News

News

Students protest policy banning signs

By Shea Connelly | September 8, 2008

Following an athletic department announcement at the beginning of the year banning signs from sporting events, University students staged a protest against the policy at Saturday?s football game.An e-mail was sent to ?Hoo Crew members early Friday morning containing a message from an anonymous source urging students to participate.?As many of you have heard,? the message read, ?The Athletic Department recently instituted a sign prohibition for all athletic events.

---

News

ISC plans to alter judicial proceedings

By Shea Connelly | September 8, 2008

The Inter-Sorority Council is reviewing its judicial structure this semester, with the goal of making the judicial system more mediation-based rather than trial-based.Though the ISC currently has a judicial branch, ISC president Stuart Berkeley said, in recent years it has become less active ? a problem she attributed to its structure.?This might be a more approachable and appropriate way to deal with issues affecting sorority women,? Berkeley said of a revised, mediation-based system.

---

News

Professors discuss function of American politics

By Kelly Morenus | September 8, 2008

The American Political Science Association recently held a conference during which scholars discussed the merits of American politics as a field of study and considered the possibility of abolishing the field altogether.APSA Executive Director Michael Brintnall said he did not believe this discussion implied that the field should be abolished in a literal sense, but rather that the scope of American politics should be broadened to include a wider range of world views.

---

News

Voter registration code raises concerns

By Emily Poe | September 8, 2008

The voter registration code of Virginia has become a hot topic of debate among college students and young voters in the commonwealth following an August press release from the Montgomery County registrar.Though Montgomery County Registrar Randy Wertz?s Aug.

---

News

Jefferson Fellows, Scholars promote interdisciplinary dialogue with forum

By Victoria Hinton | September 8, 2008

Students in the Jefferson Fellows and the Jefferson Scholars programs are organizing a forum about health care and the 21st-century ?good Samaritan? this fall to foster conversation across various disciplines.The Jefferson Fellows Forum for Interdisciplinary Dialogue will take place Sept.

---

News

Honor approves jury composition bylaw

By Stephanie Kassab | September 8, 2008

The Honor Committee approved a bylaw at last night?s meeting limiting the number of days an accused student has to request a change in the type of jury hearing his or her case.Under the new bylaw, if the accused would like to change the type of jury panel, he or she must submit a request in writing to the vice chair for trials at least 14 days before the trial date.

---

News

QB Lalich cited for violating probation

By Paul Wiley | September 5, 2008

Court documents filed yesterday in Charlottesville General District Court confirmed reports that Peter Lalich, starting quarterback for the Virginia football team, has been cited for violating the terms of his probation.

---

News

Higher ed to see cuts in budget

By Anne Rasmussen and Thomas Madrecki | September 5, 2008

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has asked all state agencies, including the University, to propose three different contingency plans reflecting 5, 10 and 15 percent budget cuts for the 2009-10 fiscal year, said Kaine?s spokesperson Gordon Hickey.The mandated plans for reduction are the third round of proposed state spending cuts imposed since last October in an attempt to cope with the slowing economy and declining tax collections, Hickey said, noting that the typical sources of government revenue recently have seen decline.Hickey also confirmed that the University, as well as other Virginia higher education institutions, would be affected by any proposed cuts ordered by the governor in an effort to balance the state budget.University spokesperson Carol Wood, however, noted that the University initially was unaware that it would be affected by the proposal.?When the original message came out, we did not receive it,? Wood said.

---

News

Tailgates revoked after unruly action

By Jane Ma | September 5, 2008

The privilege of Lawn tailgates scheduled before home football games and limited to 40 guests has been rescinded after ?disorderly behavior? was displayed before last Saturday?s game against the University of Southern California, according to an e-mail sent to Lawn and Range residents by Dean of Students Allen Groves yesterday morning.

---

News

SAT test scoring gap widens between 2007, 2008

By Anne Rasmussen | September 5, 2008

The national gap between SAT scores of white and minority students other than Asians grew wider between the high school graduating classes of 2008 and 2007, according to data released by the College Board.According to the data, score averages for black, Hispanic and American Indian students were down six to eight points total across the three exams ? reading, writing and mathematics ? while white and Asian students saw their scores increase by four and five points, respectively.

