News

City ponders solutions to decal dilemma

Charlottesville City Council weighed its options this week for settling an ongoing parking decal tug-of-war with Virginia Beach officials. The problem began when Virginia Beach residents began receiving tickets from Charlottesville Police for failing to display a decal proving that the car is registered and the car's owner has paid a local vehicle fee. But Virginia Beach residents do not receive decals when they register their cars and pay their fees. Vehicle owners in Virginia are generally required to display decals from their locality of legal residence. In 1992 Virginia Beach made an agreement with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and became the only Commonwealth locality where vehicle fees are collected at the same time residents are billed for state plates.

GROH GABS WITH STUDENTS

Football coach Al Groh chats with Elizabeth Oswald, left, who organized this year's second-year class dinner, held last night at Alumni Hall.

Va. students can opt out of dissection this autumn

Any Virginia public school student will be able to opt out of animal dissection activities without penalties for the first time this fall. A new General Assembly law that went into effect in July requires all local school districts to provide students with alternatives to dissection and notify students and parents of the options. The bill was co-sponsored in the House of Delegates by Del.

Sanctions debate kicks off

A new ad hoc committee of the Honor Committee met for the first time last night with a mission to take a hard look at the controversial issue of the single sanction -- and ultimately propose an alternative sanctioning method. The Sanction Reform Committee is chaired by Sara Page, who also heads the Honor Committee's Diversity Advisory Board. "The goal is to take a deep look at the single sanction, the goals of the honor system and the real-life effects of the single sanction," said Page, also an elected member of the full Committee.

Timing of Fahrenheit 9/11 screening irks some

Fahrenheit 9/11, the Michael Moore documentary film that ignited debate nationwide this summer, will be shown at Newcomb Theatre this weekend in conjunction with a panel discussion to commemorate the third anniversary of the Sept.

The Hook Book premieres earlier than ever

For University first years of the past, finding a phone number for a late-night pizza delivery or a place to get a haircut required some digging. For 2004's first years, finding their way around was no problem, thanks to the early release of the Hook Book. The comprehensive Charlottesville and University resource guide, published by Student Council, was handed out earlier than ever this year. In the past, the Hook Book has been passed out as late as two months after the start of classes. New students received this year's version at orientation meetings during their first week at the University. "We wanted to get it out as soon as possible to have it available for first years and transfer students," said Kimberly Jones, co-chair of a newly formed Council committee focused on the Hook Book.

SEEKING BLOOD DONORS

CBS, ABC affiliates compete for viewers

There's a new kid in town. Actually, there are two new kids in town. After having a monopoly on the Charlottesville television market for more than 30 years, WVIR NBC 29 finally has company. CBS affiliate WCAV and ABC affiliate WVAW have begun broadcasting most of their programming, including small news briefs, from a trailer that sits next to their future home on Monticello Avenue. The building, which will house two separate studios and office spaces for the two stations, is about 70 percent complete, said Bill Varecha, manager of both stations. WCAV News Director Rick Barrick said they will probably move into their offices around mid-October, and news broadcasts will begin after the presidential elections. Both stations are affiliates owned by the Atlanta-based Gray Television, which owns several stations in medium to small markets in college communities. "The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) relaxed its rules last year, and now allows one company to own two stations in a single market, if one station is a low-powered station," Barrick said. WVAW, broadcast on channel 16, will be the low-powered station, replacing WHSV, an ABC affiliate from Harrisonburg also owned by Gray. Barrick explained that the CBS affiliate, channel 19, plans to gear itself toward families and a more mature demographic, while ABC will spend more of its time catering toward the University audience. Varecha said neither station initially will broadcast in High Definition Television, as they do not have their digital licenses.

Frances leaves region relatively undamaged

Despite heavy rains, flooding and tornado watches issued up and down the East Coast yesterday, Tropical Depression Frances has moved out of the state and is expected to reach Canada by tomorrow. According to the National Weather Service Web site, Frances is moving on a north-northeast path at 15 miles per hour. Environmental Sciences Prof.

