News

Education School sees low voter turnout

Though voter turnout in the recent University-wide spring elections was the highest in four years at 38 percent, a mere 10 voters took part in the Education School?s later elections for Education Council.Despite efforts from the University Board of Elections to improve voter participation ? including the creation of a separate voting period for Education School races ? several other factors may have lessened the impact of those changes and contributed to the low turnout.?None of the races were contested,? current Education Council President Jesse Rine said.

New program aims to better civility code

University administrators and students are currently working to create a new initiative to promote common courtesy and manners among today?s youth.The Papers of George Washington, a University grant-funded project, is leading the initiative, called ?The Civility Project: Where George Washington Meets the Twenty-First Century.?Theodore Crackel, editor-in-chief of the Papers of George Washington, said the initiative will be based on 110 rules of civility, hand-copied and adhered to by Washington as a young man.

University receives Air Force grant for aircraft

Future research conducted at the University could help NASA and the United States Air Force design the next generation of hypersonic aircraft, perhaps one day capable of travelling 12 times the speed of sound.NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory?s Office of Scientific Research recently designated the University as the National Center for Hypersonic Combined Cycle Propulsion and awarded it $10 million for research, said James Pittman, principal investigator for the Hypersonics Project of NASA?s Fundamental Aeronautics Program at NASA?s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

South Lawn memorial to honor free blacks

The University will build a memorial to a community of free blacks who in the 1880s lived in the vicinity of what is now land set aside for the South Lawn Project, officials said.The memorial also will be dedicated to Kitty Foster, a free black woman who in 1883 purchased the property where the memorial is to be constructed.

Richmond rockers show their Wrath

Though the heyday of metal-core is long gone, Lamb of God has risen from the ashes to make its bid for the title of today?s top heavy metal band.

University boasts high black graduation rate

For the 15th consecutive year, the University boasts the highest black student graduation rate among the nation?s public undergraduate institutions, according to a report released by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.88.9 percent of black students at the University graduated in six years or less, according to data from the University?s Institutional Assessment and Studies office.

Poor economy affects college admissions

The current state of the economy is causing some colleges and universities to attempt formulating new ways to gauge whether high school student applicants will accept admissions offers.

Genetic research could help treat addictions of all types

Research conducted by University and University of Michigan professors may help future efforts to treat addictions of all types, said Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences Prof.

Panel discusses concerns about lack of faculty diversity at U.Va.

The Days of Dialogue planning committee within the University?s Dean of Students office presented an Evening of Dialogue on Race last night, allowing a panel of professors and a doctoral candidate to speak about the role of diversity in the University community and across the United States.The panelists included Hanadi Al-Samman, assistant professor of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Culture, Assoc.

U.Va. names Wilkinson commencement speaker

The University recently selected Judge J. Harvey Wilkinson, III, of the U.S.

New civic committee unveils goals last night

Student Council?s newly launched Civic Engagement Committee gave its first presentation last night, expressing a desire to increase student outreach and create an online resource of all the civic engagement opportunities available to University students.Committee Chair Laura Nelson said the Committee currently has two roles at the University, the first of which involves several smaller projects to inform students of current Committee projects.

Taliaferro, Norris, Szakos compete for City Council seats

Charlottesville City Council member Julian Taliaferro announced Monday that he will run for re-election against fellow incumbent Mayor Dave Norris and local newcomer Kristin Szakos.The three Democratic candidates will be narrowed down to two at an unassembled caucus held between May 8 and June 9.

CTS building takes green approach

The Charlottesville Transit Service broke ground Monday on its new Maintenance and Operations facility.

Unidentified assailants attack University student

Two unidentified suspects assaulted and robbed a male University student Saturday around 10 p.m., University Police Lieut.

Commerce School climbs to top of BusinessWeek magazine rankings

BusinessWeek recently named the University?s Commerce School as the No.

Prof. Sabato unveils new global democracy program

Politics Prof. Larry Sabato, who also serves as director of the University?s Center for Politics, presented the center?s new international initiative ? called the Global Perspectives on Democracy program ? last week in London.Sabato stated in an e-mail that he and the center created the program ?to assist marginalized citizens in particular, in utilizing the tools of their democracy to better appreciate the system and benefit more directly from it.?He stated the center wanted to try and expand its initiatives to other countries through this program.?We focus a great deal of our time and effort on government and politics in the United States,? Sabato stated, but added that he?s ?never imagined [the Center for Politics?] mission as being limited just to this country.?Although the center has participated in other global outreach programs, such as the Youth Leadership Initiative, Sabato stated that he hopes the new program will help increase the center?s international outreach, making it possible for interested parties to better explore pressing political issues around the globe.?The Center for Politics exists to teach people how to actively engage in politics and government,? Sabato stated.

University revamps sirens

The Office of Emergency Preparedness recently upgraded the University?s siren system and tested it during Spring Break, Director of Emergency Preparedness Marge Sidebottom said.Sidebottom said there was nothing functionally wrong with the old system.?It?s the same system, it?s just broadcast over a different frequency,? Sidebottom said.The new frequency, UHF, is licensed and owned by the University, unlike the old VHF frequency.?We wanted to use what we already had in place,? Sidebottom said.Sidebottom noted that her office also tested the new frequency during Spring Break to keep the sirens from disrupting University life.

Student Systems Project aims to teach students about new ISIS replacement

Capital campaign remains on track despite economy

Despite the increasingly troubled economic climate, the University?s ?Knowledge is Power? capital campaign remains on track, said Alison Traub, assistant vice president for development and director of the campaign.The University started the campaign in 2006 with an original goal of raising $3 billion during the course of three years, $1.865 billion of which already has been met through gifts and pledges, Traub said.

Study reveals housing markets mostly stable

A recent study conducted by University Urban and Environmental Planning Prof.