News

Under new management

Following Governor-elect Tim Kaine's inauguration in January, he will enter office with the same GOP-controlled General Assembly and a new Republican in the Lieutenant Governor's office, but the bipartisanship that was a hallmark of the Warner administration is slated to continue. The Virginia Board of Elections officially announced Monday that Democrat Tim Kaine won the gubernatorial contest with 51.72 percent of the votes to beat both Republican Jerry Kilgore and Independent Ross Potts. In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican Bill Bolling bested Democrat Leslie Byrne, earning 50.47 percent of the vote. Republican Bob McDonnell was announced the victor of the attorney general's race, beating Democrat Creigh Deeds by 323 votes.

Federal rules could limit workers' use of technology

Proposed regulations of the U.S. Defense Department and expected future regulations of the U.S. Commerce Department could prevent foreign-born students and technicians from working with sensitive technology in university laboratories. The Department of Defense issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in July based on the Inspector General's report on export controls.

Council reflects on semester's achievements

With just one meeting left in the semester, Student Council members reflected on their semester as student representatives. Engineering Rep.

Charlottesville ranks third among top digital cities

For the second consecutive year, the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology in state and local government, has ranked the City of Charlottesville third in its population category in a competition for the top digital cities in America. The City received the award last week, and the ranking is based on the 2005 Digital Cities Survey that examined how city governments utilized digital technologies to better service their citizens and streamline operations, according to a City press release. Charlottesville Interim Communication Director Ric Barrick said the main reason Charlottesville received the award is for the design of its Web site. "One of the things we've done with our Web site is make it really user-friendly," Barrick said. He said the Web site is "all inclusive," meaning it provides citizens with many government services electronically, such as paying bills online. "If you want to pay the utility bill, you don't have to come to City Hall anymore," Barrick said, but added that the new electronic services do not completely eliminate the need to come to City Hall. "If you have to argue a parking ticket, then you have to come to City Hall," he said. Because there were more participants this year, the contest was more competitive than last year's contest.

North Grounds Connector to open ahead of schedule in January 2006

The $4.1 million North Grounds Connector, initially scheduled to open in June, will open to the public this January, according to Richard B.

University student dies, cause of death unknown

Third-year College student Michelle Elizabeth Collier was pronounced dead at the scene when Charlottesville police arrived at her house on University Court shortly after 10 a.m.

U.Va. employee dismissal prompts controversy

The dismissal of Dena Bowers from her position as a senior recruiter with the University's Department of Human Resources has been surrounded in controversy, as Bowers' supporters assert she was denied due process and wrongfully fired, while the University claims that every dismissal procedure was properly followed.

State Board of Elections names McDonnell winner

The State Board of Elections certified the results of the Nov. 8 election yesterday, naming Republican Del.

Miller Center Web site earns national recognition

The Miller Center of Public Affairs' Web site, Whitehousetapes.org, has won distinction from the National Endowment for the Humanities, according to the Center's Director of Development Maurice Jones. Whitehousetapes.org, run by the Center's Presidential Recordings Program, is among over 100 Web sites that the National Endowment for Humanities has selected as "the best at introducing the humanities to students," PRP Director Timothy Naftali said.

Magazine names U.Va. nurse Best Nurse Leader

University Medical Center nurse Annette Silver recently was named Advance for Nurses Magazine's 2005 Best Nurse Leader. Silver received first place in the region of Maryland, D.C.

Rain, rain go away

Language immersion demand rises at colleges

Student interest in residing in language houses at colleges across the country is on the rise, according to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Randolph Pope, Chair of the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, cited immersion in the language as the main advantage of living in language houses. "It brings a language to life and I think that is absolutely crucial to discover that the language is useful in daily exchange with people," Pope said.

University prepares for final game of season

Tomorrow's football game against Virginia Tech is expected to draw a crowd of approximately 62,000 fans, according to Leonard Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer. "It is likely to be an all-time capacity crowd," Sandridge said. As the last home game of the season and one for which students have been camping out since Tuesday, security is a top concern. "Knowing that this is a big game and that this is the last home game of the season, there will be a great deal of security at the game," University spokesperson Carol Wood said.

City further considers NoVa rail commute

There is a market in the business community for a commuter rail between Charlottesville and the Washington, D.C., metro area, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The survey sought to gauge the interest of the Chamber's membership of 2,200 local businesses.

Want Some Gravy With That Turkey?

U.Va. architects plan for City's future

A University-based group of architects and students have unveiled an exhibit for their plan to connect vital parts of Charlottesville with a single-track trolley system, according to a University press release. The team includes former Charlottesville Mayor Maurice Cox and Gary Okerlund, both current adjunct professors in the Architecture School, as well as Architecture graduate students Justin Laskin, Justin Walton, Tommy Solomon and Jayme Schwartzberg and Shannon Yadsko and Architecture undergraduate Sally Foster.

Got Science?

If you are one of the many people who are in search of a "science-y" class to fulfill an area requirement -- simply out of interest but do not want to get into a "weed out" class full of potential science majors -- you're in luck.

What's my age again?

An oft-quoted statistic in the field of biogerontology, the study of aging, is that slowing down the aging process would amount to a greater gain in lifespan than curing cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes today.

NASA rewards U.Va. astronomy profs. grant

Two University astronomy professors are the recent recipients of a NASA grant, NASA Public Affairs Officer Erica Hupp said. Prof.

Casteen names Bruner Darden School dean

President John T. Casteen, III announced Tuesday that Robert F. Bruner accepted a five-year appointment as dean of the Darden Business School. According to Casteen, Bruner has been serving a one-year term since August, but was offered the five-year contract after a special search committee decided he was the proper choice for a long-term position. "This committee unanimously recommended that I appoint Dean Bruner to a full five-year term, as I did yesterday," Casteen said in an e-mail.