Representatives of the "Let's Get Grounded Campaign" presented an update of their group's progress to the Board of Visitors last week, announcing that the program, which seeks to reverse the "bystander effect," has trained 750 students. The program was first instituted this semester as a way to encourage students to stand up to adverse behaviors and prevent them from occurring in the future.
Fourth-year College student Laura Nelson stands among the ranks of astronomer Edwin Hubble, former president Bill Clinton and Politics Prof.
[caption id="attachment_38667" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The National Endowment for the Humanities has offered the University Library a $250,000 grant to digitize rare footage from the civil rights era.
Officials announced Wednesday evening the opening of the latest addition to the University Health System. The Transitional Care Center is a 40-bed long-term acute-care center with specially trained staff and the latest medical technology, Associate Chief of Operations Michelle Hereford said. The facility provides services to patients who require more long-term care and additional time during the healing process, with an average stay of about 25 days, Hereford said. "Extra time in a calm environment aids in the healing process," she said. Patients with complex wounds and multiple medical conditions will be housed in the center, as well as those who are on ventilators.
[caption id="attachment_38615" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A student walking on University Avenue Wednesday night heard a pop and felt a BB graze her leg.
A survey by the RAND Corporation has found that the GI Bill played a significant role in motivating veterans to obtain post-secondary education after returning from service. About 24 percent of survey respondents told the RAND Corporation that the new GI Bill, otherwise known as the Post 9/11 Government Issue bill, was the driving force behind their decision to enroll in college. The new GI Bill was instated in August 2009 and increased the higher education benefits that were originally available to veterans through the first GI Bill, which was passed after World War II. The survey revealed, however, that a prevalent issue surrounding the bill is one of clarity - 38 percent of respondents reported having difficulty interpreting the bill and the benefits it provides. "[The benefits] are quite complex and depend on where you live, the kind of classes you are taking and your institution," said Jennifer Steele, associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Steele also noted that participants reported problems transferring military training credits to their academic institutions, in addition to several cases of veterans having trouble transitioning to campus life. Mike Smith, executive director of the University's Accelerated Master's Programs in systems and information engineering, said his program encourages veteran recruitment and helps ease the transition process. "I think the more effective thing is using the network of contacts to help get the word out," Smith said. Steele said it was important for institutions to portray themselves as friendly toward veterans and help with the transition process. "Veterans have particular needs and goals, so from a student services perspective, it's really important for institutions to make the investment so that they become known to take good care of veterans and do attract [potential student-veterans]," Steele said. Michael Wilcheck, a student at the University's Darden School who is a veteran, said the bill played an important role in helping veterans obtain education upon returning home. "[The GI Bill is helpful] for a lot for the guys here who are applying and considering an MBA coming out of the military; it certainly is impactful in their decision," said Wilcheck, who is a beneficiary of the bill.
Four officers from the University and Charlottesville police departments participated in a Wednesday night panel hosted by Student Council's Safety and Wellness Committee. The officers addressed a wide range of topics, including how to deal with a police officer when intoxicated and how to check the status of crimes that have occurred in different areas. The panel also discussed what seems to be a recent increase in crime in the University area.
[caption id="attachment_38554" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Alcoholic beverages such as Phusion Projects' Four Loko beverage cannot be sold if they contain caffeine following the FDA's recent ban of such products.
The Board of Visitors approved changes Monday to the University's financial aid application process. Effective for the class of 2015, the University will use the College Board's PROFILE application, a standardized form used by more than 600 institutions of higher learning, rather than its own internal application.
Prince William County's immigration policy, similar to the controversial policy enacted in Arizona this April, appears to have had an impact on the county's Hispanic population, according to the University's Center for Survey Research. The report, released Tuesday in conjunction with the Police Executive Research Forum, found that between 2,000 and 6,000 illegal immigrants left the county after the policy was implemented.
University astronomers analyzing images picked up by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer have helped confirm the discovery of a cool brown dwarf, a small star that is much cooler than our own sun. WISE, a satellite that was launched last December, monitors infrared light and encodes different wavelengths as different colors on images it takes of the universe.
[caption id="attachment_38445" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Early action will allow prospective students to apply by November without committing immediately.
[caption id="attachment_38443" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Representatives of Student Council engaged in a discussion about the DREAM Act and whether they should encourage the administration to support the bill at last night's meeting.
University alumnus and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a letter last Friday in which he supported the Department of Motor Vehicles' decision to reject federal work permit cards as adequate proof of lawful presence in the country. The Employment Authorization Document is issued to people who are temporarily in the United States and seeking employment.
[caption id="attachment_38379" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The University's Board of Visitors began its November meetings yesterday.
[caption id="attachment_38377" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The University's International Studies Office also reported a slight decrease in the number of students studying abroad in accordance with a national decline.
[caption id="attachment_38375" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Students wore black and held signs during the Latino Student Alliance's silent march to support the DREAM Act.
Albemarle County has launched a trial run of its PhotoSafe program, which uses cameras to enforce red-light driving infractions at dangerous intersections. During the 30-day warning period that began last Friday, county police officers will use signs positioned 500 feet away from the light at Route 29 and Rio Road to warn violators about the new enforcement plan.
