News

University ranked seventh best value in public colleges

The Princeton Review ranked the University seventh in its list of top-valued public undergraduate colleges in a report released Tuesday. Robert Franek, vice president of publishing at the Princeton Review, said this is the third year the Princeton Review has published its book, "America's Best Value Colleges." This year the book features two top-10 lists: the best value public colleges and the best value private colleges, Franek said. Franek explained that the Princeton Review uses a specific algorithm to create a "point system" to rank the colleges. The company looks at a variety of factors to determine which colleges make the list, including academic factors, cost and financial aid, Franek said. First, the Princeton Review considers the competitiveness of the schools based on admission criteria, he said.

Student Council endorses summer occupancy of Range

Student Council unanimously passed a resolution last night urging the University to create a pilot program allowing graduate and professional school students to reside on the Range during the summer months. According to the sponsor of the legislation, Graduate Arts & Sciences Rep.

Jurors express confusion over lying charge

Jurors from Sunday's open honor trial said there was some confusion about the charge of lying that was brought against third-year Engineering student Steve Gilday. Three jurors spoke to The Cavalier Daily on condition of anonymity for this story. On Sunday, a jury of 10 random students found Gilday not guilty of cheating by falsifying a page of a BIOL 301 exam which he submitted for a re-grade.

Student-athletes arrested

Two University student-athletes were arrested early yesterday morning in connection with an altercation that occurred earlier this month at the Delta Upsilon fraternity house. The incident occurred March 3 after individuals entered a private gathering being held at the house, were asked to leave and then returned to the house, at which time an altercation ensued. The Charlottesville Police Department reported that first-year College students Michael Brown and Michael Giallombardo have been accused of breaking and entering with the intent to commit assault, a felony charge that carries possible jail time, as well as the misdemeanor charge of entering the property of another with the intent of damaging property. Ric Barrick, director of communications for the City of Charlottesville, said the felony charge was issued "because of the number of people involved and the actions of the individuals." According to Rich Murray, athletics department media relations director, both Brown, a varsity football player, and Giallombardo, a varsity soccer player, have athletic scholarships at the University. "We're aware of the charges," Executive Associate Director of Athletics Jon Oliver said in a press release.

Bill creates fee for completing many extra credits

The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates recently passed a bill which requires that a fee be charged to in-state students at public universities who have completed 125 percent of the credit hours needed to obtain a degree in their chosen program. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch, R-Glen Allen, passed the in House of Delegates March 15 and was passed by the Senate the next day.

Jurors express confusion over lying charge

Does Divestment STAND a Chance?

White paper human cut-outs lay sprawled across South Lawn on Monday as part of a "Die In" organized by Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND), a University CIO dedicated to promoting awareness of current events in Darfur, Sudan. STAND sought to use the symbolic paper corpses to represent the mass killings in the Darfur region that began in 2003.

Student faces felony charge for

A University student was arrested on a felony charge and referred to the University Judiciary Committee after detonating what he termed a "Drano bomb" on March 25. The student, a College first-year, was arrested on March 27 for violating a law prohibiting the manufacture, transport, distribution, possession or use of a "fire bomb or explosive materials or devices," according to a press release issued yesterday by the University Police.

Clarification Yesterday's news story "Rape case heads to grand jury after 22 years," was accompanied by a picture with a caption that indicated that the pre-trial hearing about the Elizabeth Securro rape case had occurred in the Charlottesville City Courthouse.

Jurors speak out about open honor trial results

Jurors from Sunday's open honor trial said they differ in their opinions about the issues that affected their deliberations.

Honor releases report on single sanction

The Honor Committee's ad hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Single Sanction released its report on the single sanction at last Sunday's meeting.

Minority Rights Coalition holds 'Hoos Got Privilege' Week

The Minority Rights Coalition, Office of the Dean of Students, Chief Diversity Officer Bill Harvey and other University organizations joined together last night to sponsor Rev.

Convicted student talks about trial

At the conclusion of Sunday's open Honor trial, third-year Engineering student Steve Gilday was found not guilty of cheating but guilty of lying in regard to the legitimacy of a test he had submitted for a re-grade.

Congress probes NCAA tax status

A congressional committee is inquiring about the tax exempt status afforded to the NCAA. The U.S.

Fall 2006 COD released online

The University Registrar placed the Fall 2006 Course Offering Directory online Friday. Class locales and times are determined through a detailed algorithm created by the registrar which is then used by individual departments, according to University Registrar Carol Stanley.

Open trial: Guilty of lying, not cheating

In an open honor trial yesterday, a 10-person panel of random students found third-year Engineering student Steve Gilday not guilty of cheating in submitting an altered test for a re-grade, but guilty of act, intent and seriousness for lying to the professor when asked about the legitimacy of the resubmitted test. The jury found Gilday not guilty of cheating on the question of act and intent. The requisite four-fifths of jury members then found Gilday guilty of act and intent to lie. Because the case was initiated before the spring referenda elections, the voter-approved "triviality" clause was not in effect.

Tramba chosen Honor chair; Blank to lead UJC

The University Judiciary Committee and Honor Committee announced their newly elected executive committee members last night.

Rape case heads to grand jury after 22 years

Judge Edward Berry ruled there was probable cause to send a 22-year-old rape case to a grand jury last Friday at Charlottesville's Juvenile and Domestic Relations court. The case was brought forth by University Alumna Elizabeth Seccuro, who initially met with the dean of students following the incident but did not file criminal charges at the time.

Number of international grad students grows

A report released yesterday by the Council of Graduate Schools shows that graduate school applications nationally from international students has increased significantly from 2005 to 2006. This year's 11 percent increase follows a cumulative decline of 32 percent from 2003 to 2005, according to the report. The report shows large gains in the volume of graduate applications from China, with a 23 percent, and India, with a 21 percent increase. Stuart Heiser, manager of government relations and public affairs at the Council of Graduate Schools, describes the increases in these two countries as a natural recovery after a noticeable decline following Sept.