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News

U.Va. endowment surpasses $2 billion

By Timothy Lee | April 23, 2004

The University's endowment surpassed $2 billion for the first time, the Board of Visitors announced April 15. According to a report released by the Board's Finance Committee, the University endowment's ending balance was $2,013,600,000 as of March 31. "The endowment does support a substantial part of the budget so it is important that growth is at least on pace with inflation," said Collette Sheehy, University vice president of management and budget. Vice President of Finance Yoke San Reynolds said the endowment is supported mainly by two sources. "We knew the endowment has been gaining steadily due to gifts and investment returns," Reynolds said.

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Is the nation's fast-food frenzy to blame for the obesity problem?

By Patrick Jones | April 23, 2004

Reports of an "epidemic of childhood obesity" in America recently have been in the news. And with the tobacco industry being taken to court for its alleged responsibility in the deaths of millions from lung cancer and other smoking related illnesses, a similar move is being made to take the snack food industry, or "Big Food" as some have labeled them, to court. Whether or not the industry is responsible for our nation's increasing average BMI is an interesting topic that I leave for others to discuss -- however, it does raise an interesting question for those who will be providing health care for children in the future. A lawsuit or the threat of a lawsuit such as the one being discussed against Big Food rests on the idea that childhood obesity is causing long-term mental and physical harms. If the courts establish that these harms are serious enough to seek damages from those who make products that contribute to obesity, an interesting dilemma could arise for the everyday practitioner. For example, if a mother comes in with her 11 month old girl and it is discovered that not only does the daughter smoke, but her mother provides the cigarettes and even taught the child how to smoke, there is a good chance that Child Protective Services would become involved. Imagining this scenario with other substances that allegedly cause harm (drugs, pornography, alcohol) and the result would also most likely be a call to CPS.

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Competition for admissions rises

By Jayni Foley | April 23, 2004

Writing college admissions essays, taking SAT prep courses and conducting mock admissions interviews may not sound like the ideal way to spend a summer before senior year of high school.

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Albemarle County's only circuit judge announces he no longer will hear some criminal cases

By Kathleen Meyers | April 23, 2004

Paul M. Peatross, Jr., Albemarle County circuit judge and adjunct professor at the Law School, announced Friday that he will no longer preside over criminal cases involving county prosecutors and public defenders, according to the Daily Progress. Peatross, Albemarle County's only circuit court judge, who has served on the bench since 1994, offered no explanation for his decision. Previously, Peatross heard every felony case in the county. Judge William R.

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Assembly works on budget behind scenes

By Christopher Jones | April 23, 2004

Students returning to the University next fall will find the Virginia state government running under its next two-year budget.

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General Assembly rejects Warner's amendments to controversial bills

By Kathleen Meyers | April 23, 2004

The General Assembly approved many of Gov. Mark R. Warner's amendments Wednesday but rejected amendments to bills on controversial issues such as civil unions and feticide at its one-day veto override session. Virginia legislators rejected Warner's amendment to a U.S.

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UBE elects 2004-2005 chair, vice chair seats

By Corinne Shamy | April 22, 2004

After spending the past year implementing an intricate online voting system for the University, the newly-selected University Board of Elections members used paper ballots to elect their new chair and vice-chair Friday. Seven of the 10 new UBE members were present and elected first-year Engineering student Steve Yang as chair and first-year Medical student Alanna Rice as vice chair. Two members ran for chair, and three members ran for vice-chair.

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Shad Planking event attracts state leaders

By Jason Amirhadji | April 22, 2004

WAKEFIELD, Va. -- With many legislators in Richmond still deadlocked over a budget compromise, former politicians met with community members an hour southeast of the capital to discuss politics over fish and beer yesterday afternoon. As the General Assembly entered its 99th day in session, keynote speaker Larry J.

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U.Va. Peace Corps numbers lead rankings

By Neelam Patel | April 22, 2004

Peace Corps officials announced Tuesday that the University generated more Peace Corps volunteers this year than any other medium-sized school in the nation. "We are thrilled that U.Va.'s numbers are going up," said Sara Johnston, spokesperson for the Mid-Atlantic regional recruiting office of the Peace Corps. According to Johnston, the University also is the largest producer of volunteers from colleges and universities of any size in the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Washington D.C. Presently, the University has 75 alumni serving in countries such as Ghana, Bulgaria and Uzbekistan, signifying a 10 percent increase from last year.

