News

Honor elects committee chairs

By Margaret Bonner Cavalier Daily Associate Editor The new Honor Committee convened for the first time last night, using the meeting to elect new subcommittee chairs and discuss this year's emphasis on increasing the visibility of honor at the University. In closed session, the Committee elected third-year College student Brock Saunders and second-year Engineering student Alison Tramba co-chairs of the Faculty Advisory Committee and third-year Architecture student Morgan Miles chair of the Diversity Advisory Board.

IGC seeks to improve member communication

The Executive Boards of the four Greek councils met yesterday for the Greek Orientation Leadership Seminar, an event sponsored by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life in order to promote communication within the Greek community. Among the main objectives for the seminar was increased personal interaction, recognition of commonalities and differences in the councils and discussion of future plans of the Greek community, said Chris McGill, assistant dean at the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, who facilitated the seminar. McGill said although the objectives were met, seminar participants could have spent more time discussing future plans. "What we need to do is to really look at what the future holds for us and what we want our organizations to be doing," McGill said. The seminar consisted of open discussions, community building activities, presentations and prompt-based forums. Some Greek executive members who attended the seminar said it was a successful and effective event that drew the four councils closer together by increasing communication and bridging the gap through common concerns. "It was an extremely enlightening experience because rarely do we get a time when everyone comes together to see each other face to face and hear the sincerity of the other councils," said Elizabeth Snyder, Inter-Sorority Council vice president of administration. Multicultural Greek Council President Julie Chung also said it was beneficial to put faces to names of people she has communicated with in the past via e-mail. The dialogue between the councils will be ongoing, said Kat Shea, an intern at the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and seminar facilitator. "This is the first of many conversations, and I look forward to seeing what will come out of this," Shea said.

Water, Water Everywhere

Springfest draws thousands

A sunny and muddy Saturday drew about 4,500 University students to Mad Bowl for the fourth annual Springfest, an outdoor event hosted by the University Programs Council featuring live performances, food and other activities. Organizers said they were pleased with this year's event, which included the addition of the Vermonster and Gusburger eating contests. "We thought the event was a big success," UPC Special Programs Chair Kate Daughdrill said.

Schools lose protection from disability claims

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that public schools are not protected from federal lawsuits filed by students under the Americans with Disabilities Act, overturning a previous ruling that served to veil schools from such suits. The ruling by the U.S.

Hundreds attend Take Back the Night

Despite the rainy weather, rape survivors and their supporters lit the Amphitheatre with candles as part of the annual Take Back the Night vigil last night.

Admitted students raise standards

The University sent out 4,749 acceptance letters last week to students across the country after receiving a total of 15,884 applications for slots in the Class of 2009. According to Dean of Admissions John Blackburn, the University accepted 980 students from the early decision pool, and 3,000 students still await their verdicts on the wait list. The applicant pool raised the bar again, setting even higher expectations than in previous years, Blackburn said.

You break it, you discover it

Some nights I fall asleep dreaming of the day when a piece of 70-million-year-old vasculature will arrive at my doorstep to allow me to clone my pet dinosaur.

Upward Bound program faces possible elimination

Upward Bound, a federally funded college preparatory program for low income students, may be cancelled if the 2006 federal budget passes in its current form. The program is non-partisan and exists at approximately 800 public universities across the country, including the University. "The program helps low-income, first-generation and disabled high school students to go on to higher education," said Maurice Walker, Upward Bound program coordinator at the University. The University's chapter works with 12 high schools in Central Virginia, enrolling 75 students during the academic year and 60 students during the summer. According to Leah Puryear, Upward Bound program director at the University, the proposed federal budget does not set aside any funding for the program.

Better living through biology

There is a disturbing trend in biological research toward not just correcting disorders, but attempting to enhance certain human characteristics that are perceived as advantageous.

Council begins I.D. initiative

The University's plan to replace Social Security numbers as forms of student identification is underway.

University hosts research conference

Undergraduate researchers from around the world are gathering at the University this week to share their soon-to-be-published papers. The Universitas 21 Undergraduate Research Conference began yesterday with a welcoming by University Vice President and Provost, Gene Block. Each day of the four-day conference will offer eight to ten presentations within one of four areas of study, including public health, medical science, social science and sciences including physics, chemistry, engineering and math. Before speaking, Block expressed gratitude for the University having the opportunity to host the conference. "We're gratified that the group decided to meet here," he said.

Kilgore announces platform regarding education

Yesterday, former Attorney General and current presumptive Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore announced his proposal for a Virginia Advanced Research Alliance. "I hope to see in the future Virginia businesses locating at or around colleges and universities and partnering with those colleges and universities," Kilgore said.

Reforming the system

The following four-part series chronicles the experiences of former University student Kathryn Russell, who, after accusing a fellow student of sexual assault in February of 2004, brought charges up with the University Sexual Assault Board.

Higher ed. restrucuturing passes

The Virginia General Assembly wrapped up this year's legislative session yesterday, approving Gov.

LOST?

Rec. facilities attract prospectives

The finalized Aquatic Fitness Center and the John Paul Jones arena are not only state-of-the-art recreational resources for students, but also recruiting tools for the University. CNN recently reported that universities are increasingly using campus recreational facilities, or future plans for them, to appeal to prospective students. According to the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, 75 percent of college students in 700 of the NIRSA member schools surveyed participate in some sort of recreational activity.

Free speech protected in teachers' disciplines

In an era when political correctness concerns reign supreme, a university must be careful to protect faculty members' rights to academic freedom, as well as the interests of the institution at large. This winter, the University of Colorado faced a compromising predicament when Department of Ethnic Studies Prof.

Academic 'bill of rights' laws spreading

The University has a long-standing reputation of being a conservative Southern school located in the heart of Virginia -- a state that continually votes Republican in presidential elections.

Inside the hearing

The following four-part series chronicles the experiences of former University student Kathryn Russell, who, after accusing a fellow student of sexual assault in February of 2004, brought charges up with the University Sexual Assault Board.