News

Filipino ambassador addresses students

Philippines ambassador to the U.S.Albert F. del Rosario spoke about Filipino domestic affairs and relations with the United States during the Organization of Young Filipino-American's Spring Symposium Friday evening. Del Rosario discussed the recent dramatic political situation within the Philippines that resulted in the declaration of a nationwide state of emergency several weeks ago. "There was an [imminent] and real threat of the extreme left and the extreme right," del Rosario said.

Board members attend ground- breaking of new Nursing school

The members of the Board of Visitors broke ground for the new Nursing School building Saturday. The Claude Moore Nursing Education building is projected to open for general use in 2008, according to Theresa Carroll, assistant dean for undergraduate student services. The building will hold four new classrooms, faculty and administration offices, the Nursing School office of student life and a dining facility. The new building is necessary because the Nursing School has expanded beyond its current capacity, Nursing School Dean Jeanette Lancaster said. "We have completely outgrown McLeod Hall and our solitary off-Grounds research facility," she added. In the last five years applicants to the Nursing School have doubled, but the classes have only grown by approximately 10 percent because of the space issue, Carroll said. Lancaster said the Nursing School intends to increase the total enrollment by 25 percent in response to the national nursing shortage. "This new building will increase our space by 40 percent and allow us to increase all of our enrollments," Lancaster said. The dining area will be a café which will provide healthy food--part of a larger effort to keep the building in line with the virtues of the school, Lancaster said. Other healthful initiatives in the building's design include expanded bike racks, a large central staircase, large open able windows and an outdoor porch area. "We are absolutely considering health in the design of the building," Lancaster said. The new facility will provide nursing students with the most cutting edge educational technology as well as areas where they can congregate, she said. Currently there is limited space available where nursing students can socialize or for organizations to meet. "The main entry will have a large student center with computer kiosks, small seating areas and conference rooms," Lancaster said. The groundbreaking of the Claude Moore Nursing Education building is part of a larger project to revamp the Nursing School, which includes renovating McLeod Hall and renewing the landscape architecture in the area, Lancaster said. Lancaster estimated the cost of the new building at $12 million and the total cost of the project at $20 million.

Board members attend ground- breaking of new Nursing school

BOV meeting highlights Research, diversity

The Board of Visitors continued its April session into Friday with discussion on the University's intellectual property policy, faculty diversity, alumni relations improvement efforts and various student issues. Committee presentations to the Board continued on Friday, beginning with the Educational Policy Committee's report. Ariel Gomez, vice president for research and graduate studies, presented the Committee's evaluation that focused primarily on intellectual property and "technology transfer" issues. Gomez discussed the University's intellectual property rights to products that develop through University research.

BOV sets sights on top ranking for University

The April session of the Board of Visitors commenced yesterday in Darden's Abbot Hall, bringing with it new goals, new metrics to evaluate progress and new finance plans for the University. The Special Committee on Planning opened the meeting with its presentation and analysis of the University's national and international rankings. Ariel Gomez, vice president for research and graduate studies, presented a comparison and analysis of the significance of four published measurements, including the U.S.

Students gather for a solemn event

Study finds converging black holes

A study released yesterday, done by astronomers at the University, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Bonn University, with University Astronomy Prof.

Scheduled open Honor trial to be closed

An honor trial originally scheduled to be open to the public this weekend will be closed to the public, Honor Chair Alison Tramba said. Accused students have the right to change their mind about whether the trial will be open or closed until the day before the trial, she added. Two open honor trials have already been held in the 2005-2006 school year.

BOV votes to approve South Lawn Project

The Building and Grounds Committee of the Board of Visitors unanimously approved commencement of the South Lawn Project yesterday. The projected cost of $100 million will be spent over three phases, University architect David Neuman said. The first phase, slated to begin in 2007, will extend the Lawn across Jefferson Park Avenue and include new buildings for the History, Politics and Religion departments. This phase is projected to cost $65 million, Neuman said. Phase II will allow an additional building to be added without tearing down any of the nearby apartment buildings owned by the University. Phase III will "engage" New Cabell Hall with the South Lawn by building a new entryway into New Cabell Hall on the third story. Upon completion, the 100-feet wide space will include gardens, a conservatory, a café and lounges for students, in addition to academic space.

Zeta Psi to retain IFC status, faces sanctions

The Presidents' Council of the Inter-Fraternity Council voted last night to continue to recognize Zeta Psi despite the recent recommendation of the Inter-Fraternity Council Judiciary Committee to remove IFC recognition of the fraternity. The Cavalier Daily reported Tuesday that Zeta Psi was investigated after a first-year student was arrested for driving under the influence while returning from an off-campus Zeta Psi rush event in December.

New study examines effect of student debt

The Public Interest Research Group released a report yesterday about rising student loan debt and its burden on graduates who want to pursue "socially important" careers, such as teaching and social work. Luke Swarthout, associate for the State PIRG Higher Education Project, wrote the report and explained how loans are preventing undergraduates from pursuing much needed jobs. In Virginia, 30 percent of public university graduates and nearly 50 percent of private university graduates will have "unmanageable" student debt if they become a teacher after school, Swarthout said.

BOV plans to address topics ranging from the South Lawn Project to national rankings

Discussion ranging from the South Lawn Project to the University's national rankings will take place at Darden today, as committee reports are presented at this week's Board of Visitors meeting. The Board, which is scheduled to meet today, tomorrow and Saturday, usually takes this time to approve tuition rates.

BOV meeting begins today; Kaine appoints new member

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today the reappointments of three members of the University's Board of Visitors along with a new appointment to replace departing Board member Mark J.

Governor visits University

In a special appearance yesterday, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine spoke about his financial concerns and campaign goals to Prof.

Fire prompts evacuation of Architecture building

Smoke from a mulch fire caused the Fine Arts Library and the lower level of Campbell Hall at the Architecture School to be evacuated yesterday. The fire, which occurred after 10 a.m.

Study: Blacks, Hispanics face slower degree completion

A study released Monday by the American Council of Education found that black and Hispanic students complete math and science degrees at a slower rate than do their white and Asian peers. The study, which tracked the progress of 12,000 students starting in 1995, found that although black and Hispanic students enter college interested in majoring in science, technology, engineering or math at rates comparable to those of whites and Asians, the number of them that complete their studies in the sciences is significantly lower, according to the release. Chief Diversity Officer Bill Harvey said "the problem is larger than we've positioned it." He added that he believes the decrease to be part of a much larger global issue, as jobs are leaving the country because of a lack of emphasis on the sciences. The survey found a correlation between completion rates and factors such as family income and high school curriculum, with "completers" generally coming from more privileged backgrounds. Harvey expressed a similar sentiment, saying a large part of the rate discrepancy comes from the fact that "students from communities that have been underserved" have been presented "less opportunities than their white counterparts." The University has several programs aimed at increasing minority representation in the sciences, including the Center for Diversity in Engineering and the Excellence in Diversity fellowships program.

Exhibits display students' studio art

Monday marked the beginning of the University studio art students' personal exhibitions on the Downtown Mall, University Art Prof.

Black Leaders Reign in Student Government

Though the University has only regularly admitted black students since the 1950s, these students have seized the opportunity to lead their peers. The University has elected eight black student council presidents in only 56 years since the first black student enrolled at the University.

Honor verdicts highlightconscientious retractions

On the same day student Steve Gilday was found guilty in an honor trial after not adhering to the by-laws concerning conscientious retraction, another student was found not guilty once a jury ruled his or her conscientious retraction to be valid in a different honor trial.