NEW YORK, March 22 -- Kneeling in the middle of Broadway and 34th, five-year-old Erelle Fuchs traced the outline of a dove on the asphalt at Times Square.
With war intensifying in Iraq, the New York Police Department has tightened security to protect the city from possible terrorist attacks. The program, known as Operation Atlas, was praised recently as a "model for other communities to follow" by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "There is no city in this country that does a better job of working across the board to prevent terrorism than the City of New York," Ridge said. The five main tenets of the program include increased personnel deployment, transit system security, expanded patrol operation and coverage, improved intelligence gathering and greater airspace security. Greater numbers of NYPD officers are being deployed as part of harbor defense, aviation, chemical, hazardous materials and bomb detection units. To ensure the security of transit passengers and installations, National Guardsmen additionally are patrolling the subway system, undercover officers are riding on subway cars and radiation detection units are stationed in subway terminals. Checkpoints have been set up throughout the city and at all bridges and tunnels into the city.
Second-year College student Mira Rai dons formal wear designed by second-year College student Tracy Anang.
Gov. Mark R. Warner signed legislation Saturday banning undocumented immigrants from obtaining Virginia driver's licenses, but also proposed an amendment allowing for a small number of those same citizens to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. Supporters of the legislation prohibiting undocumented immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses acknowledge that seven of the 19 Sept.
As a result of heavy rains and thunderstorms, the National Weather Service issued varying degrees of flood warnings throughout the Commonwealth yesterday, Virginia Department of Transportation Spokesperson Tamara Neale said. "The warnings included Cumberland, Albemarle, Augusta, Orange and Greene Counties and the cities of Charlottesville, Staunton and Waynesboro," Neale said. Throughout Virginia, the Department of Transportation constantly monitored road conditions, she said. "All the major roads such as the interstates are fine because they have better drainage systems," she said.
University officials restated their policy on demonstrations yesterday, notifying employees that they are free to voice their opinions on the war in Iraq but need clearance from a supervisor before missing work to attend demonstrations. Supervisors were advised that adequate staffing must be maintained during regular work hours. Officials warned University employees that unauthorized absences could bring disciplinary action.
Adding their voice yesterday to the chorus of outrage over Daisy Lundy's alleged assault, the Green Party of Central Virginia called for broad structural reform to combat racial problems at the University. A press release distributed yesterday said the Green Party asked the University to "greatly augment their programs promoting racial tolerance, and to enact substantial and broad curricular reforms." The Green Party condemned the discrimination and violence they said led to the assault.
The University Judiciary Committee elected third-year College student Alexis Gregorian to serve as the committee's next chair in deliberations last night.
In response to the commencement of U.S. and allied air strikes against Iraq Wednesday night, the Anti-War Coalition at U.Va.
Following a year of increased visibility on Grounds, the University chapter of the National Organization for Women elected its 2003-2004 executive board Wednesday night in Newcomb hall. Second-year College student Katy Shrum was selected to serve as the next NOW president.
Dozens of students and community members gathered at the Rotunda for an interfaith prayer vigil last night, coming together to express their reaction to war from a variety of religious perspectives. The Student Council religious affairs committee organized the vigil.
Suspense novelist Tom Clancy will address the Jefferson Society tomorrow night at 8:30 in Jefferson Hall.
A group of mystics is saying that the keys to world peace may be hidden in a vault buried under Colonial Williamsburg's historic Bruton Parish Church. The group led by Fletcher Richman, a former Williamsburg resident, attempted unsuccessfully to locate the reputed 10-by-10-foot vault previously in 1992. Believers say the vault includes the writings of Sir Francis Bacon, who they claim was the editor of the King James Version of the Bible and of all plays now attributed to Shakespeare. They also say that Thomas Jefferson and America's other founding fathers were aware of the vault's presence. Richman said his group is again active because the beginning of World War III or Armageddon is near.
After recent events concerning on Grounds security, University students have taken initiative to combat crime. The Student Watch program, started in December 2002 by Chief Ronnie Mayhew and Chief Designate Will Sowers, was designed to get students to become actively involved in making their own environment safe, Mayhew said. "To me there is no greater way to live up to the ideals of student self-governance than by stepping up and volunteering to help make our community a safer place in which to live, learn and grow," Mayhew said. The program, with its 12 active members, watches the areas surrounding Grounds and provides students with on-foot escorts. Any student at the University is welcome to join, Mayhew said. Mayhew and Sowers strongly encourage diversity in the Student Watch program. "It is our goal that we would have many students of diverse backgrounds willing to help increase the state of safety at the University," Mayhew said.
Vandals struck University Navy, Army, and Air Force ROTC offices early Tuesday morning, defacing property with anti-war messages. Maury Hall, the location of Navy ROTC offices, sustained the most damage of the three buildings, according to reports from University Police Sgt.
In a presentation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Marsha L. Green, founder and president of the Ocean Mammal Institute, warned that low frequency sonar, used by the Navy to detect submarines, is dangerous to marine mammals.
Although University international studies programs currently remain largely unaffected by heightened conflict in the Middle East, State Department travel warnings, coupled with high national security, may jeopardize students' future plans to study overseas. According to William Quandt, vice provost for International Affairs, there are no students currently studying in the Middle East with University-sponsored programs.
As bombs fall on Iraq, a student walkout followed by an anti-war march originating on the Lawn will occur today at 2 p.m. The march will be the beginning of an increased effort by anti-war protesters to impact daily life at the University. "This isn't going to be just another protest," said third-year College student Jessica Forman, a co-founder of the University Anti-war Coalition.
The Black Student Alliance selected its 2003-2004 executive board in an election held in Clark hall last night. Third-year College student Myra Franklin was elected to serve as the organization's next president after three competing candidates removed themselves from consideration. Second-Year College student Vincent Pinkney used his allotted time to share his plans for the BSA with the assembly, but ultimately conceded his support to Franklin. "I will support your wholeheartedly," Pinkney said to Franklin, "provided you do the things you have promised to do." First-year student Aaron Smith, who also ran for president, said he felt he lacked Franklin's experience but hoped he would be considered for leadership positions in the future.
Second-year College student Aisha Johnson eagerly checked her mail last week in anticipation of an offer to join the 2003-2004 Resident Staff, and her persistence was rewarded with an acceptance letter late last week. Johnson said she was accepted to be a Resident Advisor in the first-year dorms, but does not yet know in which dorm she will live in. Notices were mailed last Wednesday and those accepted must respond by Monday, according to Jason Shaffer, interim assistant dean of students. "We were looking for a successful role model and someone who is passionate about the University," Dean of Students Penny Rue said, citing the criteria for applicants.
