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News

Cobb suit to test student honor system

By Edward Hock | September 23, 1999

Despite a $1.05 million lawsuit alleging the honor system does not ensure due process, Committee members assert that the system is sound and will stand up to the allegations in court. Committee Chairman Hunter Ferguson said he believes the honor system will withstand pressure in court as long as honor trial participants follow the guidelines set forth in the honor constitution and bylaws. "So long as due process standards are met, [the Honor Committee] is unassailable," Ferguson said. Vice Chairman for Services Cordell Faulk said the Committee's case procedures and rights for the accused surpass any requirements set by the courts. "We go out of our way to give due process," Faulk said. But in November 1998, Jonathan Cobb, who was found guilty of cheating on an Introduction to Statistical Analysis exam, sued the University and others involved in the case for $1.05 million, arguing he did not receive due process.

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EPA finishes chemistry lab investigation

By James Tsai | September 23, 1999

The Environmental Protection Agency finished its investigation of alleged Chemistry department chemical management violations this week. The EPA now has a month to compile a report detailing the results of the investigation, said Ralph Allen, University director of environmental health and safety. The investigation comes in the face of the EPA's new movement to strengthen educational institutions' adherence to safety standards. Specifically, Allen said containers weren't being labeled correctly or the lids weren't kept closed. The process the department uses to dispose of waste first involves collecting waste from the various labs and storing it in a central location.

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University helps schools meet SOLs

By Jacqueline Roper | September 23, 1999

The University's Continuing Education program is now helping Virginia schools to better integrate the state's Standards of Learning curriculum. The Virginia Department of Education set forth the SOL curriculum under Virginia Gov.

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Studies show rise in college-age smokers

By Jaime Levi | September 23, 1999

When University students light up, they join the growing ranks of about four million college-aged smokers throughout the country. Although smoking is not a new phenomenon at colleges and universities, many health care professionals are worried to see increasing numbers of college students who smoke. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that the number of smokers at 116 colleges rose by 28 percent between 1993 and 1997. At the University, a survey conducted by the Department of Psychiatric Medicine in the spring shows 34.8 percent of University students reported using tobacco in the last 30 days, with 15.4 percent having done so on 40 or more occasions. These statistics alarm many in the health care profession. "This is a crucial pressing issue that continues ... on all college campuses," said Susan Tate, director for Health Promotion at the Elson Student Health Center.

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University plans for information systems overhaul, integration

By James Tsai | September 23, 1999

The application for admission to the University begins with mundane, but necessary details: name, date of birth and social security number.

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Candidates debate area's social issues

By Clark Williams | September 22, 1999

Local candidates for this fall's General Assembly elections demonstrated clear ideological differences as they debated the role of government in social programs in an issue forum hosted by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy last night.

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Students evaluate motives for race-based housing decisions

By Nicola White | September 22, 1999

When third-year College student Michael McPheeters, a Chatam, Va., native, entered the University in the fall of 1997, he lived in McCormick Road dormitories, a predominantly white residence area. McPheeters, now co-president of the University's Black Fraternal Council, said at the time he knew very few black students in the area and not until the year progressed did he meet many other black students at all. "Initially, when I started going out, I went out with white students.

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Students join debate over affirmative action

By Thomas Hall and Sarah F. Columbia | September 22, 1999

As University debate continues over the use of race as a factor in admissions, some students are mobilizing to show support for affirmative action.

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Council plans revitalize book exchange program on Internet

By Kathryn L. Benner | September 22, 1999

As the popularity of Internet trading sites such as eBay.com continues to grow, Student Council is hoping to join the trend by offering University students the ability to trade their used books online. Once established, the online book exchange will allow students to set their own prices for their used books, said Brock Jolly, Council vice president for administration. The program, set up as a joint effort by the online company Bookswap.com and Council, will allow University students to register and purchase used books from other University students. The online exchange also will "eliminate paper, be faster, and be an overall better program" than Council's old book exchange, he said. The old program required students to bring in their books and set specific prices for them.

