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News

Athletic facilities receive $1.5 million gift

By Mary Elizabeth Warren | February 18, 2003

On Jan. 10, the Virginia Athletics Program received a $1.5 million contribution from an anonymous donor which will be used to implement much needed enhancements for the University's wrestling and volleyball programs. Memorial Gymnasium and Onesty Hall, the wrestling team's practice facility, will receive thorough makeovers, including fresh paint, new floors and updated equipment. "This gift is unique because it benefits two sports and the University community," said Dirk Katstra, executive director of the Virginia Athletics Foundation. Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage said that the project already has begun. "The planning for the renovations is already underway," Littlepage said.

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Out-of-state tuition increase could help pay general obligation bonds

By Anthony LaMesa | February 18, 2003

If the General Assembly weaves a House of Delegates proposal into its final budget today, out-of-state students will be forced to help Virginia pay back the General Obligation Bond for college construction approved last November. "Fulltime out-of-state students would pay about 50 dollars a year for the fee," said Tony Maggio, legislative fiscal analyst for higher education in the House. The "capital fee" proposal is similar to one floated in the Senate last year, which would have charged both in-state and out-of-state students a fee, Maggio said. "The House proposal this year was that basically in-state students theoretically already pay for the cost of capital, because they're paying taxes," he said. Out-of-state students have yet to finance a major component of their education, said Vincent F.

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Snow storm freezes City, University cancels class

By Andrew Garrahan and Riley McDonald | February 18, 2003

The University cancelled classes yesterday for the first time since the early 1980s after over 10 inches of snow blanketed Charlottesville this weekend. Leonard W.

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News In Brief

By Whitney Garrison | February 18, 2003

Despite the snow, the Hillel Jewish Student Union held their annual elections Sunday afternoon in Newcomb's Commonwealth room. Mother nature, however, had other plans.

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News in Brief

By Natasha Altamirano | February 14, 2003

Book festival to incorporate new features Next month's ninth annual Virginia Festival of the Book will have some new features this year, including a larger focus on crime and science fiction novels, according to event organizers. Among other changes, publishing day will be free of charge and open to the public, and aspiring authors will have a chance to enter unpublished manuscripts in the Great American Novel Contest. Crime novelist John Grisham, an Albemarle County resident, and author Earl Hamner Jr., a Nelson County native, are scheduled to appear alongside keynote speaker and author Lee Smith. Other authors scheduled to speak include poets Nikki Giovanni and Rita Dove.

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U-Dems condemn Bush stance on Iraq

By Jon Breece | February 14, 2003

In the wake of Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation before the United Nations Security Council, many local and University groups have voiced publicly their criticisms of possible U.S.

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Woman assaulted twice in two weeks

By Christine Wallace | February 14, 2003

Less than two weeks after a woman was assaulted outside her home on the 100 block of Camelia Drive, the same 29-year-old was assaulted again inside her home Wednesday afternoon. The same man is suspected as the assailant for both assaults, the second of which occurred in the early afternoon. Police have not speculated as to a motive for the repeat attacks or told whether the victim knows the assailant. Police say they do not believe these two assaults are the work of the serial rapist. The victim was not seriously injured, according to Charlottesville Communications Director Maurice Jones. "I do not believe she had to go to the hospital," Jones said. Charlottesville police have not detailed specific injuries. A release from the Charlottesville Police Department stated that, "because of the details now available on both reported assaults in the 100 block of Camelia Drive, police believe it is unlikely that these events are related to the serial rapes currently under investigation." The victim was first assaulted Feb.

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Commission considers high density housing

By Jason Amirhadji | February 14, 2003

As part of Charlottesville's Comprehensive Plan, new zoning regulations may allow for high-rise student housing to be built near the Rotunda. The areas under consideration are along Jefferson Park Avenue and down 14th and 15th Streets in the Venable Neighborhood.

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Committee selects 47 new Lawn residents

By Drew Cohan | February 14, 2003

Forty-seven students received one of the University's highest honors yesterday -- an invitation to live on the Lawn for the 2003-2004 academic year. The Lawn Selection Committee narrowed these 47 acceptances down from 245 applications. Selected students received an e-mail yesterday and also will receive notification by mail.

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FBI warns of possible terrorist targets

By Riley McDonald | February 14, 2003

The FBI warned in a congressional statement Feb. 11 that colleges and universities could be targeted in a terrorist attack. FBI Spokesperson Paul Bresson said universities, like supermarkets and shopping malls, are considered "soft targets" -- places where attacks seem less likely than at high profile monuments and government buildings.

