News

Approval of honor increases

Survey data recently released by the Honor Committee suggests an increase in positive student opinion of honor and polarization in terms of the single sanction, said Josh Hess, vice chair for community relations. When asked "In general, how do you feel about the honor system at the University of Virginia?" there was an increase in the "very positive" responses, from 21.6 percent to 42.3 percent since 2002, Hess said. Although this seemed to be a positive indication for the Committee, Hess said, data showed student opinion of the system can decline over time. "Generally students are more likely not to change their opinion," he explained, "but those that change are more likely to have their opinion decline rather than improve." Opinions of the single sanction also differed from previous surveys, Hess said, noting "students seem to be more polarized in the issue since 2002 and 2000." Answers to "I fully support the single sanction" and "I do not support the single sanction" rose from 19.5 percent to 29.4 percent and 17.7 percent to 27.5 percent, respectively, since 2000, Hess said. Vice Chair for Trials Brian O'Neill said the data also indicated statistically significant differences among ethnic groups on certain questions. Minority students are more likely to feel the honor system treats students unfairly based on race, origin and athletic status, he said, while white students do not. For the first time, Hess said, the survey asked University students what issues they would like the Committee to focus on in the future. "Minority students think the Honor Committee should focus on increasing diversity of the Committee and support officers," O'Neill said, noting black students' disproportionate interest in the Committee focusing on "the disproportional rate at which minority students and/or athletes are reported for honor offenses" was also statistically significant. Chair Ben Cooper said the statistics should not be overly extrapolated for generalizations but also acknowledged their importance. "I think these numbers are very useful in providing where the student body stands," Cooper said.

Two suspects charged with I-64 shooting

Two teenage suspects have been charged with multiple felonies in the shootings on Interstate 64, which occurred early Thursday morning.

Grants to aid courses with service tie-ins

In an effort to promote community engagement courses, the office of the executive vice president and provost recently created three types of grants available to members of the University community for the 2008-09 academic year. The grants, created in response to recommendations from the Commission on the Future of the University and the President's Commission on Diversity and Equity, will benefit community engagement courses, which are designed to "create meaningful experiences and also a difference in the community" by combining both traditional study and community service projects, according to Megan Raymond, acting director of University outreach for the office. A current example of such a course is the ecoMOD Project, which is a partnership between the Architecture School, the Engineering School and organizations such as the Piedmont Housing Alliance to create modular and ecological home prototypes within the community. The provost's office hopes that by having these grants available, similar courses containing aspects of both curriculum and community engagement will be created, said Milton Adams, vice provost for academic programs.

Bond documents acquired

The University Library recently announced it has acquired approximately 47,000 civil rights movement documents from History Prof.

Campaigning on the Road

BOV student member now in 25th year

More than three decades ago, a Student Council president named Larry J. Sabato, along with other University students, began calling for the creation of a student position on the Board of Visitors.

Privacy laws clarified

Prompted by the shootings at Virginia Tech last year, the U.S. Department of Education has proposed clarifications for a law pertaining to the release of private student information, Education Department spokesperson Jim Bradshaw said. "It's a way to make crystal clear that schools can release certain education records on a student who might be a threat to him or herself or others," Bradshaw said. Published Monday in the Federal Register, the proposed amendment explicitly addresses when schools can release information in accordance with the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Bradshaw said.

Galloway gets Tyler award

Environmental Science Prof. James Galloway was named the joint recipient of the $200,000 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement yesterday.

Cavalier Daily statement regarding recent comics (UPDATED)

The Cavalier Daily sincerely regrets any offense readers may have taken to two recent comics in the strip TCB published March 13 and 14.

Drivers injured in Interstate 64 shootings

No fewer than six vehicles were the targets of an unidentified shooter or shooters in and around Interstate 64 in Albemarle County early Thursday morning, according to a Virginia State Police press release. Shortly after midnight, police received a call from the driver of a vehicle that had been hit by gunfire as it approached the Route 690 overpass, traveling westbound, the press release stated.

Correction

The Thursday, March 27 News article "Barefoot scrutinizes honor's history" identifies Coy Barefoot as "director of alumni relations and communications." The Cavalier Daily would like to clarify that Barefoot is director of communications and alumni relations at the University's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. The Thursday, March 27 News article "Gibson will head Sorenson political institute" stated that "former executive director Sean O'Brien left the institute in January to become executive director of James Madison University's Center of the Constitution." O'Brien actually left the institute to become executive director of the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier.

Student named Truman Scholarship recipient

Third-year College student Xiao Wang recently gained a head start in his efforts to follow Thomas Jefferson's footsteps into a career of public service: He was awarded a Truman Scholarship. The Harry S.

Comic artists' statement regarding recent comics

The comic artists responsible for the March 13 and 14 TCB comic strips decline to comment on their work at this time.

ACLU debates attorney general's in-state ruling

In response to a memorandum sent by Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union recently sent a letter to the presidents of all public universities in Virginia urging them not to deny in-state tuition to students whose parents are illegal immigrants.

Student groups fill Lawn rooms

Recent changes to the now complete Lawn room selection process have meant that organizations with administrative agreements for Lawn rooms had to jump through additional hoops these past few months to ensure a member of those organizations would reside next year in their traditional Lawn room. Patricia Lampkin, vice president for student affairs, said the changes restore the original spirit of the agreements that are in place. "We're trying to both weigh the history of it and honor its original intent," Lampkin said. Next year's residents of the Lawn rooms traditionally awarded to members of the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, Trigon Engineering Society, Kappa Sigma fraternity and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity applied through the regular Lawn application process as a result of the changes. Of the eight rooms claimed by organizations through special agreements, four -- the Honor Committee room, the Crispell room, the Residence Life room and the Gus Blagden "Good Guy" room -- have contracts with the Board of Visitors, Lampkin said.

Plans for Jefferson Fellows Center move forward

According to Jefferson Scholars Foundation President James Wright, plans for the new Jefferson Fellows Center have been submitted to the City of Charlottesville and are awaiting approval.

Gibson will head Sorenson political institute

Political journalist and University graduate Bob Gibson was recently named executive director of the University's Thomas C.

Amphitheater Pilgrimage

Barefoot scrutinizes honor's history

Many University community members believe the 1840 murder of Law Prof. John A.G. Davis was the catalyst that led students to create the honor pledge two years after that incident.

University to use Common Application

Starting in fall 2009 the University Office of Admission will begin accepting the Common Application from prospective students in place of the traditional University application. "We felt strongly that having a universal application would make it easier for students," Associate Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts said, adding that the Common Application will completely replace the University's old application. According to the Common Application Web site, students can fill out one standardized Common Application and use it for any of the more than 300 participating colleges and universities.