Police search for missing VCU student
By Radina Belberova | March 17, 2010[caption id="attachment_33712" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Virginia Commonwealth University student Jonathan Dorey, pictured right, was last seen March 2.
[caption id="attachment_33712" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Virginia Commonwealth University student Jonathan Dorey, pictured right, was last seen March 2.
The Academical Heritage Review - a new, student-run undergraduate research journal for historical scholarship - will debut the first week of April. The University Historical Society, the newly formed contracted independent organization behind the journal, aims to provide students interested in history with a new outlet to display their work through the publication. "I think part of what makes the experience at the University so special is that students have opportunities for undergraduate research almost anywhere they could want to find it," President Thomas Howard said.
[caption id="attachment_33707" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The University's Children's Hospital hopes to create a more efficient center with its new ground plans.
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's statement that Virginia's public colleges and universities do not have the authority to expand their non-discrimination policies to include sexual orientation was answered by organized action and media attention last week. Cuccinelli sent a letter March 4 to the heads of Virginia's public colleges and universities advising them to prohibit the inclusion of "sexual orientation," "gender identity," "gender expression" and similar terms from their nondiscrimination policies without authorization from the General Assembly.
[caption id="attachment_33681" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Though BusinessWeek magazine ranked the Commerce School No.
[caption id="attachment_33679" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds will honor the outgoing president and his wife's contributions to developing the arts at the University.
College Dean Meredith Woo announced that she will donate her own money for every fourth-year student who contributes to the class of 2010 Giving Campaign to help the College. Through her "Make the Dean Pay" initiative, Woo promises to donate a dollar to the campaign for each fourth-year student who contributes $20.10 or more to the fundraising campaign.
The Board of Visitors approved plans to accelerate the construction of a new Alderman Road residence hall, which is now scheduled for completion by fall 2014. This residence hall's construction is the fourth and final phase of the Alderman Road Replacement Project and was originally expected to be completed in 2017, said Richard Kovatch, associate vice president for business operations. University officials, however, decided to complete the project sooner to save money. "In this sort of economy, the bids that were coming in on the Alderman Road Project were significantly less than what had been anticipated," said Vince Mastracco, chairman of the Board's Finance Committee and member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
In an effort to promote sustainability, the University plans to expand its dining hall waste compost program to Newcomb and Runk Dining Halls within the next year. Waste composting has been a priority for Dining Services, especially since fall 2008, when the program began at Observatory Hill Dining Hall.
The University's capital campaign currently is falling behind on meeting its goal of raising $3 billion by Dec.
University leaders discussed current issues facing the University at the third annual Commission on the University's Present yesterday night in the Dome Room of the Rotunda.
[caption id="attachment_33611" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Douglas Wilder, who lectured to an introductory government class yesterday in Wilson Hall, served as a state senator, lieutenant governor and the 66th governor of Virginia.
The Board of Visitors approved a new Master's degree program in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies Feb.
As tensions continue between Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville about a budget proposal that would transfer $2.8 million annually from city to county schools, Del.
After a narrow race ultimately decided by a single vote, Abebe Kebede, a candidate for Third Year Council vice president, conceded defeat to opponent Natalia Mercado following a statement by the University Board of Electors. The close election was a result of a system designed to avoid actual runoff races.
By Jane Ma Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Student Council's Environmental Sustainability Committee announced a partnership Monday with GrandMarc apartment complex to provide one student with a year of free rent as compensation for working as the area conservation advocate. "We've decided that in order to up our sustainability efforts and increase our recycling program ... we wanted to invite someone to live in our community next year that would be our conservation advocate," GrandMarc Community Manager Frances Thompson said.
Information Technology and Communication is currently piloting The Hive, a new program that allows University students and faculty members to freely access licensed software - once exclusive to on-Grounds computing labs - on their personal computers. The program allows users to upload a window identical to that of on-Grounds computer desktop.
The University Board of Elections announced Monday night that students overwhelmingly voted to pass all three Student Council-related referenda. The first referendum, which sought to amend Article V of Council's constitution, passed with 76 percent of votes. "The amendment will allow for the amendment proposal process to be more clear and fair for students who are interested in proposing amendments," said outgoing Council President John Nelson, who sponsored the referendum.
Colin Hood, the current vice president of organizations for Student Council, was named the incoming Council president yesterday night with 3,587 votes - double that of his closest competitor - while third-year College student Jen Bristol and second-year College student Evan Shields also secured positions on Council's executive committee. "I'm beyond thrilled and I'm really looking forward and really excited to get things going," Hood said.