Eleven newly-selected members of the inaugural University Board of Elections will be responsible for overseeing a wide range of University elections this spring. The UBE selection committee notified selected members for the opening board Jan.
After a winter storm dropped up to four inches of snow in areas across Virginia Sunday, many universities kept their doors closed Monday. In response to icy conditions yesterday, James Madison University cancelled all classes beginning after 5 p.m., and the College of William and Mary cancelled classes for the day.
This weekend one of two University mock trial teams competing in a national invitational at Columbia University placed second among a field of 32 other teams. Although the University's mock trial program has competed in only one other competition this school year, it defeated teams from all over the country, including Yale and George Washington University.
With state-funded higher education dollars decreasing and tuition rates increasing, a student advocacy group called Virginia21 and student governments across the Commonwealth are petitioning the Virginia General Assembly to increase funding for student financial aid through the recently launched "Campaign for Financial Security." Sen.
On the eve of its 25th year serving Charlottesville and its surrounding communities, the University's largest volunteer organization, Madison House, will be operating in the red if measures are not taken soon to insure its financial viability. Five years ago, Student Council voted to start de-funding Madison House in an attempt to make the organization completely self-sufficient and save student activities fees for less independent student organizations. However, Council overestimated the organization's ability to be financially independent, according to Council Vice President for Organizations Eli Dejarnette, and now the financial future of Madison House is in jeopardy. As a result of this situation, Council President Daisy Lundy and Dejarnette currently are working out the details of a bill which will modify Council's bylaws in order to permanently reinstate Madison House's yearly funding allocation. Mark Straub, a fourth-year Commerce student who serves on the Madison House Board of Directors, emphasized the importance of Council's continued support of Madison House because of its contributions to the communities surrounding the University. "This decision is one over thousands of dollars, but it has a very tangible result," he said.
Four new e-mail worms have been squirming their way into students' inboxes since last week. The viruses -- Beagle, Dumaru.z, Dumaru.y and MyDoom -- infect machines by mass mailing themselves to other users once the recipient has opened an attachment in an infected e-mail, said Shirley Payne, director of security and policy at ITC.
Four college presidents from across the Commonwealth presented their concerns to members of the Senate Finance Committee last Thursday in an effort to increase support for higher education. The presidents of Emory & Henry College and Randolph-Macon College, both private institutions, offered arguments for an increase in tuition assistance grants while the heads of Virginia Tech and the Virginia Community College System made a case for greater state funding. "We were talking to a very supportive group of influential legislators," said Glenn DuBois, Virginia Community College System chancellor. With the proposed transformation of Virginia's three flagship colleges and universities into charter schools likely to be placed on hold for another year, alternate methods for correcting budget shortfalls now are being considered. The committee has begun debating its own tax plan, sponsored by committee chair and President pro tempore of the Senate John Chichester, R-Stafford, which could help close the gap in state funding for higher education. In addition to the tax plan Gov.
In spite of the constraints caused by a shrinking budget over the past five years, programs sponsored by Madison House continue to give students an opportunity to contribute to the community. Though there is a lack of funding, Elizabeth Argeris, student co-chair of the Madison House Board of Directors, was adamant that Madison House still provides well-trained volunteers and quality programs. "The problem is that the budget covers the bare necessities, and often the program directors have to use their own money to go the extra mile," Argeris said. Dwindling funds As a student-run, non-profit organization, Madison House is responsible for coordinating the largest group of student volunteers on Grounds.
As the Feb. 10 Virginia primary approaches, candidates may find increased interest among young voters, according to a recent survey that indicates political awareness among college students is at its highest level since 1994. Conducted by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute, the survey found that 33.9 percent of students agreed that "keeping up to date with political affairs" is a very important or essential life goal.
The University, City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County all experienced similar drops in crime from 2002 to 2003, according to statistics released yesterday. The statistics were reported according to severity as defined under the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System, which classifies more violent crimes as Part I offenses.
Old man winter arrived in Central Virginia late Sunday afternoon and likely will stick around through the remainder of today. The region saw about four to five inches of freshly fallen powder as they left their homes yesterday morning. Environmental Sciences Prof.
The University Democrats braved the winter weather this past weekend, traveling to the frozen tundra of New Hampshire's presidential primary battleground in Manchester. Members of the group ran phone banks, distributed literature, canvassed door to door and gained general visibility for their respective candidates. "We decided to go to New Hampshire because for one week every four years it becomes the political epicenter of the nation," said David Wasserman, University Democrats campaign party coordinator.
Engineering Prof. Brian L. Smith was recognized as the Council of University Transportation Centers' 2003 outstanding new faculty member in transportation Jan.
The Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney's office announced Friday that an investigation into hazing accusations at the University's Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity last October has led to charges of trespassing and destruction of property against a University student. Charlottesville Police Detective Sgt.
The Class of 2004 will welcome University alumnus and professional football player Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber at Valediction Exercises May 15, University officials announced yesterday. Barber, a 1997 Commerce school graduate, is a star running back for the National Football League's New York Giants and a veteran of Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001. "He was a great student and a great athlete who really matured into a fine young man," University spokesperson Carol Wood said.
Student Council and the Learning Needs and Evaluation center are sponsoring a series of activities for Disability Awareness Week, which began yesterday. The events include a selection of films dealing with the theme of disabled persons.
The Inter-Sorority Council held its inaugural new member program for sorority pledges in the Newcomb Hall ballroom Saturday.
The Cavalier Daily staff elected a new ensemble of writing, photography and production staff members to serve on its 115th managing, senior and junior boards Saturday in Jefferson Hall. The staff elected Chris Wilson, a third-year College student majoring in English, to serve as editor-in-chief for the coming two semesters.
As the University begins the process of drafting a bill to seek increased fiscal and procedural autonomy from the Commonwealth, University administrators and the Staff Union are expressing two very different points of view concerning the potential impact of the bill on employees. University spokesperson Carol Wood said the bill soon will go to the Commonwealth's education committee, comprised of members of the House of Delegates and Senate, for review. "During the next year the committee will discuss the legislation, talk about it, gather information and refine it," Wood said. Staff Union President Jan Cornell said she was unhappy with the bill because she thinks it will negatively affect staff members. "When I read this new bill, I was appalled," she said. Cornell said her main concerns center on the areas of human resources and procurement policies.
With three spots up for grabs in the Charlottesville City Council election in May, City Democrats and Republicans both are engaged in the process of selecting potential nominees. City Democrats will hold a caucus Feb.
