News

IFC reports rise in rush participation

While some students used this weekend to recuperate from the first few days of class, many others braved the inclement weather to participate in the ongoing fraternity and sorority recruitment process. Charlie Morgan, Inter-Fraternity Council chairman for membership intake, said 674 men are participating in rush this year. IFC President Andrew Paradis said the number of men participating is up about three percent from last year, noting that the IFC focuses outreach efforts toward those men who "might be on the fence in terms of rush and people who are typically underrepresented." Courtney Ball, Inter-Sorority Council vice president for recruitment, said 755 women began the rush process.

U.Va. No. 2 producer of Peace Corps volunteers

The University has dropped from first to second in a national ranking of the number of graduates from mid-sized colleges and universities serving in the Peace Corps.

Bush, Congress spar over bill to lower student loan rates

The White House announced Tuesday that it would not support H.R. 5 -- known as the "College Student Relief Act" -- which would lower interest rates on some student loans. The bill, approved by the House 356 to 71 Jan.

MTV Networks purchases Web site

MTV Networks, home of mtvU, VH1 and other popular networks, has recently purchased ratemyprofessors.com.

Think Green

Honor passes plans to alter investigation process

The Honor Committee passed a "transformation" proposal Dec. 3 to improve the committee's investigation process.

U.Va. extends early decision offers

The University offered admission last month to 973 early decision applicants for the Class of 2011.

Agee sentenced to 40 years in prison for rape of University student

John Henry Agee, who faced charges for the rape and object sexual penetration of a former University Law student, has been sentenced to a combined term of 40 years in prison.

Hospital first in lung transplant survival

A recent study by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients ranks the University Medical Center number one in the nation for lung transplant operation survival. The ranking is based on a 98.08 percent survival rate from the 52 lung transplant procedures performed at the University's transplant center from 2003 to 2005. One reason for the Medical Center's high survival rate comes from a recent change in how patients are prioritized for receiving transplants. In the past, patients have been placed on a list based on when they requested a lung transplant, but now they are ranked using a new scoring system, according to Donna Charlebois, nurse practitioner and lung transplant coordinator from the University Transplant Center. "There is certain data we gather such as the amount of oxygen the patient is receiving, their age and their state of health, and they get a score based on that data," Charlesbois said.

TA leaks student ID numbers

University students' Social Security numbers were accidentally compromised Dec. 7 when a teaching assistant in the economics department sent out grades in an e-mail to his sections that included full names and full Social Security numbers. First-year College student Kimmy Feinstein was one of more than 60 students affected. "I was pretty upset," Feinstein said.

University appoints permanent police chief

The University announced the appointment of Interim Police Chief Michael Gibson as the official chief of the University Police Department yesterday. Leonard Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer, finalized the decision last week, according to Gibson. Gibson, who has worked in the department since 1982, was selected by a search committee created to permanently fill the position, University spokesperson Carol Wood said. "A number of candidates were interviewed but it was clear to the search committee that Chief Gibson was the right candidate at the right time for the University," Wood said. Having worked in several different positions within the department, Gibson has seen many changes in relation to law enforcement at the University. "Since 1982 the University has grown tremendously--not only in the size and number of buildings but also the demands placed upon the police department in relation to the special events that we have," Gibson said. National accreditation for the department is now Gibson's main goal.

University recognized as best value in public colleges

The University was recently recognized as one of the "best values in public colleges" by Kiplinger's Magazine, at number four on the list.

Bill may allowU.Va. increased control of funds

Recent passage of a bill by the House of Delegates' education subcommittee may grant the University's Board of Visitors the autonomy to control millions of dollars currently in restricted reserve funds. The bill, passed in subcommittee Tuesday, would allow the investment of University funds currently set aside for future expenses, according to Del.

Former Virginia Gov. Gilmore enters 2008 presidential race

Proposed slavery apology ignites controversy

Del. Frank Hargrove, R-Hanover, is facing criticism for his comments opposing the adoption of a resolution that would apologize to descendants of slaves on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In an interview with the Charlottesville Daily Progress about the resolution Hargrove said black citizens should "get over" slavery. According to Hargrove's legislative aide Buddy Fowler, however, the delegate's words have been misunderstood. "He is not a racist," Fowler said.

Va. legislature hears Va. Beach college proposal

In the current legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly will examine a proposal to study the feasibility of establishing a four-year public university in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach is "the biggest city in the Commonwealth," said Delegate Robert Tata, R-Virginia Beach, the patron of this bill.

Brain tumor claims fourth-year's life

Fourth-year College student Sam Selden passed away Dec. 2 in Charlottesville in the house he shared with his fiancée, fourth-year College student Lindsey Jones. Selden was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor early in January 2005 after experiencing severe headaches, according to his father, David Selden. Despite his condition, Sam Selden decided to return to school, his father said. "It was a little hard for me to allow him to that but that's what he wanted to do with his life and he was there till the end," David Selden added. Sam Selden served as an honor counsel and was also the chair of the policy-drafting subcommittee of the Sanction Review Committee. David Selden said his son focused on his psychology and economics majors and on his goal of going to law school. "He was not one to spend a lot of time kind of just hanging out, he was a hard-working kid," David Selden said. Jones also said Sam Selden was very focused on his studies. "He was the epitome of a U.Va.

Black grad rate top among publics

The University has the highest graduation rate for African-American students, at 87 percent, of all the nation's public universities, according to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education's annual report.

UVa's Real Estate Rip-Off?

In 1977, when Charlottesville resident Ethel Crowe acquired her property adjacent to the University, at 408 Valley Road, she paid a total of $40,000.

Block to leave U.Va. after appointment to UCLA chancellor

At a special meeting on December 21, 2006, the Regents of the University of California approved the appointment of University Provost Gene Block to the position of chancellor of the University of California--Los Angeles.