News

Health System launches online heart health program

The University of Virginia Health System recently launched a new online program, Club Red, designed to educate women about the risk of heart disease. Women can join the Web site to gain access to nutrition and exercise tips, as well as a message board where they can post their own tips for how to incorporate heart health into their lives, Health System spokesperson Carol Keese said. "Club Red is a membership program about engaging women in making a commitment to themselves about being heart healthy," Keese said. Keese noted that other campaigns have attempted to raise women's awareness about heart disease, such as National Wear Red Day, which began four years ago.

Clarification

Yesterday's Life article "Rushing Around Grounds," referred to Trigon as "the Engineering School's fraternity," implying that Trigon was the only fraternity based in the Engineering School.

Va. House passes HPV vaccine bill

The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill yesterday that would require all girls entering middle school to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. The Virginia Senate had previously passed a bill requiring all girls entering the sixth grade to be vaccinated unless parents specified a medical or religious exemption.

Students meet with state legislators

A group of University students visited Richmond yesterday in order to observe and participate in the General Assembly's political process and to meet with legislators and Gov.

Deeds explores possibility of running in 2009 gubernatorial race

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, is in the process of hiring an exploratory committee as he contemplates entering the 2009 gubernatorial race.

Police investigate increased reports of car vandalism, iPod thefts

An increase in the number of iPod thefts and incidents of automobile vandalism, particularly within the University community, has prompted police attention, according to a Charlottesville Police press release.

Taking Care of Business

Honor passes new bylaw amendment

The Honor Committee passed an addition to its bylaws yesterday and also announced plans to host an open meeting for the University community and a debate of single sanction as efforts to engage the student body. The bylaw addition was approved as an effort to increase transparency of its operations and policies. "This section allows for greater clarification because it places all the honor-specific terms that were previously spread throughout the bylaws in one place," said Honor Committee Chair Alison Tramba. The open Rotunda meeting will be held by the Committee Feb.

Bomb Threat called in at Duke game

Soon after the Cavaliers defeated the Blue Devils last Thursday, John Paul Jones Arena security requested that spectators evacuate the area due to a bomb threat. Sgt.

Nursing to offer DNP program

The University's School of Nursing has recently become the first school in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer the Doctorate in Nursing Practice program. The DNP program is aimed at nurses who already hold a master's degree in a specialty area and who can then continue their education to receive a doctoral degree. The purpose of the program is "to educate nurses at the highest level of clinical practice," according to Dr. Doris Glick, director of the DNP program and director of the master's program at the University's School of Nursing. The program is the second doctoral degree to be offered by the School of Nursing.

Fires reported at student residences

Two fires occurred at student residences over the weekend, one at the Chi Phi fraternity house and the other at Jack Jouett Apartments. The Charlottesville Fire Department and Police Department responded to a trash fire set outside of the Chi Phi house, located at 161 Rugby Road, Saturday at 6:23 p.m. According to Chi Phi President Harrison Wheaton, a flaming stuffed animal was thrown into a pile of debris as a part of the fraternity's bid day activities.

Web site under construction

After four months of deliberation, the University's Web Communications Office is only a week or two away from completing a new home page for the University's Web site. Director of Web Communications Nancy Tramontin explained that two goals prompted the change. "The first [was] to get more links off the home page," she said.

U.Va. research funding drops during 2006

The University's Office of Sponsored Programs recently released statistics showing that the University saw a decrease in the amount of funding it received for research during 2006.

Online MCAT format poses new challenges

A Kaplan survey of test-takers of the first online MCAT exam revealed a majority of students found the newly formatted test to be harder than they expected, according to Matt Fidler, Kaplan director of premed programs. "A lot of these folks had not spent a lot of time working at a computer-based interface," Fidler said.

Resolution expresses 'profound regret for slavery'

The Virginia House of Delegates Rules Committee unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday expressing the commonwealth's "profound regret" for its role in slavery. The resolution, sponsored by Del.

Blandy Experimental Farm names Lerdau as director

Environmental Science Prof. Manuel Lerdau was recently appointed director of Blandy Experimental Farm, a biological research station operated by the University, according to Blandy Public Relations Coordinator Tim Farmer. The 700-acre property, located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, was named after Graham Blandy who donated the land to the University upon his death. According to Farmer, researchers are able to study plant and animal interactions, plant ecology, pollination systems and a variety of ecology studies at Blandy.

Apprey delivers annual address on state of OAAA

While applauding recent accomplishments yet also noting room for development and improvement, African-American Affairs Dean Maurice Apprey delivered the University's annual State of the Office of African-American Affairs Address last night. Apprey's talk, entitled "Leading Change, Managing Transformations," marked the beginning of Black History Month and emphasized the need for slow, deliberate changes to the OAAA. Apprey first summarized the past achievements of the OAAA.

SFS looks to improve financial ed.

While a proposal sits in the General Assembly aimed at increasing financial literacy among students, AccessUVa has already begun this initative at the University.

Congress proposes aid boost

Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, proposed the Obey-Byrd Resolution on Tuesday to increase the federal Pell Grant scholarship. The Pell Grant would be raised from $4,050 to $4,310 per individual, a national total increase of approximately six million dollars, according to Byrd's Communication Director, Tom Gavin. Pell Grants are typically awarded to low-income students, and take into account several factors, including the student's expected family contribution, whether or not the student is enrolled full- or part-time and the cost of tuition for the particular institution, according to the Department of Education's Web site. Gavin explained that Pell Grant funding has not been increased for four years, despite average tuition increases at higher education institutions. "The Pell Grants are the foundation of financial aid packages," Gavin said, adding that it is "important to keep up with the pace of increase." While the sponsors of the resolution are Democrats, Gavin said the bill is a bipartisan initiative. "It is not a time for finger pointing," he said.

Correction

A textbox accompanying yesterday's Focus article "No place for professors?" incorrectly identified James Madison University as one of three Virginia public colleges and universities which do not have a faculty member sitting on their boards of visitors.