News

Bills create tougher laws for sex offenses

Gov. Tim Kaine signed legislation Monday that will greatly increase punishments for sex offenders in the Commonwealth, said a spokesperson for Attorney General Bob McDonnell. Twelve related bills were signed into law, according to a press release issued jointly by Kaine and McDonnell's offices. The bills implement tougher mandatory sentences and a requirement that some registered sex offenders wear electronic tracking devices.

Plans in effect to ease traffic congestion

A new traffic light coordination plan was implemented earlier this month that has already improved driving conditions for Charlottesville drivers, said City Councilor Kevin Lynch. West Main Street is the first major Charlottesville road to have the traffic signals coordinated with one another at an Intelligent Transportation System central location, said traffic manager Lonnie Randall. This initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce traffic congestion in important Charlottesville corridors by coordinating the timing of traffic lights that currently run independently of one another. The next streets in line to have regulated traffic signals are Preston Avenue, Emmett Street and Jefferson Park Avenue, and at least two of the three streets will be updated by the end of June, Lynch said. The improvements include timing green lights on busy streets with the speed limit to allow drivers to make it through multiple intersections without having to stop at a red light, Lynch said. "They will all be synchronized so that cars going the speed limit will catch all the green lights," he added. A side effect of linking traffic signal times with the speed limit is that it will enforce the speed limit. Cars that are abiding by the speed limit will be going at a rate that will allow them to make all of the green lights on a coordinated street, Lynch said. Due to the improvements, congestion in the area has been alleviated by approximately 15 to 20 percent which will be most noticeable during peak traffic times, Lynch said. According to Lynch, the plan to coordinate traffic signals is a much more cost effective method of reducing traffic in the city than increasing roads. Upgrading signal communications costs anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per intersection, Randall said. Time has been the limitation on this project, rather than money, Lynch noted. In total, this project will cost approximately $2 million, Randall said. Randall expressed concern about the continued feasibility of funding the project because the amount that was initially raised has been nearly depleted. However, Lynch said he was optimistic that the success of the project and increased efforts to look for funds will allow for the coordination of all the traffic lights in Charlottesville.

Cirque du Soleil to perform at the John Paul Jones Arena this summer

The new John Paul Jones Arena will host the Cirque du Soleil August 1, as part of the "Delirium" tour, said Larry Wilson, general manager of the arena. Cirque du Soleil is an international troupe of acrobats founded in Canada in the early 1980s, according to a press release. Although the performance will be during the summer recess, this is not expected to affect ticket sales. "The demographic for this particular show is 30s on up," Wilson said. The "Delirium" tour marks the first time in the troupe's history that lyrics and actual words will be used in the performance, rather than an invented nonsense language, according to the release. Wilson said tickets will go on sale on Saturday.

Liberal Arts Graduates prepare for the future

With graduation ceremonies just around the corner, most fourth-year liberal arts students are preparing to take on life outside of the University.

Assistant secretary of state speaks on nuclear issue

Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian & Pacific affairs, spoke to students last night about the North Korean nuclear issue during an address sponsored by the International Relations Organization, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, the Washington Literary and Debating Society and the International Residential College. Throughout his time with the Senior Foreign Service, Hill has served as ambassador to Macedonia, Poland and South Korea.

Assistant secretary of state speaks on nuclear issue

Protesters to face UJC charges, opt for open trial

University Judiciary Committee Chair Raleigh Anne Blank announced yesterday that an open UJC trial will be held Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m.

Olympic medalist addresses Darfur crisis

Olympic gold and silver medalist Joey Cheek spoke concerning the Olympics, Africa and activism last night in Wilson Hall. Cheek recently donated his winnings from the Torino Olympics, $40,000, to Right to Play, a humanitarian organization which helps with the development of children through sports and play in disadvantaged areas around the world.

