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The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit concerning visas denied to foreign students and professors based on political views last week. The suit, filed in conjunction with the American Association of University Professors and the PEN American Center, a leftist literary organization, charges the State Department, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the CIA with not complying with a Freedom of Information Act request filed in March. The ACLU requested documents related to several "prominent intellectuals" who were denied visas under Section 411 of the Patriot Act, which allows the United States Government to deny entrance to any foreigner who has "used positions of prominence to endorse or espouse terrorist activity." After eight months, the ACLU had received only one document from the State Department that was deemed unhelpful, according to the ACLU. The ACLU statement said 61 Cuban students were denied entry less than two weeks before they were scheduled to attend the Latin American Students Association's international congress in October 2004. The State Department claimed that it was only being consistent with the Bush administration's policies aimed at quickly bringing democratic reform in Cuba, according to the ACLU. In another incident, Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen and Muslim scholar, was forced to resign his teaching position at the University of Notre Dame when his visa, granted in 2002, was revoked.
Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, a University Law School alumna, were recognized by Time magazine as among the nation's five best governors. In the edition, released yesterday, Time also recognized Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Kenny Guinn of Nevada and Kathleen Sibelis of Kansas. The article said the five honorees are the "hardest working" governors in the nation and specifically recognized Warner for his handling of the Commonwealth's financial problems.
Nineteen-year-old College student Megan Miller was arrested for assaulting a police officer, escaping police custody, possession of an open container of alcohol and obstruction of justice last Thursday night. According to a University Police press release, University Officer Craig Martin was dispatched with a Charlottesville City Officer to a residence on 13th Street because of a noise complaint. "The University officer was working with the Charlottesville officer as part of the joint patrol," University Police Capt.
Economics students will face larger classes and fewer offerings next semester as the department faces staffing problems and a funding shortage, according to Economics Dept.
An African, African-American and Caribbean student interest publication at the University celebrated its revival Friday night. One thousand copies of the magazine, called "Pride," are scheduled to be distributed on Grounds this week.
In the first open honor trial in three years, third-year College students Joe Schlingbaum and Lindsay McClung were both found not guilty of unauthorized collaboration on homework assignments. The jury of 10 found Schlingbaum and McClung not guilty of violating the seriousness clause, after the jury found the pair violated the honor code for act and intent. In order to convict a student of an honor offense a four-fifths majority of the jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the student committed the act and the student had dishonorable intent, meaning he or she knew or should have known the act violated the honor code.
Students and faculty gathered on the steps of the Rotunda Friday evening to honor and rally for the rights of Filipino World War II veterans during a candlelight vigil. The vigil, sponsored by the Organization of Young Filipino Americans and the Asian Student Union, was part of a broader effort among East Coast schools to show support for Filipino veterans who do not receive deserved benefits from the U.S.
Unlike last year, flu vaccines are not expected to be in short supply at the University this year, according to Student Health Nursing Supervisor Karin Hancher. Chiron, the major supplier of flu vaccines for the University, was shut down last year, allowing only half the vaccines to be produced. "Everybody was short last year because this major company wasn't able to produce flu vaccine," Hancher said. The company had lost its FDA approval last year but regained permission to release its vaccines this year. Initially, a large amount of the vaccines produced this year was sent to the Gulf states, which meant the University could only receive sporadic deliveries, Hancher said.
University students gathered on the Rotunda steps Tuesday night to tear down a mock Berlin Wall to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the falling of the real wall that used to separate East and West Berlin. The event was put together by the Network of Enlightened Women and drew a turnout of about 25 students.
The first open honor trial in more than three years is scheduled to take place this Sunday at 10 a.m.
University Career Services recently received its first Peace Corps representative to the University. The Peace Corps sent University graduate Justin Lawrence as its representative. "They opened up this position because so many U.Va.
The "Papers of George Washington" research project at the University was awarded a 2005 National Humanities medal for its contributions to the field of humanities. Theodore J.
The 2005 National Survey of Student Engagement released recently found that transfer students and students who have concurrent enrollment at more than one university may have a harder time getting the full university experience. The survey stated that transfer students had fewer interactions with faculty, participated in fewer educationally enriching activities and reported gaining less from college than their peers. Fourth-year College student Tom Gibson transferred from the University of Florida and said it is a difficult experience. "I had to apply to college again, move into a new place again -- it gets to the point where you get kind of burnt out," Gibson said.
The outcome of the race for Virginia's attorney general remains unclear as Republican candidate Robert McDonnell leads Democrat candidate Creigh Deeds by less than 2,000 votes with 99.88 percent of precincts reporting at midnight according to the Virginia Board of Elections.
Recently released documents from the University Honor Committee show opinions of student jurors about the honor system vary widely based on the outcome and perceived fairness of the trial.
Looser restrictions on the voting rights of felons and increased regulation of mopeds are among the programs the Charlottesville City Council wants to receive priority in the 2006 session of the Virginia General Assembly.
Members of the African-American community on Grounds voiced their concern about racial insensitivity within The Cavalier Daily to staff members, including Editor-In-Chief Patrick Harvey, at a Black Student Alliance meeting Tuesday evening. The meeting came about after public outcry over a comic strip by Dan Gantz ran Oct.
The race for Virginia's attorney general between Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds and Republican candidate Robert McDonnell was too close to call at press time, with Deeds trailing by about 3,500 votes with 99.63 percent of precincts reporting at press time. According to state law, the defeated candidate can ask the State Board of Elections for a recount if the margin is one percentage point or less.