---

News

Kaine declares state of emergency

By Samantha Koon | September 5, 2008

Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency in the commonwealth yesterday in response to the potential threat of Tropical Storm Hanna this weekend.?Current forecasts predict Hanna will bring tropical storm force winds to Virginia, causing coastal flooding and the very real possibility of tornadoes and power outages,? Kaine said, according to a press release.To prepare for the possible damage, the governor encouraged Virginians to be aware of Hanna?s progression and to follow the instructions of local government officials and news media sources in relation to the storm.

---

News

BREAKING NEWS

By Paul Wiley | September 4, 2008

Thursday, Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m.: Court documents filed today in Charlottesville General District Court confirmed reports that Peter Lalich, starting quarterback for the Virginia football team, has been cited for violating the terms of his probation.

---

News

Islamic community begins construction on city

By Chelsea Germano | September 4, 2008

Tuesday marked the ground-breaking for what will be Charlottesville?s first mosque, a project that has been in the works since 2000.According to the Islamic Society of Central Virginia?s mosque plans posted on its Web site, the proposed structure is supposed to accommodate ?245 worshippers, a dedicated library, office space, 6 classrooms for educational purposes, a kitchen, and a multi-purpose room for lectures and social gatherings.?To complete its plans, the ISCV?s board of trustees purchased approximately 0.67 acres of land on Pine Street, located in a neighborhood near the University Hospital.?I think it has been a long time waiting,? said Karim Mohammed, vice chairman of the board of trustees.

---

News

City Council looks out for pedestrians

By Shea Connelly | September 4, 2008

University students and Charlottesville residents should begin to see major changes affecting pedestrian safety over the next six to nine months, according to Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris.

---

News

Library changes elicit mixed reactions

By Matthew Denton-Edmundson | September 4, 2008

Students who have already hit the books in Clemons Library likely have noticed a new atmosphere. More study space, fewer computers and two large aquariums now greet students as they walk into the top floor of the library.

---

News

Research evaluates affirmative action

By Kelly Morenus | September 4, 2008

New research about law schools? affirmative action conducted by professors from Princeton University and the University of Toronto seeks to evaluate the ?mismatch? hypothesis, a theory that claims affirmative action could actually be detrimental to its would-be beneficiaries.

---

News

Housing works for diversity

By Hannah Wallace | September 3, 2008

Since the University decided to eliminate first-year students? choice between living in Alderman or McCormick dormitories, the new system has been met with mixed reviews.Resident Staff Co-Chair Ian Flanagan explained the change, implemented this fall, is part of an ?ongoing process? in which housing is ?gradually narrowing? the options students have in selecting their first-year housing.

---

News

Council hopes to fix housing stress

By Alexandra Hemenway | September 3, 2008

At its first meeting of the fall semester last night, Student Council discussed a resolution titled ?Don?t Sign It!?, an initiative that would aim to alleviate student stress by addressing the issue of early lease signing dates for on- and off-Grounds housing.?This is something that really does impact every single student at the University.? Council President Matt Schrimper said.

---

News

Kaine pushes for Obama vote in Virginia

By Emily Poe | September 3, 2008

Though Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) will not be on the presidential ballot this November ? despite summer rumors that he could be named Barack Obama?s vice presidential candidate ? his work as Obama?s national campaign co-chairman will keep him active in preparations for the upcoming November election.?I imagine as Obama focuses more on Virginia in the fall, Kaine will play a prominent role campaigning on his behalf,? said Dan Keyserling, deputy communications director for the University?s Center for Politics and former Cavalier Daily executive editor.Since beginning his role as national campaign co-chair in February 2007, Kaine has visited states such as Iowa, South Carolina, Georgia and Texas, in addition to traveling across the commonwealth to spread Obama?s message.?He has done quite a bit to help with fundraising in Virginia [and has been] providing political outreach in the state during the campaign ... [in order to] secure supporters,? said Kaine?s political campaign advisor Charlie Kelly.

---

News

Police to use new video for students safety instruction

By Kate Colwell | September 3, 2008

In response to the April 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, University Police have recently purchased an instructional video that has been prepared to inform University students and staff about how to respond in emergency situations on Grounds.While the video, titled ?Shots Fired,? is a new means of preparing for an emergency, discussions concerning emergency training have been an ongoing process.?We?ve been working on appropriate training for months,? Director of Emergency Preparedness Marge Sidebottom said.