Gene Nichol, former president of the College of William & Mary, resigned yesterday in response to the William & Mary Board of Visitors' recent refusal to renew his contract.
Jack Ford, a former trial lawyer and award-winning anchor of CourtTV, addressed Law School students and faculty yesterday afternoon regarding the impact of the 2006 Duke lacrosse case on the institutions of law and media. In his speech, Ford described the case as a "defining moment" for both law and media, comparing it to Watergate and the O.J.
Student Council discussed a number of issues relating to contracted independent organizations at last night's meeting, including proposals to establish a CIO scholarship fund and to make the appropriations process more equitable for student groups. The first piece of legislation, sponsored by Vice President for Operations Catherine Tobin, suggested the creation of a Contracted Independent Organization Scholarship Fund, which would set aside a total of $2,000 to provide individual students aid.
University Prof. John Hudson, the Wills Johnson Professor of Chemical Engineering, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering Friday in recognition of his work in the complexities in chemical and biological systems.
Election buzz permeated Grounds yesterday as Virginians cast their votes in the Republican and Democratic primaries.
Today, University Housing officials plan to investigate an incident that occurred in Metcalf dormitory last Thursday evening just before 10. First-year Architecture student Beth Hughes said she witnessed a small fire near her room's power allocator.
Compared to its peer public institutes of higher education, the University "dominates" the world of fundraising, according to Bob Sweeney, senior vice president for development and public affairs.
Faculty and students in favor of a broader curriculum of international studies gathered on the steps of Old Cabell Hall Friday to voice their concerns about the scope of courses offered at the University. The demonstrators called for the University administration to offer more courses in international studies, languages and study abroad programs. At the start of the Internationalization Direct Action event, organizer Ryan McElveen, a fourth-year College student, announced the formation of a faculty-student commission to work with the University administration on the subject of internationalization.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke to Politics Prof. Larry Sabato's Introduction to American Politics class yesterday, addressing issues including energy efficiency, universal health care and more affordable college tuition. "I'm thrilled to be here at this extraordinary university," the senator from New York told Sabato's class, which gathered in the auditorium of Old Cabell Hall for a question-and-answer style discussion. Clinton began by reminding students of the importance of politics.
Candidates running for Student Council offices met yesterday at a Hoos for Open Access forum to discuss what many candidates referred to as a need for a more socioeconomically diverse community at the University. Candidates running for the Council positions of president, vice president for administration and vice president for organizations were present at the forum, answering questions first from the forum's moderators -- Hoos for Open Access executive board members Josh Mitchell and Kimberly Diaz -- and then from members of the audience. When asked about the possible benefits of socioeconomic diversity at the University, second-year College student John Nelson, a VPA candidate, said University "students benefit from hearing other students' experiences from diverse situations and socioeconomic backgrounds." VPO candidate Brent Via, a second-year College student, added that socioeconomic diversity "can open up students' minds to a world other than their own." Isaac Wood, presidential candidate and third-year College student, concurred with his fellow Council candidates and added that he is also concerned about what happens to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds once they arrive at the University. "Current programs do a great job getting students from lower-income backgrounds to the University," Wood said.
The bias reporting Web site Just Report It! received an account Thursday of an image discovered on a desk in a classroom in New Cabell Hall.
The University's Board of Visitors approved an educational and research collaboration last week with British company Rolls Royce to build a Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
The Board of Visitors selected third-year College student Adom Getachew as its new student member Friday.
In the face of higher education's ever-increasing price tag, AccessUVa, the University's undergraduate financial aid program, may expand to accommodate the future student body.
Though a legal battle has surrounded the program for nearly three years, the Google Books Library Project continues to digitize hundreds of thousands of books from the University's library system.
The leadership abilities of Gene Nichol, president of the College of William & Mary, have recently come under fire by some William & Mary alumni as well as several state delegates who are concerned about the president's decision to remove the historic Wren Chapel cross and allow the performance of the "Sex Workers' Art Show." Nichol's critics have also called into question the lack of action William & Mary's Board of Visitors has taken in holding the president responsible to the college. According to Del.
A bill banning illegal immigrants from attending public universities passed in the House of Delegates this week and now awaits approval by the Virginia Senate.
