The Virginia House of Delegates Rules Committee unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday expressing the commonwealth's "profound regret" for its role in slavery. The resolution, sponsored by Del.
Environmental Science Prof. Manuel Lerdau was recently appointed director of Blandy Experimental Farm, a biological research station operated by the University, according to Blandy Public Relations Coordinator Tim Farmer. The 700-acre property, located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, was named after Graham Blandy who donated the land to the University upon his death. According to Farmer, researchers are able to study plant and animal interactions, plant ecology, pollination systems and a variety of ecology studies at Blandy.
While applauding recent accomplishments yet also noting room for development and improvement, African-American Affairs Dean Maurice Apprey delivered the University's annual State of the Office of African-American Affairs Address last night. Apprey's talk, entitled "Leading Change, Managing Transformations," marked the beginning of Black History Month and emphasized the need for slow, deliberate changes to the OAAA. Apprey first summarized the past achievements of the OAAA.
While a proposal sits in the General Assembly aimed at increasing financial literacy among students, AccessUVa has already begun this initative at the University.
Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, proposed the Obey-Byrd Resolution on Tuesday to increase the federal Pell Grant scholarship. The Pell Grant would be raised from $4,050 to $4,310 per individual, a national total increase of approximately six million dollars, according to Byrd's Communication Director, Tom Gavin. Pell Grants are typically awarded to low-income students, and take into account several factors, including the student's expected family contribution, whether or not the student is enrolled full- or part-time and the cost of tuition for the particular institution, according to the Department of Education's Web site. Gavin explained that Pell Grant funding has not been increased for four years, despite average tuition increases at higher education institutions. "The Pell Grants are the foundation of financial aid packages," Gavin said, adding that it is "important to keep up with the pace of increase." While the sponsors of the resolution are Democrats, Gavin said the bill is a bipartisan initiative. "It is not a time for finger pointing," he said.
A textbox accompanying yesterday's Focus article "No place for professors?" incorrectly identified James Madison University as one of three Virginia public colleges and universities which do not have a faculty member sitting on their boards of visitors.
Singer/songwriter Ben Folds will be the main act at this year's Springfest, hosted by the University Programs Council Special Programs Committee and PK German. Fourth-year College student Jenn Root, chair of the Special Programs Committee, said a contract with Folds was finalized Tuesday. Root explained that when selecting a main act for Springfest, her committee considered which performers might be available to perform on dates when the Springfest venue, Nameless Field, would be available for use. Folds was the committee's first choice for Springfest's main act, Root said, adding that the committee has tried to sign Folds in past years. Tenacious D was also on the list of possible performers, according to second-year College student Brandon Rothenberg, a member of the UPC Comedy and Variety Committee. Springfest will be held from 12 to 7 p.m.
The Darden School held a symposium on poverty yesterday aimed at informing MBA students about the issue and discussing how they can affect change. Sponsored by several organizations, including the Boston Consulting Group and the Darden Student Association, the event was open to both students and community members. The symposium opened with a video and discussion informing the attendees the state of poverty, both locally and globally.
The Faculty Senate addressed replacing Edward Ayers, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Provost Gene Block as well as creating a committee on the future of the University and other goals for the upcoming year at its first meeting of the semester yesterday. University President John T.
Four members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Florida State University were arrested Saturday at 1:30 a.m.
NASA recently recognized Engineering Prof. Robert E. Johnson when his team was selected as a finalist in a competition to fully develop a mission to orbit Mars.
Gov. Tim Kaine, in conjunction with the Science Museum of Virginia, announced University Environmental Science Prof.
At the start of this year's Virginia congressional session, the Senate's Education and Health Committee considered a bill that would have required the board of visitors of each public institution of higher education to provide a seat for faculty.
Student Council passed a resolution last night to institute an undergraduate pledge against prejudice. The legislation is designed to give students a chance "to reflect on issues of community diversity and multi-vocality after first-year orientation" and recognize "the history of institutionalized inequalities at the University." Diversity Initiatives Co-Chairs Ryan McElveen and Yvonne Ng sponsored the legislation along with Executive Vice President Nick Jordan. "We want to give first years a chance to personally reflect on diversity and on how they fit in to the culture at U.Va.," McElveen said. During debate of the legislation, several representatives expressed concern over whether the names of the pledge's signatories should be available to the public. Law School Rep.
Last week the University approved a six-year plan allowing for renovations to the Rotunda. These will be the first renovations made to the Rotunda since the 1970s, according to Brian Hogg, senior preservation planner in the Office of the University Architect. University Architect David Neuman will be heading the preliminary stage of what is currently known as the Capital Plan. "Rather than doing a piecemeal series of repairs, the University has decided to take a comprehensive look at the building that will let us address the many different aspects," Hogg said. Hogg added that there are no specific designs or layout plans for the renovations at this time. "Nothing has been planned yet," Hogg said.
The ISC Executive Board will transition to new leadership on Friday, following elections held in December and the announcement of its newest chairs yesterday. The ISC chose its president and four vice presidents in the December elections and appointed its various chair positions this past Sunday. In previous years, the ISC held elections in February after the end of sorority rush, but according to current ISC President Massie Payne, that system did not allow new officials to become accustomed to their positions before Spring Break. Payne added that having elections earlier would allow newly elected Executive Board members to shadow outgoing officials during rush and gain valuable experience for the coming year. "Now that we're transitioning on Friday, I think we'll be able to get a lot more done before Spring Break," Payne said. In addition to the move from February elections, current ISC Public Relations co-chair Marci Stewart said the ISC has made a few changes regarding informal rush in order to attract more transfer students and women who may feel excluded from the Greek system. As a result of these changes, Stewart explained that more houses will be encouraged to take part in informal recruitment, which is held each fall for second years and transfer students.
Two University students were victims of attempted sexual assault in two separate incidents reported early Monday morning.
The University announced yesterday that bestselling author and Charlottesville resident John Grisham will serve as the commencement speaker during Graduation Weekend. Grisham's name first surfaced when the Public Occasions subcommittee of the University's Commencements and Convocations Committee made a list of possible speakers, according to Alexander G.
