News

Harvard study indicates student alcohol consumption correlated to state laws

A study released Tuesday by the Harvard School of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that alcohol consumption among college students is lower in states with stricter alcohol laws. States with four or more laws inhibiting the sale of alcohol in large quantities had a 31 percent lower rate of high-risk drinking.

New studies give hope to heart disease victims

While not everyone may know that February is American Heart Month, many know that diseases affecting the heart claim more lives than any other cause in America each year.

Warner, Sallie Mae introduce new nursing, teaching loan assistance program

A new loan assistance program announced by Gov. Mark R. Warner and Sallie Mae national loan company Tuesday potentially would give nursing and education students in Virginia colleges 10 percent of their student loans back in cash. The program, whose two components are called "Teach for Virginia" and "Care for Virginia," requires education and nursing students to agree to work or teach in Virginia for three years after graduation while making regular payments on their loans.

City, Albemarle consider fusing fire, rescue

The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County announced Saturday that they are looking into consolidating their fire and rescue services. "The City and the County are trying to put together a proposal in the next couple weeks," said John Shifflett, president of North Garden Volunteer Fire Company.

Faculty set to implement new hiring initiatives

In order to boast a strong and diverse faculty, the University is developing programs and services this semester to aid in the process of recruiting and retaining faculty members, particularly females and minorities, according to University officials. The main focus continues to be placed on broadening the pool of perspective faculty members and weighing the value of diversity, said Karen Ryan, associate dean of the arts, humanities and social sciences. Gertrude Fraser, University vice provost for faculty advancement, said her office is working to improve and enhance several different aspects of the recruitment process in conjunction with faculty search committees. One of the projects includes developing an online tutorial for search committees that outlines how to best reach the broadest range of qualified candidates, Fraser said. "That is one goal of my office -- to make us much more agile and to have much more breadth in how we get information out to candidates," Fraser said. Fraser said her office also is working on enhancing the proactive nature of the recruitment process.

Rat got your tongue?

Having brains that weigh only about two grams apparently doesn't stop rats from discriminating between languages.

ITC server crash prevents access to U.Va. sites

A main server on the University network failed yesterday, cutting off access to the University homepage, Toolkit and other related services for over two hours, Information Technology and Communication officials said. The server failed at 10:19 a.m., and a replacement server was put into place at 12:28 p.m., according to an ITC report. Attempts to access pages at the Virginia Web site during the downtime were met with white error screens. Communications and Systems Director Jim Jokl said this temporary server will remain until the original server is repaired. Jokl said yesterday's crash was one of the biggest server crashes he can remember. "The failure was visible because it impacted many systems that people tend to use," he said. The University has been using its current servers for years, and the servers have proven very reliable, Jokl said.

Former student found guilty in shooting trial

Former University student Aaron Robinson was found guilty on charges of malicious wounding and using a firearm to commit wounding yesterday at Albemarle Circuit Court. Robinson was tried for the April 28, 2004, shooting of Jamaine Winbourne, a then-fourth-year student and member of the University football team, in the left leg with a .40-caliber gun.

Faculty weigh in on Honor

The Honor Committee hosted a panel of faculty members last night to discuss issues of honor, single sanction and the importance of upholding student self-governance at the University. The panel -- consisting of professors Larry J.

Martinsville potential site for New College

If Governor Mark Warner and lobbyists in the Martinsville area have their way, a new school will be joining other institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. The college, tentatively called the New College of Virginia, most likely will be located in historic Martinsville. "The idea of a university in the Martinsville and Henry County area is partly due to geographic need of a college in that area and partly for economic purposes," said Governor Mark Warner's spokesperson, Ellen Qualls. Martinsville was hit hard by the effects of globalization and the export of jobs overseas.

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Members of City gang indicted

Seventeen members of a Charlottesville street gang called the "Westside Crew" were indicted earlier this week for two homicides, three kidnappings, illegal possession of firearms, robberies and the distribution of illegal drugs. The gang's leader, Louis Antonio Bryant, aka "Tinio," along with gang members Andre Jarrard "Icky" Waller, Roger Lee "RJ" Henry, Jr., and Richard Knajib "Main" Johns have been charged with violent crimes related to racketeering. "They have an amazing amount of connections with drug suppliers across the country," Bill Dunham said, the resident agent from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Crimes related to the gang include 13 shootings, two resulting in deaths, Charlottesville Assistant U.S.

Rebecca Keyworth

School: College Year: Third Major: Foreign Affairs Hometown: Chicago Housing: Off Grounds, Wertland Commons Activities: Student Council, University Democrats Office: Student Council Vice-President for Organizations What makes you a competent and qualified candidate? I'm actually running for re-election for this position.

Thomas Gibson

School: College Year: Third Majors: Economics and Political Philosophy, Policy, andLaw (PPL) Hometown: Stafford, Va. Housing: Off Grounds, 161 Rugby Road Activities: Everything Current Office: Student Council Representative Web site: www.votegibson.com What makes you a competent and qualified candidate? Experience.

Darius Nabors

School:College Year:Second Major: Politics Hometown:Timberville, Va. Housing: On Grounds, Dobie Activities: Student Council, Resident Staff, Phi Delta Theta Current Office:Student Life Committee Chair What makes you a competent and qualified candidate? Served as CLAS Student Council representative, currently serving as Student Life Committee Chair and experience running meetings. In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the University and how would you use your office to deal with them? Student safety on and off Grounds.

Modified charter bill passes both houses, moves to Governor

The Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act passed the Virginia House of Delegates Monday, and an identical bill passed the Virginia Senate yesterday in a block vote with no discussion, bringing the University one step closer to a new vision of higher education. The act, previously known as the charter proposal, has gone through significant changes since it was first introduced last year. Both houses have opportunities to amend the act before their session closes later this month.

Capital Campaign funding advances ahead of schedule

The University's Capital Campaign to raise $3 billion is well underway and currently running ahead of schedule, according to University officials. "We are having extraordinary success to date, with over $560 million raised by the end of the first year of the Campaign," said Robert Sweeney, senior vice president for development and public affairs. The Campaign, which was launched Jan.

UTS announces official pilot program

The University Transit Service's bus schedules may include extended weekend service by the semester's end.

Jordan Levy

School: College Year: Third Majors: History and Psychology Hometown: San Francisco Housing: Off Grounds, fraternity Activities: University Guide Service, Phi Society Fraternity and Sustained Dialogue Current Office: Third-Year Council President What makes you a competent and qualified candidate? I want to continue my involvement with Class Councils as President of the Class of 2006 Trustees.

Single sanction debate highlights pros, cons

Last night the University Board of Elections held a forum in which four student panelistsdebated the merits and faults of the single sanction. The debate was moderated by University Judiciary Committee Judge Gavin Reddick and Tina Le, Honor Committee chair of single sanction forums. Topics included strengths and weaknesses of the single sanction, its effect on the University's public image as well as the consensus clause in relation to single sanction, among other topics. Honor Committee member Sara Page and Sam Leven, communications director for Hoos Against Single Sanction, voiced opposition against the single sanction policy. Page said single sanction needs to be dynamic and put under regular scrutiny by the student body. The students "are the ones who create these laws, and [the students] are the ones who embrace them," Page said. Leven agreed, saying single sanction "violated several judicial principles," meaning one severe punishment is not appropriate for varying degrees of offenses.