Carl and Martha Linder, parents of fourth-year art history major and College student Blake Linder, donated $2.8 million in order to establish a permanent endowment at the University's McIntire Department of Art. Specifically, the donation will boost the University's fine and performing arts programs, one of the University's long-term goals, University President John T.
Student Council Chief of Staff Noah Sullivan was elected Council president last night, receiving a total of 2,877 votes, 1,598 more than Greg Scanlon, his closest competitor. Sullivan, a second year in the College, said he is excited about working with Council in the position of president. "I want to think through some issues and follow through with our current initiatives," he said. Sullivan added he was very pleased with his campaign. "We worked very hard and had a lot of support from a lot of different groups," he said.
University students voted to pass four of the five referenda that appeared on the spring election ballot this week, rejecting only the statement "Greg is delightful." An overwhelming majority of voters -- 74 percent -- favored a student-initiated referendum supporting same-sex domestic partner benefits.
The University Board of Elections announced the Honor and Judiciary Committee representatives from each of the University's schools yesterday evening. The College of Arts & Sciences elected Sara Page, who garnered 1,625 votes, David Hobbs, with 1,429 votes, and Meghan Sullivan, with 1,303 votes, as its representatives. "It was the most contested race in the College in several years," outgoing Honor Chair Carey Mignerey said.
As candidates celebrated victory or mourned defeat in last night's elections, the University Board of Elections expressed satisfaction with voter turnout and the new system the Board initiated this year. Forty-five percent of all undergraduate students cast an online ballot this week, including 50 percent of first through third years. "We were very impressed with the undergraduate turnout," UBE Vice Chair Steve Yang said. As in past years, low graduate school turnout lowered overall voting.
A bomb threat derailed midterm examinations yesterday in both New and Old Cabell Halls and Wilson Hall, causing confusion and scheduling difficulties. University Police Sgt.
Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner announced his most recent appointments to the University Board of Visitors yesterday.
University Police officials are investigating an alleged suicide that occurred yesterday morning near the Alderman Road residence halls, according to University Police Capt.
The University Health System will open a brand new infusion center across from the Medical Center on the fourth floor of the West Complex Monday. The new facility allows for a friendlier atmosphere for chemotherapy patients, said Peyton Taylor, medical director of the Cancer Center. "We created a space which we thought was open, cheerful and comfortable, and also accessible to patients with disabilities," Taylor said. Some features of the new facility include more space for large groups or individuals to meet and interact.
University Engineering students now have a chance to take advantage of a new minor that brings together the Engineering School and the Commerce School. The 18-credit Engineering-Business minor, launched by the Engineering School this spring, is a spin off of the Technology Management and Policy minor.
Members of the Black Student Alliance issued a complaint to Student Council Tuesday night, citing questionable behavior on the part of Council's Appropriations Committee. The committee oversees allocation of approximately $500,000 to University Contracted Independent Organizations.
Virginia21, a group that promotes political involvement among young people, coordinated the sending of 4,569 letters within 100 hours from students to their hometown General Assembly representatives, supporting the Senate budget for higher education. The program, dubbed "e-Storm the Statehouse," organized the students to send the letters supporting the allocation of $200 million to higher education and $15 million to financial aid. Virginia21 Executive Director Jesse Ferguson said the program started out as an outgrowth of higher education in conjunction with student leaders from all colleges throughout the commonwealth. "One of our largest principles is that in order to be effective the legislation needs to hear from their constituents," Ferguson said.
Between faculty salaries, capital projects, renovations, operating expenses and countless other costs, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year to keep the University up and running. This spending goes on despite the fact that the University only receives 8 percent of its funding from the state, according to Robert Sweeney, University senior vice president for development. While the University carries both a public label and a public price tag, the vast majority of its funds must be raised internally.