Police continue investigation into break-in

An unknown intruder broke into the apartment of a 24-year-old female University student at about 6 a.m.

Va. Board of Elections rejects Ralph Nader's state ballot bid

The Virginia State Board of Elections ruled Tuesday that independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader did not have enough valid signatures to earn a spot on the state's presidential ballot, the latest decision in a process marred by allegations of partisanship. After reviews conducted by local registrars' offices, only 7,342 of the 13,034 signatures collected by the Nader campaign were Virginians registered to vote, according to Jean Jensen, secretary of the State Board of Elections. The decision likely will have little impact on the race between Sen.

Council helps finance 'V' restoration

Student Council announced Tuesday that its executive board expended $999 of Council's discretionary funds over the summer to help finance the ongoing "V"-Repainting Project. The "V"-Repainting Project is an athletic department program aimed at restoring all of the "V" and "V" saber markings on various roads on and around Grounds. "We are just trying to refresh those marks," said Hunter Yurachek, associate director of marketing and promotions in the athletic department.

Special Collections undergo transition

Construction workers hastened to complete the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, the newest addition to the University library system, in time for the start of classes.

Student Health begins work with health Web site

The Elson Student Health Center has been collaborating with the National Library of Medicine's consumer health Web site, MedlinePlus, as a way to get more credible medical information to students.

Council opens with streamlined committees

Student Council opened its legislative season last night with a new committee structure designed to streamline its administration and give students more access to student government. Beginning last year, then Council chief of staff and current President Noah Sullivan began formulating a plan to cut down the number of smaller committees in favor of larger ones that deal with broader issues. "When I was chief of staff, I thought there were too many committees working in too many directions," Sullivan said.

Partner benefits gain national attention

As the issue of domestic partner benefits is debated at institutions nationwide, the University remains bound by Commonwealth law which currently does not include such benefits. Recently, more colleges and universities have granted benefits to domestic partners, said Wendy Repass, a member of U.Va.

Region prepares for worst-case scenario as Frances hits area

In the wake of Tropical Storm Gaston, which unexpectedly dumped 14 inches of rain on Richmond last week, state and local officials are taking precautionary measures in anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Frances. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Albemarle County yesterday morning and predicted that the remnants of Frances would progress northeast into the mid-Atlantic states and impact the Charlottesville area through tomorrow. According to the NWS Web site, rainfall from the system could be significant across the region and could amount to as much as four inches. Dawn Eischen, spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, said state officials issued a warning Monday to area residents to prepare for potentially bad weather as Frances makes its way up the coast. "Just a couple of days ago we were all thinking Frances was going to hit Kentucky and Tennessee," she said.

Fahrenheit U.Va.

­One state, one law, varying interpretations. Though it was developed to maintain uniform building code standards nationwide, the recently-adopted International Fire Code has been a common cause of confusion across the Commonwealth. Among other things, the new code regulates the amount of flame-resistant and flame-retardant material that can be attached to a wall or ceiling and prohibits the use of combustible materials as wall decorations in multi-unit dwellings, including apartment buildings and student dormitories, said Jim Tidwell, the national director of fire service activities for the International Code Council. "The idea is to limit the potential for flash fires, which travel at a speed faster than people will normally exit a building," Tidwell said.

U.Va. doctor links epilepsy drug, alcohol

Popping a pill may actually be the latest and most effective weapon against addiction. Dr. Bankole Johnson, the newly recruited chair of the University's department of psychiatric medicine, soon will begin a second clinical trial studying the effects of the drug topiramate, currently used to treat epilepsy, at a University alcohol treatment center set to open early next year. An initial clinical trial conducted by Johnson at the University of Texas Health Science Center indicated that topiramate can actually help alcoholics quit drinking. "It just so happens that the medication developed for epilepsy has the same chemical properties that you need to combat the effects of alcohol on the brain," Johnson said.