News

Diplomat talks Irish market

Irish Ambassador Michael Collins spoke to University community members in the Rotunda Dome Room yesterday afternoon about Ireland's weakened economy, which state leaders hope will improve through reduced deficit spending. He opened the talk by emphasizing the connection between Ireland and the University, and addressed Thomas Jefferson's influence on Ireland. "Jefferson never had [an] opportunity to travel to Ireland, but his ideas did," Collins said.

City Council budget debate continues

Local nonprofits pressed Charlottesville City Council for additional funding at Council's meeting yesterday evening while the City continues negotiations to approve its budget by April 10. The Paramount Theater, Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) and Mountainside Senior Living, among other groups, requested increased support from the City. Brandon Collins, a former City Council candidate, asked for at least $10,000 in additional funding for PHAR, a Charlottesville organization which aims to "support and improve public housing communities," according to its website.

Kaine secures Democratic nod

Former Gov.

9/11 memorial installed

Students unveiled a September 11 memorial at a ceremony Sunday in Newcomb Hall.

General Assembly convenes special session

Six representatives from the Virginia Senate and six from the Virginia House of Delegates met yesterday in a special session, aiming to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the Virginia budget which would last for the next two fiscal years. The Senate previously passed a version of Gov.

Blaze damages U-Heights

A fire in the University Heights apartment complex Friday resulted in about $30,000 worth of damage to the building, said Howard Lagomarsino, assistant chief of the Albemarle County Fire-Rescue Division. The blaze began about 1 a.m.

University extends admissions offers

The University announced yesterday it has extended 7,759 offers of admission to fill about 3,360 spots for the Class of 2016.

University student earns Truman scholarship

The University announced yesterday third-year College student Joseph Riley has won a Truman Scholarship, which offers students aiming to work in government or public service $30,000 to put toward graduate studies and leadership training. Riley is a Politics Honors and Mandarin Chinese major.

Police investigate cocaine found in University building

Albemarle County Police yesterday evening investigated a "suspicious white powdery substance" found in a plastic bag inside Sheridan G.

Health System announces new elderly clinic

The University Health System announced plans Wednesday to open a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) clinic at Martha Jefferson Hospital, in partnership with the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) and the Riverside Health System. PACE is a national program which provides health care to patients receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits, as well as privately insured seniors in full-time nursing home care. "Nursing homes are expensive," said Larry Fitzgerald, the University Health System's chief financial officer.

Virginia Tech victims' families file to overturn claims cap

Families of two students killed in the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings filed this week to overturn a $100,000 cap on claims against the state which would prevent them from receiving a $4 million sum a jury awarded them March 14. Attorney Robert Hall, who represents the two families of Erin Peterson and Julia Pryde, said in an email Virginia Tech was guilty of negligence because it failed to warn the school community an armed shooter was on campus April 16, 2007.

State to build wind turbine

Gov.

Obama

Arun Chaudhary, the first ever Official White House videographer, visited the University yesterday evening to describe the opportunity he has to broadcast previously unseen aspects of President Barack Obama's life in the White House. The Center for Politics hosted the event in the Rotunda Dome room, where Chaudhary, who received his degree in film theory from Cornell University and served an adjunct instructor at New York University, spoke about his experiences while filming Obama.

Enrollment growth slows

The Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics released a report Tuesday showing the steady growth in enrollment in colleges and universities during the past several years slowed in 2010.

NAACP criticizes prison, schooling

The University's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held a lecture yesterday evening about the ways the U.S.

Groups protest alleged murder

The University's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Black Student Alliance held a rally yesterday evening on the north side of the Rotunda to commemorate the death of Trayvon Martin.

Deceased honored

Student Council's representative body yesterday evening passed three resolutions which honor the three students who passed away this academic year.

Seven University intellectuals had 12 minutes yesterday evening to tell students gathered in Old Cabell Hall about their "greatest idea" for "Look Hoos Talking," a Student Council-sponsored event.

House, Senate continue budget deliberations

The Virginia House of Delegates yesterday rejected 69-23 budget amendments which the Virginia Senate passed 35-4 Monday.

Percentage of degree-holding adults plateaus

The national percentage of adults with college degrees has plateaued, despite goals set by 36 states and the Lumina Foundation for Education to increase the number of college degree holders, according to a report the foundation released Monday. The Lumina Foundation, based in Indianapolis, is a private organization which seeks to expand student access to education.