News

News

SAT test scoring gap widens between 2007, 2008

By Anne Rasmussen | September 5, 2008

The national gap between SAT scores of white and minority students other than Asians grew wider between the high school graduating classes of 2008 and 2007, according to data released by the College Board.According to the data, score averages for black, Hispanic and American Indian students were down six to eight points total across the three exams ? reading, writing and mathematics ? while white and Asian students saw their scores increase by four and five points, respectively.

---

News

Kaine declares state of emergency

By Samantha Koon | September 5, 2008

Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency in the commonwealth yesterday in response to the potential threat of Tropical Storm Hanna this weekend.?Current forecasts predict Hanna will bring tropical storm force winds to Virginia, causing coastal flooding and the very real possibility of tornadoes and power outages,? Kaine said, according to a press release.To prepare for the possible damage, the governor encouraged Virginians to be aware of Hanna?s progression and to follow the instructions of local government officials and news media sources in relation to the storm.

---

News

BREAKING NEWS

By Paul Wiley | September 4, 2008

Thursday, Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m.: Court documents filed today in Charlottesville General District Court confirmed reports that Peter Lalich, starting quarterback for the Virginia football team, has been cited for violating the terms of his probation.

---

News

Islamic community begins construction on city

By Chelsea Germano | September 4, 2008

Tuesday marked the ground-breaking for what will be Charlottesville?s first mosque, a project that has been in the works since 2000.According to the Islamic Society of Central Virginia?s mosque plans posted on its Web site, the proposed structure is supposed to accommodate ?245 worshippers, a dedicated library, office space, 6 classrooms for educational purposes, a kitchen, and a multi-purpose room for lectures and social gatherings.?To complete its plans, the ISCV?s board of trustees purchased approximately 0.67 acres of land on Pine Street, located in a neighborhood near the University Hospital.?I think it has been a long time waiting,? said Karim Mohammed, vice chairman of the board of trustees.

---

News

City Council looks out for pedestrians

By Shea Connelly | September 4, 2008

University students and Charlottesville residents should begin to see major changes affecting pedestrian safety over the next six to nine months, according to Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris.

---

News

Library changes elicit mixed reactions

By Matthew Denton-Edmundson | September 4, 2008

Students who have already hit the books in Clemons Library likely have noticed a new atmosphere. More study space, fewer computers and two large aquariums now greet students as they walk into the top floor of the library.

---

News

Research evaluates affirmative action

By Kelly Morenus | September 4, 2008

New research about law schools? affirmative action conducted by professors from Princeton University and the University of Toronto seeks to evaluate the ?mismatch? hypothesis, a theory that claims affirmative action could actually be detrimental to its would-be beneficiaries.

---

News

Housing works for diversity

By Hannah Wallace | September 3, 2008

Since the University decided to eliminate first-year students? choice between living in Alderman or McCormick dormitories, the new system has been met with mixed reviews.Resident Staff Co-Chair Ian Flanagan explained the change, implemented this fall, is part of an ?ongoing process? in which housing is ?gradually narrowing? the options students have in selecting their first-year housing.

---

News

Council hopes to fix housing stress

By Alexandra Hemenway | September 3, 2008

At its first meeting of the fall semester last night, Student Council discussed a resolution titled ?Don?t Sign It!?, an initiative that would aim to alleviate student stress by addressing the issue of early lease signing dates for on- and off-Grounds housing.?This is something that really does impact every single student at the University.? Council President Matt Schrimper said.

---

News

Kaine pushes for Obama vote in Virginia

By Emily Poe | September 3, 2008

Though Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) will not be on the presidential ballot this November ? despite summer rumors that he could be named Barack Obama?s vice presidential candidate ? his work as Obama?s national campaign co-chairman will keep him active in preparations for the upcoming November election.?I imagine as Obama focuses more on Virginia in the fall, Kaine will play a prominent role campaigning on his behalf,? said Dan Keyserling, deputy communications director for the University?s Center for Politics and former Cavalier Daily executive editor.Since beginning his role as national campaign co-chair in February 2007, Kaine has visited states such as Iowa, South Carolina, Georgia and Texas, in addition to traveling across the commonwealth to spread Obama?s message.?He has done quite a bit to help with fundraising in Virginia [and has been] providing political outreach in the state during the campaign ... [in order to] secure supporters,? said Kaine?s political campaign advisor Charlie Kelly.

