News

Resolution requests use of credit cards

Student Council introduced a resolution last night to support the acceptance of credit cards as a payment option for tuition and fees. According to the resolution, "tuition and fees can be a large expense" and by paying this expense with a credit card, students and families can "yield material benefits." Arthur Durst, a Council representative and sponsor of the resolution, said schools such as Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and the University of Texas currently offer credit card payment options. "It's kind of ridiculous that you can go to McDonald's and buy a Coke [with a credit card], but you can't pay your college tuition with it," he said. Durst explained "U.Va.

Study explores policies for aid approval

A study released yesterday by the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform explores how different states decide whether to distribute financial aid to students with prior drug convictions. The study found that states currently use three different systems to determine the eligibility of students for state financial aid.

Council calls for benefits in resolution

Student Council approved a resolution last night which supports efforts of the University and other state colleges and universities to offer domestic partner benefits to employees and graduate students. Currently, such benefits are not permitted under HB 751, a 2004 state bill which says that state agencies, including the University, cannot provide benefits for unmarried couples.

Employee annual drive donations increase

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign reported an increase in annual drive donations, with the University making its largest contribution in the history of its participation in the CVC. The CVC is a state government initiative that allows state employees the chance to donate to charities.

Flag flies at half-Staff

A new view for a Southside U.

In 1985 when College second-year Grant Woolard was born, his hometown of Martinsville, Virginia was the "Sweatshirt Capital of the World." A town where bluegrass plays on the radio and NASCAR is the sport of choice, Martinsville had a thriving industry in furniture and textile manufacturing. Today, though, Martinsville is better known for its unemployment and economic difficulties. "It's really just a lot of warehouses that are empty," Woolard said.

HONOR RECAP

Feb. 4 An undergraduate student in the College was found not guilty of plagiarism in an introductory level course by a panel of random students.

Correction

In yesterday's article "IFC, ISC work to curb sexual assault" (Feb. 6), Kyle Boynton was erroneously identified as the president of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

Colleges work to open up minority-exclusive programs

In an effort to comply with the 2003 Supreme Court rulings regarding affirmative action, some universities are opening up formerly minority-exclusive programs and scholarships to all students.

Honor may require one member on trial juries

Honor Committee members discussed a proposal Sunday night to add at least one Committee member to all Honor trial juries. Should the proposal be approved by the Committee and then the student body, accused students would retain the right to chose how many Committee members, in addition to the mandatory one, will serve on the jury panel. Currently, accused students have three options for juries: all random students, all Committee members or any combination of the two.

Education Department official speaks at Rotunda

Henry L. Johnson, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education for the U.S. Department of Education, made a speech in the Dome Room of the Rotunda yesterday afternoon that offered a positive analysis of the current progress and future achievement of primary and secondary education in the United States. Johnson discussed the critical role the No Child Left Behind legislation has played in school improvements as well as current plans which will shape American education in the future. "No Child encourages rigor and accountability," Johnson said.

U.Va. meets security standards

The University has met the nearly all of the recommendations for campus safety and security recently proposed by Virginia21, an "action-tank", or political advocate, for young people, Dean of Students Penny Rue said. Virginia21 announced its newest plan to increase safety and security on college campuses state-wide Thursday with the three-part "Protect Virginia Students" proposal. Virginia21 has three main goals: strengthen campus police, increase the accountability of universities and give power to college communities to solve problems on their own, according to Virginia21 spokesperson David Solimini. The "Protect Virginia Students" plan, which comes after an extensive two-year study of campus crime by the Virginia Crime Commission, will create a "college law-enforcement center to set standards and guidelines for campus police across the state," Solimini said. The Center will also create a centralized data collection network to be implemented by all state universities, he said. Currently, the State Department of Education evaluates Virginia colleges and universities annually in areas including affordability, diversity and availability of financial aid.

Virginia General Assembly votes to lift sales tax

The House of Delegates voted unanimously Monday to suspend the five percent sales tax on back to school items for three days in August, according to the General Assembly's legislative database.

U.Va. experts speculate on Boehner's impact on higher ed.

As Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, takes on the role of majority leader in the U. S. House of Representatives, University faculty said they are waiting to see what actions the former chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce will take in reforming higher education in his new position. Boehner has been active in promoting education legislation, specifically the College Access and Opportunity Act, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act.

Board of Visitors makes diversity a broader goal

Suggestions for improving diversity within the University became a major discussion point among the Board of Visitors' seven standing committee reports presented to the entire Board Friday. While the Special Committee on Diversity was developed in 2003 to focus specifically on the University's diversity initiatives, Friday's meeting featured discussion of diversity among all of the Board's committees. This development "is quite different from how it was three years ago," said Warren M.

Honor seeks to clarify "seriousness" wording

The Honor Committee discussed a proposal Sunday night to change the wording of the seriousness clause of the Honor Constitution. To be convicted of an Honor offense, a jury must first find the accused student guilty of act and intent, and then find the student committed an act serious enough to merit expulsion.

Student BOV member selected

The Board of Visitors announced the selection of its newest non-voting student member last Friday. Lizzie Mullen, a third-year American Studies major, was chosen out of 29 applicants to succeed the current student board member, fourth-year Catherine Neale. "I think that Lizzie has a firm grasp on student opinions and student issues and she has the ability to relate to the board members really well," Neale said. Neale, among other students, joined Pat Lampkin, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Board Secretary Alexander Gilliam on the committee that conducted interviews and selected the five finalists. "Lizzie knows and is well-known to a great number and variety of students," said Board Rector Thomas F.

IFC, ISC work to curb sexual assault

On last year's Bid Night, 15 of 16 members of the Inter-Sorority Council reported the sexual assault of at least one of their members, according to Michael Goldsmith, president of the IFC and ISC's Joint Committee on Sexual Assault. Last spring, members of the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Inter-Sorority Council created the Joint Committee on Sexual Assault partially in response to that finding, Goldsmith said. The Committee's agenda is "still in the formation stages," Goldsmith said. This year, Goldsmith sent an e-mail to committee members, all of whom are sorority and fraternity presidents, to encourage discussion and prevention of sexual assault by fraternity members on Bid Night. Future plans of the Committee include the formation of a fraternity-sorority presidential mediation council to facilitate dialogue between fraternity and sorority presidents and members. "The atmosphere within the Greek system is going to change," Goldsmith said. Lee Sparks, president of Delta Delta Delta sorority, said her sorority took actions to prevent Bid Night assaults, such as the institution of a tougher Sober Sisters Program. The program was adjusted "just so we knew that there were a definite number of women who were sober and out walking around making sure that women were as safe as they could be," she said. Brian Kohn, president of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, described similar actions taken by his fraternity on bid night to prevent assaults. "We have brothers in the party staying sober and kind of watching out for guys taking advantage of girls or girls getting really drunk," he said.

I've Got rhythm