News

News

More prank calls reported to Honor

By Jaime Levi | April 26, 2000

After two more University students reported yesterday that they received suspicious phone calls from a man claiming to be an Honor Committee representative, the Committee is taking steps to better inform students of its phone call policies. A total of three students now have reported receiving phone calls on Sunday night between 1:30 and 2:15 in the morning from a man calling himself "Jack." The man, who spoke in a foreign accent, reportedly told the students they were being brought up on honor charges and that they should meet him at either Espresso Corner or Espresso Royale Café to discuss the charges. According to Vice Chairwoman for Investigations Ginny Rothschild, in the most recently reported phone call, the student thought the caller was one of her friends playing a joke on her.

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University competes for humanities center

By Abby Curran | April 26, 2000

The University soon may host one of 10 Regional Humanities Centers nationwide if it receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The regional center would serve as an educational and research facility available for all the region's residents, focusing on exploring and preserving local history. Encyclopedias, films, radio recordings and other historically significant items would be available at the centers. The NEH is founding the 10 centers based on the idea that by "understanding regionalism, one can really get in touch with the history of the whole nation," NEH spokesman Jim Turner said. The institution housing each regional center would receive $5 million over a five-year period and would be expected to raise $15 million on its own over seven years. The University now is in competition with the College of Charleston to host the South Atlantic Regional Center.

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News

CIOs appeal allocation of SAF funding

By Sarah Marchetti | April 26, 2000

Spectrum Theatre, the Chinese Student Association, and CAINE, a comic book and animation group, appealed their Student Activity Fee fund allocations at the Student Council meeting last night. The SAF is a $39 fee each student pays in addition to tuition for funding student organizations. While 17 Contracted Independent Organizations appealed the Appropriation Committee's decisions, only three of the groups' appeals had been heard at press time. The groups whose appeals were not heard last night will be heard at a special meeting Thursday. Spectrum Theatre appealed its appropriations allocations because it did not receive any money for a new lighting system. It requested about $6,000 in its appeal. The group withdrew its appeal after Chief Financial Officer John Finley promised the group funding for the lights from $23,000 set aside for the purchase of equipment for Newcomb Hall. The Chinese Student Association appealed for an additional $1,000.

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Merit scholarships can line pockets of full-ride scholars

By Clark Williams | April 26, 2000

If you win one merit-based scholarship, there is a good chance you will win another. Merit-based scholarships are established by private donors without tapping into University revenues.

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ISC to allow more first-year contact

By Maria Tor | April 26, 2000

The Inter-Sorority Council voted unanimously Monday night to relax its strict policy regarding sorority members' contact with first-year women before formal rush. The new rush contact policy allows sorority members to talk to first-year women as long as they do not promote or discuss individual sorority houses. The ISC vote abolished the no-contact rule, which limited sorority members to minimal contact with first-year women during the semester before rush. Sorority women had to register with the ISC any time they spent talking to first years.

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Candidates debate parkway plans

By Michael Loatman | April 26, 2000

City Council candidates discussed their varied views on the Meadowcreek Parkway, city parks and the overall quality of the environment at a debate held yesterday at Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. Candidates were divided on the issue of the Meadowcreek Parkway. "We need to abandon our blind faith in highways," said incumbent Council member and Architecture Prof.

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Robb defends Reno's decision to use force in the Gonzalez custody battle

By Emily Roper | April 25, 2000

Following a speech yesterday to a GFAP 101 class, Sen. Chuck Robb (D) defended U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno's Saturday morning decision forcefully to seize six-year-old Elián Gonzalez from his U.S.

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Anonymous donor gives $1 million Nursing gift

By Barbara Krabill | April 25, 2000

With an anonymous $1 million gift lining its pocket, the University's Nursing School will be able to recruit a new faculty member with expertise in the field of pediatric nursing. The gift, which will establish a distinguished professorship, sets a new mark as the largest gift to the Nursing School from an individual donor and will be the first $1 million professorship to go before the Board of Visitors, which approves all new funded professorships. "The named professorship allows us to attract faculty members who have done prominent research in the area" and are often known nationally and internationally, Assoc.