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Officials call for more alcohol education for women

By Katie Dalton | September 22, 1999

Despite the University's increased focus on preventing binge drinking in recent years, there still is a need for more programs specifically targeting female students, Women's Center Director Sharon Davie said. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic beverages in a row for women, or five or more drinks in a row for men. Even though women are more vulnerable to the dangers associated with binge drinking, most alcohol abuse prevention is focused on men, Davie said. "My perception is that the stereotype is that men drink a whole bunch more than women, and ... in the overall scheme of things, it seems men would be targeted more" in prevention programs, she said. But roughly equal numbers of female and male students are treated for alcohol-related ailments at the Student Health Center, Director of Student Health James Turner said. Because women react differently to alcohol than men, some alcohol education programs should be directed at women, Turner said. "Women are less tolerant of alcohol, so they tend to get sicker sooner, so education effectively should be targeted specifically towards women," Turner said. Despite women's unique needs, Davie said she did not know of any binge drinking prevention programs at the University designed especially for females. But education is not necessarily the best way to prevent alcohol abuse by either gender, said Madeleine Chandler, Outpatient Psychiatry Services employee and registered nurse. "Education doesn't often" prevent binge drinking, Chandler said.

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Thief nabs Booker House computers

By Katie Dalton and John Clark | September 22, 1999

Upon arriving at the Booker House yesterday morning, public relations employees found that several pieces of computer and office equipment, valued at $32,135.19, were missing from the Madison Lane office. The Booker House accommodates the University's public relations services including Community Relations, News Service, State Government Relations, and University Relations offices. According to University Police Lt.

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Study indicates dorm choice along race lines

By Amy Shapiro | September 22, 1999

Alderman Road dormitories attract a more racially diverse student body than McCormick Road dormitories, according to statistics compiled by the University's Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies obtained by The Cavalier Daily. This year, 1,393 first-year students live in Alderman Road dormitories.

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Council appoints liaisons to work with student groups

By Margaret Chipowsky | September 21, 1999

In an attempt to improve relations between Student Council and the University community, Council has implemented a plan to send student liaisons to various student organizations as well as to the Board of Visitors and the Faculty Senate. The liaison system was created over the summer by a team of Council Executive Board members, who include Council President Taz Turner, Vice President for Administration Brock Jolly and Communications Director Brooke Brower.

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Rue, organizations plan to re-establish walking escorts

By Abby Curran | September 21, 1999

Recent violence in the Charlottesville area, including an armed rape last month, and increased use of the University Escort Service, has prompted several student groups to take initial steps to reinstate the Student Watch Service. The Student Watch Service, a student-run organization that provides volunteer walking escorts, did not renew its status as a Contracted Independent Organization this fall, Student Council College Rep.

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Kast files motion to dismiss

By Rakesh Gopalan | September 21, 1999

The University's Office of the General Counsel filed a motion to dismiss and/or for summary judgment in former College student Richard W.

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University faculty members may face challenging road to tenure

By Tina Hong | September 21, 1999

(This is the first of a two-part series about the faculty tenure process.) For the most part, University students are familiar with the word tenure and know that it somehow applies to some of their professors, but are unaware of exactly how difficult it can be to obtain. Economics Prof.

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City seeks to increase middle-class housing

By Daniel Rubin | September 21, 1999

(This is the second part in a three part series about Charlottesville's efforts to attract middle-income residents.) Attracting middle income residents and creating new homes go hand in hand, said Charlottesville officials as they continue efforts to increase available city housing. City officials are now considering large and small parcels of land throughout the town for residential development. "We need to create more choices for people," City Councilman David Toscano said. City Council already has heard preliminary plans for the construction of the Wrenson Development Park, which would create about 120 residential units on the site of a former sewage treatment plant.

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U. Police report fewer alcohol-related arrests

By Margaret Chipowsky | September 21, 1999

According to University Police statistics on alcohol-related incidents released yesterday, four University students have been arrested for alcohol violations in the last three weeks, but several more have been referred to the University administration for violations of alcohol policy. University Police Lt.

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University may file motion to dismiss Smith suit today

By John Clark | September 20, 1999

With its 60-day grace period up, the University's General Counsel Office is expected today to file a motion to dismiss the $1.25 million lawsuit filed by College student Richard W.

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College Campus Catering expands nationally

By Rissa Camins | September 20, 1999

Encouraged by the popularity of his Corner Meal Plan company, majority owner and president Kent Shwager recently embarked on two new business ventures in the food service industry.