Numerous Greek community members and organizations presented their plans and challenges for the upcoming year last night at the 2009 Greek Awards ceremony.
In light of recent alleged incidents targeting minority University students, the University administration?s responses to such bias-related occurrences continues to be a topic of discussion among students and officials on Grounds.Three additional incidents were reported to the University this weekend.
Earth Day, a national event promoting sustainability and environmental friendliness, has been extended to an entire week at the University, said third-year College student Bukky Awosogba, director of current events for the University Programs Council.Earth Week began Thursday and will continue through next Sunday afternoon.
Director of Public Works Judith Mueller presented Charlottesville?s Water Conservation Study Report to City Council last night.
The University recently became the nation?s first institution of higher education to use the Build America Bonds program for a benchmark public issuance, selling $250 million in bonds.?There were a couple of schools who also issued Build America Bonds, but they did [it through] a private placement,? said Yoke San Reynolds, University Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The University Art Museum will close this summer to undergo a series of renovations.
The Office of Emergency Preparedness recently announced plans to install emergency warning message boards in University classrooms.These boards will be installed in phases, beginning with larger classrooms, Director of Emergency Preparedness Marjorie Sidebottom said.
The Honor Committee heard the first-ever report from Public Policy School representatives during its weekly meeting last night.
The candles held by attendees of the Stand Against the Violence Vigil were a visible sign of attendees? support and solidarity, as University community members reflected about the hate crime that occurred on Grounds earlier this month.Around 3 a.m.
?Prison abolition? was the key phrase in black rights activist Angela Davis? speech last night in Newcomb Hall.Davis spoke before a large, impassioned crowd about the injustices of the American prison system in culmination of this week?s symposium, ?The Problem of Punishment: Race, Inequality, and Justice.? During her speech, Davis argued that the ?problem of punishment? is manifested in America?s flawed prison system, which, she said, ironically was originally intended to ?allow people to reform and transform themselves?. Davis sharply criticized the loss of prisoners? voting rights during incarceration as well as the cycle of violence created by the imprisonment of violent offenders and capital punishment.
The new $43 million Thomas Jefferson Visitors Center and Smith Education Center at Thomas Jefferson?s historic Monticello estate officially opened earlier this week.
The Board of Visitors recently approved a $15.2 million project that will address maintenance issues in Newcomb Hall.
Researchers from several University schools recently developed a wireless sensory network technology designed to help doctors and researchers monitor the gait of patients and determine their risk for falls.Regina Carlson, director of development at the University?s Institute on Aging, said the sensor can be worn around the wrist and transmits real-time data on a patient?s gait via the internet.
Two years after the Virginia Tech shooting the events of April 16, 2007 continue to have an impact on those who remember the tragedy?s 32 victims, as gun regulation efforts remain a topic of much discussion.Omar Samaha, the brother of Reema Samaha, one of the 32 persons killed in the shooting, said he now is working to eliminate loopholes in the selling of firearms in Virginia.Alex Howe, spokesperson for Americans United for Safe Streets, said Samaha is working to require a background check for guns sold in Virginia.State laws currently require licensed gun dealers to run background checks on those purchasing firearms.
As Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., spoke yesterday in Politics Prof. Larry Sabato?s Introduction to American Politics class, he repeatedly stressed the need for Republicans and Democrats to face the nation?s issues together.Among these issues, he said, is healthcare reform and the current economic recession.?[This is] an economic meltdown that might get as serious as the Great Depression,? Warner said.Although the former Virginia governor took his Senate seat just more than 100 days ago, he said he has a good handle on the Obama administration?s plans for the country, including the stimulus package that allocated 40 percent of about $800 billion for tax cuts.
A recent Kaplan survey found that the economic recession has influenced the number of students applying to law school, said Jeff Thomas, Kaplan director of Pre-Law Programs.Kaplan surveyed 1,400 students after they took the February LSAT, Thomas said.
The University Patent Foundation honored John P. Mugler, III and James R.
Student Council passed a resolution last night condemning anti-gay violence in response to the recent assault against a University student and his guest.The resolution, sponsored by College representative Eugene Resnick, formally denounces violence against any member of the University based on sexual orientation or gender identity.Additionally, the resolution shows Council?s support to the University?s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community by funding $350 to provide 1,000 candles for a vigil to be held in the Amphitheater Thursday at 6:30 p.m.?We want to have something that?s tangible to show that we?re working together as a community,? Resnick said.Resnick also said members of the contracted independent organization Queer and Allied Activism needed funding for the candles for the unexpectedly large crowd who plan to attend.?Right now they?re experiencing an unprecedented amount of people who are going to be going to the vigil, so they don?t have enough funding to do that,? Resnick said.
Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris announced a proposal for a greener Charlottesville yesterday at Northeast Park.
The Board of Visitors approved tuition increases yesterday for the 2009-10 school year.
