News

Kaine seeks greater state funding

Gov. Tim Kaine called for increased funding to the Commonwealth's higher education program in his keynote speech to College of William & Mary students during their Charter Day Ceremony Saturday. Saying knowledge was the "currency of our time," Kaine called for the state to plug the gap between the state's funding obligation and the actual appropriations to higher education. "Those of us in leadership positions should meet our obligations," Kaine said.

University's Law School sees decrease in application rate

Over the past year, the University's Law School has followed a national trend of decreased application rates, according to Law School Dean John C.

Kaine endorses ads supporting science education

Gov. Tim Kaine joined over 140 business, educational and political leaders in endorsing advertisements appearing in Wednesday's Washington Post and Wall Street Journal that support increased spending on scientific research and education. The ads were a part of the National Innovation Initiative and were sponsored by the Council on Competitiveness, a non-profit organization that looks at economic policy issues. "The ads themselves are part of a public outreach initiative that is driven by the importance of the innovation and competitiveness of the U.S.

Bill offers aid to community college grads

The Virginia Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday which would create the Community College Transfer Grant Program Fund, according to the General Assembly's legislative database. The fund will permit students who graduate from community colleges to go on to four-year, in-state colleges and universities and continue paying the same tuition that they had paid at their former schools.

Study finds high mercury levels in Virginia residents

A study has found that 27.5 percent of women in the Commonwealth have levels of mercury that are over the Environmental Protection Agency's allowable threshold of one microgram per gram, Sierra Club spokesman Joshua Low said. The study, released Wednesday, tested hair samples of 180 women from around the state, 40 of which were women from Charlottesville, Low said. The study targeted women because mercury is classified as a developmental neurotoxin that is most harmful to unborn children, he said. Mercury can cause cerebral palsy and mental retardation and can slow the onset of walking and speaking in children that are exposed to mercury as fetuses, he added. Coal-firing plants are the largest source of unregulated mercury, Low said. Mercury comes from impurities in coal that are released into the atmosphere during combustion, said Ralph Allen, director of the University's office of environmental health and safety. Most coal-burning plants, including the plant located on Grounds that is used to heat University buildings, are equipped with some sort of filtering device, but they are not always fully effective for every pollutant, he added. Once the mercury has been released into the atmosphere, it falls in rain and collects into bodies of water; fish then ingest the mercury and people ingest the fish, Low said. "I am not surprised to see some amount of mercury in all people," Allen said. Bodies of water are commonly found to contain mercury since its dangerous side effects were unknown for many years and its regulation is a fairly recent development, Allen said. Mercury remains in human systems and treatment can be invasive and normally not worthwhile unless mercury levels are very high, Low said. Second-year College student Ashley Stedholme was a participant in the survey who tested at 0.84 micrograms per gram, Low said. The results are very close to the EPA's mercury threshold, and there is nothing that can be done to get rid of it, Stedholme said. "I know I have to be more cautious concerning my fish consumption, because I don't want to increase my levels any further," she said. Stedholme added that her mercury levels could become a concern should she ever decide to have a family. Low said the Sierra Club is now working on lobbying Virginia Gov.

Catch me if you can

School board selects new superintendent

In a news conference held yesterday, the Charlottesville School Board announced the selection of Rosa Atkins as the new superintendent of schools. According to Charlottesville School Board Chair Julie Gronlund, Atkins currently holds the position of assistant superintendent of schools in Caroline County School District, located just north of Richmond.

Bond explains skipping King's funeral

Thousands of religious and political leaders, family and friends packed the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga.

U.Va. students nominated for scholarship

Three University students were nominated last week for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. The three nominees from the University are third-year College student Ross Baird, third-year College student Margaret Bolton and third-year Engineering student Alison Tramba. The Truman Scholarship is a nationally recognized government fund created in memory of the late president. The award is focused on financing third-year students in their fourth year and continuing graduate school studies, with up to $30,000. According to the Truman Scholarship Web site, the first scholarship was awarded in 1978 after being created by a congressional bill passed in 1975. The application process for the Truman Scholarship is an extensive one, said Tara Yglesias, deputy executive secretary of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. "Usually, we get about 600 applicants in the initial round, ask back 200 for interviews, then choose 70 to 75 students as scholars," Yglesias said. Recipients are selected on the basis of a variety of qualifications, Yglesias said. "The students chosen are of the highest degree of leadership, academic success and public service," she said.