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Study demonstrates racial gap in judicial system

By Emily Rockwood | April 25, 2000

In 1997, blacks made up about 20 percent of Virginia's population but about 50 percent of arrests for major felonies such as rape and murder.

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Students receive fraudulent phone calls

By Margaret Chipowsky | April 25, 2000

An unidentified man called three female University students early yesterday morning, claiming to be a representative of the Honor Committee and asking them to meet with him, according to Honor Committee officials. Committee Chairman Thomas Hall said the call recipients told him the man spoke with an "unidentified foreign accent" and would only give the name "Jack." The caller refused to provide any other personal information to the students. Hall said the caller allegedly told the recipients they were facing honor charges and should meet him at either Espresso Corner or Espresso Royale Caffe on University Avenue. One recipient said she received a call around 1:15 a.m.

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Panelists stress need for gender equality

By John Teschner | April 25, 2000

At yesterday's forum on the "Climate for Women at U.Va.," panelist Sondra Stallard told an anecdote of a meeting she had with a senior administrator to discuss gender-based salary inequities in the early 1980s.

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Five SPE members face drug charges

By Margaret Chipowsky | April 25, 2000

Four Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity members and one pledge were arrested last Sunday in Fauquier County and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and opium. Fauquier County Sheriff's Office Capt.

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LGBTU plans resource center to provide support

By Christine Buurma | April 24, 2000

Fewer than one in five University students, faculty and staff believe that the University administration is sensitive to the needs of non-heterosexual members of the University community, according to a 1994 survey conducted by the Committee on Environment for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals (CELGBU) at the University.

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ISC to reconsider no-contact policy

By Emily Roper | April 24, 2000

The Inter-Sorority Council will consider abolishing the no-contact rule between sorority women and first-year women, which is in effect in the fall prior to formal spring rush. Sorority presidents will meet today to discuss and vote on the specifics of the new rules.

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Bryant addresses education funding

By Michael Loatman | April 24, 2000

Raising educational standards while keeping costs down are key goals for the Commonwealth, Virginia Secretary of Education Wilbert Bryant said in a speech before about 60 people at the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society Friday night. "When we set the bar low, students will strive low," Bryant said. He said that by revising the state's Standards of Learning in 1994, Virginia has set a high standard for elementary and high-school students. He added that it also was important to raise colleges' and universities' academic standards to make them more accountable to taxpayers.

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Student entrepreneurs offer storage solutions to meet college demands

By Michelle Ho | April 24, 2000

Last fall, Kevin Neher and Scott Wilson decided it was not a good idea to leave all their furniture in their off-Grounds apartment over the summer. The two third-year College students decided to take matters into their own hands.

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Online service assists students with graduation planning

By Amanda J. Batt | April 24, 2000

What first began as a Commerce School project has evolved into a budding Internet business to help students and parents deal with the intricate planning associated with college graduation. Absolutegrad.com, started by 1999 Commerce graduate Dan Mattock, helps with the itty-bitty graduation details - everything from finding a good hotel to ordering announcements online.

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The Talented Mr. Bilby

By Margaret Chipowsky | April 24, 2000

Joe Bilby returned from a Winter Break trip to China with a new look. Bilby, a third-year College student and Student Council President-elect, contracted an eye infection while visiting his sister in Hong Kong and had to switch from his usual contact lenses to tortoise-shell glasses. He said the change has caused a considerable reaction - most notably, comparisons to the title character of the film "The Talented Mr. Ripley," played by Matt Damon. His method of eyesight amplification has not been the only thing to change in Bilby's life over the last several months. Since capturing the presidency, Bilby has immersed himself in learning the particulars of his new job and preparing to take over the reigns of Council later this week. Council "is an organization that has a ton of potential," he said, expressing high hopes for his term.

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Poetry Walk to display literary talent

By Christine Buurma | April 24, 2000

Thomas Jefferson's words of wisdom and the writings of several notable Virginia poets soon will adorn a section of Grounds bordering University Avenue. New York artist Agnes Denes designed a permanent "Poetry Walk" consisting of 20 granite stones bearing writings from Thomas Jefferson.

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Job seekers weigh their stock options

By Katie Archer | April 24, 2000

It's all about the benefits. As graduating University students perform the dreaded job search, job hunters increasingly are weighing a job's benefits in addition to the salary package.