News

Capitol holiday tree Virginia's 'gift to the nation'

This year's annual national Christmas tree was harvested in Highland County, Va., just west of Staunton, on Election Day, according to a WINA report. The tradition of the national Capitol holiday tree was started by University graduate and President Woodrow Wilson, a Staunton native, in 1914. This year's tree, a large 70-foot red spruce, was cut down in George Washington National Forest. Before arriving in Washington for its official lighting, the tree will make its way around Virginia, stopping in Staunton over Thanksgiving and passing through Orange County, home of President James Madison. The tree will begin its exhibition around the Commonwealth when it departs from Monterey at the Highland County Fair Grounds Nov.

JUMP INTO FALL

As cold weather descends on Charlottesville, Grounds gets blanketed with leaves.

Correction

The caption of yesterday's front-page photo, Glorious Victory, erroneously identified the celebrating football player as D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Ad hoc committee presents proposals for sanction reform

Members of the Sanction Reform Committee presented opposing ideas for reform at Sunday night's Honor Committee meeting. Sam Selden, chair of the policy-drafting subcommittee of the SRC, presented several possible sanction policies, while four SRC members who are not in favor of reforming the single sanction responded by presenting an alternate proposal that would focus on reforming the honor system rather than the sanction itself. "The goal is to analyze and identify the best alternative to the single sanction," Selden said. The first option is to keep the traditional single sanction as it is without any changes. The second option is "single sanction with forgiveness," in which expulsion following a guilty verdict would no longer necessarily be permanent.

University extends early housing offers

Last Friday, University students who applied for on-Grounds housing for the 2005-06 school year learned whether or not they will be accommodated.

Schaub arrested on assault charge

Matt Schaub, former University star quarterback and Atlanta Falcons' draft, was arrested early Saturday morning for reportedly taking part in an assault that took place in the Corner district. Near 1 a.m., a 19-year-old male stopped a Charlottesville Police officer, claiming he had been assaulted by three people near the Wing Factory restaurant on Elliewood Avenue, according to a police statement. Though none of the suspects were on the scene when the police officer arrived, Schaub, 23, was identified as one of the assailants and was later arrested.

New CEO to tackle U.Va. endowment

The University of Virginia Investment Management Company made public its decision to entrust the University's financial future to Christopher J.

Witness reconstructs encounter with suspect

The prosecution introduced the bulk of its forensic evidence in addition to key witness testimony on Friday in the second-degree murder trial of former University student Andrew Alston.

GOP keeps Virginia red

The 2004 election in Virginia saw visits from Democratic candidate John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards, millions in Democratic advertising and talk from Democratic Gov.

GLORIOUS VICTORY

Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson celebrates with fans after Virginia's 16-0 victory over Maryland Saturday at Scott Stadium.

Boyd files Honor grievance

A former University student who was found guilty of an honor offense and expelled from the University has filed a complaint against the Honor Committee, alleging multiple counts of unfairness in his trial. Adam Boyd, now a senior at James Madison University, was found guilty of cheating on a make-up quiz in Prof.

SCREAMING FOR LAUGHS

Comedy Central personality Nick Swardson gets into his performance at Old Cabell Hall last night.

Summit reevaluates educational system

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner presented contrasting views of the country's current education system at a Miller Center program yesterday reevaluating a major education summit held at the University in 1989. Paige said the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act dramatically improved American education. "It fulfilled a bipartisan quest for improved education," Paige said. Paige added that some of the national goals set at the 1989 summit were incorporated into the No Child Left Behind Act -- goals such as national standards for academic achievement, qualified teachers in classrooms, informing parents of student performance, and improvement in student accountability. Paige also addressed what he called the public's misconceptions of the act. "We still get the same complaints about funding," Paige said.

Political scientists offered more accurate predictions this year than in 2000

Election forecasters more precisely predicted the outcome of the election this year than in 2000, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. In September, political scientists offered seven predictions at the annual meeting of the American Political Scientist Association.

Body of missing UF student may be found in Jacksonville

A body found Wednesday near a Jacksonville parking garage is believed to be that of missing University of Florida student David R.

Students respond to 2004 election

University students say they followed the presidential election fairly closely and were pleased with record voter turnout.

Prosecution calls witnesses at trial

Testimony from Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Marcella Fierro brought former University student Andrew Alston to tears yesterday during his trial for the second-degree murder of Charlottesville resident Walker Sisk on Nov.

Va. schools see more ACT scores

The ACT, a standardized college entrance exam different from the SAT, is becoming more popular among students who are applying to colleges and universities across Virginia. University Dean of Admissions John A.

LET'S GET OHIO

Kerry concedes race, Bush to serve four more years

President Bush celebrated yesterday afternoon after being declared the winner of the 2004 presidential election. The president delivered his victory speech at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.