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(09/02/08 1:06am)
Thirteen members of the University’s chapter of Theta Delta Chi fraternity were arrested Aug. 20 for breaking into the Union College Theta Delta Chi fraternity house and damaging more than $2,000 worth of property through actions including urinating on two couches.“Our campus safety folks were on routine patrol when they noticed an individual outside of the house and asked what he was doing,” Phil Wadja, director of media and public relations at Union College. “He said he had permission to be in there.”Wadja said campus security was suspicious because Union College was not yet in session, and the house was unoccupied for the summer. Campus security contacted the city police in Schenectady, N.Y., where Union College is located, and all 13 Theta Delta Chi members present were charged with trespassing, Wadja said.“There was some damage to the house, about $2,000 dollars, including two couches that they had apparently urinated on,” he said, adding that the students had broken into the house through a second-story window.Theta Delta Chi fraternity members visit Union College quite often, Wadja said, in part because the fraternity was founded at Union College. He noted, however, that when students do visit, “it is generally during the school year and not in the middle of the night.”Schenectady District Attorney Robert Carney said the students were originally charged with misdemeanors, but because they agreed to pay for the damage, the charges will be adjourned for six months and subsequently dropped if the students stay out of trouble. Ultimately, the students will have no criminal record.Carney also noted that Union College officials and Schenectady police were particularly upset because the students were not honest from the beginning. “Some or all of them said they were from William & Mary,” Carney said.According to Alex Koch, president of the University’s chapter of Theta Delta Chi, the brothers’ visit to Union College was part of a yearly tradition. “Every year the incoming pledge class takes a road trip to some of the other charges around the Northeast,” Koch said. “Unfortunately, Union College operates on a trimester schedule, so no brothers were at the fraternity house, and the guys made the poor decision to stay at the house anyway.”Koch said they had received permission to stay at the house from a Union brother at Theta Delta Chi’s national convention, “but communication with Union was obviously insufficient.”Since the incident, Koch said attempts to contact Union College brothers have been well-received. “They have been very understanding and supportive,” he said. “Nothing would make us happier than to visit them and put this embarrassing incident behind us.”Michael Citro, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life, said officials at Union College notified the University’s Office of the Dean of Students of the incident.“We coordinated a follow-up with the fraternity to learn more exact details,” Citro said. The incident has since been referred to the Inter-Fraternity Council Judiciary Committee.Citro added that his office is working closely with IFCJC and the University’s chapter of Theta Delta Chi to resolve the issue, noting that the fraternity has been “extremely cooperative.”When an incident involving fraternity members occurs, any member of the University community may file a complaint with the IFC, IFC president Taylor Richardson said. In this case, Citro reported the incident. Once a complaint is filed, a group of IFCJC officers investigate the incident to determine whether it necessitates a trial, said Lansing Lee, IFC vice president for judiciary. If a trial is deemed necessary, the presiding judges will determine guilt or innocence, as well as the appropriate sanctions. Any consequences are imposed upon the whole fraternity, not just the individuals who committed the act in question, Lee said.Though fall rush is fast approaching, Richardson said he does not think the incident will affect Theta Delta Chi’s recruiting. “They made a mistake, and they’ll learn from it,” Richardson said. Koch, on the other hand, said the incident certainly could affect recruiting, but added that Theta Delta Chi hopes to be able to move forward and have a strong rush.“We apologize for the damage we have done to the reputations of Theta Delta Chi, ourselves and, most importantly, the University of Virginia,” Koch said. “We hope to work with all relevant parties and reach a positive resolution.”Citro said it is important for fraternities to remember that any actions they may take on and off Grounds can lead to both positive and negative reactions. “My sense is that the core of the fraternity members are committed to the values of the fraternity,” Citro said. “They are going to work through this incident to ensure that their fraternity continues to succeed.”Wadja said the incident was most likely a lapse in judgment on the part of the students involved.“I’m sure they regret it now,” he said. “It was just a foolish thing to do.”
