News

Hate crime charges rejected

Commonwealth Attorney David Chapman decided last week not to seek hate crime charges against a group of Charlottesville High School students accused of perpetrating a series of assaults against University students occurring between last September and this January. The decision ends a controversy that has simmered since February over whether the alleged culprits should be brought up on hate crime charges in conjunction with other charges related to the assaults. Hate crime laws give harsher sentences to crimes motivated by characteristics of the victim such as race.

Phi Delta Theta sues Phi Delta Alpha

Five separate legal counts have been filed against the University's Phi Delta Alpha fraternity by Phi Delta Theta fraternity's international headquarters. The charges issued to the District Court for the Western District of Virginia include copyright violations, the exercise of unfair competition and the conversion of property. The two fraternities have suffered strained relations since Phi Delta Theta recolonized at the University in fall 2001.

Albemarle may change rules for gun permit

Albemarle County may eliminate its current requirement for a national background check to receive a concealed weapons permit because of concerns with the system. Albemarle County Sheriff Edgar Robb said current regulations "exceed the requirements of state law." Robb said the national background check takes six weeks, thereby adding a substantial delay for citizens seeking a concealed weapons permit.

A 21-year-old University male student was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of sexual battery on a 19-year-old woman. The offense occurred at the O'Neill's restaurant on the Corner. The woman was walking on a staircase at O'Neill's, and a male who also was on the staircase proceeded to make an inappropriate comment as they were on the staircase, Sgt.

Graduate students formally start union

University graduate students voted last week to form a student union and will vote next week on whether to affiliate with a larger professional union. Forty-two College graduate students in attendance at the meeting voted unanimously to form the union, which has been under consideration since the beginning of the year. "In the broad sense, the purpose is to give graduate students a voice in the decisions that affect their lives," fourth-year Graduate student Daniela Bell said. Bell said that particular goals of the union will be to acquire guaranteed health care, adequate wages and office space for graduate students. Three aspects of Virginia law weaken the union's ability to change University policy.

College fills Econ funding request

The cuts in the number of economics courses next year will not be nearly as severe as previously feared by some, thanks to funding provided by the Office of the Dean of the College to hire temporary faculty. The department hopes to offer only six fewer courses or sections of courses than were offered this year, Economics Chairman David Mills said.

Architects propose new look for Downtown Mall

If proponents of a new renovation plan have their way, a dramatic makeover of the Downtown Mall may be in the works. Plans to renovate the area were officially presented at City Hall on Wednesday night by architects of the design firm Wallace, Roberts & Todd.

Students discuss recent race events at forum

The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. held a racial reconciliation forum, entitled "Partying While White," before a packed audience in Maury Hall yesterday in response to a party held by some architecture students and the ensuing backlash it caused. Panelists included Dean M.

A method to March Madness?

The month is March, and that means only one thing -- it's time yet again for the NCAA basketball tournament. Individuals often select their teams without much thought, but professional gambling houses have it down to a science, bringing in millions in the process. So is there a method behind the madness? Although no one can predict the outcome of a sporting event with complete accuracy, a careful analysis of statistical data can reveal tendencies that boost the bottom line. For instance, 16th seeds are 0-52 since 1979, while 15th seeds have only a slightly better record of 3-52 in the same time period. Thus, the smart money is on the first and second seeds in the first round. Likewise, the 13th and 14th seeds pull upsets 25 percent of the time.

Americans glued to the tube more than ever before

If television were a chemical, it probably would be America's favorite drug. According to some experts, Americans glued to the television face a greater risk of experiencing stress in their family relationships as well as psychological discomfort. Health experts carefully avoid using the word "addiction" to describe long hours in front of the tube. "Drug addicts might readily steal or commit crimes to get money to buy drugs whereas people might not rob a convenience store to watch television," said Gary Miller, a pharmacology and toxicology professor at the University of Texas-Austin. TV-Free America conducted a survey in 1999 revealing the average American spends the equivalent of 11 years in front of a television set over an average lifespan of 72 years. According to the group's survey, the average American watches 3.7 hours of television a day, which amounts to an astonishing figure of 56 days a year. The average American household owns 2.5 televisions, collectively switched on for six hours and 47 minutes every day.

