News

New ISC Executive Board to take office Friday

The ISC Executive Board will transition to new leadership on Friday, following elections held in December and the announcement of its newest chairs yesterday. The ISC chose its president and four vice presidents in the December elections and appointed its various chair positions this past Sunday. In previous years, the ISC held elections in February after the end of sorority rush, but according to current ISC President Massie Payne, that system did not allow new officials to become accustomed to their positions before Spring Break. Payne added that having elections earlier would allow newly elected Executive Board members to shadow outgoing officials during rush and gain valuable experience for the coming year. "Now that we're transitioning on Friday, I think we'll be able to get a lot more done before Spring Break," Payne said. In addition to the move from February elections, current ISC Public Relations co-chair Marci Stewart said the ISC has made a few changes regarding informal rush in order to attract more transfer students and women who may feel excluded from the Greek system. As a result of these changes, Stewart explained that more houses will be encouraged to take part in informal recruitment, which is held each fall for second years and transfer students.

Two U.Va. students sexually assaulted

Two University students were victims of attempted sexual assault in two separate incidents reported early Monday morning.

Grisham to give commencement speech in May

The University announced yesterday that bestselling author and Charlottesville resident John Grisham will serve as the commencement speaker during Graduation Weekend. Grisham's name first surfaced when the Public Occasions subcommittee of the University's Commencements and Convocations Committee made a list of possible speakers, according to Alexander G.

University student arrested

First-year College student Derrick Deal was arrested Jan. 25 at approximately 1 a.m. in connection with several incidents at Dabney House, according to a press release issued by the University Police Department. The incidents included a Jan.

Student Council hosts forum to discuss housing and diversity

Student Council hosted a panel of administrators and student leaders yesterday in order to discuss issues of housing and race as a part of its forum, "Is it Really Random?

Faculty, students participate in retreat

The Office of the Provost and the Office of Student Affairs hosted an all-University retreat Friday at Newcomb Hall.

Cavalier Daily elections usher in 118th year of paper production

The Cavalier Daily elected its 118th Managing Board, Senior Board and Junior Board Saturday. The new staff commenced its leadership duties yesterday. Former Executive Editor Herb Ladley, a third-year College student, was elected editor-in-chief. When asked about his plans for the upcoming term, Ladley explained that he wants to make The Cavalier Daily "not only a forum for students, but a place they can see themselves fitting in." He emphasized his intent to focus on the transparency not only of The Cavalier Daily, but also of other University organizations. Other members of the new Managing Board include third-year College student Dan Keyserling, who was elected executive editor after having served as an Opinion associate editor. Third-year College student Caroline Freeman, former News editor, was elected managing editor. The position of operations manager will be undertaken by Margaret Bonner, a third-year Engineering student and previous News senior associate editor. Second-year College student Elizabeth Mills, former Opinion editor, will serve as chief financial officer. Members of the new senior board include third-year College students Sam Stollar as online manager and Jordan Buller as ads manager. Engineering graduate student Tyson Baldridge, was re-elected director of information technology. Second-year College students Kristin Hawkins and Maura O'Keefe, former News associate editors, were selected to serve as assistant managing editors. Assuming the role of News editors are two former News associate editors, third-year College student Whitney Gruenloh and second-year College student Maggie Thornton. Other members of the new Junior Board include Opinion editors A.J.

UNC-CH sends errant acceptance e-mails

Over 2,700 regular admission applicants to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received an e-mail Jan.

Honor evaluates representation

Honor Counsel Brian O'Neill, a third-year College student, introduced a proposal to change the representation of students on the Honor Committee in yesterday's meeting.

Va. population growth continues at slower rate

Virginia's population continued to grow in 2006, reaching 7.6 million in July, but it did so at a lower rate than in previous years, according to a recent annual study conducted by the University's Weldon Cooper Center. The study found Loudoun County to be the fastest-growing demographic area, with a population increase of 59 percent, followed by Manassas Park City with a 35 percent increase, said Mike Spar, research assistant at the Weldon Cooper Center. Qian Cai, director of the Weldon Cooper Center, explained that there are three components to population change: birth rate, death rate and migration.

