As I sit by the window writing this column, I'm watching the April showers do their best to bring about May flowers.
Nowhere does history repeat itself so rapidly as here. And yet, somehow, real change does take place -- the face of the University is an ever-evolving landscape in spite of the ubiquitous vestiges of tradition.
When fourth-year students bid goodbye to the University following graduation ceremonies, they will leave behind a campus markedly different than the one they entered as first years. Wooden fencing, heavy machinery and other telltale signs of construction block views in areas across Grounds, from the Aquatic and Fitness Center on Alderman Road to the future site of the new multi-purpose basketball arena on Massie Road. There currently are 10 projects in the building process, according to Leonard W.
Since the members of the class of 2003 began their undergraduate careers, they have witnessed breakthroughs in the evolution of University Greek life, from its 150th anniversary to its remarkable growth in chapters and multiculturalism. Last November marked the 150th anniversary of the University's first fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon. Last semester also marked the anniversaries of three sororities, Chi Omega's 75th anniversary, Kappa Delta's 70th anniversary and Zeta Tau Alpha's 50th anniversary. The University's second oldest fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, will turn 150 next year. "We have now begun a period in which we are marking significant anniversaries," said Aaron Laushway, assistant dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life. The Greek system currently consists of four governing councils, the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Inter-Sorority Council, the Black Fraternal Council and the Multicultural Greek Council. "In a lot of ways I feel like Greek life has stayed the same, and in certain ways it has evolved to take on a more political aspect than in years past," said graduating College student Mike Dunkley, a former BFC co-chair. Currently the IFC includes 32 fraternities, the ISC includes 16 sororities, the BFC governs five fraternities and three sororities and the MGC governs three fraternities and four sororities, Laushway said. At the time of his arrival in 1996, the IFC consisted of 33 fraternities, the ISC included 17 sororities, the BFC was composed of one fraternity and three sororities and the MGC was nonexistent, Laushway said. A transfer student from the University of Maryland approached Laushway in 1999 about founding a chapter of Omega Phi Beta, a Latina sorority no longer active at the University. "At that point there was discussion about where it belonged," Laushway said.
Travis Watson will be remembered. Billy McMullen will be remembered. There are a handful of other Virginia athletes of the class of '03, however, who have accomplished just as much in their respective sports as these two high profile stars, yet will remain forever anonymous to the average Virginia sports fan. These are the athletes who will not be making millions of dollars playing professional sports.
The Honor system frequently was the subject of intense debate and scrutiny on Grounds the past four years.
The Albemarle County Service Authority's Board of Directors proposed Wednesday to significantly raise water and sewer rates effective July 1, pending its completion of a rate study scheduled to begin later this year. The rate increase will cover higher operation costs of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, which operates reservoirs and water treatment plants to provide water for the County and the City of Charlottesville, said J.
It's that time again. As always, the girls will wear their summer dresses and entire fraternities will crowd onto buses to attend the event.
Coinciding with the announcement of a $1.5 million donation for the creation of a concert and marching band, University officials informed the Pep Band yesterday it will no longer perform at University athletic events. Amy Cronin, chief of staff in University President John T.
Charlottesville City Council unanimously passed a resolution last Monday declaring Adelphia Communications in violation of its franchise agreement with the city. Despite the decision, negotiations are underway to renew Adelphia's franchise agreement, which expires in June. "This doesn't start us off on a promising note," Vice Mayor Meredith Richards said. Under the current agreement, in place since 1992, Adelphia pays the city a franchise fee equal to 5 percent of its gross revenues in exchange for the right to run cables on public land. Adelphia has not reported its advertising revenue from 1999 to 2001, according to an independent auditor hired by the city.
The University received a substantial pledge yesterday, totaling $23.5 million, to bolster the University's music program.
She flashes a brilliant smile and humbly shrugs her shoulders: "I'm really not that exciting of a person." Many would find it hard to believe that Student Council President-elect Daisy Lundy honestly leads a less than exhilarating life. Born in Korea, the child of an army officer, Lundy lived across the United States before settling in South Carolina with her family when she was in seventh grade.
Thanks to a $150,000 donation from the alumni association's Jefferson Circle, as well as donated labor from the Garden Club of Virginia, the garden behind Pavilion III will be renovated this summer. Though originally restored in the 1950s by Alden Hopkins, the famed Colonial Williamsburg landscape architect, the gardens behind the West Lawn pavilions have not received any major restoration since they opened to the public in 1952. "They have suffered a lot of wear and tear since then," University Landscape Architect Mary V.
University Rector Gordon F. Rainey, Jr. assigned members of the Board of Visitors to committees and chair positions April 18. The Board's eight standing committees and two special committees have oversight responsibility concerning various aspects of University governance, including finance, buildings and grounds, diversity and student affairs and athletics. The Rector makes committee and chair assignments every year. "I think one of the most important responsibilities of the Rector is to set the agenda in such a way as to engage the interests and talents of the entire Board and, by assigning members to committees in which they have expressed the strongest interest, I hope that objective will be achieved," Rainey said. In making his appointments, Rainey said he spoke with all members individually to gauge areas of interest and expertise. "I did survey the entire Board and I believe I am correct in saying every member of the Board has been assigned to the committee or committees to which that member expressed the strongest interest," he said. Although there are no limits on the number of committees a Board member can sit on, most members divide their time between three or four, Secretary to the Board Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam, Jr.
In the wake of allegations of impropriety that surfaced earlier this year, some local painting contractors have voiced doubts about the fairness of bidding on University Facilities Management contracts. The Cavalier Daily obtained documents early this year showing that L.
This fall the audio industry will be singing to a different tune. Using the Hypersonic Sound System, speakers will be cheaper, clearer and more directional.
A College of William and Mary student died Tuesday from drowning in a campus pond, known as the Crim Dell. Alex Reyno, 21, of Springfield, Va., studied public policy, was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity and a student guide for the admissions office. It is a tradition for William and Mary student guides to jump into the campus pond during their final tour.It is approximately 10 to 12 feet deep and very muddy. After jumping into the pond, and pulling in another friend with him, Reyno never surfaced.
University Women's Studies Prof. Holly Shulman will serve on the state Director's Advisory Council on Women's Business during the coming months to identify ways to promote the growth and success of the Commonwealth's 150,000 women-owned businesses. The council, which held its first meeting in March, is composed of 18 other women -- primarily female business leaders, according to Deborah Hudson, program manager for the Virginia women's business enterprise foundation.
Following this year's edition, the University of Richmond will no longer publish a yearbook, The Web, after over 100 years of publication. The university's board of publications voted 9-1 to end the publication.
The presidents of the member organizations of the Minority Rights Coalition chose third-year College student M.
