News

U.S. students place at bottom of barrel in math

In a test that measured the mathematics skills of 15-year-olds in 29 leading industrialized nations, the United States placed 24th, a number that is down from three years ago, when the United States placed in the middle of the rankings. The United States has since fallen behind such countries as Hungary, Poland and Spain. The Washington Post reported that the study, conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, placed students from Finland and South Korea at the top of the list with the highest scores. Over 5,400 students in 262 U.S.

Muslim Student Association hosts panel on Sudan crisis

In a show of activism against one of the most serious humanitarian crises of this century, members of the University community attended a panel discussion last night concerning the ongoing civil war in Sudan. "Tonight is the beginning of a push for justice in western Sudan at the University," said Jonathan Robbins, member of the Global Public Health Society and fourth-year College student. The Muslim Student Association sponsored "Genocide in Africa: Darfur" and invited University Professors John Mason and Michael J.

Charlottesville City Council considers automobile tax hike

At a meeting Monday, Charlottesville City Council adopted budget guidelines to aid in City Manager Gary O'Connell's construction of a financial plan to fund City government for the next fiscal year. Facing a projected $3.2 million budget shortfall, City Council is looking at raising local car taxes next year, as it tries to lower real estate taxes.

Gifford slated for teaching asst. position

After being fired from his English teaching position for taking an unauthorized field trip with his detective fiction class earlier in the semester, graduate Arts and Sciences student Justin Gifford is back in the game, gearing up to serve as a teaching assistant for Shakespeare II next semester. In early October, Gifford was dismissed from his position after he and 23 of his students were arrested for trespassing during a Sept.

Insurance costs may shift to research grants

At the Faculty Senate meeting Dec. 2, members discussed a new policy by which the University would stop paying health insurance premiums for graduate research assistants and begin charging the payments to the students' research grants. Roseanne Ford, associate vice president for research and graduate studies, presented the policy at the Faculty Senate meeting.

Police report intruder not associated with serial rapist

A woman in her late 30s claimed to be assaulted in a house on Montrose Avenue in Charlottesville Monday.

It's been three decades in the making, but Tony Bennett is finally coming to Charlottesville, as this fall marks the reopening of the Paramount Theater, located on the Downtown Mall. Paramount Executive Director Chad Hershner said the reopening of the theater will help add to Charlottesville's arts culture. "We are so fortunate to have such a dynamic arts and cultural center already," Hershner said, adding that the opening of the theater is one "piece of the puzzle" for the City's arts district in conjunction with the Live Arts and the Downtown Amphitheater. "We each do something different for the community that will make it a true arts destination," he said. The nearby amphitheater on the east end of the downtown mall is currently undergoing a $3.4 million dollar renovation in conjunction with other nearby improvements that will add a covered facility and capacity for approximately 5,000 spectators at events such as the free Fridays After Five concert series. Hershner said Charlottesville's leaders recognize the value and importance of a vibrant arts life in making Charlottesville a world-class city.

Council passes SAF allocation reform bill

In a unanimous vote, Student Council passed a bill last night that will overhaul the CIO appropriations process, according to Council President Noah Sullivan. "This is the critical process that Student Council oversees, so it is important that we get it right," Sullivan said.

Art Scene

Casteen's stomping grounds are about to get a little livelier. As the University moves forward with its plans to expand its Arts Grounds

HONOR RECAP

The following is an update on students who have left the University this semester admitting guilt to an honor offense: November 23, 2004 A fourth-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences was deemed to have left the University admitting to plagiarizing a paper in an introductory level class.

Students coordinate charter forum

At the Charter Act Forum sponsored by the First-Year Council Executive Board last night, students expressed questions and concerns about the proposed charter initiative. Jan Cornell, president of the Staff Union at the University of Virginia, and Alex Stolar, chair of Legislative Affairs for Student Council, both spoke at the event. "We thought it'd be a good idea to show legislators what we think of the act, especially for first years because we'll be the most affected by it," said organizer Laura E.

A GLOBAL VIEW

His Excellency Dr. Ivan Vujacic speaks last night at a forum sponsored by the International Relations Organization and the European Society.

In tight economy, employers sometimes seek SAT scores

When searching for a job, resumes, application forms and a plethora of interviews are standard fare.

New online course evaluations debut

Online course evaluations for the fall semester began yesterday through Toolkit, with a new incentive for students to take part. Due to an initiative started by Student Council, if 65 percent of students fill out their course evaluations this year, students will have access to results. "The whole point is to get statistically significant information to students so that they know ahead of time what they are getting into," Council President Noah Sullivan said. Six new questions have been added to all department evaluations that already use an online form, said Daniel Young, chair of academic affairs for Council.

Faculty form ad hoc committee on charter status

In response to lingering concerns about the charter proposal, the Faculty Senate recently formed an ad hoc committee to address the initiative.

Miller Center to chronicle Kennedy life

The Miller Center for Public Affairs announced yesterday that it will compile an oral history of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy. The project will begin in early 2005 and over the next six years will collect recorded audio statements from Kennedy, his family, friends and colleagues as well as both national and international political figures who know Kennedy. "It's partly a biography, partly a look at the Senate as an institution, partly a look at polices that he helped enact into law," said Stephen Knott, the project's team leader at the Miller Center.

Va. GOP lays out future strategy

Elected officials, activists and Republican Party supporters of all stripes converged on the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va.

Brown decision remembered with play

Fifty years after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, University students are reflecting on how the Supreme Court's decision impacts their present-day lives. To commemorate the landmark desegregation case's 50-year anniversary, the Black Student Alliance and the Office of African-American Affairs sponsored a performance of Marcia Cebulska's play "Now Let Me Fly" Saturday evening. The play depicts Thurgood Marshall's role in taking the Brown case to the Supreme Court in 1954 and the efforts and sentiments of the nation's black community at the time. "The movement was also started by everyday people," said Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, a third-year Engineering student and cast member.

Tomato shortage plagues C'ville

Hit hard by Florida hurricanes and puréed by floods in California, tomatoes have faced some challenging months recently.

Wisconsin to open minority scholarship to white students after complaint received

Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction announced it would rename its Minority Pre-College Scholarship Program and allow non-minority students to apply for scholarships beginning in 2005, according to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education. According to the Chronicle, the change was made in conjunction with the federal Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, after the office began investigating the program because of a complaint received in 2001. Under the agreement, the program will remove any references to or criteria regarding race or ethnicity.