Some part-time University employees could gain access to low-cost health insurance benefits under a measure unanimously passed by the Virginia House of the Delegates last Wednesday. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. The original legislation, sponsored by Del.
Spring fraternity pledges attended presentations on alcohol awareness and sexual assault this week as part of the Inter-Fraternity Council's new Pledge Education Week.
The University cannot meet the demands of two alumni who asked University President John T. Casteen, III to initiate efforts to provide employee benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners by Saturday, Casteen said in an e-mail this week. In response, a Web site set up by the two alumni will begin accepting donations Saturday.
At the end of last semester, I wrote an article discussing the choice of becoming a physician. I promised that I would spend some time talking with friends who are fresh out of medical school about their choices, asking if they would have any advice to pass along to others who were considering the same career. First let me give a brief overview of the training required to become a physician.
With Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of winter, many students have voiced their concerns about the University's propensity to hold classes even in severe winter weather. Classes were last canceled Feb.
Astronomers have detected a planet in a solar system 90 light-years away that seems to heat its own sun. For over a year, Evgenya Shkolnik and Gordon Walker of the University of British Columbia and David Bohlender of the National Research Council of Canada have tracked a planet orbiting the star designated HD 179949.
After eight years of service on Charlottesville's City Council, Mayor Maurice Cox is taking a break from politics. As a mayor, University professor and partner in an architecture firm, Cox often has had to juggle his various commitments, leaving little time for much else. "The first thing that strikes me about the man is his enthusiasm for public service," fellow Council member Kevin Lynch said. Now, Cox said he hopes to focus his energy on other priorities, such as his wife and two children. "We haven't seen him, almost," said his wife, Giovanna Galfione-Cox.
With several major University construction projects underway, Student Council will vote Tuesday on the formation of the Presidential Cabinet for Buildings and Grounds. "I think that given the exciting new face that the University will take on within the next few years, it is important for there to be a consistent student voice," Council President Daisy Lundy said. According to Lundy, the cabinet is designed to give students a chance to express their views and concerns about both immediate and long-term on-Grounds projects. Lundy said the formation of the cabinet, as opposed to a less-permanent ad-hoc committee, would give continuity to student input over a period of several years. "The University has a plethora of building projects going on now and in the future," said Will Sowers, Council vice president for administration.
Republican Party members nominated city residents Kenneth Jackson and Ann Reinicke Monday to represent the Charlottesville Republican Party in the upcoming City Council election in May. Jackson and Reinicke will be up against Democratic incumbent Kevin Lynch and newcomers David Brown and Kendra Hamilton for the three open seats on the five-member City Council. Current Council member Rob Schilling, who has sat on Council for two years, was the first Republican elected to Council in 16 years.
Planning to seduce that cute coed down the hall with champagne and strawberries? Thinking of feeding oysters to your Valentine to put him in a more romantic mood? Think again. According to Terry Turner, professor of Urology and Cell Biology at the medical school, foods commonly thought of as aphrodisiacs have no physiological effect on the body. "Most of it is smoke and mirrors and pipe dreams," he said. While little is known on the reason for the dearth of aphrodisiacs among the panoply of edibles available to humans, Biology Prof.
ITC is offering a "patch" service that will automatically update anti-virus software for faculty and staff computers at the University. The service is a result of escalating virus threats to computer operating systems. "It is a service to automatically patch your Microsoft operating system," said Shirley Payne, director for security coordination and policy.
As the level of higher education funding the University receives from the Virginia General Assembly continues to decline, the Board of Visitors Finance Committee met Friday to consider the state of the University's finances and make decisions regarding its financial future. While the University's endowment fund is growing at its highest rate ever -- three times the rate of the market, according to University President John T.
University Contracted Independent Organizations this week have been preparing budgets to present before Student Council's appropriations subcommittees next week in order to receive funding for the 2004-2005 school year. According to Council Vice President for Organizations Eli DeJarnette, CIOs already have attended mandatory meetings that began Feb.
The Virginia Senate yesterday passed a bill to create a Route 29 western bypass around Charlottesville. The bill, sponsored by Sen.
Jesse Ferguson, executive director of the 21st Century Virginia Coalition, gave a presentation sponsored by the University Democrats last night, the latest in both Virginia-21's attempt to urge young voters into action and the University Democrats' "Take Action" agenda, which promotes similar activism among University students. Virginia-21 describes itself as a bipartisan "action-tank" with a nonpartisan agenda promoting the interests of 18 to 24-year-olds.
First-year College student Yin He was stuck in the first-year rut. Every weekend involved either a trip out to Rugby Road or a movie night with her suite mates.
The Virginia House of Delegates yesterday denied a legislator's attempt to discharge four members of the James Madison University Board of Visitors after they supported the sale of emergency contraception pills at campus health centers. Del.
In an effort to recognize major philanthropic contributors to the University, the Board of Visitors named a pedestrian bridge, three professorships and two Medical School libraries in honor of the donors Saturday. The pedestrian bridge is named after former Board member Bill Goodwin and his wife Alice, University Rector Gordon Rainey said.
Despite the efforts of political activists around Grounds and throughout Charlottesville to promote political participation, precinct officials reported low voter turnout in yesterday's primary. "Voter turnout is low when you consider how many registered voters are in this particular precinct," said Richard Marsden, chief election official at the Alumni Hall polling location. Nevertheless, some Charlottesville residents were enthusiastic about participating in the primary. "I am concerned about the drift of the Democratic Party to the middle," Charlottesville voter Robyn Kells said.
Supporters of Madison House breathed a sigh of relief when Student Council overwhelmingly approved a bill last night increasing Madison House funding starting in the 2004-05 school year. "If Madison House continued on their [current] budget, they would have to run on a deficit and possibly cut invaluable programs," Council President Daisy Lundy said.
