News

Many turn out to vote at D.C.-area polling sites

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Large numbers of citizens turned out here to vote yesterday, encountering pleasant weather, long lines, thousands of Democratic and Republican volunteers and an endless sea of red, white and blue campaign signs. Polling sites in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia all report very heavy turnout, according to volunteers distributing campaign literature and sample ballots.

U.Va. to increase minimum wage for some

The minimum hiring rate for University classified salaried and classified wage employees will increase by 3 percent Dec.

Virginia Elections

Congressional Races: U.S. House

Alston's trial for murder begins today

The trial of former University student Andrew Alston, who stands accused of second-degree murder in charges related to the Nov.

Virginia Constitutional Amendments

Voters overwhelmingly passed two amendments to the state Constitution. The amendment to clarify special elections following redistricting passed 86 percent to 14 percent. The amendment to extend the line of succession to the Governor passed 87 percent to 13 percent.

Election hinges on Ohio

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Bush was on course to win the 2004 presidential campaign last night, winning 51 percent of the popular vote or 56,732,387 votes to Sen.

Election hinges on Ohio

BOSTON -- While election results were seemingly in favor of a Bush victory in Ohio, and thus four more years of a Republican presidency, Democrats began to challenge several claims by news agencies that Bush won the state's 20 electoral votes. Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards said he and Sen.

City bans sandwich-board signs on West Main Street

Raising the ire of some local businesses, the City of Charlottesville recently began enforcing an ordinance requiring West Main Street merchants to remove all sandwich-board signs from sidewalks in front of their businesses. The move by the City, however, still did not please those who were hoping for the removal of sandwich-boards from all city sidewalks. In June, Gwen Beavers, representing the Virginia Federation for the Blind, expressed her concern regarding obstacles such as signs, chains and chairs placed without a clear pattern on the Downtown Mall at the City Council meeting, according to minutes from the meeting. "We are concerned with the signs sitting in the middle of the Mall," said Kathy Owen, president of the Blue Ridge Federation of the Blind, who went with Beavers to the June City Council meeting. In response to their concerns, City Council has decided to enforce the portion of the city ordinance banning movable signs from West Main Street.

9/11 Report nominated for major book award

The 9/11 Commission Report overseen by Philip Zelikow, University history professor and director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs, is a nominated finalist for a National Book Award under the category of nonfiction. According to National Book Foundation Publicist Camille McDuffie, the book was nominated for the category along with 449 other submissions, and a panel of impartial judges whittled the selections down to five. "Basically they're told to pick the best books of the year," McDuffie said.

Students make last pitch to voters

Student groups at the University are gearing up for today's election with a common goal in mind: They want everyone to get out and vote.

Capital area GOP stumps for Bush-Cheney ticket

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- To get an idea of how Democratic the District of Columbia is, one needs only to look at 1984, when Republican Ronald Reagan won 49 states in a nationwide landslide victory, but Democratic candidate Walter Mondale won here -- with 85 percent of the vote.Nevertheless, Republicans in the nation's capital say they are prepared and proud to support President Bush in today's presidential election, regardless of his chances of victory in the nation's capital. Wayne Estrada, the Republican chairman for Ward Six, was frank about the political atmosphere facing the Republican Party in the District. "It's pretty brutal," he said.

Boston hoping, preparing for Kerry-Edwards win

BOSTON, Mass. -- Located near the site where the Pilgrims landed nearly 400 years ago, and near many Revolutionary War events, one could argue that Boston has often been on the "frontline" of American history. But the city that also hosted the Democratic National Convention last summer and a parade Saturday to honor Major League Baseball's newest world championship team also may first witness the naming of a new American president tonight -- that is, if Democratic candidate Sen.

More white students enrolling at black universities

An increasing number of white students are enrolling at traditionally black universities, The Washington Post reported yesterday. The number of white students has risen 65 percent from 21,000 to 35,000 in the past quarter-century, driven partly by court order to desegregate and partly by the interest in these programs. The Washington Post reported that professors believe the increased number of white students will benefit the universities. "Boardrooms are not all black, and classrooms shouldn't be either," said Lee Young, admissions director at North Carolina A&T University, which actively recruits white students in The Washington Post. Some students attending the historically black universities said the changing atmosphere runs contrary to the purpose of these universities, reported the article. --Compiled by Sarah R.

Miller Center receives $2 M

The University's Miller Center of Public Affairs announced its acceptance of an unrestricted gift of $2 million from John and Rosemary Galbraith Friday. John Galbraith said in a press release that he hoped his donation -- the largest gift in the Center's history -- would play an important role in helping the Miller Center carry out its academic mission. The donation is "a vote of confidence in the fine work of the Miller Center," Galbraith said in a press release.

Expanded greek week focuses on community

Greeks around Grounds are hoping for victory against Maryland for more than one reason this week.

TRICK OR TREAT

UNC-Charlotte to offer

While the University recently crowned its own "U.Va. Idol," the University of North Carolina at Charlotte now is offering a course called "Examining 'American Idol' Through Musical Critique" after two North Carolina natives, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino, won fame on the show. Beginning in January, students enrolled in the three-credit elective course will watch the television show twice a week and create their own rating system to judge contestants.

College to unveil new waiting-list procedure

The Course Offering Directory is out, and students are already preparing to grapple with ISIS and the perennial game of musical chairs that is class registration.

Report evaluates fairness in honor

Disparate rates of case initiations against certain groups of students but an unbiased trial process still result in a disproportionate number of international students, African-American students, male students and athletes being dismissed from the University for honor offenses, according to a Faculty Advisory Committee report released by the Honor Committee last night. The two committees conducted a statistical analysis of honor initiations and convictions between 1998 and 2003 last spring.

Adderall: a prescription drug for a reason

Last week was absolutely ridiculous. With four exams in five days, by the end of the week, I was at my wit's end.