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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Newly elected Student Council and class council officers were announced last night as candidates gathered in Newcomb Hall to await results. Third-year College student Darius Nabors was elected Student Council President with 2,779 students ranking him as their first choice in the second round of instant runoff voting, defeating second-place finisher Greg Jackson. Nabors gave a short speech after his victory was announced, congratulating election winners and encouraging all candidates to stay involved with the University. Second-year College student Nicholas Jordan was elected executive vice president, while third-year College student Anna Popova was elected vice president for organizations. Second-year College student Jeffrey McLaughlin was elected vice president for administration as he claimed 2,493 first-choice votes, over former VPA Okey Udumaga, who earned 1,896.
Student Council unanimously passed a resolution at their meeting last night to encourage professors to post course syllabi on Toolkit 10 days before the start of classes. The resolution was introduced at Council's meeting last week by members of the Academic Affairs Committee and by Executive Vice President Darius Nabors, sponsor of the legislation.
Last night, military servicemen spoke at the University as part of the Call to Duty Tour, a national program aimed at raising awareness about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Specifically, the speakers discussed how the policy has directly affected their experiences in the military, and how they hope to bring about changes in the legislation. According to Sharon Alexander, an attorney with Service Members Legal Defense Network, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy marks improvement in the treatment of gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the military, but leaves much to be desired. "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is an advance over its predecessor regulations," Alexander said.
Originally an intersection where the University entryway met Charlottesville's main road, the Corner is now five blocks of student-friendly restaurants and watering holes.
A week and half after faculty concerns about the Semester at Sea program became public, administrators and faculty continue to discuss the issue in the hopes of reconciling differences. Two departments are currently formulating policies with regard to granting credit for classes taken through the Semester at Sea program.
A special election will be held for the position of second-year vice president since one candidate in a contested race was left off of the ballot, according to University Board of Elections officials. Additionally, a candidate in an uncontested race for University Judiciary Committee Education representative, third-year Catherine Robinson, was accidentally omitted from the ballot. The special elections will be held from Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m.
All of the 47 University students selected to live on the Lawn for the 2006-2007 school year accepted the offer, head Lawn resident Jenni Allen said.
The University will face a changing faculty population over the next decade, as nearly one fifth of the faculty is expected to retire. Approximately 277 of 1,500 currently tenured or tenure-tracked professors will retire over the next 10 years, according to a model developed in December, said Gertrude Fraser, vice provost for faculty advancement. The predictions for future faculty retirement are based on University retirement data from 2000-2005, said Bob Lake, director of the Office of Learning and Development for the University's Human Resources. The large number of retirees will create both challenges and opportunities for the University in selecting new faculty members, Fraser said. "The problem is that one has to begin planning for a market where, nationally, other institutions are going to be hiring a lot of faculty too," Fraser said.
There were no Honor trials this past weekend. Two appeals were denied this past week. The Honor Committee is currently investigating 20 cases and has 12 trials and 2 appeals pending.
The Virginia Senate passed a bill to address the issue of affordable housing in Charlottesville by a vote of 37-3 Friday. The bill, sponsored by Del.
A bill requiring universities to submit the background information of newly admitted students to the Virginia State Police to determine whether or not they are convicted sex offenders was sent from the Virginia House of Delegates to the Senate last Thursday. According to Del.
The National Science Board released its "Science and Engineering Indicators" 2006 report last Thursday, illustrating below average scores in science and mathematics literacy levels in 15-year-old American students in comparison with those of other countries' students of similar age. The "Science and Engineering Indicators" report is created every even-numbered year for use by both the President of the United States and the U.S.
