[caption id="attachment_29909" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Student Council President John Nelson, along with the rest of Student Council, met last night at the first meeting of the year to pass this year's budget.
The Washington Post recently unearthed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's 1989 controversial master's thesis, possibly endangering his 8 to 10 point lead in most polls against Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds. McDonnell expressed controversial views about gay rights, working women and abortion in the thesis, written during McDonnell's time at Regent University in Virginia Beach. "Every level of government should statutorily and procedurally prefer married couples over cohabitators, homosexuals, or fornicators," McDonnell wrote in the thesis.
Despite this year's decrease of jobs in the private sector, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce's 2009 Job Report reports that the number of government jobs increased, including a rise in the number of employment opportunities at the University. Since 2008 there has been a decrease of 1,054 jobs in the private sector and a simultaneous increase of 627 government jobs, said Bryan Thomas, chairman of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The cuts in private sector employment opportunities have hurt a number of local businesses, he said, adding that service, retail, construction and manufacturing jobs particularly have declined. "In the past 10 years leisure and hospitality jobs have increased in addition to local and state government jobs which include some, but not all, of the professors at U.Va., and some, but not all of the medical staff," Thomas said. Susan Carkeek, University vice president and chief human resources officer, said there was an uptick of several hundred job openings, which is "modest" but not "unexpected." To prevent future layoffs, Carkeek said the University is taking several precautions. "The major initiative has been to fill as many positions [as possible] by internal promotion," giving current employees the opportunity for promotions and salary increases, she said.
The caption accompanying Monday's Focus article, "AEPi national body closes chapter for reorganization," wrongfully stated that the Mu Chapter's charter had been revoked after allegations of hazing, less-than-acceptable recruitment levels and house disrepair were brought against the fraternity by the Alpha Epsilon Pi national organization.
The Learning Barge, a floating environmental education center designed and constructed by University students and faculty, will open to the public Sept.
A study co-authored by University environmental sciences professor emeritus William Ruddiman concluded that the agricultural methods of ancient human populations may have had an effect on global climate change. Ruddiman built his conclusion off of a hypothesis made more than five years ago, which stated that humans started having a measurable effect on carbon dioxide values as populations started practicing agriculture about 7,000 years ago.
Biology Prof. Michael P. Timko and his team of researchers identified a gene that provides resistance to parasitic plants, publishing their findings in last week's issue of the journal, "Science." The research may prove especially useful in bettering the lives of African farmers who depend on the cowpea plant for survival. Using the "viral induced silencing method," Timko was able to identify which gene in the cowpea plant was responsible for the plant's resistance to the parasitic plant Striga, which drains plants of water and nutrients.
Madison [caption id="attachment_29881" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="New interim executive director Elizabeth Bass has worked for Madison House for the past six years.
The Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recently awarded the Nursing School three grants for graduate students, totaling about $200,000. The HRSA evaluates how the money has been used in the past for the reapplication and consideration of future monies.
[caption id="attachment_29857" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Honor Committee met last night to discuss the proposed Semester at Sea amendment concept that would create a two-trial system for University students found guilty while participating in the program.
The University begins work today on the restoration of the capitals of Pavilion II's columns, using specially designed lasers to clear away pollutants and grime.
The long running "Virginia is For Lovers" slogan is up for a spot on the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame. The slogan, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, was first suggested in 1969 by the Richmond-based advertising agency, Martin & Woltz, Inc. It's "a huge year [for the motto]," said Tamra Talmadge-Anderson, public relations director for the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Despite a national SAT score decline, graduating Virginia high school seniors scored higher on average this past year than the previous one, according to the College Board. Virginia high school students scored higher than the national average in the reading and writing sections but lower in the math section, said Brian O'Reilly, executive director of College Board SAT program relations. According to the College Board, the average reading score for Virginia high school students was 511, 10 points higher than the national average.
Many law school graduates today are facing significantly reduced job opportunities compared to one year ago, as several prominent law firms have lowered the number of on-campus interviews because of the current economic slump. Karen Sloan, a reporter for The National Law Journal, said while regional midsize firms have not seen too much change, large, corporate firms - which tend to offer the most comfortable salaries - have taken the biggest hit. "The trend started last fall and it's been getting tighter and tighter since," she said. University Law students currently seeking interviews, however, have not been hit as hard as other students across the country. Kevin Donovan, senior assistant dean for Career Services at the Law School, said despite a decrease in overall interviews, the interview process for University law students has generally remained a positive one. "Students had access to a lot of great employers and a fairly large number of callbacks," Donovan stated.
Several prominent Virginia businessmen, including two former University Board of Visitors members, have come together to work on a new initiative called Grow by Degrees, which hopes to make higher education more affordable and applicable in the workforce. W.
The University recently altered its activities fees for graduate students this semester to give all full-time graduate students access to University athletic events. Many students past their second year of graduate school at the University are still considered full-time students, but have fewer credit hours from classes and spend more time conducting research, said Matt Rannals, president of the Graduate Arts & Sciences Council.
[caption id="attachment_29790" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Officials roped off an area near Lambeth Field where the aggressive creature, believed to be a fox, attacked a student.
The University Law School lost one of its most prominent alumni late Tuesday night when Sen. Edward Kennedy, Law School class of 1959, passed away after a long struggle with brain cancer. Kennedy became known as the "Lion of the Senate" during his U.S.
[caption id="attachment_29787" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Kendall Singleton, a 2007 University graduate, was involved in dining sustainability efforts as a student.
Ticketing for fine arts events will soon be available online and at the new University Arts Box Office, which combines ticketing services for musical and dramatic performances, as well as the Virginia Film Festival.
