News

Number of black students admitted to University increases slightly from last year

The University reported a slight increase in the number of black students who enrolled with this year's first-year class, even as many other universities reported a significant drop. Of the 3,096 members of the Class of 2008, 288, or 9.3 percent, are black, compared to 273 of 3,101 students in 2003 (8.8 percent) and 289 of 2,999 students in 2002 (9.6 percent). Nationwide, however, the Washington Post reported Monday that many schools, including several public flagship universities, enrolled significantly fewer black students this year than in 2003. At the University of Michigan, which following a May 2003 Supreme Court decision continues to use race as a factor in admissions but does not award extra points to minority applicants, 350 of 5,730, or 6.1 percent, of this year's freshman students are black, compared to 410 of 5,333, or 7.7 percent, last year.

HONOR TRIAL RECAP

Sunday, November 21 An undergraduate student was found guilty of cheating on the final exam for an introductory-level class by a panel of random student jurors.

Native of City killed in Iraq war

Cpl. Bradley Thomas Arms, a Charlottesville native and member of the Marine Corps Reserves, was killed Friday in a small arms crossfire in Fallujah, Iraq. Arms was a 20-year-old student attending the University of Georgia when he was summoned to Iraq. As a way to honor Arms' life, Trinity Presbyterian Church Pastor John Hall said he spoke about how to deal with the death of a loved one during Sunday's church service.

Failure to verify insurance blocks hundreds from classes

Approximately 750 undergraduate and graduate students are blocked from class registration for the spring 2005 semester as of today due to their failure to verify their health insurance coverage, according to Virginia Carter, the University's director of external communications. The University informed students of the new insurance verification procedure through three mass e-mails, postings on the weekly Connections e-mail sent out by the Vice-President for Student Affairs' Office and a letter included in tuition bills last spring. "We will try one more time to reach them to stress the urgency that they need health insurance and that they need to verify it," Carter said. Insurance Compliance Coordinator Jennifer Krugmann said she has recently received hundreds of phone calls from students who have been blocked.

U.Va. student, alumnus named Rhodes scholars

A University student and alumnus were awarded Rhodes Scholarships Saturday evening, marking the first time in University history that two representatives from the University were awarded the scholarship in the same year.

Community remembers, celebrates Hereford

Friends and family of Frank L. Hereford Jr. gathered in Old Cabell Hall Saturday morning to remember the life of the University's fifth president. Hereford died Sept.

Study: College students voted Kerry

With the political passions and election fever that swept the nation now receding, political pundits, including those at the University, are beginning to take a closer look at how college students voted in the 2004 presidential election.

Astronomical phenomena lights up Charlottesville's night sky earlier this month

The Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, earlier this month caught the attention of Charlottesville residents, according to a recent article in The Hook.

Cancer drug developer joins University Medical Center

Cancer researcher and break-through drug developer Geoffrey Weiss recently was appointed the University Medical Center's newest chief of hematology-oncology and deputy director of the cancer center. Weiss previously conducted research at the University of Texas, where he developed the cancer fighting drug interleukin-2, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1993. Interleukin-2, used primarily to combat kidney and skin cancer, results in remission among 20 percent of the patients who use it. Weiss told the Daily Progress that in his new role at the University, he plans to develop targeted therapies, drugs that work to destroy altered cancer-causing cell proteins. Weiss said he also plans to hire nine new researchers within the next five years and earn the University's Medical Center a top-10 ranking for cancer research.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Virginia freshman sensationSean Singletary led the Cavaliers to their second victory of the season with a spectacular 15-point, 8-assist, 6-steal performance.

Charlottesville residentmurdered early Sat.

In the third Charlottesville homicide of the year, 20-year-old Matthew Ray Nelepa was shot and killed at around 2 a.m.

Casteen lauded for preserving architecture

University President John T. Casteen, III received with the Virginia Society American Institute of Architecture's Distinguished Service Award at a gala in Richmond on Friday.

National Book Award finalist 9/11 Commission Report does not win grand prize

The bestselling 9/11 Commission Report, which garnered much attention when released over the summer, did not win the National Book Award Foundation's nonfiction prize Wednesday. University History Prof.

Former W&L student threatens lawsuit

Former Washington & Lee University law student Albert R. Leatherman, III says he is planning to file a lawsuit against the university seeking damages for acts of harassment based on his sexual orientation. Leatherman, who is gay, has prepared a legal brief detailing incidents of harassment as well as his subsequent correspondence with the university.

Council starts budget talks for fiscal year

City Council began discussion this week on the proposed City budget for the next fiscal year. Council members must continue to fund City programs and projects, with a focus on education and increasingly limited sources of revenue. Council members cited declining personal property tax revenues as a reason for lower City income and expressed continued frustration with the Virginia state legislature's unwillingness to properly reimburse the City for state-mandated programs. "If the state would fully fund the communities in terms of their obligations, we'd all be in good shape," Mayor David Brown said. City Budget Manager Leslie Beauregard presented a report on long-term financial issues and the 2006 budget development Monday at the weekly Council meeting.

Microbubble: new tool for pathology

By Joseph Nuffer Cavalier Daily Senior Writer In the past, there has been a stark difference between human innovation and nature's ways of solving similar problems.

SHAKESPEARIAN STUDENTS

Council aims for low-cost housing plan

In an effort to combat the rising cost of housing in Charlottesville, City Council adopted goals aimed at creating more affordable housing Monday night. However, Council did not approve the formal Housing Strategy presented by the City's Department of Neighborhood Development. Council members expressed concern over several of the document's recommendations, including the hiring of a staff member to handle housing concerns. The proposal to have a Housing Strategy staff member was developed several months ago and has since been abandoned, Charlottesville Neighborhood Development Coordinator Jim Tolbert said. In addition, the document needs standard editing before official passage, Council Member Kendra Hamilton said. "Those are things we are not necessarily sure we want to sign off on," Hamilton said. Council has held several work sessions focused on setting up a housing trust fund and providing affordable housing in Charlottesville. Council will likely reconsider and pass the strategy by Dec.

U.Va. groups work to puff out smoking

Imagine winning an iPod for turning over a pack of cigarettes, or getting a free massage for promising to help a friend quit smoking.

On harnessing the power of 'The Perfect Storm'

Off the coasts of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Island and Cape Cod, in the waters where the rich and the famous roam free, the government is considering a plan to build the world's largest offshore wind power plant.