News

Sanction referendum vote set for Sunday

The Honor Committee will decide this Sunday whether it will send the forgiveness clause, developed by the Sanction Reform Committee, to this spring's student ballot. In the meantime, students involved in the debate over sanction reform are split over whether the SRC proposal changes too much or too little in the honor system. Under the forgiveness clause, a student convicted of an honor offense would be suspended for two semesters, and would then be eligible to re-enter the University.

AUDITIONS FOR SHAKESPEARE'S MACBETH

Sofka letter asks Ayers for specifics of removal

A day after a letter detailing the reassignment of Politics Prof. James R. Sofka from his position as director of the Echols program became public, Sofka yesterday responded to College Dean Edward L.

Report: More students passing AP exams

The College Board announced yesterday that the number of students who passed an AP exam has risen in all 50 states. The "Advanced Placement Report to the Nation," made in anticipation of the AP program's 50th anniversary in the 2005-06 school year, showed that the percentage of high school seniors who received at least a 3 on one of the tests has climbed from 10.2 percent in 2000 to 13.2 percent in 2004. In addition to detailing AP success, the report also announced adjustment planned for the AP program. According to Ayeola Boothe-Kinlaw, director of equity and access initiatives for the Advanced Placement program, one of these adjustments applies to the way grades are reported to schools, districts and states. "We've changed the way schools receive their grades," Boothe-Kinlaw said.

Miller Center hosts writer Ron Suskind

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Ron Suskind spoke last night at the Miller Center for Public Affairs in a forum titled "Faith, Certainty and the Presidency of George W.

Online CityLink to serve City residents as of May

Soon Charlottesville residents will be able to forgo the trek to City Hall to pay their parking tickets.

Proposed bills alter charter plans

Although the proposed chartered universities legislation has yet to be debated in committee or on the General Assembly floor, it has already undergone significant changes since its original proposal by the University, William & Mary and Virginia Tech during 2004. Sen.

Ayers letter reveals new reasons for Echols move

A Jan. 14, 2005 letter from College Dean Edward L. Ayers to Politics Prof. James R. Sofka, a copy of which was obtained by The Cavalier Daily, indicates that Ayers' recent decision to remove Sofka from his position as dean of the Echols program was prompted by complaints that Sofka had acted inappropriately with female students.

Advocacy group pushes for cheaper textbooks

University students who believe they are paying too much for their textbooks are not alone. They are joined by Virginia21, a non-partisan group advocating policies to make the textbook-purchasing process both fairer and less expensive. Virginia21 Communications Director David Solimini described the group, which focuses on issues pertaining to young voters 18- to 24-years-old, as an "AARP for people our age." "The goal is to help create a free market for textbooks," Solimini said. Virginia21 submitted a formal bill to the Virginia General Assembly which will be voted on by the Higher Education Subcommittee Friday. In the bill, Virginia21 addressed two main factors that drive up the cost of students' textbooks.

Enrollment shows tsunami did not affect students

The University has not heard from any students who might have been affected by the tsunami disaster and are unable to return to Charlottesville, International Studies Director Rebecca Brown said yesterday. After the disaster, the University sent a mass e-mail to students with residences in Southeast Asia expressing condolences and extending support, but the e-mail did not specifically ask students to respond. "We have not heard any information regarding students unable to return to U.Va.," Brown said.

Toxic lab chemical spill disrupts classes

Students walking to class in the Chemistry Building yesterday afternoon were greeted by a sea of fire trucks and rescue vehicles responding to a chemical spill. Local fire and police personnel responded to the spill in Room 280, according to University Police Capt.

Ideas differ on sanction reform

The Honor Committee heard two opposing proposals on the issue of sanction reform at its meeting Sunday night. The Sanction Reform Committee, after looking into several alternative sanctioning policies, voted to formally recommend to the Honor Committee a policy that would add a forgiveness clause to the current single sanction system. SRC Chair Sara Page presented the resolution, which asked the Committee to forward the forgiveness clause proposal to a student-body referendum in the upcoming spring election. "The heart of this resolution is really the idea of putting a reform policy on the ballot," Page said.

Police find body of Chyler Ebersold

The search for former University student Chyler Ebersold ended yesterday when one of the many concerned groups looking for him discovered his body shortly after 10 a.m., Charlottesville Police said.

Many alumni in Peace Corps

The University produced more United States Peace Corps volunteers than any other midsized institution for the third year in a row, the Peace Corps announced yesterday. The 84 University alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps overseas represent the seventh largest contingent from any school in the nation.

Survey: U.Va. alcohol abuse in decline

The results of the 2004 Student Health Survey, conducted by the Office of Health Promotion, show an overall decrease in the number of injuries to students due to their personal alcohol use.

LENDING A HELPING HAND

Formal recruitment shows increase in participants

At the conclusion of this year's formal recruitment, the Inter-Sorority Council reported a substantial increase in bid acceptance. "We were able to match substantially more women with chapters this year with the new quota total system," ISC Vice President for Recruitment Megan Frisk said. ISC Recruitment Counselor Director Elena Knapper said ISC was happy with this year's recruitment, which began Jan.

William & Mary to require incoming freshmen to purchase laptops

After about nine months of planning, the College of William & Mary recently announced its plan to require incoming freshmen to purchase laptops, starting next fall.

Judge: City and University police agreement invalid

An 18-year-old agreement that gave University Police the power to enforce traffic and criminal law outside of University boundaries recently was invalidated by the Charlottesville General District Court. The Cooperative Patrol agreement was struck down by Judge Robert H.

Police report inconclusive DNA tests

Charlottesville Police reported Friday that preliminary DNA tests of the Jan. 11 rapist who attacked a woman in the city's Belmont Park section were inconclusive, Charlottesville Police Sgt.