News

Conference on stem cell, organ transplant begins today

Today marks the beginning of a special conference hosted by the Center for Biomedical Ethics on human embryonic stem cell and organ transplantation research. The conference is bringing together students, faculty, doctors and scholars to discuss the ethical, legal and scientific aspects of the innovative field of study, along with several speakers. Conference organizer Jonathan Moreno, director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics, said University scholars have been heavily involved in national discussion and efforts to create policies regarding the research being discussed at the conference. "People need to learn more about [embryonic stem cell research] as arguments become more complicated," Moreno said. The topic has taken on greater significance due to the recent admission by South Korean scientists that they faked what many believed was ground-breaking embryonic stem cell research. "They shouldn't have done that," Moreno said.

Windshields smashed behind Thornton Hall; damages estimated to be $1,300 The rear windshields of two vehicles were shattered in the parking lot behind Thornton Hall early Wednesday morning. One vehicle owner was Hui Shen, a graduate Engineering student, who discovered the crime at 1:40 a.m.

Peace Corps honors U.Va. participation as program celebrates 45th anniversary

As the Peace Corps celebrates its 45th anniversary, it recognized the University's history as a consistent supporter and supplier of volunteers during a panel discussion and Rotunda dinner yesterday. This year, the University is ranked as the number-one supplier of Peace Corps volunteers among mid-sized colleges and universities for the fifth year in a row. According to Heather L.

Lawmakers pass textbook pricing bill

A bill attempting to lower the cost of textbooks for students enrolled in Virginia institutions of higher education was passed yesterday in the state House and Senate. According to House Bill 1478, "The governing boards of public institutions of higher education shall implement policies, procedures, and guidelines that encourage efforts to minimize the cost of textbooks for students at public colleges and universities while maintaining the quality of education and academic freedom." Del.

Piedmont Comm. College president sparks controversy

Controversy has emerged in the wake of a commentary on community college budgeting by Piedmont Community College President Frank Friedman. Del.

Central Grounds

awn acceptance letters were sent out Feb. 10 -- the 2006-2007 Lawn class has been chosen. Two hundred eighty-four rising fourth-years applied for 47 coveted non-endowed Lawn rooms. Every year, a new selecting committee sifts through the hundreds of applications and chooses the following academic year's Lawn residents.

Virginia knocks off Mt. St. Mary's

SAT error skews scores

Although the recently reported scoring error on the October 2005 SAT affected the scores of 87 University applicants, it did not change any admissions decisions, Admissions Dean Jack Blackburn said. According to Blackburn, the error did not affect scores from the other test dates, or the other factors that influence their decision. "Most of our applicants take the SAT more than once," Blackburn said. However, Blackburn said the corrections could have an effect on the selection of Rodman and Echols scholars. The error, which was announced by the College Board last week, had incorrectly reported the scores of around 4,000 students who took the October test. According to Brian Reilly, executive director of SAT services, the error affected less than one percent of October tests. In addition, of the 4,000 tests affected, 83 percent of the scores were off by 40 points or less and 95 percent of the scores were off by 100 points or less, O'Reilly said.

StudCo passes two resolutions

Student Council passed a resolution to recognize the loss of a member of the University community as well as a resolution to appoint a deputy chief of staff at their meeting last night. Sponsored by Engineering Rep.

Living wage group reacts to remarks

In a press conference yesterday, Living Wage Campaign members called President John T. Casteen, III's recent statements about the Living Wage Campaign a "willful misrepresentation" and "misleading at best." Living Wage Campaign members also expressed some dissatisfaction with the administration's recent decision to raise the minimum wage of direct University employees to $9.37 per hour, reemphasizing their desire to institute a "living wage" of $10.72 per hour. In comments published in The Cavalier Daily yesterday, Casteen said he had "never seen a computation base for the wages mentioned in local living wage publications." Living Wage Campaign member Benjamin Van Dyne said that members have been denied meetings with the administration on multiple occasions, including when they tried to schedule a meeting yesterday. "We have done everything in our power to educate the community," Van Dyne said, "[Casteen] was repeatedly given the information he said he never got." University spokesperson Carol Wood explained that Casteen's statement was misinterpreted. "He acknowledges that he had received what [a campaign member] had sent, but he didn't think it was sufficient," Wood said.

