News

Area housing market slows from 2005

During the first quarter of 2006, the Charlottesville housing market recorded significant changes, according to a report issued by the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. Last quarter, the number of housing units on the market increased while demand slackened, the association's CEO, David Phillips, said. "Inventory has increased dramatically," Phillips said, adding that an increase in supply has been accompanied by a decrease in demand. The report concluded that, "The local residential real estate market has been in transition for the past six months and it appears to be settling in to a very healthy and sustainable segment of the economy." While Phillips acknowledged there is certainly room for improvement in housing availability, he said buyers and sellers are achieving an "equilibrium" and are "finally on the same playing field." According to Phillips, condominium sales will continue to increase, specifically in Charlottesville.

Living Wage Campaign meets with members of the Black Student Alliance

On Tuesday, the Black Student Alliance hosted a formal discussion with a panel of key members of the Living Wage Campaign.

Virginia Supreme Court chief justice speaks at University

University alumnus Leroy Hassell, now Virginia Supreme Court chief justice, spoke to students during Politics Prof.

Education student wins teaching fellowship

Fourth-year Education student Katey Shirey has been awarded one of 13 science fellowships granted by the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation for 2006. The fellowship is renewable for five years and is worth up to $100,000 over that period.

Students wear T-shirts for first-ever "De-stereotype Day"

One thousand T-shirts were distributed by Sustained Dialogue yesterday for its first-ever "De-stereotype Day," an event that attempted to raise awareness of racial stereotypes among students. According to former Sustained Dialogue chair Jessica Fowler, this event shows that Sustained Dialogue wants to change the environment around the University. Various organizations throughout the University supported this event including Jewish student organizations, several Black fraternities, Queer Student Union, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, Organization of African Students, Taiwanese Student Association, Korean Student Association, Chinese Student Association, Black Voices, United Sisters and numerous others. In preparation for Wednesday, Sustained Dialogue handed out 1,000 T-shirts with the words "Stereotype Me" on the front.

StudCo appoints executive positions

Student Council passed a resolution approving appointed members of the Executive Board at their meeting last night. Appointed Executive Board members are selected through an application process conducted by the executive board of Council.

Bills create tougher laws for sex offenses

Gov. Tim Kaine signed legislation Monday that will greatly increase punishments for sex offenders in the Commonwealth, said a spokesperson for Attorney General Bob McDonnell. Twelve related bills were signed into law, according to a press release issued jointly by Kaine and McDonnell's offices. The bills implement tougher mandatory sentences and a requirement that some registered sex offenders wear electronic tracking devices.

Plans in effect to ease traffic congestion

A new traffic light coordination plan was implemented earlier this month that has already improved driving conditions for Charlottesville drivers, said City Councilor Kevin Lynch. West Main Street is the first major Charlottesville road to have the traffic signals coordinated with one another at an Intelligent Transportation System central location, said traffic manager Lonnie Randall. This initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce traffic congestion in important Charlottesville corridors by coordinating the timing of traffic lights that currently run independently of one another. The next streets in line to have regulated traffic signals are Preston Avenue, Emmett Street and Jefferson Park Avenue, and at least two of the three streets will be updated by the end of June, Lynch said. The improvements include timing green lights on busy streets with the speed limit to allow drivers to make it through multiple intersections without having to stop at a red light, Lynch said. "They will all be synchronized so that cars going the speed limit will catch all the green lights," he added. A side effect of linking traffic signal times with the speed limit is that it will enforce the speed limit. Cars that are abiding by the speed limit will be going at a rate that will allow them to make all of the green lights on a coordinated street, Lynch said. Due to the improvements, congestion in the area has been alleviated by approximately 15 to 20 percent which will be most noticeable during peak traffic times, Lynch said. According to Lynch, the plan to coordinate traffic signals is a much more cost effective method of reducing traffic in the city than increasing roads. Upgrading signal communications costs anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per intersection, Randall said. Time has been the limitation on this project, rather than money, Lynch noted. In total, this project will cost approximately $2 million, Randall said. Randall expressed concern about the continued feasibility of funding the project because the amount that was initially raised has been nearly depleted. However, Lynch said he was optimistic that the success of the project and increased efforts to look for funds will allow for the coordination of all the traffic lights in Charlottesville.

Cirque du Soleil to perform at the John Paul Jones Arena this summer

The new John Paul Jones Arena will host the Cirque du Soleil August 1, as part of the "Delirium" tour, said Larry Wilson, general manager of the arena. Cirque du Soleil is an international troupe of acrobats founded in Canada in the early 1980s, according to a press release. Although the performance will be during the summer recess, this is not expected to affect ticket sales. "The demographic for this particular show is 30s on up," Wilson said. The "Delirium" tour marks the first time in the troupe's history that lyrics and actual words will be used in the performance, rather than an invented nonsense language, according to the release. Wilson said tickets will go on sale on Saturday.

Liberal Arts Graduates prepare for the future

With graduation ceremonies just around the corner, most fourth-year liberal arts students are preparing to take on life outside of the University.

Assistant secretary of state speaks on nuclear issue

Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian & Pacific affairs, spoke to students last night about the North Korean nuclear issue during an address sponsored by the International Relations Organization, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, the Washington Literary and Debating Society and the International Residential College. Throughout his time with the Senior Foreign Service, Hill has served as ambassador to Macedonia, Poland and South Korea.

Assistant secretary of state speaks on nuclear issue

Protesters to face UJC charges, opt for open trial

University Judiciary Committee Chair Raleigh Anne Blank announced yesterday that an open UJC trial will be held Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m.

Olympic medalist addresses Darfur crisis

Olympic gold and silver medalist Joey Cheek spoke concerning the Olympics, Africa and activism last night in Wilson Hall. Cheek recently donated his winnings from the Torino Olympics, $40,000, to Right to Play, a humanitarian organization which helps with the development of children through sports and play in disadvantaged areas around the world.

Law alumna to serve as clerk in World Court

Najwa Nabti, an alumna of the University Law School class of 2002, has been selected to clerk for the International Court of Justice, commonly known as the World Court, at The Hague. Nabti is the recipient of the Orrick International Law Fellowship, which reimburses clerks chosen from the University of Virginia up to $40,000 for relocation costs, living expenses and housing.

Students host 24-hour Holocaust observance

Holocaust survivor Erika Eckstut spoke at the University last night as students, faculty and community members gathered for a 24-hour vigil sponsored by the University of Virginia Jewish organization Hillel. The Day of Holocaust Remembrance event began last night with opening remarks from Peter Ochs, Jewish Studies Professor. "This is a time for reflection on what happened to us in the Holocaust," Ochs said.

Honor Committee approves code of ethics

The Honor Committee approved the Code of Ethics that will govern the 2006-2007 committee and discussed goals for subcommittees at last night's meeting. The committee also addressed a petition circulated following the recent open honor trial in which third-year Engineering student Steve Gilday was convicted of an honor offense. Some committee members disagreed with the wording governing the conflict of interest policy addressed in this year's Code of Ethics. The policy includes any situation in which an Honor Committee member, advisor or counsel has reported the case in question or had the case in question reported against him or her.

Cavaliers say good-knight to visiting Bellarmine

Computer theft places student identities at risk

A computer theft from an academic building at the University has compromised valuable student information including names, grades and student identification numbers, according to an e-mail sent by Provost Gene Block to hundreds of potentially affected students. The theft occurred from an academic building in early April and contained information about students who took classes in that building in the fall 2005 semester, Assoc.