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Advocacy group, student leaders give 200,000 pennies to General Assembly

By Cavalier Daily Staff | April 2, 2004

Students from 11 Virginia public universities presented 200,000 pennies to the General Assembly Thursday to show their support for a one-cent sales tax increase dedicated to education, according to Jesse Ferguson, executive director of Virginia21, the Commonwealth-based advocacy group for 18- to 24-year-olds that organized the event. Members of Virginia21 and student leaders met at the steps of the State Capitol to deliver the pennies to Virginia Treasurer Jodi Wagner. "We would rather increase the sales tax than have to have the buck passed on to us," Ferguson said.

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U.Va. grad schools stay stable in rankings

By Jayni Foley | April 2, 2004

University graduate schools maintained strong positions in the U.S. News & World Report rankings released yesterday afternoon, with some small gains in the Education, Medical and Law Schools. The Education School tied at 20th overall, moving up one spot from last year's tie at 21st.

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Council warns students about towing charges

By Matt Galati | April 2, 2004

Student Council posted a Web page outlining towing rates for parking violators on University-owned property last Wednesday. The new Web page follows a Council meeting with Rebecca White, director of University parking and transportation.

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Alumnus reflects on University experience at book reading

By Cavalier Daily Staff | April 2, 2004

Award-winning author and University alumnus Daniel Mendelsohn read excerpts from his memoir, "The Elusive Embrace: Desire and the Riddle of Identity," at the University Bookstore Wednesday night. According to English Prof.

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Council asks for course eval changes

By Timothy Lee | March 31, 2004

Student Council unanimously passed a resolution last night recommending that five student questions written by Council be included within course evaluations and that students have access to the data produced as a result the questions. Currently, students fill out course evaluations, but the results are usually kept within the departments and not revealed to students. "Council has been working hard for the past few years in order to give the administration an idea of what students want to see on course evaluations," said College Rep.

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Travel guide ranks City top place to live

By Kathleen Meyers | March 31, 2004

Charlottesville ranks as the nation's best place to live, according to the popular travel guide company Frommer's. Yesterday, Frommer's released "Cities Ranked and Rated," a guide to more than 400 of the country's communities. The guide scored metro areas in 10 categories -- economy and jobs, cost of living, climate, education, heath and healthcare, crime, transportation, leisure, arts and culture and overall quality of life -- and then averaged the scores to compute the area's overall score. Charlottesville scored especially high in the health and healthcare and the economy and jobs categories, ranking eighth and 12th, respectively, out of the cities evaluated. City government officials credit Charlottesville's top-notch ranking to a wide range of qualities and strengths, including the City's economy, environment and residents. "I think there are a number of issues that illustrate Charlottesville's strengths," City spokesperson Maurice Jones said.

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University ROTC graduates discuss experiences in Iraq

By Sarah R. Gatsos | March 31, 2004

Army Lt. Chris Goodrich used to attend the University, participate in ROTC drills on the Lawn and eat at Pavilion XI.

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Supporting the COUP

By Kathleen Meyers | March 31, 2004

Since 1988, the Consortium of University Publications has allowed student publications at the University to pool resources and equipment, permitting them to put money toward publication and distribution costs. In addition to the 11 organizations comprising the cooperative, the COUP itself is a Contracted Independent Organization which also is eligible to receive appropriations from Student Council. According to COUP President Andrew P.

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UJC cuts off Student Legal Defense Fund

By Lauren Todd Pappa | March 31, 2004

It's time to turn in your get-out-of jail-free card. The University Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Sunday to dissolve the Student Legal Defense Fund, putting to rest a service that provided bail to University students for more than 30 years. Those in favor of abolishing the fund said it has become an underutilized resource in recent years. "There just isn't really a need for this service anymore," outgoing Committee Chair Alexis Gregorian said. Several factors contributed to the elimination of the fund.

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In 12th incident this year, Virginia Tech student falls off balcony

By Cavalier Daily Staff | March 31, 2004

At an off-campus party Sunday, a Virginia Tech student was injured after falling from a third-story window. He is the 12th student to be killed or injured this year as a result of a fall, the largest number of such incidents within a school term, according to a Roanoke Times article. Alcohol consumption links all of the incidents, and three accidents happened this month, officials said. Virginia Tech officials said all the incidents have occurred off-campus.

