News

Concerns arise over U.Va. donor privacy

Several state organizations have raised concerns about the University's request to maintain donor anonymity, despite laws that such information is to be made public. At Monday's meeting of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, the University asked for the Council to make an exception concerning preexisting public policy, according to the Council's staff attorney Alan Gernhardt.

Warner calls for U.S. policy changes

Former Gov. Mark Warner criticized current U.S. energy strategies and foreign policy and expressed a desire to return to political office during an address to University students yesterday. Warner said America is currently "at a moment of remarkable change," in which the American people have begun to question the government's foreign policy because it is not aligned with American values. According to Warner, these values include respect for the law, the importance of human rights and America's reputation as a "place of aspiration." One theme of Warner's speech was how the energy crisis could unite a country that is currently divided. He said the current policy of "Let's borrow money from China to buy oil from countries that don't like us" is not effective. Warner's address capped off a series of lectures in an introductory politics class taught by Prof.

Fraud continues to plague bank sites

The threat of fraudulent activity remains just a click away for online banking customers. Researchers have discovered methods hackers are using to circumvent added security measures on the Bank of America Web site. Researchers at Indiana University released a video Tuesday that shows the potential for fraudulent activity on the bank's Web site despite the implementation of SiteKey, a widely used online security system.

Blogger challenges censors

"Choosing journalism as a profession in Iran is not like walking in a mine field. It is like stepping on a mine." These were the words of Roozbeh Mirebrahimi, Iranian reformist journalist and blogger, who spoke at the Miller Center of Public Affairs last night about the current state of censorship and the press in Iran. Before Mirebrahimi delivered his speech, Politics Prof.

Report: adult higher ed. programs limited

Non-profit colleges and universities do not provide enough opportunities for adults seeking to obtain a college degree, according to research by Education school faculty. The research was released earlier this week as part of a report on the availability of higher education for adults. Assistant Education Prof.

Aiming for awareness

Producer of "An Inconvenient Truth" to visit Charlottesville

A producer of "An Inconvenient Truth" will visit Charlottesville next week as part of a nationwide tour to encourage students to take action against global warming. Laurie David, producer of the controversial documentary featuring former Vice President Al Gore, will speak at the Charlottesville Pavilion on the Downtown Mall April 19. According to Charlottesville Pavilion Marketing Director Tami Keaveny, the Charlottesville presentation will include video and music about global warming and a performance by Robert Randolph & The Family Band. Keaveny added that Grammy winner Sheryl Crow will attend other performances on the tour but will not be present at the Charlottesville presentation. Publicist Briele Douglass said the tour is targeted at college students. "They started this tour to really urge college students to get involved because they hold a lot of power," she said. In a press release, David stated that college students have been the driving force for change in the past. "Now -- more than ever -- is the time for students across the country to become global warming activists," she stated. -- compiled by Kacie Varriale

Virgil Goode receives citizen's indictment

U.S. Congressman Virgil Goode, R-Va., was issued a citizens' indictment April 6 after allegedly failing to meet the demands of constituents protesting his support for the war in Iraq. The indictment came after the trial of 11 protesters who were arrested for staging sit-ins at Goode's Charlottesville office during the month of March. Jennifer Connor, one of the protestors arrested, said the group felt "obligated" to indict Goode since he is not representing the views of his constituents concerning the war in Iraq. "We are required to speak out against the crimes being committed in Iraq, and it's Goode's obligation to speak out on these things," Connor said. Goode said in most cases his views and decisions represent the views of his constituents. Goode said he had tried to contact the group by responding to letters written by constituents and spoke with one of the constituents. "I got the impression that they weren't interested in anything but getting arrested and getting publicity," Goode said. The protestors received a 30-day jail suspension pending two years of good behavior. -- compiled by Marisa Roman

Council revisits two appropriation verdicts

The new members of the Executive Committee oversaw their first meeting when Student Council voted last night to allocate traveling funds to the Virginia Rifle and Pistol Club, after denying the club money in the first round of appropriations. Council also approved a resolution recommending changes to the Lawn Pavilion selection process. According to the club's initial appropriations request, "their travel fees were in the form of weekly requests," Student Council President Lauren Tilton said.

City approves budget

After two months of debate, Charlottesville City Council adopted a $100 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year at yesterday's meeting. In a four-to-one vote at City Hall, Councilor and Mayor David E.

Jefferson "Muzzle" awards focus on free speech

While there are many awards that recognize individuals for upholding the ideals set forth by Thomas Jefferson, the Muzzle Awards are some of the few that recognize individuals believed to undermine the values he espoused. The Charlottesville-based Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, an autonomous, non-profit group advocating freedom of expression, announced the recipients of the 2007 Jefferson "Muzzle Award" yesterday. According to Josh Wheeler, associate director of the Thomas Jefferson Center, the awards are given annually on or near Thomas Jefferson's birthday and are presented to institutions or individuals who impeded free expression during the preceding year. "When the program first started 16 years ago, it was just us keeping our eyes and ears open for violations," Wheeler said.

Goldwater award goes to students

Three University undergraduate students will be able to pursue scientific research after being awarded thousands of dollars in recognition of their achievements in math, science and engineering. Second-year College students Jennifer Cano and Sean Cantrell and third-year Engineering student Gary Shambat have been named recipients of the Barry M.

Students report visits by illegal solicitors

Residents of Lambeth Field Apartments and the International Residential College have reported several incidents of illegal solicitation in past weeks. University Police Capt.

The State of StudCo

Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Student Awareness. Increased student involvement in Council. Renewed focus on student councerns.

Faculty discuss merits of ethnic studies in curriculum

By Franny Corneliussen Cavalier Daily Associate Editor A panel of professors and administrators met last night to discuss how an ethnic studies program could fit into the University's curriculum. In an opening statement, the moderator of the panel, Student Council Diversity Chair Ryan McElveen, said such programs would help internationalize the University. "Ethnic studies programs can provide a launching pad for learning how the marked 'other' functions in our society," McElveen said.

Princeton adds family benefits

Princeton University recently announced the expansion of its family-oriented initiatives to improve support for students with families. Joan Girgus, Princeton professor of psychology and special assistant to the faculty dean on matters relating to gender equity, said the most notable change is providing graduate students a semester delay of academic work, which had been previously given only to faculty members. "What we've tried to do is to take all the programs that support families at Princeton and make them available to graduate students at Princeton as well as faculty and staff," Girgus said.

Kaine selects new BOV member

Gov. Tim Kaine selected former CarMax president, chief executive officer and co-founder Austin Ligon to serve on the Board of Visitors Friday. In addition, Kaine reappointed L.F.

Honor reviews bylaw proposals

Honor Committee members proposed two amendments to the bylaws during the new Committee's first meeting last night. These amendments change the language of the bylaws to clarify and redefine the position of vice chair for community relations and update several discrepancies that have arisen in the bylaws. Josh Hess, vice chair for community relations, proposed one amendment to redefine the position he is serving.

Raising money for charity

Study finds college students know more about politics than pop culture

College students care more about politics than pop culture, according to recent nationwide study by Tufts University.