In the aftermath of the disappearance and death of second-year College student Hannah Graham, University students, Charlottesville citizens and city officials have found themselves increasingly concerned with personal safety.
The Inter-Fraternity Council governing board is currently working to create a set of policy reforms to submit to University President Teresa Sullivan by Dec. 31. The proposed changes must be approved before fraternities can participate in rush events in the spring, according to IFC President Tommy Reid, a fourth-year College student.
Student Council approved the creation of the Committee on Safety Programs Tuesday, under which two new programs — Student Watch and Buddies on Call — were also officially approved.
Upon returning to the University this week, many students noticed new scaffolding in front of Old Cabell Hall and extending to the entrances of New Cabell.
This week, students and organizations on Grounds are recognizing World AIDS Week by promoting awareness among the University community.
Two weeks after Rolling Stone published “A Rape on Campus,” faculty members of the College of Arts & Sciences met to discuss the article and propose possible actions to combat sexual violence at the University.
The Charlottesville community and the University participated in #GivingTuesday yesterday, a global day dedicated to giving. #GivingTuesday was established originally in 2012 as a response to the consumer driven shopping days surrounding Thanksgiving: Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The Batten School and the Seriatim Journal of American Politics held a panel on student sexual misconduct Tuesday, discussing how policy and law interact with issues of sexual assault on college campuses across the country.
A commission created to investigate Virginia’s ethics laws released a report Monday calling for tighter restrictions on gifts to public officials, limiting board and commission members from voting on matters affecting their interests, and the creation of an independent ethics review commission to oversee and penalize violations of these rules. “By imposing an overall limit on both tangible and intangible gifts to public officials, creating an independent ethics review commission with investigative and enforcement authority, and strengthening Virginia’s conflict of interests prohibitions, these interim recommendations constitute a major step forward in the effort to ensure that in Virginia no interest comes before the public interest,” commission Co-Chairman Rick Boucher said in a press release.
The Black Student Alliance hosted a Candlelight Vigil Monday night honoring and remembering Michael Brown, Emanuel Brown and Tamir Rice. Black Student Alliance (BSA) members, along with other members of the University community, attended the event to honor the lives of the deceased African Americans.
Buddies On Call, a new program endorsed by Student Council, is launching after a months-long organization process. “Buddies On Call will operate from 10pm-2am on [Thursday, Friday, and Saturday] nights to help create a safer community,” according to the Student Council website.
Glynn D. Key, alumna, member of the Seven Society and former University Board of Visitors member passed away suddenly on November 20 at her home in Philadelphia. At the time of her death, Key served as general counsel to General Electric (GE) and oversaw multiple global development projects.
This Fall semester, the Curry School of Education created a new major called Youth and Social Innovation (YSI), in which students learn about youth development, planning, and policy. The new major joins two existing Bachelor of Science in Education degrees at the Curry School, the Kinesiology major and Speech Pathology and Audiology major.
Charlottesville resident Jesse Matthew will go before a Charlottesville General District Court judge on Mar.
The Seven Society raised banners around Grounds Sunday calling for unity and collective action from within the University community to respond to recent events. Each banner bears the same inscription and is accompanied by a letter laid below it. The banners, which can be seen hanging from spots including the Fralin Art Museum, Runk Dining Hall, Thornton Hall and Peabody Hall, are inscribed with John Donne’s 17th century poem “No Man is an Island,” which lies below the the Seven Society’s insignia.
University President Teresa Sullivan addressed the University community Monday afternoon about how the administration plans to respond to rape, alcohol abuse, danger at fraternity parties and other key issues brought to light following the publication of a Rolling Stone article Nov. 19 which documented several rape allegations by University students. The conference was closed to media, but live-streamed on the University website.
President Barack Obama issued an executive order Nov. 20 which will allow nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants to temporarily remain in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
A grand jury in St. Louis decided Nov. 24 not to indict former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson with criminal charges for the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
Several University deans are seeking student advice on how to address sexual assault at the University and how to turn this feedback into a course of action.
The Board of Visitors met Tuesday in a special session to address ramifications of the Rolling Stone article and resulting protests against sexual assault on Grounds. Student leaders played a key role in the meeting, offering promises for change and suggestions for University policies.
