News

Verizon to expand cell phone service

"Can you hear me now?" Verizon Wireless customers at the University and surrounding Charlottesville area may no longer have to ask this question, thanks to Verizon's recent announcement that the company will soon begin construction of three new cell phone towers in Albemarle County. This announcement has excited some University students who subscribe to Verizon's cell phone service. "I think it would be great, very helpful," third-year College student Stephanie Jean-Charles said after hearing of the proposed towers, noting that many University students are Verizon customers. Jean-Charles said she switched to Verizon in October last year and was surprised by the lack of reception she got in the Charlottesville area. "To be honest, it really bothered me." Jean-Charles said about the extended Verizon network, adding that she blamed the extended network's battery drain for her need to frequently charge her cell phone battery. Second-year College student Ally Baxter agreed that the current Verizon network in Charlottesville is not up to par.

Student bills now payablethrough ISIS

As Internet transactions grow increasingly common, University Student Financial Services launched its new online payment system, QuikPay, on ISIS yesterday. Eliminating paper bills altogether, the new system allows students and authorized payers to pay fees such as tuition, room and board, bookstore and telecommunication charges, library fines and parking tickets online, according to Sara Jordan, manager of public relations and customer service for Student Financial Services. Students received an e-mail Monday announcing the new system's debut, and parents will receive a postcard in the mail outlining the new system. Second-year College student Matthew Britt noted the importance of informing parents because many parents would be more likely than students to use the system to pay for students' miscellaneous charges like a telephone bill. Parental involvement was one of the reasons for implementing the service, Jordan said, adding that Student Financial Services chose to introduce the program during February because usually only 7,000 to 8,000 bills are sent out during the month, as opposed to the nearly 20,000 bills mailed out during major semester billing periods. Along with the convenience of paying online, QuikPay users will be able to pay off their bills in increments, and students will be able to send the bill to up to five authorized payers after they receive notification of a bill's arrival via e-mail. QuikPay's efficiency does not only benefit students and their families -- it eliminates the high cost and time delay associated with mailing bills, Jordan said, especially for international students who often received bills a week after the payment was due under the previous system. Students and authorized payers are now able to view bills and pay via e-Check from a savings or checking account or by credit card.

Study finds Hispanic population growing

In the past 16 years, the Hispanic population in the commonwealth has tripled, according to a University study released Monday. The study was directed by Qian Cai, research director for the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Cai, along with a team of eight researchers, collected and analyzed data from the Census Bureau, including from its 2006 American Community Survey, without performing any independent research. According to Cai, although the study found that the Hispanic population within the commonwealth is expanding, Virginia's population is still only 6 percent Hispanic compared to 15 percent Hispanic nationwide. While Cai noted the commonwealth is "not a Hispanic-concentrated state," the study indicates growth will continue. The study, however, does not stop at population growth; it investigates various characteristics of the commonwealth's Hispanic population.

Spring is on the way

Hospital recognized for heart care

Cardiovascular patients in central Virginia can expect to receive superior care, a Thomson Healthcare study suggests, ranking the University Hospital among the top 100 in the country for cardiovascular health services. According to Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president of the 100 Top Hospitals program with Thomson Healthcare, the study divided hospitals into three categories for evaluation.

Frisbee fun on the lawn

Va. House, Senate, pass budget bills

The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates passed separate versions of the commonwealth's budget last Thursday, and a joint committee expects to resolve differences between the two budgets before March 8 for review by Gov.

University Health System plans to build new long-term care hospital

The University Health System plans to begin construction of a specialized medical facility later this year that is designed to accommodate patients with long-term medical needs. Called the Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, "this is a facility that would be specifically designed for persons who must be in the hospital for [at least] 25 days," said Leonard Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer. These patients, Sandridge said, are often ventilator-dependent and require specialized treatment.

Keynote remembers black entrepreneurs

Alfred A. Edmond, Jr., editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise magazine, addressed students and faculty yesterday in an effort to educate members of the University community about managing their finances and starting their own businesses.

Noakes denied bond because owf criminal history

Christopher Allen Noakes, charged with the sexual assault of a University student last week, was denied bond Feb.

Correction

The Thursday, Feb. 21 news article "Sexual assault support network launched" incorrectly referred to Walter Thornton, executive director of the Sexual Assault Resource Agency, as "he," when Thornton should have been referred to as "she." The Cavalier Daily regrets the error.

Mahoney to serve as next Law dean

University Law Prof. Paul Mahoney will be the next dean of the Law School, President John T. Casteen, III announced yesterday. "He was by far and away in a class by himself," said Arthur Garson, University executive vice president and provost, who helped lead the dean search process.

University to test siren system

The University will conduct a test of an outdoor public-address and siren system this morning at 9 at Scott Stadium, affecting those living and working in the area. Notifications of the test have been sent to those in the area, including Resident Staff members, employees in the athletic department, Aquatic & Fitness Center and Bryant Hall offices, and residents in surrounding non-University neighborhoods, according to University spokesperson Carol Wood. The sound test should only last for a few minutes and will be most audible in the areas surrounding the stadium, Wood said, noting that the University hopes to install the system being tested in order to provide another way of alerting faculty and staff in the case of an emergency.

Dinner benefits Ridley fund

Over $80,000 was raised Saturday evening at the sixth annual Ridley Scholarship Dinner to benefit recipients of the Ridley Scholarship for Richmond-area black University students.

Is it Spring Break Yet?

Commerce School forms international partnership

The Commerce School recently established a partnership with Peking University's Guanghua School of Management and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's School of Business and Management to allow students from the University to participate in a student exchange program beginning in the 2008-09 academic year., According to Commerce School Dean Carl Zeithaml, the partnership "is more multidimensional than just an exchange of students" and is similar to the Commerce School's program in Copenhagen, Denmark. Zeithaml maintained that the program is different from other study abroad options offered through the Commerce School because students will not only be able to study in Peking and Hong Kong, but students from those universities also will be able to come to the University to take classes in the Commerce School.

Honor to reevaluate jurisdiction bylaw

Last night, the Honor Committee discussed narrowing the definition of the University's community of trust, specifically when alleged offenses outside the University fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee. "It is a worthwhile discussion of what we want the scope of the honor system to be," said Josh Hess, vice chair for community relations. According to Linda Liu, vice chair for investigations, the Committee began specifying the Committee's language of jurisdiction last semester because several members felt it was too broad and unfair to students who are unaware that the honor code can apply to students beyond Grounds.

Game leads to gun scare

In the wake of the shootings at Northern Illinois University, the game Assassins led to a scare involving the use of a fake gun at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Caught in the Web of Juicy Gossip

College gossip is nothing new. Thanks to some Web sites, however, it is now easier to spread gossip more than ever before.

Universities evaluate emergency plans

In the wake of the recent shootings at Northern Illinois University and Louisiana Technical College, institutes of higher education across the nation are focusing on ways to protect their campuses.