College adds American Studies major

Starting next year, students will be able to major in American Studies, which until now only has been offered as a concentration within a department. The American Studies major received final approval from the College's faculty yesterday afternoon. American Studies is a 30-hour major that includes three core courses, AMST 301, 302 and 401, as well as seven classes from a list of 180 possible courses from a variety of departments. "I think of this as a horizontal sampling across all kinds of disciplines," said English Prof.

U. Md. hazing death sparks discussion

Nearly a month after University of Maryland student Daniel F. Reardon died following a bid-night party for Phi Sigma Kappa, investigations continue into the events surrounding his death and its implications.

Eastern religions enlighten world of science

College students routinely express great apathy toward religion, thinking the answers to the "how" and "why" of the world can be found in science alone. Others, however, ignore science and stick to the teachings of their religion instead. Both such groups would be surprised to learn science and religion parallel each other in many interesting ways. These parallels grow especially obvious in the doctrines of Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Astronomy Prof.

News in brief

Washington & Lee University names Burish new president Thomas G. Burish, a faculty member at Vanderbilt University, was named Washington & Lee University's next president yesterday. Burish, an expert on the psychology of cancer patients, will begin his new position July 1. He will replace John Elrod, who died of cancer last July. Laurent Boetsch, W&L's vice president for academic affairs, had been the acting president since Elrod's death. After 10 years of serving Vanderbilt University, Burish resigned from his position as provost this month.

Senator Warner addresses politics course

Senator and University alumnus John Warner, R-Virginia, addressed a crowd of about 500 in Wilson Hall yesterday, focusing on the war on terrorism. Warner spoke for Politics Prof.

U.Va. issues tuition proposal

The University finance committee will propose an undergraduate in-state tuition increase of 8.8 percent at the Board of Visitors meeting April 5, which will raise it to $4,569. "The Board usually doesn't make changes to our recommendations," said Colette Sheehy, vice president of management and budget.

Letter prompts student to leave

Second-year College student Abdalmuhssin El-Yacoubi, who wrote a letter that helped trigger an FBI investigation against two alleged terrorists, is confirmed to have left the University. Patricia Lampkin, associate vice president for student affairs, said El-Yacoubi will be gone indefinitely. El-Yacoubi wrote the letter to his older brother, Mohammed El-Yacoubi, who was traveling with a friend, Mohamed Osman Idris, to Israel. The letter's references to jihad, or Islamic holy war, placed Mohammed El-Yacoubi and Idris under suspicion of planning a suicide attack. Lampkin said University faculty are struggling with how to respond to the issue. "We're on new territory here," Lampkin said. Faculty members still are considering whether to offer any support to Abdalmuhssin El-Yacoubi. "We want to be even-handed and fair to all," Lampkin said. Lampkin could not comment on whether the student left willingly or was forced out by the University. University spokeswoman Louise Dudley said faculty members will continue to look at how the case should be handled.

College Board may change SAT

Following criticism of the SAT's accuracy as a gauge of college success, the College Board is considering making extensive changes to the content of the test. The proposed changes might include the addition of a writing section and more difficult math problems using advanced algebra and trigonometry.

University student sues law professor

First-year Law student Marta Sanchez is filing a complaint against Law Prof. Kenneth Abraham claiming she experienced "extreme discomfort" in an introductory Law School program last summer and is considering action against the Commonwealth. On February 26, Sanchez filed a claim of assault and battery in Albemarle Circuit Court, seeking $25,000 in compensatory damages and $10,000 in punitive damages. Sanchez attended an "Introduction to Law School and Legal Methodology" program, a presentation Abraham volunteered to teach to 20 selected incoming students.

A Fine Romance

It sounds like the ideal life: dedicating the working hours to your passion, knowing the one whom you love and live with shares your interests and dedicates his or her life to similar endeavors. The dreamy vision translates into reality for many married professors at the University. Karen Chase, English professor and wife of English professor Michael Levenson, said the hard work of writing books with and team-teaching with her husband would hardly dim the romantic notions of academia many students have. "We really love working together," Chase said. She concentrates on the nineteenth century, and he focuses on modern literature and culture.