I spent part of Spring Break in a place I visit rather infrequently. No, I did not take off for a sunny locale to lounge on a sandy beach.
The hazy March sunlight reflects off the windows of a small brick building sitting atop the grassy slope of Pantops Mountain.
You will not believe what we're doing tonight!" my roommate Jen said exuberantly as she entered the room.
Heavy breathing Just when you thought the seriousness of midterms was draining all the fun out of your life, there shines a beacon of shameless humor in the distance. This guiding light comes from the glare of the computer screen, and more specifically - from the Groaning for Graduates Web site (www.geocities.com/hot_uva_tas). The site bears an uncanny resemblance to the Web site promoting the Seven Society's graduate fellowship for superb teaching. Like the Seven Society, the Groaning for Graduates remain anonymous. Only instead of "superb" teaching, Groaning For Graduates (in)appropriately doles out its honors based on "sexy" teaching. The nomination process requires almost as little brain power as the teaching assistant who is nominated. In fact, according to the Web site, brain power is not to be considered in the nomination.
Can I get a bid for a bus? If you have always had a hankering to buy a University Transit Service bus, today may be your lucky day. The Surplus Property Department, a division of the University designed to dispose of unwanted or superfluous departmental property, will be holding one of its monthly auctions today from 9 a.m.
In the microcosm that is the University community, it can be easy to overlook small stores along the Corner - especially one whose theme revolves around a black hole. But the revamped Orbit, a pool hall with a bar-meets-cafe atmosphere, launched into a booming new business.
The nightmare goes something like this: You walk into class late, or you raise your hand to say something, and all of a sudden you realize 30 pairs of eyes are on you.
Break out your putters and plaid pants. Prepare to hit the green. The politicos are ready to play. As winter clears out and spring approaches, it is almost time for one of the University's newest traditions: the invitation-only, charity miniature golf tournament commonly referred to as the Politico Invitational. I, for one, am ready to defend my mini-golf honor.
From the pulpit The blustery March wind blew through John Hayman's long, partially dred-locked hair as he stood on the Lawn yesterday afternoon.
Promoting protection "Look for condoms around Grounds, win prizes!" Members of the student group Promoting Negativity posted messages like this one all around the University last week, hoping to rally support for Safer Sex Day on Tuesday. "Safer sex is something that is often overlooked or not even taken into consideration," said Alyssa Lederer, a first-year College student and Promoting Negativity member. The group will hand out free male and female condoms and lubricants on the Lawn, as well as at Newcomb and Observatory Hill dining halls during lunch and dinner.
A week ago, two friends and I went to New Orleans to enjoy the festivities of Mardi Gras. That's right, we drove 32 hours to spend 48 hours at our destination.
When Systems Engineering Prof. Jim Lark is watching the game, he's not having a Bud. That's because he's enjoying a unique brew he made himself. "I've brewed some beers that I would stack up with the best in the world," Lark said with pride. Beer brewing, however, occupies only a small part of the time Lark spends outside of academia.
With thousands of arms outstretched over their heads in the shape of a "V," the crowd stands breathlessly still until the free throw sinks in the basket.
Students search for sales Suddenly, it feels like spring. And there is no better place to buy warm-weather clothes or even to purchase discounted winter outfits than right here on Grounds. So it's no wonder that signs boasting bargains on $15 men's shorts and $15 women's jeans have lured dozens of students to the large tent sale outside the University Bookstore.
For the past week, candidates have scattered fluorescent campaign slogans on sidewalks and honor referendum flyers all over Grounds.
I didn't know what I was stepping on, and I really didn't want to look. Of course, even if I had wanted to look, I wouldn't have been able to.
Sometimes you feel like a nut Yesterday, the Lawn was nuts. Nestled between tables for the Academical Village People and Students Without Borders, a new and worthy cause emerged: National Pistachio Day.
Stepping through the red crepe streamers into Memorial Gym, memories of high school dances become as vivid as the strings of colored lights draped from the ceiling.
Rock around the clock While students boogied, bopped and twisted the night away last Saturday at Dance Marathon, the University's radio station, WTJU (91.1 FM), held its own 24-hour rock-a-thon. The station began its annual Rock Marathon on Friday, and will continue it through the wee hours of next Saturday morning.
Trudging homeward, I was just past the house with the knight's armor on the lawn, not yet to the gully of soiled mattresses.
