News

Committee targets Echols diversity

Student Council?s Diversity Initiatives Committee presented its report on the ?lack of diversity in the Echols Scholars program? during Tuesday night?s meeting and proposed a course of action to correct the perceived problem.The root of the problem, committee member Ishraga Eltahir said, is that ?there?s no financial incentive associated with being an Echols Scholar? unlike at other higher education institutions with similar programs that ?provide financial incentives in addition to a scholar status.? According to a Student Council press release, this lack of financial support makes it more difficult for the University to court Echols-quality applicants; a long-term goal, the press release states, would be for the committee to encourage University administrators to include a financial component for the program.

Students and local community members gathered in John Paul Jones Arena yesterday between the hours of 10:30 a.m.

Independent sorority forms, seeks members

The Gamma Omega Chapter of Phi Mu, which closed in May 2007, will not be reorganizing at the University this semester, though a new independent sorority ? now called Nu Omega Iota ? recruited its first members during the past two weeks while under the name Phi Mu.?Neither the [Inter-Sorority Council] nor the national organization of Phi Mu has supported the recolonization of Phi Mu [at the University] at this time,? said Michael Citro, assistant dean of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

University honors retiring dean through AccessUVa scholarship

The University announced the creation of the John A. Blackburn Endowed Scholarship Saturday in honor of the retiring dean of admissions.

Student-led admissions program sees success during winter recess

A new admissions program, through which international students talk to prospective students at their local high schools abroad about the University, will be expanded following its success during the recent Winter Break.

Inauguration impacts universities

The University?s decision to cancel classes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Honor expands recruitment for new educators

In an effort to better inform the University community about the honor code, the Honor Committee will be recruiting new educators this spring.

Commission approves new housing bill

Charlottesville?s City Planning Commission approved a bill Tuesday that could provide home builders with incentives to build lower-income housing.Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris noted that limited access to affordable housing has been a problem for Charlottesville residents for the past five years, and the recent economic recession has worsened the situation.?Housing costs have gone through the roof, and wages have stayed the same,? Norris said.

U.Va. plans to celebrate King

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the University has cancelled all undergraduate classes Monday and scheduled a series of events throughout the rest of the week to honor the civil rights leader.Wynne Stuart, associate provost for academic support and classroom management, said the decision to cancel classes was made by the University Calendar Committee, a presidential committee composed of University representatives, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and most of the University?s deans.African-American Affairs Dean Maurice Apprey said the University will host two events ? one Monday and one Wednesday ? to recognize King.?I believe that the purpose [of cancelling classes] was to see if doing so would facilitate discussion about issues on that day,? Apprey said.

Employee giving increases

Tightened purse strings and economic troubles have not stopped University employees from donating generously to both local and national charities through a workplace-giving campaign.University employees have given about $923,000 for the 2008 giving year, an increase from the $880,000 raised in 2007, noted Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign administrator Careen Waterman, a University community relations associate.

Study finds doctoral students shy away from research-heavy academic careers

According to a survey published online in the January-February 2009 issue of Academe, doctoral students may be less likely to pursue professorships at research-intensive universities because of the lack of accommodations these institutions make for family needs.Conducted at nine of the 10 University of California campuses, the survey results suggest that today?s doctoral students are leaning toward institutions that have a stronger focus on teaching instead of research, said Karie Frasch, University of California Faculty Family Friendly Edge Project manager.Researchers conducted the survey for seven years with students at different points in their doctoral careers.

Bob Barker donates funds to Law School

Television personality Bob Barker, who hosted ?The Price is Right? for many years, recently donated $1 million to the University Law School for the establishment of an animal law program.?The Bob Barker Animal Law Program will include a course on animal law taught by Prof.

Fewer Jeff Scholars to enroll in 2009

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation plans to award fewer scholarships this year than in years past as a result of limited endowment funds.

Perriello sponsors education bill

Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Charlottesville, sponsored his first bill, the College Learning Access Simplicity and Savings Act of 2009, last Friday in an attempt to simplify the process of claiming federal tax credits for students and their families.

ASC departmental grant will fund guest speakers

In response to pending commonwealth budget cuts preventing the Office of the Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences from funding events with guest speakers and guest artists, Arts & Sciences Council has launched a departmental grant program to help fund such events at the University.

Banks partner with colleges to market use of credit cards

In the current economic downturn, with jobs scarcer than usual, staying out of debt can be difficult for college students and young graduates.

U.Va. researchers receive $1 million grant

A team of University engineers working on a project to improve the security of radio frequency identification computer chips recently received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.RFIDs are small, patch-like devices primarily used to transmit information over very short distances to devices capable of reading them, said John Lach, University associate electrical and computer engineering professor.

Rugby Rd. break-ins spike

While residents of houses along the greater Rugby Road area celebrated the holidays out of town with families and friends, criminals were busy breaking into their Charlottesville homes, stealing belongings and damaging cars left on the streets.

University named top 2009

With the American economy in a recession, many college students are starting to worry about tuition costs.

A healthy mentali-tea

It may seem sadistic to suggest, as you place your shiny new books upon your shelf and print out your new schedule, that you will probably be stressed, overworked and maybe even runny-nosed two weeks from now.But wait!