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Raven Society celebrates centennial

By Corinne Shamy | March 31, 2004

It was a dark and stormy night, and profiles of black birds were projected onto the walls of Memorial Gymnasium, looming over the crowd. The atmosphere was completely appropriate for the centennial anniversary of the Raven Society, said Alexander G.

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Appropriations, away!

By Kathleen Meyers | March 31, 2004

With the number of Contracted Independent Organizations at the University growing every year, Student Council has faced the increasingly daunting task of allocating Student Activities Funds to student groups on Grounds. This year, 320 CIOs requested a total of $1.5 million in appropriations from Council funds.

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Student political groups debate education

By Matt Galati | March 30, 2004

The Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society last night held a debate between representatives from the College Republicans and the University Democrats entitled "Education in America: A Political Perspective." The debate pitted the two student political organizations against one another in a series of prepared questions on educational political topics. Phi Eta Sigma Vice President Joshua Wu moderated the debate, which drew a crowd of about two dozen attendees. Wu opened the debate on the question of school vouchers' effectiveness in society and improving the educational system. "Educational attainment is directly tied to economic status," former University Democrats President Ian Amelkin said.

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Budget cuts spur community college tuition increases

By Cavalier Daily Staff | March 30, 2004

Virginia's community colleges experienced an increase in tuition per credit hour because of state budget cuts. According to Frank Friedman, the president of Piedmont Virginia Community College, the price per credit in the 2001-2002 school year to the 2003-2004 school year increased from $37.12 to $59.60 equating to a 60 percent hike in a two-year period. Even with the tuition hike, Piedmont administrators cut some courses and shortened the library hours. However, total enrollment at Piedmont has increased since the tuition hike. More students under the age of 20, especially those coming straight from high school, have been enrolling at Piedmont.

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Athletic Dept. to launch online ticket system

By AJ Frank | March 30, 2004

The University Athletic Department plans to implement a new online student ticketing system for the 2004-2005 men's basketball season, according to Director of Sports Promotion Andrew Rader. "In the last several years there has been an increased concern for the Athletic Department [because of] a declined interest and support in the Virginia basketball program," Rader said.

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Alderman residence hall suites burglarized

By Kathleen Meyers | March 30, 2004

Multiple break-ins at three of the Alderman Road residence halls early Saturday morning have many first-year residents on edge. In total, $5,700 in electronics and $25 in cash were taken from several suites in Dunglison, Dunnington and Courtenay dormitories sometime after 2:30 a.m., according to University Police Sgt.

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Police unveil new evidence display room

By Shannon Sturcken | March 30, 2004

The University Police Department celebrated the completion of a new evidence room Thursday that will feature a state-of-the-art computerized tracking system and consistent temperature regulation, University Police Lt.

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University alumnus tapped for space travel

By Christopher Jones | March 30, 2004

University graduate, scientist and entrepreneur Greg Olsen will be the next private citizen launched into space by Space Adventures, Inc., the company announced yesterday. Olsen, who earned his doctorate in materials science from the University in 1970, will become the third man launched into space by the Arlington, Va.-based Space Adventures, a privately-owned company that engages in space tourism and other space opportunities. Space Adventures, through an arrangement with the Russian Federal Space Agency, is set to send Olsen to the International Space Station for eight days in April 2005. Olsen said he is honored to be selected to travel into space. "I can't wait to get up there," Olsen said.

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Students not guilty of assault charges

By Corinne Shamy | March 30, 2004

Fourth-year College students and Sigma Chi fraternity members Kurt P. Rupprecht and John P. Selph were found not guilty yesterday of assault and battery charges stemming from an altercation in front of the Sigma Chi house Nov.

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BIS program sees large enrollment increase

By Sarah R. Gatsos | March 29, 2004

An increased number of adult students are seeking enrollment in the University's Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program than in the past, BIS Student Services Coordinator Barbara Bragg said. "The program is growing by leaps and bounds," she said. Bragg said there currently are 150 students in the BIS program, adding that adult students are attracted to the educational atmosphere at the University. "It's U.Va, it's quality," she said.