty outgoing, and I knew that it would be a pretty fun time. Picking the restaurant was not difficult. The conversation just kind of flowed organically. I remember that there was not an awkward silence at all; we just jumped right into conversation. We both apparently enjoy eating, so we had an appetizer and we both ordered the same entrée — pork chop — and it was really good. I had a glass of wine, and he had a beer.John: When we ordered, we decided to split an appetizer, which was some kind of crunchy spicy shrimp, which was awesome. It was kind of funny because she was trying to be very polite in her table manners and these shrimp were not very easy to eat. So I was just like, ‘Let’s pick these up and eat with our hands,’ which seemed to relax her a little more. We actually both ordered the lamb chops with mashed potatoes and sweet potato stringy things. She said she wasn’t quite the big drinker but she ordered a glass of wine, and I kept ordering beers as quickly and often as possible, so I think the evening got funnier and funnier as it went along.Napatra: I think both John and I went into this with the same mentality: just wanting to have fun. We’re pretty outgoing and we definitely had a good conversation.John: We made small talk, mostly about where she and I had come from and what had lead us up to our date. We both had pretty similar answers. We’re both kind of spontaneous and wanted to do something interesting our fourth years.Napatra: The conversation focused on what we’ve been doing at the University, what we’ve done, our classes, our friends, our involvement, and how much we have fun. We talked about plans after fourth year. I remember he asked me a lot of questions and I also wanted to know about him and ask him a lot of questions, too. We were interested in getting to know each other.John: It happened that neither of us were really looking for a new romance in our life but we got along really well. A lot of our points-of-view seem to overlap. She’s originally from Thailand and has studied in Australia, which was cool. I’ve got a travel bug myself, so I was interested in all the things she had experienced and seen throughout her travels. She ended up asking me if being in the [Commerce] School limited my ability to appreciate the finer things in life. Basically, she asked me if I was a money sucker, and we discussed that for a while. I think I ended up being able to turn her over to the dark side that is [Commerce] School.Napatra: I definitely I had a fun time. The dinner was good, the conversation was good. The blind date definitely fulfilled my expectations. John had a meeting at 9, so after we got the bill, he just dropped me off at my place. He was a little bit late to his meeting, but it was fine. I would give it a 6.5 [out of 10].John: I had a good time. I would rate this date a 6 [out of 10]. [Met] expectations, was fun and enjoyable, however not necessarily on the best time schedule. I actually had a meeting to go to, so I drove her back to the Lawn and dropped her off. We kissed each other on the cheek and wished each other well. She invited me over to chill in her Lawn room whenever I wanted to, and I said I’d probably stop by. Napatra: I e-mailed him to thank him for the time and the dinner, and he reached back to me likewise, but that’s about it.John: Today, I saw her in her bathrobe from very far off. I kind of avoided eye contact. I was like 300 yards away so I didn’t make an effort to stop her and have a possibly awkward encounter in her bath robe, although I think she spotted me.John has purposely not seen Napatra since their date. He cannot recall if they are Facebook friends.
(04/06/09 4:49am)
Virginia lost to two of its conference rivals on the road this weekend in North Carolina. Duke (17-3, 7-1 ACC) swept the Cavaliers (10-8, 3-6 ACC), topping Virginia 7-0.No. 31 Duke freshman Mallory Cecil beat freshman Cavalier Emily Fraser at the No. 1 singles spot 6-1, 6-0. Freshman Claire Bartlett suffered a similar defeat in her 6-2, 6-2 match at No. 5. Junior Jennifer Stevens and senior Amanda Rales lost their matches at No. 2 and No. 3.Virginia left Sunday’s match against North Carolina (16-7, 6-3 ACC) with another loss, falling to the Tar Heels 4-3. The Cavaliers rearranged the doubles portion of their lineup and won two of three matches to take the doubles point, but Fraser lost the No. 1 to UNC’s junior Katrina Tsang 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Freshman Lindsay Hardenbergh and Bartlett earned the Cavaliers their second and third points, but the team ultimately could not overcome the Tar Heels.The team will face two more opponents from North Carolina at home this weekend when it plays Wake Forest and N.C. State at the Snyder Tennis Courts. The matches are the team’s last before the ACC Tournament.—compiled by Chloe Newschwander
(04/06/09 4:48am)
The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team secured a much needed win as the Cavaliers escaped with an 11-9 victory against Boston College Saturday. Virginia (9-5, 2-3 ACC) once again got off to a quick start scoring four out of the first five goals, partly because of junior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein’s six draw controls. Senior midfielder Blair Weymouth led the Cavalier attack with four goals while Kalkstein chipped in three goals.The Cavaliers followed up their win against Boston College with a 13-9 victory Sunday against Harvard. Virginia used a 9-0 run in the middle of the game to secure the win. Junior midfielder Kaitlin Duff finished the day with a career-high four goals and a career-high seven caused turnovers. Senior midfielder Ashley McCulloch and senior attack Jenny Hauser each scored three goals. Senior Sara Hairfield, meanwhile, started the first game of her career in goal and collected a career-high 11 saves en route to her second win of the season.—compiled by Ben Gomez
(04/03/09 5:02am)
Student Council announced a new off-Grounds housing scholarship Tuesday as the first of several intended initiatives aimed at “expanding opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds,” Student Council President John Nelson said.Council will award $500 scholarships to six applicants based on academic performance, essay quality, financial need, extracurricular activities and reasons for choosing off-Grounds housing, Nelson said.Off-Grounds Housing Manager Vicki Hawes said the scholarships will be funded by advertisements from Charlottesville landlords on the Off-Grounds Housing Web site, which Council sponsors. A committee will select scholarship recipients, said Nikhil Panda, Council vice president of administration, adding that all University students — including graduate students — are eligible for the scholarship.Additionally, Panda noted that Council is currently working with Student Financial Services director Yvonne Hubbard to ensure that the grant will not affect financial aid packages of scholarship recipients.“That’s one of our biggest concerns,” Panda said. “A $500 scholarship might set [recipients] off on a separate [financial aid] bracket.”Applications for the new scholarship now are available through the Council Web site and must be submitted via e-mail by 5 p.m. Tuesday.—compiled by Jane Ma
(04/03/09 5:01am)
Radford University went on lockdown yesterday as police pursued a suspect involved in a 9 p.m. shooting near campus that claimed one victim, according to Radford University’s Web site.Police asked that all Radford students stay indoors and lock their doors. The suspect, a young black male wearing no shirt and a camouflage jacket according to multiple media reports, was still considered armed and dangerous as of press time.—compiled by Cavalier Daily staff