News

ITC to upgrade wireless network

The University's Information Technology and Communication office plans to improve the "cavalier" wireless network available to students on Grounds by switching to a higher level of encryption May 29. According to Lauren McSwain-Starrett, ITC public relations and marketing specialist, the tighter encryption will provide students with more security while using the University's wireless network. Some students might run into problems using the upgraded network if their computers are older, McSwain-Starrett said.

Alumna receives distinction

University Engineering alumna Jill S. Tietjen will join the likes of CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric and other alumnae today when she receives the University Women's Center Distinguished Alumna Award. "Women came to this University over 25 years ago, and lots of them have had incredible achievements," said Heather Neier, the center's director of development.

Elementary my dear jefferson

Large police force to return to Foxfield

As many students rush to find hats and seersucker suits this week, a program held last night helped them prepare for the Foxfield Races in another way by addressing security and safety concerns. The educational program held by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team highlighted alcohol safety precautions and explained the security procedures to take place at this year's races, including a large police force. Susan Bruce, director of the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education, said the program was designed to raise awareness among students of new security measures and potential risks of excessive alcohol consumption on a hot afternoon. "Our main focus is on prevention of problems, making sure students get home safely and that they know what to do if a friend has too much to drink," Bruce said.

Study notes gender pay gap

It's still a man's world, according to a study released by the American Association of University Women that examines the careers of men and women who have recently graduated from college and reevaluates these individuals 10 years later. The AAUW's study examined the salaries of men and women with an undergraduate college education, and found that women make 74 cents for every dollar made by their male counterparts. The study was released following Tuesday's Equal Pay Day, which, according to the AAUW, marked the day on which the cumulative earnings of women starting in 2006 caught up with the amount of money men earned in 2006 alone. According to Judy Goldberg Dey, co-author of the study, the research broke down the gender pay gap over a period of time. "What we were doing was looking at young women and men right out of college and then 10 years after graduation," Golberg Dey said. According to Goldberg Dey, immediately after college women make 80 percent of what men make, and the gap grows larger as time goes on. University Politics Prof.

BOV issues regret for slave labor at U.Va.

The Board of Visitors passed a resolution at its recent meeting expressing the University's regret for its reliance on slave labor from 1819 to 1865. The resolution commends a similar statement of regret released by the General Assembly, which was signed by Gov.

DEQ recognizes University dining, housing departments

The University is becoming a lean, mean, green machine, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Student could face time in jail for brandishing weapon at Wilsdorf Hall

Second-year College student Christopher Allen Smith was charged with brandishing a weapon at a bond hearing held yesterday morning. Smith was arrested at 12:30 a.m.

Surveying Student Loans

As a national student loans scandal erupts at college campuses across the country, the last thing University officials want is for the school to be connected with improper student loans policies discussed in a New York Times article.

CIOs appeal allocated offices

Groups appealing the recently announced Contracted Independent Organization office space allocations made their cases before Student Council last night. The representative body upheld the office space allocation for the International Relations Organization while agreeing that the Pep Band's office allocations should be reviewed because of the importance the space has to the sustainability forx the band. "We are a little concerned that the decision was just remanded," Pep Band Director Emma Whyte said.

Greek council host annual award ceremony

Greek leaders urged all members of University sororities and fraternities to continue their record of community service at their annual awards ceremony last night. At the event, hosted by the Inter-Gree Committee, each governing council received awards for its members based on philanthropy, community service and contribution to the Greek system. The presidents of the four Greek councils spoke on the state of their governing council, also addressing what they have accomplished so far and what they hope to achieve. Inter-Fraternity Council president Charlie Morgan said the IFC remained committed to philanthropy and academics, adding that the IFC has a higher average GPA than the general male population at the University. "I am particularly proud of our contributions to the community," Morgan said, noting inter-Greek involvement in the creation of the Mid-Autumns carnival and the Crimson War blood drive against Maryland in the fall. Morgan said such events were hugely successful and brought together the four governing councils and the larger community. National Pan-Hellenic Council President Zuri Darrell said his organization, which governs historically black fraternities and sororities, has continued to serve minority communities on Grounds.

Tech grants end of semester options

As students at Virginia Tech returned to classes Monday, they were given the option of finishing their classes or being allowed to head home. Tech administrators decided to give students the flexibility to choose whether or not they will continue to attend classes while hoping that finishing the semester will to help thereturn to normalcy for some students. This program of options, called "Student Choice," is designed to help students deal with the tragedy in their own way, according to Mark McNamee, provost and vice-president for academic affairs. Students have three options: taking the grade for the work submitted before April 16; turning in any additional assignments they choose to have factored into their final grade; or completing all the work that is normally required.

Prof. James Childress receives Jefferson Scholars Faculty Prize

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation recently recognized Religious Studies Prof. James Childress with the Jefferson Scholars Faculty Prize. The prize is awarded to a faculty member who has served the University in the areas of leadership, scholarship and citizenship, according to Foundation President James Wright.

"Gay? Fine by me."

Senators discuss campus safety

In response to the shootings at Virginia Tech last week, higher education administrators presented overviews of the condition of student mental health and current campus safety at a U.S.

Google awards computer science graduate students with scholarship

Google awarded two University computer science graduate students its 2007 Anita Borg Scholarship earlier this month -- a $10,000 award for females in the field of computer science to be used for academic purposes. According to Google spokesperson Sunny Gettinger, more than 250 applications were sent from over 150 schools. "The selection committee looked for [females] who are majoring in computer science or another technical field and are leaders in their schools and fields," Gettinger said. The goal of the program is to continue the legacy of Anita Borg, who "was committed to encouraging women to enter the field of computer science," Gettinger said. University Engineering graduate students Wei Le and Isabelle Stanton were among 20 female recipients of the award. With a family background in technical science and a master's in mathematics from the University, Stanton said she heard about the scholarship from another computer science graduate student. "One of our other graduate students ... won it last year, so she encouraged me to apply," Stanton said. The application process requires candidates to discuss everything from their technical achievements to their personal hobbies, she said. According to Stanton, the application required four essays.

Police respond to incident at Wilsdorf

At about 11:20 p.m. last night, the police dispatch received a call from a female student at Wilsdorf Hall reporting a sighting of a male with a gun. University and Charlottesville police dispatched approximately a dozen officers, who evacuated and searched the building.

israel in the Amphitheater

U.Va. dean to serve on investigative panel

Members of the University community have been recruited by Gov. Tim Kaine to serve on an investigative panel aimed at examining the response to conditions surrounding the Virginia Tech shootings. Last Friday, the governor appointed Medical School Assistant Dean Marcus Martin and Diane Strickland, Law School alumna and former dean of Student Legal Services, to the panel.Martin and Strickland are joining what will be an eight-member commission led by former Virginia State Police Superintendent Gerald Massengill. The panel will examine the particular circumstances before, during and after the events on the Tech campus last Monday, said Kevin Hall, press secretary for Gov.

U.Va. dean to serve on investigative panel

Members of the University community have been recruited by Gov. Tim Kaine to serve on an investigative panel aimed at examining the response to conditions surrounding the Virginia Tech shootings. Last Friday, the governor appointed Medical School Assistant Dean Marcus Martin and Diane Strickland, Law School alumna and former dean of Student Legal Services, to the panel.Martin and Strickland are joining what will be an eight-member commission led by former Virginia State Police Superintendent Gerald Massengill. The panel will examine the particular circumstances before, during and after the events on the Tech campus last Monday, said Kevin Hall, press secretary for Gov.