Altercation occurs at Delta Upsilon house

In the early hours of Friday, March 3, an altercation occurred when unidentified individuals entered a gathering at the Delta Upsilon fraternity house on Rugby Road. Initially, two individuals entered the unlocked door of the fraternity house, during a gathering of fraternity brothers and their guests on the last day of school before Spring Break, Delta Upsilon President Thomas Bannard said. "The individuals went to the house and were informed that there was no party and were asked to leave," said Aaron Laushway, associate dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life. The two initial individuals later returned with more people and then tried to gain entry to the house, which is when the altercation transpired, Bannard said. The police were notified by the students at Delta Upsilon after each individual incident, Bannard said. "We called the police immediately after the two initial students entered and then again after the altercation," Bannard said. Laushway said students cooperated fully with the University and Charlottesville Police and an investigation is ongoing. None of the students was seriously injured during the exchange, Bannard said. "Nobody went to the hospital; several students suffered head injuries, but at this point, everyone is OK," he said. At this point, the identities of the students are not confirmable because the investigation is still pending, Laushway said. Tomorrow, students involved with the incident will be meeting with the police, which may eventually lead to charges being filed, Bannard said. Andy Paradis, president of the Inter-Fraternity Council, said the IFC fully supports the Delta Upsilon fraternity and is concerned about the incident. As a result of the incident, improving safety had been made a new goal, Paradis said. The IFC is forming an ad hoc committee on safety to discuss the safety concerns and potential risks facing brothers and their guests, he said. In the past, there have been very few issues regarding safety at fraternities, he added. "This is the first incident we've seen, but it is very important as a self-regulatory agency to make sure everyone is safe," he said.

Solomon Amendment upheld

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Solomon Amendment March 6, requiring law schools to provide military recruiters with the same access granted to other employers in order to conduct business and interviews on law school campuses. Schools who fail to meet this requirement will face a cut in their federal funding. While various schools nationwide submitted amicus briefs expressing opinions on the case, University Law Prof.

Contractor selected to replace ISIS

The company PeopleSoft has been selected to replace the University's Integrated Student Information System (ISIS). Charles Grisham, director of the Student System Project, said yesterday that the new system will not be implemented immediately, as members of the University community need to study how to effectively install and use the system.

Groups prepare to transition

Newly-elected Student Council, Honor and University Judiciary Committee members will soon take over their respective positions. Student Council will officially induct their new members in late April, according to Student Council President-elect Darius Nabors.

Cancer claims University student over Spring Break

First-year College student Lauren Munchak died March 5 of cancer at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C., where she was admitted three weeks before due to continued medical complications. Lauren Munchak, of Clifton, Va., was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma during her senior year of high school in 2004, said her mother, Mary Munchak. Lauren Munchak's status as a student was deferred for one year in 2005 because of her medical condition. "She found a lump on her left thigh," Mary Munchak said.

Casteen announces wage raise

University President John T. Casteen, III. said that the University will increase its wages to provide market-competitive compensation to it's lowest paid employees. In a statement issued March 7, Casteen said the minimum hiring rate, or the salary provided to entry-level employees, is expected to rise by $0.49 to $9.37 per hour. The increase will go into effect later this month, University spokesperson Carol Wood said, adding that the University participates in local market study surveys each year, and this wage increase is a result of the most recent survey. "We do the surveys on a regular basis," Wood said.

Honor Committee to hold open trial March 26

The fourth student this academic year has announced an intention to have an open Honor trial, which will take place March 26, according to a press release issued by the Honor Committee Monday. Approximately 45 tickets for the open trial are available this week at the Information Desk of Newcomb Hall.

College elects Aronstein, Siegel, Fox to Honor

By Maggie Thornton Cavalier Daily Associate Editor The University Board of Elections announced the newly elected members of the University Judiciary and Honor Committees last night. The new Honor Committee will be composed of third-year Lauren Shirley and second year Linda Bartusiak from the Architecture school, fourth year Julia Benner from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, first year Katie Ball and second year Rebecca Green from the Nursing School, graduate student Vanessa Wynn from the Education school, third years Toby Zhang and Shannon Spurgeon from the Commerce school, Jay Trickett and Laura Holland from the Law School, third year Alison Tramba and second year Justin Starr from the Engineering school, graduate students Maria Fitzpatrick and Diane Gigantino from the College and third-year students A-J Aronstein, Kendall Fox and Andrew Siegel from the College. "We need to work on education," Fox said.

Consensus clause fails; triviality, UJC hate referendum approved

The University Board of Elections announced last night that five out of six proposed referenda were approved by the student body. Although the one failed referendum, known as the consensus clause, did not gain the 60 percent of the vote needed for an Honor constitutional amendment to pass, it received a majority of votes cast, 55.2 percent.

STUDCO President-Elect Darius Nabors