---

News

Police to use new video for students safety instruction

By Kate Colwell | September 3, 2008

In response to the April 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, University Police have recently purchased an instructional video that has been prepared to inform University students and staff about how to respond in emergency situations on Grounds.While the video, titled ?Shots Fired,? is a new means of preparing for an emergency, discussions concerning emergency training have been an ongoing process.?We?ve been working on appropriate training for months,? Director of Emergency Preparedness Marge Sidebottom said.

---

News

Prof. finds link between popularity, teen alcohol use

By Sarah Wooten | September 3, 2008

In an ongoing study of adolescents, University Psychology Prof. Joseph Allen has found correlations between popularity and alcohol use.

---

News

Hoos Ready obtains new group status

By Alexandra Hemenway | September 2, 2008

Hoos Ready, an emergency preparedness awareness organization originally created as a contracted independent organization late last fall, recently acquired ?special status,? after its membership surpassed 1,700.

---

News

Community should prepare for possibility of hurricanes

By Hannah Wallace | September 2, 2008

Charlottesville residents and University students should be prepared in case of flooding or other storm-related damage later this week, when Hurricane Hanna is forecasted to make its way up the East Coast, according to Charlottesville Director of Communications Ric Barrick.

---

News

Test shows unconscious election opinions

By Emily Poe | September 2, 2008

Preliminary findings based on an online ?implicit association? test developed by University researchers in conjunction with other higher education institutions show that ?undecided voters? in the 2008 presidential election may have an ?automatic preference? for candidate John McCain.University Assoc.

---

News

Summer trials prove difficult

By Laura Hoffman | September 2, 2008

While many University organizations and activities take a hiatus as students leave Charlottesville for the summer, the Honor Committee continues its work as summer classes are held and cases move forward.With fewer Committee members in Charlottesville, Committee Chair Jess Huang said conducting fair investigations and trials during the summer can be difficult.?The trials are a little harder because we need to make sure we have enough people to run the trials and enough jurors,? Huang said.Still, Huang maintained, the process remains the same.?We follow the same procedures, the same bylaws,? Huang said.This summer saw the first open honor trial held in more than two years when third-year Architecture student Emily Bauer was acquitted of charges of cheating and lying during her fall 2007 ?Introduction To Design? ARCH 201 course July 20.Only students enrolled in summer classes are eligible to be jurors, Huang said.

---

News

City job growth slows since 2006

By Hannah Wallace | September 2, 2008

While the number of jobs in Charlottesville continued to increase in 2008, the growth rate of those jobs has slowed since 2006, according to the Chamber Jobs Report released by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

---

News

13 students charged with misdemeanors

By Shea Connelly | September 1, 2008

Thirteen members of the University?s chapter of Theta Delta Chi fraternity were arrested Aug. 20 for breaking into the Union College Theta Delta Chi fraternity house and damaging more than $2,000 worth of property through actions including urinating on two couches.?Our campus safety folks were on routine patrol when they noticed an individual outside of the house and asked what he was doing,? Phil Wadja, director of media and public relations at Union College.

---

News

StudCo to encourage more Unity

By Kelly Morenus | September 1, 2008

Now that the University Unity Project has announced its theme for the school year, ?Beyond our Grounds, Within our Community,? Student Council is working to reach out to students in order to facilitate involvement with the project.?We want students to embrace a sense of ownership in the community,? Student Council President Matt Schrimper said.

---

News

More students turning to federal loans for aid

By Anne Rasmussen | September 1, 2008

Because of the current national economic troubles, more than 100 financial firms have ceased to offer private student loans, including Wachovia, which stopped accepting applications for private, undergraduate student loans at the beginning of August.