U.Va. receives high marks from junior faculty

The University was ranked one of the best places for junior faculty members to work in a survey released by the Chronicle of Higher Education this week.

Proposal calls for ending use of AP, IB credit in ISIS sign-up times

The University's Integrated Student Information System Task Force recommended that Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits no longer be a component of the course hours used to determine the order of course registration.

Students seek BOV position

The field of candidates vying for the student position on the Board of Visitors was narrowed Tuesday from 51 to 13 when semi-finalists were selected. The new member will be announced in February, following another round of eliminations, according to current student Board member Lizzie Mullen. The selection committee -- composed of Patricia Lampkin, vice president for student affairs; Sandy Gilliam, secretary to the Board; Mullen and an undisclosed number of students -- is looking for "a well-rounded student who is able to connect with everyone that he or she works with," Mullen said. Mullen noted that evaluating applicants for the student Board position requires a different approach than selecting the best candidates for other leadership positions.

Winter weather blues

Students, profs react to State of Union

President Bush delivered his annual State of the Union speech Tuesday evening to a joint session of Congress, marking the first time that Bush has addressed the Democrat-controlled Congress.

BOV increases on-Grounds housing costs

As students finalize living arrangements for the 2007-2008 academic year, those staying on Grounds can anticipate a significant increase in the cost of housing -- on average, University housing tenants will see a 9.6 percent hike in price. The Board of Visitors Finance Committee recently approved the new student housing rates, which will cause students living in Brown College, the IRC and Gooch/Dillard to pay more than $4,000 for housing next year. According to Richard Kovatch, assistant vice president for business operations, housing funds will support various housing costs and University projects. "The increase is needed twofold, to cover [the] housing division's operating costs, including personnel, debt service, the debt we have to pay on our existing facilities, and to contribute to our replacement and renewal reserves, the funds we use to make improvements on facilities," Kovatch said. Approximately half of the increase in housing costs will go to this housing improvement fund.

U.Va. commemorates M.L. King, Jr.

The University held its annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last night, sponsored by the Office of African-American Affairs, the University Programs Council, Student Council and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The commemoration included speeches by Greg Jackson, a fourth-year Alpha, and History Prof.

UBE releases spring elections calendar, regulations

The University Board of Elections released the newest set of rules and regulations for the upcoming spring election Tuesday morning. While there were "several revisions to the rules," the main changes were expanding the voting period to eight days from last year's six, University Board of Elections Chair Steve Yang said. "There are several substantive changes for the campaigns, including the use of voting stations by candidates," Yang said. In addition, the rules will now place more restrictions on candidates during the campaign period and petitions will have to include student e-mail addresses. He said the changes are meant to make campaigning and elections fairer and more organized for both candidates and voters. "We put campaigning rules in the first two pages to make it easier and more straightforward for candidates," Yang said. Neha Kumar, University Board of Elections vice chair, said that when processing the rules there will now be a greater emphasis on communication with student organizations involved in the elections. "We highlighted communication with organizations for which we hold the elections," Kumar said. Yang said that the UBE voted to release the recent changes to the public before they are enacted for election season. "We invite everyone to review these rules and submit any comments to the Board by this Saturday, because they don't go into effect until after this public common period," Yang said. He added that the public comment period is meant for people to familiarize themselves with the rules and have the opportunity to give the UBE feedback. "Next week, we'll vote the rules into effect," Yang said.

End of an Era

College Dean Ed Ayers and University Vice-President and Provost Gene Block assumed theircurrent positions at the University within one week of each other, during the fall of 2001.

Transfer discount moves forward

RICHMOND -- Last night the Virginia House of Delegates higher education subcommittee voted unanimously to support a bill that would allow students transferring from community college to four-year institutions to continue paying community college rates. The Community College Transfer Grant Program, also known as HB 1681, put forth by Del.