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Casteen denounces anti-Jewish intimidation

University President John T. Casteen III joined over 300 college and university presidents Oct. 7 in condemning the intimidation of Jewish students on college campuses in a full-page statement in the New York Times. The statement, chiefly authored by Rev.


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News in Brief

Illinois student newspaper sues for freedom of press National media groups and First Amendment advocates are voicing their support for a case to go before a panel of federal judges this fall. The case was filed by Jeni Porshe and Margaret Hosty, graduate students at the Governor State University of Illinois and editors of the school paper, the Innovator. The two students were chosen to head the paper in the spring of 2000, and subsequently decided to revamp it, going from a publication focused on promoting university accomplishments to a critical forum for review of faculty and administrative procedure. Porshe and Hosty published several scathing editorials about specific members of the faculty.


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Phi Delta Alpha name changes to Phi Society

Following a unanimous vote by Phi Delta Alpha Fraternity's undergraduate members, the organization has changed its name to the Phi Society, effective last week. The Phi Society now will refer to brothers of the fraternity as Phis, and to their fraternity house on 1 University Circle as the Phi Society or Phi House. The fraternity, a member of the Multicultural Greek Council, officially invoked this change Oct.


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Defense mobilizes student guardsmen

As a potential war with Iraq hangs over the nation, some University students are preparing for the possibility of being sent into combat. At a training exercise on Sunday, units in the Virginia Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Division learned they will go on active duty starting Nov.


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Casteen explains budget outlook to Faculty Senate

At yesterday's Faculty Senate meeting at the Colonnade Club, University President John. T. Casteen III expressed support for faculty in his budget update and University Provost Gene Block revealed some of his goals for this year. Casteen said Gov.


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Cantor, 'Cooter' to face off in elections

As the fall midterm elections approach, local congressional races are drawing increased attention from prospective voters. Democratic candidate Ben Jones is challenging Republican incumbent Eric Cantor in Virginia's 7th Congressional district, which extends north from Richmond through Page County. Many voters will recognize Jones as the actor who played Cooter on the popular television show, "The Dukes of Hazzard." Jones also served two terms as a Georgia Congressman from 1988 to 1992 before former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich defeated him. Cantor currently is serving his first term in the House of Representatives. As the campaign draws into its final weeks, the candidates plan to emphasize their stances on the issues and get out the vote. "The focus of the campaign has been about getting Ben's message out about being for the public interest and not the special interest," Jones' campaign manager Ben Tribbett said. Cantor's campaign manager Matt Williams said some of Cantor's goals are aiding the president in the war on terrorism and improving education. "The issues we're focused on are national security, economic security and social security," Williams said. Controversy has swirled around the campaign since its inception. In one instance, Jones drew criticism from many opponents for his use of "the General Lee." The item in question is the orange 1969 Dodge Charger from the "Dukes of Hazzard" that prominently displays a Confederate flag on its roof. "It's a non-issue," Tribbett said.


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Snakehead fish gets the hook from the U.S.

Last Friday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared illegal the importation and interstate transportation of live snakehead fish or their eggs in response to growing concerns that the predatory fish, native to southeastern Asia, poses significant risk to the fish and wildlife populations of the United States. In July, nearly 100 juvenile northern snakehead fish were found in a pond in Crofton, Md.


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Board approves mid-year tuition surcharge

The University Board of Visitors gave Leonard W. Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer, authorization last Friday to levy a mid-year tuition surcharge for students that could be as high as $500 per student. Any surcharge will be an addition to base tuition in spring 2003.


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News in Brief

College Board study finds waiting lists popular The number of colleges with applicant waiting lists increased over the past four years, a study conducted by the College Board revealed. In 1998, 388 schools had waiting lists, while the number increased to 449 this year, the study showed. Over the same time period the total number of students put on waiting lists also increased from 95,791 to 133,522. Higher education experts attributed the newfound popularity of the waiting list to the competitive college environment. With more schools competing for students, estimating the number of students who will accept offers of admission has become more difficult, the experts said. The number of students who were accepted off waiting lists also increased from 1998 to this year, going from 12,300 to 15,135, the College Board study showed. Virginia students pass SOLs in record numbers More students than ever passed Virginia's Standards of Learning exams this year, results released last week showed. Statewide passing rates improved on 23 of the 28 exams, which are given in May to Virginia students in grades three, five and eight, and throughout high school. Starting in 2004, Virginia students will have to pass a certain number of the exams in order to receive a diploma. Students improved the most on the eighth grade history exam and the high school world history II exam, where passage rates improved by 22 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Every exam had a passage rate of at least 70 percent, except the eighth-grade English and reading exam, which 69 percent of students passed. Beginning in 2007, schools will lose accreditation unless 70 percent of their students pass the exams. Although proponents of the exams say they add accountability to Virginia's K-12 education system, critics charge that the SOLs encourage rote memorization rather than foster critical thinking skills. -- Compiled by Josh Goodman


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University reinstates library hours

After reducing library hours early this semester because of the budget cuts, the University will restore hours to both Alderman and Clemons libraries, University Librarian Karin Wittenborg announced yesterday. Wittenborg said an expanded schedule will be available as soon as the library can hire students and supervisors to staff the new hours. "It was clear that the hours of the library were really important to students," she said.

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On this episode of On Record, we sit down with Vera Abbate, director of the Summer Language Institute. Abbate discusses how the program builds fluency, confidence and community through intensive study and practice.