News

Financial aid: the anti-drug?

An ongoing debate over a federal law raises the question of whether the government should just say no to giving financial aid to students with drug convictions. As part of the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, a law initially passed in 1965, Congress inserted a regulation preventing students with certain drug convictions from receiving financial aid. Students who are convicted of drug possession once are denied aid for a year, twice are denied aid for two years, and thrice are denied aid indefinitely. A first conviction for selling drugs prompts a two-year denial of aid, while any second sales conviction prompts an indefinite suspension. Students can start receiving aid again before their suspension period is up, if they complete a drug rehabilitation program that meets certain government standards. Underage use or possession of alcohol or cigarettes is not covered under the law. Congressman Mark Souder, R-Ind., the law's original sponsor, says the rules are justified to ensure that the government's money is spent in the best possible way. "Students who receive financial aid from taxpayer money should live within the law," Souder spokesman Seth Becker said. Inconsistent Enforcement Though Souder continues to favor the concept of the law, Becker said Souder has not been pleased by the way it has worked in practice, particularly over the last two years. Though the provision became law in 1998, it was loosely enforced by Bill Clinton's administration. During Clinton's tenure, students who left the question about drug convictions blank on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid form were able to receive aid, said Ben Gaines, coordinator of the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform. Under George W.

Recent assault may be work of serial rapist

A local serial rapist may be on the prowl again. A man in a dark ski mask assaulted a 29-year-old woman outside her home on the 100 block of Camelia Drive Monday afternoon, according to Charlottesville Police Sgt.

BOV increases on Grounds housing fees

Beginning in the fall of 2003, students will pay an additional $260 on average in housing fees to live on Grounds. The new costs will be part of a long-term project to maintain and possibly replace current University housing. The Board of Visitors unanimously approved the increase at its meeting last weekend. "There are a couple of purposes of the increased prices," Chief Housing Officer Mark Doherty said.

Fairfax population rises, could impact University

The University could expect attendance from even more students from Fairfax County in the future in response to the county's rapid population increase, which the University's Weldon Cooper Center reported in a recent provisional estimate. According to the Cooper Center's 2002 estimate, Fairfax County's population has reached an all-time high of 1,006,300 residents. This is the first time in Virginia's history that the population of a single locality is estimated to be over one million residents. John Knapp, research director for business and economics at the Cooper Center, attributed the large population increase to several factors. "Originally, the force of growth stemmed directly from the county's close proximity to the nation's capital," Knapp said.

Power plant may be in violation of guidelines

The Department of Environmental Quality may find the University in violation of state air pollution regulations stemming from a series of boiler failures that took place Jan.

Curry introduces new lecture series A lecture series at the Curry School of Education this month will feature four acclaimed speakers who will focus on student underachievement due to factors ranging from poverty to learning disabilities. All lectures will be held in Ruffner Hall's auditorium 4C, beginning at 10 a.m.

New lab will house study of biological weapons

To facilitate the expansion of University researchers' current work with anthrax and other biological agents, the University plans to build a five-story Regional Biocontainment Laboratory on Lane Road. The University will submit a proposal to the National Institutes of Health for a $14 million grant this Friday, Feb.

Pediatric drugs trigger brain damage in lab rats

Medical researchers from the University and Washington University in St. Louis have determined that common pediatric anesthetics can cause severe brain damage and memory defects in newborn rats. In experiments published in the Feb.

Legislators consider statewide salary increases

Salaries of Virginia's state employees, which have not been increased since 2000, may receive a marginal boost if proposals in both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate are incorporated into this year's final budget proposal. According to Joan S.

Career Week offers student opportunities

As a part of the University Career Services Career Week, which began yesterday and will run through Friday, University students will learn about, apply for and interview for jobs and internships with more than 170 employers. Career Week kicked off with the College undergraduate job fair and continues today and Wednesday with a focus on internship opportunities.

Council declares Charlottesville a 'City for Peace'

Announcing its opposition to a war in Iraq, City Council voted 4 to 1 last night to declare Charlottesville a "City for Peace." "Cities for Peace" is a national coalition of locally-elected officials and concerned citizens banding together with hopes of influencing the federal government's decision to go to war. The movement has been promoted locally by the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, which introduced an initial proposal at a Council meeting last month. Mayor Maurice Cox and Council members Kevin Lynch, Blake Caravati and Meredith Richards voted in favor of the revised resolution.

Illegal aliens not granted in-state tuition

Illegal aliens will not be exempt from out-of-state tuition hikes planned for next year. On Jan.

Forum advises dog dissection alternatives

A forum held Friday entitled "Alternatives to Live Animal Labs in Medical Education" demonstrated a growing University voice in opposition to the use of live animals in a third-year Medical School lab study. The event, organized by first-year Medical student Lindsey Neal and fourth-year Medical student Rooshin Dalal, featured a speech by the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and a presentation of information on the use of animals in medical schools. "My main goal for having this presentation was to make sure all the students were aware that alternatives do exist," Neal said.

University alum to lead treasury dept.

University alumnus John Snow was confirmed as the new Secretary of the Treasury Thursday night. The Bush administration asked Snow's predecessor Paul O'Neill to resign in December, in the wake of criticism over corporate accountability scandals and a faltering economy. University professors expressed their confidence in Snow. "He's an able fellow," Politics Prof.

Columbia Shuttle disintegrates

Americans expecting the triumphant return of the space shuttle Columbia Saturday morning were greeted instead by tragedy. At 9 a.m., the sounds of a roaring explosion echoed above central Texas as the shuttle disintegrated in the air upon reentry into the earth's atmosphere, just 16 minutes before its scheduled landing at Cape Canaveral in Florida. All seven astronauts aboard were killed. While the cause of the accident remains unknown, NASA officials have assembled a "mishap investigation team" to identify explanations leading to the shuttle's demise.

BOV selects new student representative

The University Board of Visitors appointed a new student member to its ranks on Saturday. Third-year College student John Rocco Macmillan Rodney, whose formal responsibilities as a Board member will begin at the end of the Board's April meeting, will succeed fourth-year College student H.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Groundhog predicts six more weeks of winter Amid cheers from thousands of onlookers, Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his Gobbler's Knob burrow early Sunday morning and saw his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter. The annual Groundhog Day celebration takes place in Punxsutawney, Pa., and this year, organizers expected over 30,000 spectators.

Printing in libraries now will cost 10 cents a page

There have been several changes to on Grounds printing at the University this year stemming from the budget cuts.

House of Delegates passes hazing bill

The House of Delegates unanimously passed a bill yesterday that will, if ratified by the Senate, remove the state-imposed consequence of expulsion for hazing and allow individual universities and their student governments to apply a broad range of sanctions instead. "I think it's a step in the right direction," Inter-Fraternity Council President Phil Trout said.