News

Bill aims to limit liabilityof witnesses

Delegates Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, and William Janis, R-Glen Allen, are currently sponsoring a bill in the General Assembly that would protect criminal witnesses from liability whenever their testimonies or criminal identifications are made "with the good faith belief in its veracity." Some Virginia lawyers, however, say the content of the bill is already in practice. "It makes more clear what is already common law," Virginia attorney Tom Carter said. The bill comes in response to a lawsuit by Chris Matthew, a black Charlottesville resident who was accused of rape by a former University Law student.

BOV to review administration perceptions

Today the Board of Visitors will continue the process of developing long-term priorities for the University, taking into account the opportunities afforded by greater autonomy under the Higher Education Restructuring Act and the upcoming $3 billion Capital Campaign, when the Special Committee on Planning meets for the third time. The Committee will first seek to identify the measures by which state agencies will assess the University as a public, but financially more autonomous, institution, according to the meeting agenda.

Still a Work in Progress

Students react to Bush's address

University students and professors expressed mixed sentiments in reaction to President Bush's State of the Union Address last night. As President Bush delivered his address, he optimistically alluded to his administration's efforts to provide adequate healthcare, improve education, consider alternative energy sources and combat terrorism. Still, Politics Prof.

Car strikes University student on Emmet St.

A student was struck by a car while crossing the street at the intersection of Sprigg Lane and Emmet Street on Sunday evening, according to Charlottesville Police and Assistant Dean of Students Daisy Rodriguez. The student, College first-year Hao Min Wang, suffered a pelvic fracture as a result of the accident and is currently undergoing some physical therapy and ensuring that she can walk, Rodriguez said.

Student Health program offers more resources for HIV

Student Health initiated a new program in December that increased the number of certified HIV counselors available to students.

State of the Arts

Music professors work at desks crammed into small offices that were originally designed to be storage closets.

Council hears partner benefit resolution

Student Council met last night to discuss a resolution which supports the University's ability to offer domestic partner benefits. According to the resolution, a domestic partnership is defined as an "ongoing, committed relationship between two adults of the same or opposite sex who are not otherwise legally married." College Rep.

UBE presents standardized petition packet

The University Board of Elections announced changes to its election policies at an informational meeting last night, one of which included the printing of official petition packets for referenda sponsors. Students who wish to place a referendum on a student election ballot will be given a packet from the UBE after submitting their proposal.

Miller Center preserves Reagan's presidential leagacy in interviews

The Miller Center of Public Affairs released the first selection in its Reagan administration interviews from the Ronald Reagan Oral History program on Sunday, a subcategory of the Presidential Oral History program at the Miller Center. The Reagan project compiles information taken from people close to the former president, said Michael Greco, director of the Scripps Library at the Miller Center. "This is an attempt to preserve the memory of the top officials in the Reagan White House," Greco said.

Seeking to increase bandwidth

Correction

Yesterday's News article "Honor explores separate deliberation of seriousness clause from act, intent," reported that Honor Committee Commerce School Representative Matt Miller said "It depends on who you are trying to help.

$5 million grant will go to construction of new nursing building

The University's Nursing School announced yesterday that it has been awarded a $5 million grant by the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation of Fairfax, Va.

U.Va. top Peace Corps producer

For the fourth year in a row, the University of Virginia is the number one producer of Peace Corps volunteers among medium-sized universities, according to a Peace Corps press release, that came out yesterday. Eighty alumni currently serve as volunteers and 838 University alumni have served as Peace Corps volunteers since the institution's inception. University spokesperson Carol Wood attributes the high number of students involved in Peace Corps to University students' dedication to volunteerism.

Stanford offers maternity leave for full-time graduate students

Stanford University introduced a new policy concerning graduate students and maternity leave last week, becoming the second university in the United States to offer paid maternity leave for graduate students. The University currently does not have a uniform policy concerning maternity leave for graduate students and the University is not considering creating a policy similar to Stanford's, according to Roseanne Ford, associate vice president for research and graduate studies. Under Stanford's new policy, female graduate students are able to apply for an "academic accommodation period," which lets them remain full-time students with the opportunity to postpone assignments and exams.

Cavalier Daily elects new leadership for 117th staff

The Cavalier Daily elected a 117th managing board, senior board and junior board this Saturday. The new Cavalier Daily leadership took its post yesterday. Former Opinion Editor Mike Slaven, a third-year College student, undertook the position of editor-in-chief.

Honor explores separate deliberation of seriousness clause from act, intent

Honor Committee members debated a proposal last night that would create a separate three-person panel of Honor Committee members to vote on the seriousness of an honor offense after a jury convicts a student of act and intent. This amendment to the Honor Constitution was proposed last semester by a support officer, said Honor Committee Chair David Hobbs. Isolating deliberations of seriousness is intended to avoid "disparate interpretations" which "may cause the Seriousness Clause to be applied inconsistently, depending upon the interpretation of a particular jury panel," the proposal reads. The proposal drew mixed reactions from committee members.

Financial aid changes made

Student Financial Services announced changes, effective immediately, that will be made to their Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, which determines a student's eligibility for financial aid.

Students evaluate health of watershed

Last week marked the beginning of a joint project amongst graduate students of the University, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Commonwealth that examines local governments' effect on the James River watershed.

BOV considers expansion plans

Proposed sketches of the upcoming expansion of College facilities, known as the South Lawn Project, were presented to the University's Board of Visitors Jan.