City Council elections could move from May to November after Charlottesville City General Registrar Sheri Iachetta recommended the shift to Council at a meeting Monday night. Iachetta's report came after Council requested in early January that the Registrar's Office compose a task force to consider the possible ramifications of moving Council elections, currently held in May, to November, when they would coincide with the general election. "The six-member task force met and evaluated all material given to us by City Council and recommended to move elections to November of odd-numbered years," Iachetta said. Primarily, the task force concluded that Charlottesville registered voters would be more likely to vote in Council elections in November at the same time as the general elections. Voter turnout in May has hovered consistently around 22 percent the past three election years, while voter turnout for the general election in November drew 45 percent of Charlottesville's registered voters in 2002, Iachetta told Council. In addition, University students, who represent a sizeable portion of Charlottesville registered voters, are more likely to vote in November than around exam time in May. "I think that moving Council elections to November is a good idea because our main goal is to increase voter turnout and voter participation, which is statistically higher in November," Iachetta said. By holding Council elections during the general election rather than having two separate elections during the year, the task force estimated the City would save $32,000 in poll costs, Iachetta said. "Moving Council elections is fiscally responsible in a tight budget cycle," she said. Iachetta also noted that holding Council elections on the same day as the general election would reduce scheduling and set-up interference at the local elementary schools that serve as polling centers, because schools are closed for November elections. Iachetta and the task force also reported that holding Council elections on the pre-existing general election day would reduce the strain on the handful of election officials that run local polls throughout the year. The task force also determined that November elections would be beneficial for local candidates. "November elections present Council candidates with the option of campaigning along with statewide office candidates and raise the visibility of candidates who are running for local office," said Ken Stroupe, the University's Center for Politics chief of staff and task force member. The task force modeled its recommendation after Richmond, which moved its City Council elections to the November general election day in 2002, Iachetta told Council. After Iachetta's presentation, Council moved to hold a public hearing on permanently rescheduling Council elections in June, once Council's new members take their seats following the upcoming elections in May. "I think it is a little premature to call a public hearing now," Council member Blake Caravati said at Monday's Council meeting.
The University is the only school in its region to send two mock trial teams to the Gold Field national championship, following the teams' successful finishes in the past weekend's regional competition. The two University mock trial teams came in fourth and fifth in the College Park tournament, guaranteeing both a spot in the most prestigious of the mock trial championships. The teams will travel to Des Moines April 2 to compete against a national array of teams. The University has a young mock trial program and has only once before been invited to a national tournament, Mock Trial Vice President Lauren Charneski said. "It's very exciting for us to actually have two bids," Charneski said. The top five teams from each region are invited to the Gold Flight tournament. In addition to the team medals, Cherneski and Lauren Bateman earned Outstanding Attorney awards, and Mostafa Abdel Karim garnered an Outstanding Witness award.
Some members of First-Year Council are raising complaints over President Greg Jackson, Jr.'s endorsement of a Student Council presidential candidate after his organization officially endorsed another candidate. Fliers publicizing Jackson's endorsement of Noah Sullivan were distributed early this week in first years' mailboxes. Nathaniel Stone, endorsement committee chair for First-Year Council, which endorsed Greg Scanlon, expressed concern. "Everyone I have talked to has read it as a First-Year Council endorsement, not as a personal opinion," he said.
Junior forward Jason Clark throws down a monstrous dunk during Virginia's 84-82 upset of No. 11 Wake Forest.
Some students experienced technical problems with the University Board of Elections Web site yesterday morning. UBE officials said the problem has been fixed, and students now can log on to the Web site from any computer. The UBE ran into unexpected trouble when it set up a second domain name, www.uvavote.com, to make it easier for student to access the voting site.
O'Neill's Irish Pub was fined after a doorman allowed an underage Alcoholic Beverage Control operative to enter the bar Friday night.
In addition to raising money for the University's operations, capital campaigns have provided funding for a plethora of activities and construction projects around Grounds. The last capital campaign, which raised $1.43 billion from private donors and alumni, began in 1993 and was completed in 2000.