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Candidates implicated in endorsement controversy

By Kara Rowland | February 13, 2003

Evidence has surfaced that suggests Student Council presidential candidate Ed Hallen expressed concern to the Council Executive Board over the Coalition and First Year Council's presidential endorsements, in a possible attempt to undermine support for opponent Daisy Lundy. The Coalition consists of the Black Student Alliance, the Asian Student Union, the Latino Student Union, the Queer Student Union and the National Organization for Women. "Ed expressed concern after the issue was investigated," said Council Chief of Staff Sarah Jobe.

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Former JMU student sentenced for conspiring to murder her father

By Cavalier Daily Staff | February 13, 2003

Clara Jane Schwartz, a former JMU student, was sentenced to 48 years in prison Monday for her role in the murder of her father, Robert M.

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Latest breakthrough in diabetes testing

By Joe Nuffer | February 13, 2003

Diabetes is a disease that renders the body unable to effectively regulate blood glucose levels­­­­--a condition nearly 16 million Americans suffer from. One type of the disease, juvenile onset diabetes, occurs when beta cells in the pancreas attack insulin, a protein that regulates glucose levels.

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Faculty resignation statistics lowest in years despite budget

By Anthony LaMesa | February 13, 2003

Despite restricted budgets and little expectation of faculty pay raises, University deans report that less faculty members are choosing to resign than have in recent years. In the College, no faculty members have resigned this academic year, said Adam Daniel, associate dean and chief of staff. "We have been able to counter every single danger [of losing faculty] that has sprung up," said Karen Ryan, associate dean for the arts, humanities and social sciences. Last year, 10 faculty members resigned from the College, which was one-third less than in each of the preceding two years, said College Dean Edward L.

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Chalk and fliers herald campaign kick-off day

By Angela Manese-Lee | February 13, 2003

Armed with flyers and chalk, Student Council candidates spent the early hours of yesterday morning advertising, kicking off six days of campaigning before voting opens Tuesday. Election rules stipulated that candidates were not allowed to begin advertising until midnight. As soon as the clock struck 12 a.m., candidates began chalking and fliering around heavy-traffic areas, including the Lawn, Newcomb Hall and Alderman Road. Third-year College student Justin Ferira, a candidate for fourth-year class president, said he began his advertising at midnight and did not stop until 5 a.m.

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University researcher wins lifetime award

By Suemedha Sood | February 13, 2003

Gov. Mark R. Warner and Walter R.T. Witschey, director of the Science Museum of Virginia, will honor a University Professor with the Virginia's Outstanding Scientists and Industrialists 2003 Lifetime Achievement award. Warner and Witschey will announce Biology Prof.

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IBM grant to boost biomed department

By Morgan Whitaker | February 13, 2003

After being selected by IBM from a field of research institutions, the University will receive a $1.5 million grant that will fund biomedical engineering research in the fields of vascular disease, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound technology, and replacement tissue growth. IBM's Shared University Research grant program is designed to promote research in areas that will benefit both universities and IBM.

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Investigation of Columbia tragedy continues

By Zach Pauley | February 13, 2003

On Feb. 1, 2003, space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas, killing all crew members on board.Since then, NASA's investigation into the cause of the crash has brought up some intriguing possibilities. It may come as a surprise that there were signs of trouble even when the shuttle was taking off. Foam fell off a fuel tank and struck the heat-resistant tiles on the left wing of the ship when it lifted off.This was not perceived to be a significant threat to safe reentry when the leak occurred. As late as January 31, 2003, there were malfunctions in hydraulic temperature and tire pressure readings as well as problems with different kinds of equipment on the left side of the ship. After last week's disaster, investigators immediately took a second look at the material previously dislodged from the shuttle during launch. Now that the investigation has progressed, however, reports continue to dismiss the possibility of the liftoff debris as a cause for the crash.

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City considers development at Grady intersection to promote city expansion

By Nathan Vassar | February 13, 2003

A recent development proposal could bring new business and housing options to the Charlottesville area. According to Charlottesville Mayor Maurice Cox, the city is requesting proposals from private contractors to build on the one-acre plot of land at the intersection between Preston Avenue, Grady Avenue and 10th Street. "The city has put together a request for proposals to sell the land to a private developer to build upon a residential city block," Cox said.

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Disaster may hinder astronomy research

By Sara Jeanblanc | February 12, 2003

Although most of the debris from the recent Columbia space shuttle disaster has been found far from the University, effects of the accident are much closer.