News

Democrats look ahead to future of party

President-elect Barack Obama faces high hopes and expectations as the newly elected President of the United States, and with both a Democratic president in the White House for the first time since former President Clinton in 2001, as well as a Democratic majority in the House and the Senate, there is also a great deal of speculation about the future of the United States government and Obama?s party.Both Obama and the Democratic Party as a whole experienced widespread support throughout the campaign and now face high expectations as the party enters the White House and the walls of Congress.?Obama has been portrayed as this transformational figure? throughout the campaign, said Dan Keyserling, Center for Politics deputy director of communications and former Cavalier Daily executive editor.

Republicans look ahead to future of both parties post-election

In the wake of significant Democratic gains and the election of a Democratic president, Republican Party members are now seeking to regroup as a party and also to attempt working across the aisle with the Democratic majority in Congress.?It?s not a good year to be a Republican,? said Dan Keyserling, University Center for Politics deputy director of communications and former Cavalier Daily executive editor.

Question & Answer: Ed Kitch, Faculty Senate Chair

Why does the University have a Faculty Senate? What is its purpose?

Sabato

The Crystal Ball, an election predictor run by Politics Prof. Larry J.

Goode, Perriello race stays too close to call

Virginia?s Fifth District congressional election still remains too close to call.

Hereford will house only first-year students by 2010

Students living in Hereford College recently received an e-mail informing them that Hereford will officially become first-year-only housing starting in fall 2010.According to the e-mail, the reasons for the change are the continued growth of incoming first-year classes and the ongoing dormitory replacement project on Observatory Hill.?We recognize the potential inconvenience this decision may cause residents of Hereford who had intended to re-sign for space in the College,? the e-mail stated, ?and are committed to minimizing disruption for those wishing to remain part of the College experience, or, those seeking other on-Grounds accommodation for the coming year.?Patricia Lampkin, vice president and chief student affairs officer, said the decision was an unexpected ? but necessary ? one.

O-Hill Dining Hall will compost food waste

Starting next Tuesday, leftover and disposed food will not be wasted at Observatory Hill Dining Hall.Panorama Pay-Dirt compost company, University Dining Services, University Facilities Management recycling office and Green Dining have teamed up to implement a compost program for the high volumes of food waste generated at the busiest dining hall on Grounds.O-Hill serves about half of all dining hall meals on Grounds and was chosen to pioneer this project because the loading equipment needed to transport waste to be composted is in place there, University Dining Director Brent Beringer said.?It was an idea that we?ve been working on for a couple years,? Beringer said.

City seeks to improve public housing

Charlottesville City Council voted Monday to allocate $100,000 to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority in an effort to improve public housing within the city and $50,000 to create a housing planning position at City Hall.

Making history

History was made yesterday when American voters elected Democrat Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America.?If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,? Obama said at his victory celebration in Chicago.Riding a wave of early voter support from the East Coast, Obama jumped out to a lead and never looked back.

Gov. Warner elected to U.S. Senate

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) contributed to Democratic Party gains last night, winning a Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen.

Perriello, Goode await final tallies

In a surprising twist to the Virginia 5th District House of Representative?s race last night, Democratic challenger Tom Perriello came to a standoff with Republican incumbent Virgil Goode, who has served six terms.As of 3 a.m.

Virginia sees high voter turnout despite long lines, glitches

Virginia experienced record voter turnout at polls across the commonwealth yesterday despite equipment problems early in the day, according to a press release issued by Susan Pollard, director of communications for the Virginia State Board of Elections.As of 2 a.m.

McCain Sues Virginia State Board of Elections

The McCain campaign filed suit yesterday against the Virginia State Board of Elections in attempt to force the board to count the late arriving ballots of overseas military personnel.

Sustainable house put to University student vote

Student Council?s Environmental Sustainability Committee is asking students for feedback on an initiative to create a sustainable University housing option for 10 to 20 students through a referendum that appears on the University Board Elections Web site.

If Politics Prof. Larry Sabato?s final predictions hold true, Democratic candidate Barack Obama will be elected the next president of the United States and will earn more than two times the number of Electoral College votes than Republican rival John McCain.?The Crystal Ball expects Barack Obama to run closer to the maximum than to the minimum in the popular vote tally,? his final prediction released yesterday states, adding that Obama is expected to earn 364 Electoral College votes.Moreover, Democrats will pick up seven to eight seats in the U.S.

University endowment sees significant losses

The volatile economy apparently has hit the University?s investments hard, as the University of Virginia Investment Management Company recently reported a negative 11-percent return on the University?s endowment for the quarter that ended in September.?This ranks with only two previous years in the University?s history,? University spokesperson Carol Wood said, noting that in 1990, during the first Gulf War, the endowment reported a negative 10.2-percent return and during the stock market crash of 1987 it experienced a loss of 12.2 percent.

Radford sees registration controversy

For many students at Radford University in Southwest Virginia, the burning question isn?t who will win today?s election ? it?s whether students formerly denied registration will have a say at the polls.The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law have charged in a letter to Tracy Howard, general registrar of voters for the City of Radford, that he implemented ?unlawful and potentially discriminatory policies? in administering students? registration in the City of Radford and are asking Howard to make every effort to ensure all eligible student voters are able to cast ballots today.Howard has come under fire for his decision to follow up with students who registered in Radford with their college addresses and ask that they clarify in writing what they considered to be their permanent address.

NAACP lawsuit decision will wait

The NAACP?s bid for a preliminary injunction concerning its recently filed lawsuit against the Virginia State Board of Elections was turned down yesterday, NAACP spokesperson Carla Sims said.The lawsuit alleged that the commonwealth may not be prepared for the large, potentially record-breaking number of voters expected today, especially in areas with black population majorities, Sims said.?The only thing that was denied was a preliminary injunction,? Sims said, noting that the NAACP has not entirely dropped its case against the VSBE, contrary to some early reports.As a result of the decision, Sims said, no changes have been made to today?s voting hours and procedures.

Students on list suspected of intending to vote twice

Michael Wade, chairman of the Third Congressional District Republican Committee, has compiled a list of college students ? including some at the University ? who are currently under suspicion by his office of intending to vote twice in today?s presidential election.Each student on the list, Wade said, has registered to vote in the commonwealth of Virginia in addition to requesting an absentee ballot from an out-of-state location.

Children

If grade and high school students could vote, Barack Obama would become the next president of the United States by a landslide margin, according to a study conducted by the University Center for Politics.