News

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.

Student Health to continue offering pill

The University Student Health Center will continue to issue prescriptions for emergency contraceptives despite calls from Del.

Omicron Delta Kappa honors University faculty and students

Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, initiated into its ranks more than 60 University students and two members of the faculty in a ceremony at the Rotunda March 31.

JMU bans emergency contraceptives

Prompted by a letter from Rep. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, James Madison University's Board of Visitors voted Friday to prohibit the distribution of emergency contraception at its Harrisonburg campus student health center.

Black Fraternal Council elects new executive board

Representatives of the University's historically black fraternities and sororities met Sunday to elect the Black Fraternal Council's new executive board.

Cal Poly staff asks for ban on obscene downloads

An executive committee of the academic senate at California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo plans to introduce a resolution today that would impose a ban on the personal use of university computers to view or download digital material classified as pornography. The "Resolution to Enhance Civility and Promote a Diversity-Friendly Campus Climate" also would prohibit access to hate literature and obscenity through the Cal Poly information technology network. Linda Vanasupa, head of the Materials Engineering Department at Cal Poly and a chief proponent of the resolution, said the ban addresses the hostile and aggressive tendencies provoked by sexually explicit material. "If we vote this down, what kind of climate does it create?" Vanasupa said.

Local prevention group hosts forum for parents and children

In a forum entitled "Just Say Yes! Parents Building Healthy Youth Behavior," local speakers will discuss parental roles and responsibilities in helping their children avoid drug and alcohol abuse. The event, which is sponsored by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Prevention Coalition, will take place Tuesday, April 29 from 6:30 to 8:00pm at ACAC Adventure Central.

Suspect admits guilt in murder of grad student

April 18, two years after College graduate student Alison Meloy was murdered in her townhouse off of Hydraulic Road, 20-year-old Albemarle County resident Jamie Jovan Poindexter pleaded guilty to capital murder and robbery in the case. A circuit court judge sentenced him to two life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. "It was a horrible, horrible murder," Albemarle County Commonwealth Attorney Jim Camblos said.

Fourteen computers stolen from Alderman

Fourteen Dell laptop computers, on loan from the Dell corporation as part of the ITC computing program, were stolen from Alderman Library between Sunday, April 13 and Monday, April 14, according to University Library spokesperson Charlotte Scott. The laptops were taken from a secured area of the library, possibly while the library was closed after midnight Sunday -- the only time the computers were not in use by students. "They went to the locked area where they were kept and the lock had been broken and the machines were gone," Scott said.

Panelists debate affirmative action

University faculty discussed the timely and contentious issue of affirmative action in college admissions last night during a panel discussion held in Wilson Hall. Panelists included Politics Professors Ned Moomaw and Gerard Alexander, Law Prof.

A JOHN ON THE LAWN

Group claims Tech policy violates civil rights act

A Northern Virginia-based group known for criticizing affirmative action policies yesterday asked the U.S.

Three CIOs appeal funding allocation

Three of seven Contracted Independent Organizations who plan to contest their budget allocations from the student activities fund appealed for a second time before the student activities committee yesterday.

Pollen increase causes allergy woes

The symptoms are all too familiar -- itchy eyes, running nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing -- allergy season is upon us. "It's a bad year," said Medicine Prof.

Council approves budget, Schilling dissents

Tuesday April 15, Charlottesville City Council passed a $93.6 million budget with Councilor Rob Schilling casting the lone dissenting vote.

University recognizes second annual National High-Five Day

Yesterday, members of the University, including students, faculty and staff, were encouraged to exchange high fives with friends and strangers to foster a sense of community for the second year in a row.

City to commence Earth Week events at Bog Garden this afternoon

The City of Charlottesville will kick off a five-day celebration of Earth Week in the Bog Garden of Washington Park today at 1 p.m. Several University students already have begun weeding the garden in preparation for the event, but more weeding still needs to be done around the sycamore tree.

UJC elects 2003-2004 subcommittee chairs

The University Judiciary Committee announced its subcommittee chairs for the 2003-2004 academic year at its meeting last Sunday. The Committee has four standing subcommittees: issues, data management, sexual assault and social.

Politicians kick back at annual Shad Planking

WAKEFIELD, Va. --- The scent of smoked fish cascaded through the air as a James Taylor imitator serenaded throngs of chatty Virginians gathered at the 55th annual Shad Planking. Held every third Wednesday in April, the political tradition encourages citizens and politicians to mingle, temporarily putting aside their differences in exchange for beer and shad, a seasonal fish from the James River. "You've got Republicans and Democrats and they're not at each other's throats," said Bill Tierney, president of Capitol Communications, an Arizona-based company that does business with the Republican National Committee.

Officials seek to increase minority faculty numbers

By Anthony LaMesa Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Though the University continues to grapple with limited funds for faculty salaries, faculty and administrators say the recruitment and retention of minority faculty will remain a priority when active hiring begins again. The percentage of full-time black faculty members at the University has dropped from 3 percent in 1998 to 2 percent in 2002, according to statistics from the University's Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies. In 2001 the University had the 11th highest percentage of black faculty out of a field of 25 peer institutions, ranking above the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California-Berkeley. "In terms of statistical analysis, we're actually pretty good, but we're not where we want to be," said Karen Ryan, associate dean for arts, humanities and social sciences.