News

UJC votes to endorse hate referendum

The University Judiciary Committee voted unanimously last night to endorse a proposal that would increase sanctions against students convicted of hate-motivated violations of the Standards of Conduct. The proposed change to the UJC constitution will now be voted on by the student body in the spring elections. Should students approve the change, Article III, Section B of the UJC Constitution would add "Any violation of the University Standards of Conduct motivated by the age, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation or veteran status of the victim will be deemed an aggravating circumstance, and will result in a more serious sanction up to, and including, expulsion from the University." Before the Committee made its decision, community members were given the opportunity to voice their opinions. "Hate crimes affect everyone.

Correction

The Feb. 16 News article "City consultants explore plans for improvements to Route 29" repeatedly misspelled the name of the town Ruckersville as "Rutgersville." The article on the Web site has been changed to reflect this correction.

College standardized tests considered

The Commission on the Future of Higher Education, recently appointed by the Bush administration, is discussing the implementation of standardized testing in universities and colleges. Gary Cox, a member of the State-National Information Network Advisory Committee, which is a cooperative member of National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, explained the commission's plans. "The objective would be to measure the success of students," Cox said. Officials have expressed differing views over whether or not it would be beneficial to use standardized testing to assess students' performance in colleges and universities. Bill Arceneaux, formally a board member of the NAICU, said he is adamantly opposed to the standardized testing and does not see any advantages in it. "You have schools of art, you have schools of design, you have music colleges.

University plans Latin American study abroad

In conjunction with faculty members from the Spanish department, the International Studies Office will be offering its first study abroad program in Costa Rica this summer. The six-credit course is directed at students who are hoping to complete their language requirements in Spanish 201 and 202.

Economics prof. testifies in front of Congress on new housing initiatives

University Economics Prof. Edgar O. Olsen presented testimony on low-income housing on Capitol Hill yesterday.

Senate candidate speaks at University

U.S. Senate hopeful Harris Miller spoke at the University Democrats meeting last night in order to garner support as he begins his campaign. Miller most recently served as the president of the Information Technology Association of America and said he believes this work experience will aid him in serving as an effective senator. "I'm a business person," Miller said.

Students Enjoy Unseasonably Warm Weather

City consultants explore plans for improvements to Route 29

City consultants presented a plan to improve transportation problems inflicted by highway U.S. Route 29 to the Places29 commission Tuesday.

Old Dominion offers new scholarship to attract strong academic talent

Old Dominion University is instituting a new aggressive recruitment policy, said John R. Broderick, ODU's vice president for institutional advancement. Valedictorians and salutatorians from Virginia public and private schools will receive a $6,000 scholarship towards tuition, Broderick said. The scholarship would be renewable each year provided the student maintained a 3.3 GPA, he added. The scholarship is part of an effort to reach out to the best and brightest students in the Commonwealth, he said. The University is not taking any specific action to counter Old Dominion's scholarship, Admissions Dean John Blackburn said. He added that the University is one of the few public institutions that already pledges to meet the full demonstrated need of its students. "I believe that the cost of in-state tuition is within the average family's grasp," Blackburn said.

Higher salaries in store for 2006 class

Starting salaries of college graduates with a bachelor's degree from the class of 2006 are expected to increase from 2005, according to a survey released last week by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Mimi Collins, director of information for NACE, said employers reported they were planning to hire 14.5 percent more college graduates this year than last year. "It's early, but it's a fairly good indication that the class of 2006 is going to graduate into a fairly good job market," Collins said. The survey collected salary offers by major for over 70 bachelor's disciplines at the bachelor's degree level, said Collins.

StudCo VPA tenders resignation

Student Council President Jequeatta Upton announced the resignation of Okey Udumaga, Council vice president for administration, at the Council meeting last night.

Amendments proposed for StudCo constitution

At last night's Student Council meeting, Council Executive Vice President Darius Nabors proposed a revision of the constitution that would shorten the language in Council's constitution as well as phase out the position of vice president for administration. Council did not reach quorum at the meeting and the measure was not able to be voted on.

Financial aid programs face possible cuts

President Bush's proposed budget for 2007 would make significant cuts to financial aid programs, putting an additional burden on colleges and universities to provide affordable education, said Director of Financial Services Yvonne Hubbard. The president's cuts to financial aid programs consists of shifting federal funding from grants to loans, which has been the general trend with the federal government for about 20 years, Admissions Dean John Blackburn said. In this new budget the president has proposed eliminating the Perkins loan, which provides students with low-interest repayment and forgiveness options. The government doesn't always decrease spending on financial aid, but the increases never come in the forms of grants, whereas in the past Pell grants made up a significant portion of a student's financial package, Blackburn added. According to Blackburn, the proposed decrease in federal grant support will not hinder the University's ability to provide financial resources to its students. Hubbard added that the Pell grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity grant have both remained unchanged for about four years, which means that as educational costs increase these grants cover less of the burden. The larger issue facing the country is that balancing the federal budget and providing affordable higher education are goals that stand in contrast with one another, she said. "The issue is that the president is trying to balance the budget, and we have a continued concern about providing affordable education," but cutting funding hurts a university's ability to lower its costs, Hubbard added. President John T.

Leap of faith

ABA requires stricter standards of diversity

The American Bar Association (ABA) approved a measure on Saturday that redefined its accreditation requirements and diversity standards for law schools nationwide. A revision to Standard 211, or the Equal Opportunity and Diversity standard, was passed in Chicago by the ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. The revision calls for law schools to show they are taking "concrete action" to diversify both their students and faculty, said William Rakes, chair-elect of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the ABA. "Its not that much of a change, its more a matter of clarification," Rakes said. Law schools, rather than pledging to implement "equal opportunity and diversity", must now show that they are making adequate attempts to do so, including things such as appointing a diversity officer, hosting forums or making diversity an integral part of recruitment, Rakes said.

Police release survey to gauge citizen satisfaction

The Charlottesville Police Department began a citizens' survey Friday in hopes of obtaining more community input, said Timothy Longo, chief of Charlottesville police. The Charlottesville Police Department distributed the survey as part of a city-wide initiative to increase customer service dialogue between citizens of Charlottesville and the city government, said Ric Barrick, director of communications for the City of Charlottesville. "All the departments are evaluating what types of services they give to citizens," Barrick said.

UBE deems 51 eligible for endorsment

The preliminary nominations deadline for thoseseeking to apply for candidacyin University-wide elections passed last Friday, with nine days remaining for students to submit applications, said Chris Jones, vice-chair of the University Board of Elections. According to Jones, the 51 students that turned in their applications last Friday will be eligible for the endorsement process, in which 12 different organizations throughout the University, including the Cavalier Daily will interview the candidates and decide whether to endorse them. The nominations process will end Thursday Feb 23, although candidates must be nominated by Friday Feb.

Survey links love and politics

Virginians who are in love pay more attention to politics than those who are not in love, according to a survey released yesterday by the University of Virginia Center for Politics. According to the survey, 81 percent of adults in the Commonwealth are in love.

Consensus, seriousness clausesto go on spring referenda

The Honor Committee voted unanimously Sunday night to send a proposal to the student body that would change the wording of the seriousness clause of the Honor Constitution.

Alumnus serving as Olympic ski trainer

As U.S. athletes compete in the Torino Olympics, Paul Meier, a University alumnus and athletic trainer for the U.S.