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VCCS transfers up 20 percent

By Cavalier Daily Staff | August 31, 2006

This year's crop of incoming students includes 180 transfer students from Virginia's 23 community colleges representing an increase of over 20 percent from last year. Three factors contributed to the strong representation of community college transfers ,said Dean of Admissions John Blackburn: active recruiting, coupling AccessUVA with Virginia's community colleges this year and the positive press received from the agreement signed between the University and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) in March. Under the agreement, students will be eligible for automatic transfer admission to the University if they receive an associate degree from one of the 23 community colleges in Virginia within a two-year period, earn a minimum of 54 transferable credit hours, earn at least a 3.4 grade point average and earn no grade lower than a C in any class.

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National SAT scores see largest decline in 31 years

By Whitney Gruenloh and Stephanie Fees | August 30, 2006

The College Board recently released its average 2006 national SAT test scores, showing the largest decline in combined test scores in 31 years.

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Job growth in Charlottesville, Central Virginia highest in state

By Marisa Roman | August 30, 2006

Job growth in the Charlottesville and Central Virginia area has topped that of the rest of the state with significant growth coming from the public sector -- specifically, from the University. According to a report from the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the number of jobs in Charlottesville has jumped 21.5 percent over the last 11 years.

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Webb surpasses Allen in poll

By Sarah Myers | August 30, 2006

After gaining support in the polls over the past two weeks, Senate Democratic candidate Jim Webb recently achieved a lead over Republican incumbent George Allen for the first time.

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By Cavalier Daily Staff | August 30, 2006

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Correction

By Cavalier Daily Staff | August 30, 2006

In yesterday's article "Alumna perishes in KY plane crash," The Cavalier Daily incorrectly identified Cutchin Powell as Crutchin Powell. The Cavalier Daily regrets this error.

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College Works: Success or Scam?

By Kristin Hawkins | August 30, 2006

Whether one hears about College Works Painting from an announcement in a large lecture class or from a friend who chose to participate, nearly everyone returning to the University this fall has heard of the internship opportunity.

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Study predicts population boom in Commonwealth

By Erik Silk | August 30, 2006

A study released recently by the University's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service projects increases in both the Commonwealth's population and public school enrollment through 2010. The study indicates that the greatest population growth will occur in counties neighboring Washington, D.C., such as Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax counties, each of which have gained over 50,000 residents in the past five years. In terms of population, the Commonwealth ranks 12th among U.S.

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U.Va. lands on Black Enterprise's top 50 list

By Maria McLemore and Colleen Clark | August 30, 2006

The University was recently ranked 35th on the list of Top 50 Colleges for African-Americans released by Black Enterprise magazine Monday. According to Tanisha Sykes, consumer affairs editor of Black Enterprise magazine and project manager of the Top 50 list, the evaluation process began with 1,423 colleges and universities.

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Class of 2007 creating first-ever class film

By Andy Mullan | August 29, 2006

Though they may not get a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, the Class of 2007 is ready for their close-up, and a group of students is taking a close look at the figures and events that will shape the year. University students are preparing a documentary on this academic year to premiere before Commencement in May. Fourth-year College student and project coordinator Mostafa Abdelkarim said he conceived of a project documenting the year last January as his final year approached and the idea of graduation crept up on him. Abdelkarim said he had previous experience with film and wanted to make a project with a wider scope. "I wanted to do something with a bigger exclamation point," he said. The project is not just a documentary about the academic year--it is a documentary that will distinguish this year from every other year to come, according to Abdelkarim. "We wanted to capture the original flavor of the class," Abdelkarim said. Abdelkarim said he and 12 other students are working to capture all of the special moments of the year by filming several events like the Rotunda Sing and the first day of classes, as well as going out and filming spontaneous events two to three times a week. The goal is for the project to become a yearly tradition so students years down the road can go to Clemons and view what each year was like, Abdelkarim said. "If each fourth-year class did this, you'd have a continuing record of life at U.Va.," he said. Media Studies Prof.

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One year later, Gulf Coast area still recovering

By Sarah Peeden | August 29, 2006

Today marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, an event that had a profound impact upon a group of students and administrators whose lives have changed most because of the storm. The University continues to aid students from the Gulf Coast by providing social and financial support, Dean of Students Penny Rue said. "Dean Lampkin is offering a gathering in her pavilion [tonight] for students who were affected by Katrina and I think the Student Financial Services Office continues to be sensitive to the financial needs of those students," Rue said. One such New Orleans native continuing to cope with the aftermath of the storm is third-year College student Jessica White. "My dad lost his business ... it was destroyed in the storm, the land was commandeered by the Corps of Engineers and for nine months he was out of a job," White said.

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Alumna perishes in Ky. plane crash

By Maura O'Keefe | August 29, 2006

University faculty and students are mourning the loss of Marcie Thomason, a 2003 graduate of the McIntire School of Commerce.

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University upgrades coastal research center

By Jacqueline Minneman | August 29, 2006

The University's new Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center (ABCRC) was officially dedicated at a ceremony last Saturday. Located on the Eastern Shore in Oyster, Va., the facility is part of the Long Term Ecological Research project (LTER) administered by the University environmental science department.

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Enrollment in Chinese classes continues to rise

By LaQuisha Banks | August 29, 2006

Yesterday the University added a fifth section to CHIN 101, "Elementary Chinese," reflecting how the increased national demand for Chinese language skills has impacted the University. While the federal government has increased funds for critical languages such as Chinese, some fear the University has not been sufficiently responsive to this added need. "The whole nation and other schools are experiencing this increase, but the University is behind in terms of improving the program and adding additional sections," said Shu-Chen Chen, Asian and Middle Eastern language coordinator. President Bush introduced a $114 million plan in January to increase the number of "critical" languages to be taught in schools throughout the United States.

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Student apt. on Rugby burglarized

By Kristin Hawkins | August 28, 2006

University students were the victims of theft this weekend when an unknown man was discovered by two residents of 506 Rugby Road, nicknamed "The Alamo." A purse was stolen from the residence. The theft occurred at approximately 4:10 a.m.

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Study contends private schools give advantage

By Marisa Roman | August 28, 2006

A new study from Harvard University found that private high schools can provide students with a multi-faceted academic advantage over those who attend public school.

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Some universities settle speech code suits

By Erik Silk | August 28, 2006

This summer two large public universities settled lawsuits relating to speech codes on college campuses by backing away from provisions of their policies that restrict expression of certain viewpoints that were directed at other students. At Georgia Tech, students Orit Sklar and Ruth Malhotra accused the school of restricting their ability to voice their opposition to homosexuality.

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Special advisor to Honor resigns

By Maggie Thornton | August 28, 2006

Nicole Eramo, special advisor to the Honor Committee, announced her resignation at the first meeting of the Honor Committee in the 2006-2007 year last night. Eramo will become an assistant dean in the Office of the Dean for Students beginning Sept.

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GMU: no SAT for top applicants

By Maura O'Keefe | August 28, 2006

George Mason University recently announced that starting next fall it will no longer require some applicants to submit their SAT scores.

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'Morning after' pill approved for over-the-counter sale

By Marisa Roman | August 25, 2006

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday that it approved the over-the-counter sale of the emergency contraceptive pill, better known as the 'morning after' pill, to women 18 years or older. Many University organizations, including VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood, praised the decision as "a huge step" in preventing unplanned pregnancies.