Web site releases grade distributions for courses

A student-run course evaluation Web site located at thecourseforum.com recently released grade distributions, many of which pertained to this semester's classes and professors. The Course Forum, created last semester by third-year College student Alan Webb and third-year Engineering student Jeff Bordogna, features ratings submitted by students of class offerings as well as University professors, Bordogna explained. "We have students go on there and rate both teachers and classes," Bordogna said. According to Bordogna, The Course Forum was designed to integrate the positive aspects of such evaluative Web sites as the Course Offering Directory ranking site and ratemyprofessor.com. As students, Webb and Bordogna used their own preferences as well as information they received from their classmates, Bordogna said. "We basically took what students wanted -- what information they'd want to know about a class or teacher -- and we made it into a complex easy-to-use system for the students," Bordogna said. The Web site was able to increase its database release this semester by incorporating grade distributions, along with the information compiled by its nearly 1400 users, Webb said. "Every class and professor that was available this semester, the number of A's and B's, etc.

More high school students pass Advanced Placement exams

More students than ever before are passing AP exams, said Trevor Packer, executive director of the Advanced Placement program for the College Board. Last year, 14.1 percent of graduating seniors scored three or higher on AP exams, while during 2004, 13.2 percent scored three or higher, according to an announcement by the College Board released on Tuesday.

Preparations for chapel repairs begin

The University will begin construction on the deteriorating mortar on the exterior stone walls of the University Chapel's bell tower this summer, starting in early June and continuing until the following December. The deterioration of the mortar is not an "imminent danger, but it does need to be addressed now," said historical preservation project manager Jody Lahendro. Despite the fact that there is no immediate danger, in accordance with the current building code, a wooden safety fence is being erected 15 feet around the perimeter of the bell tower to ensure pedestrian safety, according to a press release from project manager Lynn Rush. The effort, named the Chapel Bell Tower Roofing and Masonry Repair Project, will include repairs to the mortar on the stone exterior walls of the tower, as well as roof and ventilation repairs, Rush said. "There are a lot of moisture problems right now," Rush explained. To ensure the historic integrity of the building, which was originally designed in 1883, the construction plans are being prepared with consultation from an architectural preservation firm, as well as a historic preservation masonry contractor, according to the release. "We recognize the chapel is a significant, important and historic aspect to the University, and we will ensure that the historic character of the building was understood, respected and then restored as we do the repair work," Lahendro said. While some of the mortar will be replaced without removing the stones, a few of the stones at the top will be taken out, he said.

Resolution requests use of credit cards

Student Council introduced a resolution last night to support the acceptance of credit cards as a payment option for tuition and fees. According to the resolution, "tuition and fees can be a large expense" and by paying this expense with a credit card, students and families can "yield material benefits." Arthur Durst, a Council representative and sponsor of the resolution, said schools such as Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and the University of Texas currently offer credit card payment options. "It's kind of ridiculous that you can go to McDonald's and buy a Coke [with a credit card], but you can't pay your college tuition with it," he said. Durst explained "U.Va.

Study explores policies for aid approval

A study released yesterday by the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform explores how different states decide whether to distribute financial aid to students with prior drug convictions. The study found that states currently use three different systems to determine the eligibility of students for state financial aid.

Council calls for benefits in resolution

Student Council approved a resolution last night which supports efforts of the University and other state colleges and universities to offer domestic partner benefits to employees and graduate students. Currently, such benefits are not permitted under HB 751, a 2004 state bill which says that state agencies, including the University, cannot provide benefits for unmarried couples.

Employee annual drive donations increase

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign reported an increase in annual drive donations, with the University making its largest contribution in the history of its participation in the CVC. The CVC is a state government initiative that allows state employees the chance to donate to charities.

Flag flies at half-Staff

A new view for a Southside U.

In 1985 when College second-year Grant Woolard was born, his hometown of Martinsville, Virginia was the "Sweatshirt Capital of the World." A town where bluegrass plays on the radio and NASCAR is the sport of choice, Martinsville had a thriving industry in furniture and textile manufacturing. Today, though, Martinsville is better known for its unemployment and economic difficulties. "It's really just a lot of warehouses that are empty," Woolard said.

HONOR RECAP

Feb. 4 An undergraduate student in the College was found not guilty of plagiarism in an introductory level course by a panel of random students.

Correction

In yesterday's article "IFC, ISC work to curb sexual assault" (Feb. 6), Kyle Boynton was erroneously identified as the president of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.