News

Charlottesville says Adelphia violates contract

Charlottesville City Council unanimously passed a resolution last Monday declaring Adelphia Communications in violation of its franchise agreement with the city. Despite the decision, negotiations are underway to renew Adelphia's franchise agreement, which expires in June. "This doesn't start us off on a promising note," Vice Mayor Meredith Richards said. Under the current agreement, in place since 1992, Adelphia pays the city a franchise fee equal to 5 percent of its gross revenues in exchange for the right to run cables on public land. Adelphia has not reported its advertising revenue from 1999 to 2001, according to an independent auditor hired by the city.

Large grant to benefit U.Va music

The University received a substantial pledge yesterday, totaling $23.5 million, to bolster the University's music program.

Defining Miss Daisy

She flashes a brilliant smile and humbly shrugs her shoulders: "I'm really not that exciting of a person." Many would find it hard to believe that Student Council President-elect Daisy Lundy honestly leads a less than exhilarating life. Born in Korea, the child of an army officer, Lundy lived across the United States before settling in South Carolina with her family when she was in seventh grade.

Gift funds restoration of historic garden

Thanks to a $150,000 donation from the alumni association's Jefferson Circle, as well as donated labor from the Garden Club of Virginia, the garden behind Pavilion III will be renovated this summer. Though originally restored in the 1950s by Alden Hopkins, the famed Colonial Williamsburg landscape architect, the gardens behind the West Lawn pavilions have not received any major restoration since they opened to the public in 1952. "They have suffered a lot of wear and tear since then," University Landscape Architect Mary V.

Board names new committees, chairs

University Rector Gordon F. Rainey, Jr. assigned members of the Board of Visitors to committees and chair positions April 18. The Board's eight standing committees and two special committees have oversight responsibility concerning various aspects of University governance, including finance, buildings and grounds, diversity and student affairs and athletics. The Rector makes committee and chair assignments every year. "I think one of the most important responsibilities of the Rector is to set the agenda in such a way as to engage the interests and talents of the entire Board and, by assigning members to committees in which they have expressed the strongest interest, I hope that objective will be achieved," Rainey said. In making his appointments, Rainey said he spoke with all members individually to gauge areas of interest and expertise. "I did survey the entire Board and I believe I am correct in saying every member of the Board has been assigned to the committee or committees to which that member expressed the strongest interest," he said. Although there are no limits on the number of committees a Board member can sit on, most members divide their time between three or four, Secretary to the Board Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam, Jr.

Contractors complain of improprieties

In the wake of allegations of impropriety that surfaced earlier this year, some local painting contractors have voiced doubts about the fairness of bidding on University Facilities Management contracts. The Cavalier Daily obtained documents early this year showing that L.

Hypersonic sound: Way of future?

This fall the audio industry will be singing to a different tune. Using the Hypersonic Sound System, speakers will be cheaper, clearer and more directional.

William and Mary tradition turns deadly

A College of William and Mary student died Tuesday from drowning in a campus pond, known as the Crim Dell. Alex Reyno, 21, of Springfield, Va., studied public policy, was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity and a student guide for the admissions office. It is a tradition for William and Mary student guides to jump into the campus pond during their final tour.It is approximately 10 to 12 feet deep and very muddy. After jumping into the pond, and pulling in another friend with him, Reyno never surfaced.

Women's studies prof. to advise Warner

University Women's Studies Prof. Holly Shulman will serve on the state Director's Advisory Council on Women's Business during the coming months to identify ways to promote the growth and success of the Commonwealth's 150,000 women-owned businesses. The council, which held its first meeting in March, is composed of 18 other women -- primarily female business leaders, according to Deborah Hudson, program manager for the Virginia women's business enterprise foundation.

Richmond stops yearbook publishing

Following this year's edition, the University of Richmond will no longer publish a yearbook, The Web, after over 100 years of publication. The university's board of publications voted 9-1 to end the publication.

Bruce tapped as next Coalition chair

The presidents of the member organizations of the Minority Rights Coalition chose third-year College student M.

Students at JMU battle ban of pill by Board

Students at James Madison University have expressed resentment at the JMU Board of Visitors' decision to discontinue the availability of the emergency contraception drug from JMU's student health center. The JMU Student Government Association is working toward putting the issue of Emergency Contraception on the agenda for the Student Senate. "On Monday we began passing a petition trying to get enough signatures for a Bill of Opinion," Student Government Association President Levar Stoney said. The Bill of Opinion is a bill that prioritizes an issue for the student senate. "When we have a huge issue on campus, we use the bill to express that," Stoney said.

Council hears elections proposal

Last night, Will Sowers, chair of the Elections Reform Ad Hoc Committee, presented the final recommendations for reforming the elections process to Student Council. After five weeks of meetings and discussion, the Reform Ad Hoc Committee comprised, of 12 student leaders and deans recommended two major structural changes to the system. The first and primary concern was to create a University Board of Elections as a body independent of Council. Council Executive Vice President Ronnie Mayhew sponsored a resolution that supports the ad hoc's recommendations and the founding of the UBE as a provisional organization deriving power from Council until a larger structural change could be proposed on a referendum. "We have to stay in line with our constitution," Mayhew said.

Experts assess Iraq's political future

Following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, President George W. Bush's administration faces the task of helping to rebuild Iraq physically, economically and politically. "In having decided to go to war against Saddam Hussein's regime, we have taken on a very big obligation," Vice Provost for International Affairs William Quandt said.

University to honor distinguished faculty

Outstanding University faculty members will be honored at the thirteenth annual "In Celebration of Teaching" awards banquet to be held in the Rotunda May 1. Marva A.

HOT WHEELS

Marriott offers compromise to end protests

The Courtyard Marriott-University Medical Center hotel on Main Street, a longtime target of living wage protesters, has agreed to provide its employees with a hospitality training course at Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Reassessing diversity at the University

Diversity: it has been the buzzword at the University for the greater part of this semester in the aftermath of recent racially-charged events, including the "blackface" incident in the fall and the February assault on Student Council President-elect Daisy Lundy, then a candidate for office. University administrators and students have been wrestling with racial issues since last semester, when three people with their faces painted black attended a Halloween fraternity party co-sponsored by Kappa Alpha and Zeta Psi fraternities.

University report finds mixed results on climate of communication, black student satisfaction

University students engage in relatively widespread dialogue between races, but "pockets of dissatisfaction" exist among African-American students, according to a report released last month which used data gathered in 2002 and earlier. The information was collected as part of the National Survey of Student Engagement.

News in Brief

Following months of above-average precipitation this winter, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will consider revoking its emergency water declaration. The Albemarle County Service Authority, which provides water to Charlottesville and Albemarle County, has recommended the issue be considered at the Board's May 7 meeting. Though the declaration currently remains in effect, emergency water restrictions were lifted at the end of 2002.