News

Michigan gains support for policy

Two Harvard studies released last week concluded state programs that guarantee college admissions to a top percentage of high school seniors do not maintain diversity on college campuses. The reports examined the "percent" programs of three states -- Florida, California and Texas, all of which have eliminated affirmative action programs during the last decade. While reaffirming a commitment to the enriching nature of diversity, some University administrators claim these programs are based on flawed premises, regardless of their effectiveness. "Such programs assume certain things about the state's schools," University Dean of Admissions John A.

Warner creates Va. security institute

Last Friday, Gov. Mark R. Warner announced plans to create the Virginia Institute for Defense and Homeland Security. The Institute is a collaborative project between theCommonwealth of Virginia, Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology and 12 Virginia universities and colleges, including U.Va. "The program is for all the United States, recognizing the tremendous need right now to focus on homeland security technology," said Margo Dunn, CIT vice president of communications.

Faculty invited to sit in on Honor proceedings

In a groundbreaking effort to dispel faculty misconceptions about the University Honor System, the Honor Committee now will permit faculty members to sit in on honor trials, according to Honor Committee Chairman Christopher Smith. The Committee sent out an e-mail last night informing faculty members of their new opportunity to witness live honor trials. "This really shows that students in the Honor Committee really value the faculty as a part of the system," Smith said.

Michigan gains support for policy

The University of Michigan has gathered an increasingly diverse coalition of support in its effort to maintain race as an admissions factor -- a policy that soon will be challenged before the Supreme Court. In addition to universities including Harvard, Michigan's supporters now come from beyond the ranks of higher education and include large corporations such as Texaco and General Motors, labor unions and former military officers.

Delegate Sears resigns from black caucus

The only black Republican in the Virginia General Assembly, Del. Winsome E. Sears, R-Norfolk, resigned from the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus last week amid accusations of partisanship and divisiveness. "The damage is done," Sears said, adding that her decision is final.

Report calls for oversight of athletes' academics

In a report published last week, the American Association of University Professors called upon university and college faculty to take a more active role in the governance of university athletics. The report, conducted in October, recommends that university faculty senates create committees charged with the oversight of academic standards within athletic programs. "Several years ago there were recurring concerns about athletics and academics," said Carol Simpson Stern, professor of performance studies at Northwestern University and former chair of the AAUP.

News In Brief

-Students evacuated after pipe leak causes smoke in IRC The fire department was dispatched to Gwathmey Dorm at the International Residence College Sunday at 10:12 a.m.

Students fill Newcomb for women's health fair

Students enjoying massages, eating vegetarian chili, examining sex toys, listening to live piano music and collecting colorful brochures from over 60 student organizations filled the Newcomb Hall ballroom and lounge yesterday as part of the University's first Women's Health Festival. "This was an opportunity to re-envision how women's health is defined," said fourth-year College student Kate Neuhausen, the executive director of the festival.

Gas prices raise an average of 11 cents nationwide

Weather patterns and international events have caused the nation's gas prices to rise for the first time since June 2002. The Lundberg Survey, an independent market research company specializing in the U.S.

White House indefinitely postpones poetry event

The White House recently indefinitely postponed a literary event planned for Feb. 12 due to a potential conflict of interest concerning the impending war with Iraq.

Four BOV members to depart, replacements not yet named

The University's Board of Visitors will bid goodbye to four of its 16 voting members this spring when their terms officially end March 1. Elizabeth A.

University tapped by Microsoft for grant

The University received a $250,000 grant Jan. 15 from the Microsoft Corporation for the development of software to improve the University Medical Center's ability to maintain, access and secure patient records. A team of University engineers, led by Computer Science Prof.

Virginia House, Senate finalize budget proposals

Both houses of the General Assembly passed budget proposals Thursday which attempt to navigate the Commonwealth's troubled financial waters. The two budget proposals now will be sent to committee to reconcile differences before the General Assembly session ends Feb.

News in Brief

-U.N. Secretary-General visits William and Mary Before an audience of 4,000 William and Mary students and alumni Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the United States to disarm Iraq while avoiding war. Any U.S.

Nationwide terrorism alert causes minor disruptions at University

University and Charlottesville police officials reported yesterday they will not make any significant changes to local security procedures in the face of Friday's announcement from Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge that the national terror alert level has been elevated from yellow to orange. An orange level alert is the second highest terror warning possible on a five-level scale, the highest level being a red alert. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia Homeland Security Department, an orange level or "high threat" terrorist warning "indicates that there is a high risk of a local terrorist attack, but a specific target has not been identified." In a White House press release, Ashcroft said he felt Americans are capable of dealing with the unsettling news of a potential terrorist attack. "We believe the American people have the ability to accommodate this kind of information sharing as a strategy in which they participate for being successful in the fight against terrorism," he said. University Police Sgt.

MAGIC IN MARYLAND

FBI interviews Iraqi students on campuses

With a potential second Gulf War on the horizon, FBI interviews with Iraqi university students studying in America have raised the eyebrows of Arab-American groups. The FBI said, however, it is just conducting business as usual and when interviews with students are conducted they are only part of larger, counter-terrorism investigations. FBI Special Agent John Iannarelli at the national press office said media reports of an organized, nationwide program to interrogate Iraqi students and even naturalized Iraqis are "totally blown out of proportion." Iannarelli credits misconceptions by the public for the negative position some have taken to the Bureau's presence on college campuses. "Some people always have the incorrect information, and they were upset, which is understandable," he said. Iannarelli added that since the Sept.

Symposium addresses conflict in Kashmir

Inside a packed Rotunda Dome Room, three distinguished speakers shared their views concerning the Kashmir conflict with students Wednesday night. Kasmir is a disputed region between India and Pakistan which has been the source of contention between the countries for decades. The South Asian Leadership Society organized the symposium, titled "What's wrong with Kashmir?" History Prof.

Free Monticello tours for students

Students of Mr. Jefferson's University will be able to visit and explore his home this weekend and all on a college budget. Monticello will be open for free tours Saturday Feb.

Personnel receive smallpox vaccine

Virginia launched its defense against bioterrorism on Wednesday, vaccinating five Charlottesville area health care workers for smallpox. Four staff members at the Charlottesville Health Department and one University Medical Center doctor were the first people immunized against smallpox in the Commonwealth after 10,000 doses of the vaccine arrived at the Virginia Department of Health Jan.