News

Five University students nominated for Rhodes, Marshall scholarships

Three University students were recommended for the Rhodes Scholarship, and four students were named as nominees for the Marshall Scholarship by the University Selection Committee. Fourth-year College students Catherine Neale, James Kennedy and Ryan Fleenor were endorsed by the University Selection Committee to compete for Rhodes Scholarships. Fourth-year College students Lee Skluzak and Chat Hull, as well as Kennedy and Fleenor, were endorsed for Marshall Scholarships. The Rhodes Scholarship offers 32 American students the opportunity to receive two fully-funded years of post-graduate study at England's Oxford University, said Nicole Hurd, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. The Marshall Scholarship is similar but allows for study at any institution in the United Kingdom, Hurd said. The students had to write a personal statement outlying their planned course of study if chosen to go abroad, according to Hurd. "I would like to pursue a master's degree in higher education," Neale said.

Multicultural Greek Council sponsors new interest group

The governing body of the Multicultural Greek Council voted over the weekend to sponsor a new interest group that hopes to establish the first multicultural fraternity at the University. The new interest group, the Fraternal League for All Men, has been working to attain special CIO status for the past three years, FLAME President Anthony Peng said.

Study reports merits of campus culture on student success

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities found in a study released yesterday that the most important factor for high graduation and retention rates is a "campus culture" that reinforces student success and promotes a sense of purpose. AASCU undertook the study in an effort to understand retention and graduation rates of students at public four-year colleges. "Higher education has long been focused on access, but lately there's been more of a demand to focus on success," AASCU Director of Special Projects John Hammang said. According to the study, the most essential parts of "campus culture" in graduation rates are a sense that students can succeed, an inclusive environment for all members on campus and a "strongly held sense of an institutional mission that recognizes the campus as 'distinctive' or 'special.'" The survey chose 12 institutions nationwide with traditionally high graduation rates or significantly improved graduation numbers within their categories.

soaking up the sun

Where have all the funds gone?

After years of gyrating state appropriations, it now appears that the University is safely on its way to getting the financial autonomy from the Commonwealth administrators say is necessary to compete among top-10 institutions. The Board of Visitors approved a proposed six-year financial plan Saturday and delegated final negotiations on a revised Management Agreement that is likely to go into effect by the next academic year.

Hospital given $6 million grant

The National Institute of Health granted the University Health System a six million dollar grant for prostate cancer research Monday.

Tech introduces new aid program

With the creation of new financial aid programs at both Virginia Tech and William and Mary joining the University's AccessUVa, many Virginia schools and schools across the nation are developing a new approach to financial aid designed to assist student need in higher education. Virginia Tech President Charles W.

Capturing a culture

Wolfe to speak at MayValediction ceremony

Tom Wolfe will be the Valedictory Speaker for this year's graduation festivities, according to University Relations. Wolfe will speak May 20 during Finals Weekend 2006. Fourth Year Trustees President Jordan Levy said the Fourth Year Trustees committee chooses the valediction speaker and that the ceremony is unique in its connection to students. "The students get to run [this ceremony] rather than graduation," Levy said.

Police intervene in religious demonstrators' presentation

The Office of the Dean of Students called University Police to intervene when passers-by complained of disruptive behavior from religious demonstrators on Grounds Monday morning. University Police ordered the group to relocate, to not block the pathways and to tone down their demonstrations. The demonstrators, all members of the Woroniecki family, held large canvas posters bearing religious slogans such as, "SATAN RULES!

City Director of Communications joins Miller Center

After six years of service to Charlottesville, the City's Director of Communications Maurice Jones will resign in October to join the staff at the University's Miller Center of Public Affairs. "I am going to be the new director of major gifts for the Miller Center," Jones said.

Virginia Blood Services begins second-annual blood drive

Virginia Blood Services kicked off the second-annual Crimson War Challenge yesterday among student concern regarding regulations governing blood donation from gay and bisexual men.

UJC votes to create sexual assault liaison

The University Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to replace the Sexual Assault Subcommittee with a sexual assault liaison Sunday night. According to sexual assault subcommittee Chair Derek Yeung, this liaison will be a single individual who will attend Sexual Assault Board meetings and keep the UJC informed of its actions. "We're trying to maintain UJC contact with the Sexual Assault Board and the rest of the University community," Yeung said. According to Yeung, the vote is the result of changes made to the Sexual Assault Board constitution last spring, which ended the Board's use of UJC investigators. "Now all investigation is done by people appointed by the Sexual Assault Board," Yeung said. Before last spring, UJC investigators helped the SAB examine cases. "As the Sexual Assault Board became more autonomous, our investigators stopped being a part of that process," UJC Chair Tim Ormsby said. Although sexual assault technically falls under the first Standard of Conduct of the UJC, cases of sexual assault are all forwarded to the SAB, Ormsby said. "Sexual Assault became its own issue, and the SAB has jurisdiction over that," Ormsby said. Because the Sexual Assault Subcommittee no longer coordinates the investigation of sexual assaults it became unnecessary, Ormsby said. "It didn't make sense for it to be a subcommittee anymore," Ormsby said. Yeung is currently serving as temporary liaison and, according to Ormsby, Yueng will most likely be appointed to the official post. "Derek is going to serve as liaison, he's been doing a good job," Ormsby said. The dissolution of the subcommittee does not constitute a change in the by-laws of the UJC because the subcommittee's existence is not mentioned in them, Ormsby said. "In no way does it mean that we're not interested in being a part of this discussion," he said.

Board of Visitors approves six year plan; Committees meet

The full Board of Visitors gathered in Madison Hall before Saturday's home football game to approve the six-year institutional financial plan and delegate final negotiations of the University's proposed Management Agreement with Gov.

Educational Policy Committee assesses demographic trends

The Educational Policy Committee of the Board of Visitors met Friday afternoon to discuss changing demographics at the University.

Homecomings fans don ribbons for peers

University students and administrators distributed 60,000 black ribbons over the weekend as part of an administration-led, week-long campaign to unify the community. Last Friday, 10,000 black ribbons were distributed to places around Grounds where students could pick them up, including the University Health System, the Law School, the Darden School, the Newcomb Hall information desk and Observatory Hill Dining Hall, University spokesperson Carol Wood said. The remaining 50,000 were distributed at Scott Stadium by student and faculty volunteers with small cards that explained the purpose of the ribbons. Volunteers also wore orange T-shirts with a black ribbon on the front and a similar message promoting unity on the back.

Two students assaulted near Corner

Two male University students were assaulted by unknown attackers in two separate incidents near the Corner early Sunday morning, according toCharlottesville Police. The police reported that three black males punched one of the students in the face at approximately 2 a.m.

External Affairs increases the minimum gift for endowed chair; expresses optimism about Capital Campaign

The Board of Visitors Committee on External Affairs held a meeting Friday regarding the status of the Development Office's efforts to raise $3 billion in the upcoming Capital Campaign.

livE A life of liberty

Tech employs innovative approach to teach math

As both the University and its cross-state cousin Virginia Tech negotiate appropriations agreements with the governor, Virginia Tech's Math Emporium, a technologically-based alternative to traditional classroom lectures, highlights the different approach to mathematical education the University has taken from its Blacksburg counterpart in using state funds. As student-teacher interactions at the University were shown to be at a low compared to peer institutions in a recent survey by the Office of the Dean of Students, the Emporium also offers an alternative to current teaching practices at the University. The Emporium encompasses six introductory math courses and supplements an additional six in the application of mathematic concepts, as well as gaining national recognition for its innovative technology, according to Virginia Tech Mathematics Prof.