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Library project nears completion

By Lauren Todd Pappa | April 22, 2004

The spring semester is not the only thing about to draw to a close. University officials said yesterday that construction of the new Harrison Institute/Small Special Collections Library is nearing completion and will be finished this summer. Donald Riggin Jr., senior project manager at Facilities Management, said while an official opening date has yet to be determined, library officials plan to open the new facility in October. "We've made good progress," Riggin said.

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Administrators craft Access UVa publicity campaign

By Christopher Jones | April 22, 2004

University administrators are working to ensure that when prospective students learn about both traditions and daily life at the University, they also will learn about Access UVa, the University's new $16 million financial aid initiative. University spokesperson Carol Wood, who is spearheading the University's plans to market and raise awareness about the initiative, reported on the early stages of those plans to the Board of Visitors' External Affairs Committee last Thursday. Following intensive discussions between administrators such as Dean of Admissions John A.

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Women's Center honors Arizona governor

By Cavalier Daily Staff | April 22, 2004

The University Women's Center last night presented, Janet Napolitano, Arizona governor and University Law School alumna, with its 2004 Distinguished Alumna Award, according to University Relations. Napolitano delivered a public lecture entitled, "Closing the Gap: The Necessity for Women in Leadership Positions" in the Law School's Caplin Auditorium.

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RIAA discontinues file-sharing amnesty program

By Cavalier Daily Staff | April 21, 2004

The Recording Industry of Association America ended its "Clean Slate" program, which offered amnesty to people who voluntarily admitted to illegally downloading music, according to The Washington Post. The program required individuals to provide written acknowledgements citing their use of illegal file sharing services.

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NCAA Board approves plan to punish teams for poor academic grades

By Cavalier Daily Staff | April 21, 2004

The National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Management Council unanimously approved a plan yesterday that would punish college athletic teams whose athletes are not maintaining sufficient grades, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The plan would prevent teams who continually fail to meet NCAA standards from participating in postseason championships, the Chronicle reported. "We need to get a better-prepared student to come into our intercollegiate athletic system, stay eligible and represent our teams," Council chair Christine A.

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Female faculty hiring up in past year

By Sarah R. Gatsos | April 21, 2004

The University is closer to its goal of hiring more female and minority faculty members, University Provost Gene Block told the Board of Visitors Friday. His report indicated a 2 percent increase in full-time female faculty members -- 27 to 29 percent since 1998.

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Students protest insurance increase

By AJ Frank | April 21, 2004

A group of University graduate students led by the Graduate Labor Union marched from the street side of the Rotunda to the office of President John T.

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Study: Kerry leads Bush on campuses

By Matt Galati | April 21, 2004

College students favor Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry over incumbent President George W.

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Men's magazine

By Matt Galati and Defne Gunay | April 21, 2004

Marilyn Monroe. Pamela Anderson. That girl in your math class. What do they all have in common? The notoriety of being featured in the pages of the world's most popular men's magazine. Playboy spokesperson Theresa Hennessey said college football conference-themed editions have been a part of the magazine's tradition for the last 27 years.

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Foxfield officials to continue crackdown

By Corinne Shamy | April 21, 2004

University Emergency Medical Services and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad will be present for the first time at the Foxfield horse races Saturday. Marcus Martin, chair of University Emergency Medical Services, told fraternity and sorority members at their annual Foxfield informational meeting that the U-EMS presence is part of the mass-gathering event management already in place at such University events as football games. "There will be doctors there who can help the curing process before you even get to the hospital," Foxfield Marketing Director Anne Browne said. This is the only major change to the logistics of Foxfield following a crack-down on underage drinking at last year's event. The Foxfield races last year were the most successful in several years, Albemarle County Lieutenant John Teixeira said. The students came through with "flying colors and should be commended for their behavior," he said.

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Hoos revealed

By Matt Galati and Defne Gunay | April 21, 2004

Playboy Magazine held an open call at the University earlier this week for female students to participate in next October's special Atlantic Coast Conference issue. The infamous gentleman's journal conducted a photo shoot for about 25 interested students at the Holiday Inn Monticello Monday and Tuesday. Playboy puts out conference-themed issues annually