News

Derby Days features more emphasis on philanthropy

This year's annual Derby Days fundraiser, organized by the Sigma Chi fraternity, placed a greater emphasis on the philanthropic value of the event than in previous years. The changes came in response to concerns that last year's Derby Days fueled competitive conduct among the Inter-Sorority Council chapters and the sororities' desire to ensure compliance with national regulations. ISC President Christina Valencia said the changes included switching the scavenger hunt and Mr. Derby Days pageant to a trivia night and a lip sync competition. The event's tone also was impacted by its increased focus on philanthropy. "Overall, the biggest changes were in the activities in that they were focused on the philanthropy aspect so that the houses could focus on coming together for a cause," Sigma Kappa President Katie Leavitt said. Sigma Chi has made steps toward decreasing the atmosphere of rivalry by emphasizing entire chapter involvement as opposed to participation from the pledge class, according to Valencia. "Hazing can be broadly defined as doing something as a group that others do not have to do, so scavenger hunts go against national policies," Valencia said.

Study shows students' spirituality

Spirituality is a top concern among college freshman, according to the results of a survey regarding college students' attitudes about spirituality and religion recently released. The survey, prepared by the Higher Education Research Institute of the University of California at Los Angeles, found that more than three-quarters of freshmen are looking for meaning in life.

Mentor program seeks to ease first-year transition

A new program recently was established to help first-year students find their niche at the University through the aid of a mentor. Adopt a First Year, a mentoring program started by second-year College student Elizabeth Tran, connects first years with upperclassmen who have matching academic, extracurricular and other personal interests. While mentoring programs in previous years have focused more on minority students, the program is the first attempt to broaden mentoring opportunities to the entire first-year class.

NCAA approves longer season, scholarships

The National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Management Council approved proposals Tuesday for an extended football season and more scholarship opportunities for female athletes. The possibility of adding one game to the Division I-A and I-AA football schedule was contested only by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the conference to which the University belongs. "People in other conferences wanted to do it because it offers the prospect of higher revenue," said Jack Evans, faculty athletic representative at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and ACC representative to the Management Council.

Rocking our world, apocalypse style

Years of treading on the Earth's surface beneath our feet has led the human race to take for granted the power that our rock holds.

Bill aims to foster math, science

A bill was presented to Congress Tuesday that would pay the interest on student loans for graduates who work in a math or science job, including teaching, for at least five years. The Math and Science Incentive Act, which was presented in the House by U.S.

Is genius a disease?

Whether it is one general ability "g" or a variety of context-dependent intelligences, the nature of intelligence has been an elusive concept to clearly define.

StudCo hears appropriation appeals

In an appropriations appeals hearing held Tuesday night, fewer than 10 percent of the University's nearly 360 Contracted Independent Organizations appealed the appropriations allotted to them by Student Council this semester, according to Rebecca Keyworth, Council vice president for organizations. During the first round of appeals, representatives from five CIOs unsatisfied with the amount of money appropriated to them April 4, presented an appeals to the main representative body of the Council. The appealing CIOs sought funding for valued items that had been excluded from their operational or activity budgets by the Council appropriations committee during the committee's deliberations in late March and early April. Problems that most CIOs found with their allocations from Council were dealt with prior to the appeals because some of the financial discrepancies stemmed from minor oversights on the part of the allocations committee, Keyworth said. Other CIOs were denied funding for certain line items -- items cut from CIO budgets by the Appropriations Committee -- and resorted to appealing their allocations before Council. The Media, Entertainment and Sports Club at Darden, one of the CIOs to appear before Council Tuesday night, sought funding to extend its Web site to include an electronic database, which would include contact information for high-profile speakers and thus streamline event planning for club officers who change every year, club President Ken Zamkow said. "We wanted all this knowledge to be preserved and to not disappear," Zamkow said. Members of the club were concerned that certain items proposed by CIOs are "categorically denied" by the Appropriations Committee. Despite this concern, Zamkow said he believed Council fully debated all proposed items after finishing the opening statements and question-and-answer sessions with the CIOs. Other CIOs present Tuesday night included AGAPE and the Virginia Women's Chorus. Council will inform appealing CIOs whether or not their line items will receive funding within the next few days. A second round of appeals will be held next Tuesday, during which Keyworth said she expects five to 10 more CIO's to present appeals for their unfunded line items.

Varsity Hall paves way for construction

Varsity Hall was transported to a permanent location near Hospital Drive Saturday. The move took about eight months to prepare for and about eight hours to complete, according to University Architect David Neuman.

Searching for Space

In response to the recent revision of City zoning codes, local developers are building high-density apartments with fewer parking spaces around the University area.

Charlottesville City Council finalizes budget

City of Charlottesville Police will receive pay raises while City residents enjoy decreased property tax rates because of the 2005-2006 City budget, passed by City Council Tuesday evening. The $106 million budget, prepared by City Manager Gary O'Connell, was adopted by the Council in a 4-1 vote.

Kilgore focuses on education, domestic violence

Jerry Kilgore, presumptive Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Commonwealth Attorney General, highlighted his ideas for addressing domestic violence among other issues during a visit to Politics Prof.

HaPPY BIRTHDAY, T.J.

Gen. Assembly earns Muzzle awards

The Virginia House of Delegates earned two of the Center for the Protection of Free Expression's annual Muzzle Awards yesterday. "The qualifications for this award is evidence of having done things over the past year showing unusual disregard for principles of free speech and the press," said University Law Prof.

Bowl proceeds support grad students, band

After receiving $1.1 million from the MPC Computers Bowl, the University's Department of Athletics will continue to support other areas of the University by donating $25,000 to both the Faculty Senate and the Cavalier Marching Band endowment. The money granted to the Faculty Senate will go toward one of their six Dissertation-Year Fellowships.

the sound of music

Forgotten Racism

Although Asians are the largest minority group at the University, making up approximately 12 percent of the student population, many students and faculty say they are oftentimes marginalized in the typical dichotomy of black and white race relations. Coinciding with Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month and Take Back the Night, two facebook groups about Asian women have had attention called to them by various students.

O-Hill Dining Hall set to open in August

The Observatory Hill Dining Hall will open later than expected, according to officials from Facilities Management and the Office of Business Operations. The dining hall originally was scheduled to open over Winter Break, and the timeline then was pushed back to Spring Break.

Council supports transfer program

Student Council unanimously passed a resolution last night to endorse a student exchange program for students to attend historically black universities.