(08/28/08 10:27pm)
As the Class of 2012 faces the challenge of adjusting to college life, the University’s upperclassmen are also having to adjust to a change on Grounds: the disappearance of trays in the dining halls.Though it may have come as a surprise to many students, Director of Dining Brent Beringer said the abolishment of trays in the Newcomb, Runk and Observatory Hill dining halls has been two years in the making. Exploration into environmental sustainability began with the formation of Green Dining, Beringer said, which is a consortium of all sustainability groups on Grounds, including students, faculty and staff. “From there we experimented with ‘Trayless Tuesdays’” Beringer said, adding that Green Dining also encouraged students to use fewer trays last year through a poster campaign. In a spring survey, about 84 percent of students supported the removal of trays from dining halls.Taking into account student and faculty opinions — as well as the thoughts of the Charlottesville community — Beringer said dining halls decided to go fully trayless this school year.The main purpose of the trayless policy, he said, is to conserve water.“The dining rooms on Grounds are the most water-intensive buildings,” Beringer said. “Our biggest use of water is washing trays. If you can do anything to alleviate water usage, the simplest [way] is to eliminate trays.”Ben Chrisinger, chair of the Student Council Environmental Sustainability Committee, said although dining without trays may take some adjustment, the environmental impact is worth the effort. In addition, Chrisinger suggested that the change may save students money. “Something to point out is just that if you consider how much utility costs have gone up as well as food prices, it would be reasonable that meal plans would have to go up in price if we had not cut the trays out of the budget,” Chrisinger said. Chrisinger added that the only complaints he has heard have come from upperclassmen.“I think it’s being received fairly well,” he said. “I haven’t heard [many] complaints from first-year students. The only complaints are from people who have been here a while and [had] gotten used to living around trays.”Third-year College student David Goslin said while removing trays may positively impact the environment, not having trays may prove to be inconvenient.Several students, however, mentioned that they did not even use trays when they were available.“The trays aren’t really necessary,” fourth-year College student Samuel Young said. “When I did have a meal plan I would carry my plate without a tray.”Richard Kovatch, associate vice president for business operations, said the trayless policy is not the only environmental sustainability initiative the University will introduce this year.“Right now we’re just introducing a lot of the programs that we’ve been working [on] with the various student groups,” Kovatch said, listing the introduction of locally grown and organic foods and biodegradable containers as examples of programs currently in progress. “We’re continuing to expand those programs and looking to roll out a composting program hopefully within next month, [though we’re] waiting for state approval,” Kovatch said. “These programs will support the overall goals of the University with respect to sustainability.” The Environmental Sustainability Committee also has several programs to be introduced this year, according to Chrisinger, including an on-Grounds farmer’s market to be held in Newcomb Plaza Monday. “We’re bringing in vendors from the Charlottesville City Market to promote the whole idea of buying food more close to home,” Chrisinger said.
(04/22/08 4:00am)
Gov. Timothy Kaine spoke to Politics Prof. Larry Sabato's PLAP 101 "Introduction to American Politics" class yesterday, discussing his experiences in politics and urging students to become more involved in the political world.
(04/21/08 4:00am)
During the second of a series of three candidate presentations for the dean of students position, Phil Riordan addressed the University community Friday morning, describing his core beliefs about the role of the student affairs office.
(04/18/08 4:00am)
The newly created? Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will move to its permanent home in Garrett Hall by spring 2011. In preparation for this move, renovations to the building are scheduled to begin in summer 2009, said Richard Minturn, senior academic facilities planner in the Office of the Provost.
(04/04/08 4:00am)
Focused on the tools needed to teach students to become global citizens, James Banks, director of multicultural education at the University of Washington, Seattle, spoke at the University yesterday about the challenges and opportunities diversity presents for the U.S. education system.
(03/31/08 4:00am)
Two teenage suspects have been charged with multiple felonies in the shootings on Interstate 64, which occurred early Thursday morning.
(03/26/08 4:00am)
During the past few weeks, University students have shared Central Grounds walkways with groups of prospective students hoping to learn more about the University.
(03/18/08 4:00am)
Students involved in the University Law School's "Libel Show," a musical-comedy revue involving professor impersonations and satirizing law school culture, are celebrating the show's 100th anniversary this year in a production with more than 200 students.
(03/17/08 4:00am)
Since its founding in 1992, Alternative Spring Break has provided University students with an escape from the stereotypical alcohol-fueled beach trip and the chance to spend their week-long break making a difference. ASB participants have traveled all over the world, from New Orleans and California to international locations such as Jamaica and Bangladesh.
(02/27/08 5:00am)
"Can you hear me now?"
(02/26/08 5:00am)
Christopher Allen Noakes, charged with the sexual assault of a University student last week, was denied bond Feb. 22 because of his prior record of criminal activities, according to Charlottesville District Court Clerk Mary Trimble.
(02/19/08 5:00am)
Academic success, according to data compiled by the Inter-Sorority Council, isn't Greek to members of the University's chapters.
(02/19/08 5:00am)
A lifetime of hard work and scientific inquiry has paid off, both literally and figuratively, for two University professors, who are the latest recipients of the University's Distinguished Scientist Award.
(02/14/08 5:00am)
Following a record-breaking spring recruitment, the University's Inter-Sorority Council is considering adding a new chapter.
(01/31/08 5:00am)
After being shut down in 2005, Beta Theta Pi fraternity is currently re-colonizing on Grounds with a renewed commitment to the traditional values of fraternity life and brotherhood.
(01/25/08 5:00am)
The University's Capital Campaign designed to raise $3 billion by 2011 continues to experience success, with $1.6 billion collected since January 2004, placing the University on the same fundraising level as private institutions such as Yale and Columbia.
(01/23/08 5:00am)
While most students are adjusting to new classes and avoiding the black ice around Grounds, hundreds of prospective fraternity and sorority members have crowded the Rugby Road area, resulting in a record number of recruitment participants for both the Inter-Fraternity Council and Inter-Sorority Council.
(01/18/08 5:00am)
Students around Grounds could feel somewhat safer crossing the street if House transportation committee members approve a bill aimed at protecting pedestrians at crosswalks.
(11/30/07 5:00am)
The Public Education Fund of Charlottesville-Albemarle recently launched a new program, "Odyssey: 2025," aimed at helping local students better understand the critical areas of math and science.