Former Charlottesville mayor Kay Slaughter resigned from her post on the State Water Control Board Thursday amid allegations of conflict of interest. Slaughter, currently an environmental lawyer with the Southern Environmental Law Center, is involved in a dispute over the proposed construction of the King William Reservoir in Newport News, Va.
By Preston Gisch Cavalier Daily Staff Writer University officials have been working to implement a multi-year plan to upgrade the University
In the wake of declining state funding, the School of Architecture aims to bolster private donations by creating a new foundation approved by the Board of Visitors last weekend. According to Susan Ketron, director of development and alumni relations, the foundation was created to provide a more formal structure for Architecture School fundraising. Ketron said with the next capital campaign approaching, the need for private dollars is essential.
A bull broke free from a stockyard Saturday, Sept. 27 and roamed the streets of Charlottesville for 10 hours before being subdued the following morning. The 1200-pound black angus escaped from the Charlottesville Livestock Market at 11 p.m.
The fall of 1997 was a sorrowful semester for the Commonwealth's public colleges and universities, when alcohol-related accidents claimed the lives of five students statewide. Among those who died was University student Leslie Ann Baltz, said Susan Bruce, director of the University's Center for Alcohol and Substance Education, commonly know as CASE. Baltz, left unattended with a blood alcohol content of .27, died from severe head injuries after falling down stairs.
To ease the heavy congestion on Interstate 81, the Virginia Department of Transportation plans to expand the highway, which probably will result in the institution of tolls, according to VDOT Public Relations Assistant Eric Gorton. "We think [expanding the highway] will be a prudent thing to do given that when the highway was built and open to the public in 1963, it was constructed for 15 percent truck traffic and now there is 40 percent truck traffic," Gorton said.
A new Honor Committee initiative may give students the opportunity to buy on credit from merchants on the Corner. According to Honor Chair Carey Mignerey, the issue being proposed essentially puts students on their honor to repay any loan they contract with a merchant.
Student Council Executive Vice President Rabeen Pasha introduced a resolution expressing Council's gratitude to the Seven Society for their donation of $10,777.77 to Council's Homecoming Committee last night. Council suspended the rules in order to vote on the resolution immediately and passed it. The resolution specifically recognized the collaborative efforts of the University Programs Council, Inter-Fraternity Council, Inter-Sorority Council, Alumni Hall, the Athletic Department and the Council Athletic Affairs Committee for their efforts over the past two years to create a stronger Homecoming tradition. Homecoming Committee Co-Chair Brigitte Hoyer said the donation not only prevented the Homecoming planners from making programming cuts to the weekend's festivities due to a previous lack of funds but it also enabled them to pursue a "bigger name" band. Hoyer added that the Homecoming planners hope to finalize the band this week with an announcement made by the time the University returns from Fall Break.
In a show of commitment toward the improvement of University research, the Board of Visitors resolved Saturday to invest $60 million in a five-year scientific research enterprise which will include the recruitment of 10 new faculty teams. Although the University ranks first among public institutions and 21st among all American universities, it is ranked 49th in total research and development expenditure. The entire cost of the proposed research enterprise is estimated at $125.8 million. Vice President for Research Ariel Gomez said he sees the initiative as a way to increase the quality of the University's products. "We produce discovery and education and public service," Gomez said.
Over 60 students congregated in the lobby of Alderman Library yesterday evening to dance a waltz for roughly 30 seconds before dispersing.
Victor and Sono Elmaleh of New York will donate $1.2 million to the University as part of a wider effort to expand arts facilities around Grounds. The Elmalehs' donation will complete funding for a new entry tower at the eastern end of Campbell Hall, which houses the School of Architecture.
An Albemarle County grand jury returned indictments yesterday against three local teenagers for the murder of a Crozet woman and her son. Robert Paul Davis and William Rocklin Fugett, both 19, and Fugett's sister Jessica, 16, are accused in connection with the death of Nola Annette Charles, 41, and her three-year old son. The murder took place on Cling Lane in Crozet on February 19th. Charles was tied to a bed and stabbed, and her son died of smoke inhalation after the house was set on fire, according to prosecutors. All three suspects resided on Cling Lane at the time of the murder and knew both Charles and her son, County officials said.
In order to generate revenue for new construction projects and renovations to current housing, the Board of Visitors passed a rate increase at their Oct.
Although final decisions concerning changes to tuition rates will not be made until April, the Board of Visitors met over the weekend to begin preliminary discussions on future costs of attending the University. According to University officials, the amount of tuition increase relies heavily upon the funding the University receives from the state. "We are at the mercy of the legislature," said Board member William Goodwin, chair of the finance committee.
The 15 suspects arrested on charges of alleged narcotics and drug distribution last week in "Operation Spring Break Down" each could face up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine for each felony offense if convicted. Although the penalties for drug distribution are intentionally harsh, Charlottesville Police Officer Jeff Sandridge said many suspects may be able to negotiate for lighter sentences. "If it's a first offense, they could plead it down and just get a few days of jail time and probation for two years," he said. University Law Prof.
In the name of student autonomy, the University's four Greek governing councils have begun a joint initiative to bring the fraternity and sorority recruitment calendar under student control. The move stems from a Sept.
The Student Activities Center's Guest Consulting Program kicked off its second year of operation yesterday in a continuing effort to provide support for student organizations. The program's primary function, student involvement intern Lesley-Anne Pittard said, consists of providing a guest counselor almost every weekday in the Student Activities Center.
As always, first-year sorority hopefuls will move back into their dorm rooms well before the spring semester begins, ready to brave freezing weather and occasional snow in high heels and dresses.
University Police and local law enforcement officials announced Friday the indictment of 33 people -- including former and current University students and employees -- for alleged involvement with the illegal sale of narcotics.
The University Democrats are hosting the first lecture in a "Principles in Politics" series tonight in hopes of providing non-partisan accounts of public service to the University community. "Basically, the speaker series was started because we feel that people today have forgotten that there are people in politics who are passionate about issues," University Democrats Research Coordinator Allyson Gold said. The club has invited both Republicans and Democrats to participate in the lecture series, describing the lectures as autobiographical accounts highlighting how the speakers became involved in politics. "We have no partisan intentions," University Democrats President Ian Amelkin said.