Law alumna to serve as clerk in World Court

Najwa Nabti, an alumna of the University Law School class of 2002, has been selected to clerk for the International Court of Justice, commonly known as the World Court, at The Hague. Nabti is the recipient of the Orrick International Law Fellowship, which reimburses clerks chosen from the University of Virginia up to $40,000 for relocation costs, living expenses and housing.

Students host 24-hour Holocaust observance

Holocaust survivor Erika Eckstut spoke at the University last night as students, faculty and community members gathered for a 24-hour vigil sponsored by the University of Virginia Jewish organization Hillel. The Day of Holocaust Remembrance event began last night with opening remarks from Peter Ochs, Jewish Studies Professor. "This is a time for reflection on what happened to us in the Holocaust," Ochs said.

Honor Committee approves code of ethics

The Honor Committee approved the Code of Ethics that will govern the 2006-2007 committee and discussed goals for subcommittees at last night's meeting. The committee also addressed a petition circulated following the recent open honor trial in which third-year Engineering student Steve Gilday was convicted of an honor offense. Some committee members disagreed with the wording governing the conflict of interest policy addressed in this year's Code of Ethics. The policy includes any situation in which an Honor Committee member, advisor or counsel has reported the case in question or had the case in question reported against him or her.

Cavaliers say good-knight to visiting Bellarmine

Computer theft places student identities at risk

A computer theft from an academic building at the University has compromised valuable student information including names, grades and student identification numbers, according to an e-mail sent by Provost Gene Block to hundreds of potentially affected students. The theft occurred from an academic building in early April and contained information about students who took classes in that building in the fall 2005 semester, Assoc.

Engineering dean visitsChinese universities

Engineering School Dean Jim Aylor will return from China this Wednesday after a two-week visit overseas to meet with professors and students in hopes to strengthen ties with the country's developing programs. Aylor was accompanied by Computer Engineering Professors Lloyd Harriott and Zongli Lin, according to Senior Associate Engineering Dean Barry Johnson. "We're looking to strengthen relationships with universities in East Asia for a number of purposes --one is for student exchanges,"Assoc.

Casteen speaks on state of the University

University President John T. Casteen, III addressed the University community in his annual State of the University speech Friday afternoon, which included discussion of issues such as state budget cuts, the Capital Campaign, student safety, the Living Wage Campaign and academic advances made in the past year. Casteen asked those in attendance to be mindful of the risks to the University posed by a budget impasse in the Virginia General Assembly, which adjourned March 11 without agreeing to a spending plan. "I have confidence, as I hope you do, that the General Assembly and the governor will resolve this impasse and conduct the public business," Casteen said.

Board of Visitors approves tuition aligned with six-year plan

The Board of Visitors met Saturday to approve increases in tuition fees by $665 for in-state undergraduate students and $1,845 for out-of-state students. New tuition rates are aligned with the University's Six-Year Plan, a strategy approved in September 2005 that binds the University to fixed, annual allocations in exchange for moderate tuition increases and observance of state-directed mandates.

No. 17 Baseball travels to coral gables, fla.

U.Va. names director of graduate student diversity programs

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Schools has hired Cheryl Burgan Evans as the director of graduate student diversity programs, a new position in the administration. Provost Gene Block, a member of the group who interviewed Evans for the position in February, explained that the decision to hire Evans is part of a broader University goal to expand the diversity of its student body. "She was hired in response to a recognized need of continuing the effort to diversify the student body," Block said, adding that the University needs "more aggressiveness in this issue." Block said Evans will play a key role in designing a diverse portfolio of prospective students. "If you want to have a diverse graduate student body, you have to identify techniques for reaching students from diverse backgrounds," Block said.

Free expression monument debuts

The Downtown Mall now boasts "The Community Chalkboard and Podium: A Monument to the First Amendment," a monument dedicated by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression in a ceremony held yesterday morning. The 42-foot-long monument, designed by architects Peter O'Shea and Robert Winstead, bears inscriptions of the First Amendment and the words of U.S.