News

Students fill Newcomb for women's health fair

Students enjoying massages, eating vegetarian chili, examining sex toys, listening to live piano music and collecting colorful brochures from over 60 student organizations filled the Newcomb Hall ballroom and lounge yesterday as part of the University's first Women's Health Festival. "This was an opportunity to re-envision how women's health is defined," said fourth-year College student Kate Neuhausen, the executive director of the festival.

Gas prices raise an average of 11 cents nationwide

Weather patterns and international events have caused the nation's gas prices to rise for the first time since June 2002. The Lundberg Survey, an independent market research company specializing in the U.S.

White House indefinitely postpones poetry event

The White House recently indefinitely postponed a literary event planned for Feb. 12 due to a potential conflict of interest concerning the impending war with Iraq.

Four BOV members to depart, replacements not yet named

The University's Board of Visitors will bid goodbye to four of its 16 voting members this spring when their terms officially end March 1. Elizabeth A.

University tapped by Microsoft for grant

The University received a $250,000 grant Jan. 15 from the Microsoft Corporation for the development of software to improve the University Medical Center's ability to maintain, access and secure patient records. A team of University engineers, led by Computer Science Prof.

Virginia House, Senate finalize budget proposals

Both houses of the General Assembly passed budget proposals Thursday which attempt to navigate the Commonwealth's troubled financial waters. The two budget proposals now will be sent to committee to reconcile differences before the General Assembly session ends Feb.

News in Brief

-U.N. Secretary-General visits William and Mary Before an audience of 4,000 William and Mary students and alumni Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the United States to disarm Iraq while avoiding war. Any U.S.

Nationwide terrorism alert causes minor disruptions at University

University and Charlottesville police officials reported yesterday they will not make any significant changes to local security procedures in the face of Friday's announcement from Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge that the national terror alert level has been elevated from yellow to orange. An orange level alert is the second highest terror warning possible on a five-level scale, the highest level being a red alert. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia Homeland Security Department, an orange level or "high threat" terrorist warning "indicates that there is a high risk of a local terrorist attack, but a specific target has not been identified." In a White House press release, Ashcroft said he felt Americans are capable of dealing with the unsettling news of a potential terrorist attack. "We believe the American people have the ability to accommodate this kind of information sharing as a strategy in which they participate for being successful in the fight against terrorism," he said. University Police Sgt.

MAGIC IN MARYLAND

FBI interviews Iraqi students on campuses

With a potential second Gulf War on the horizon, FBI interviews with Iraqi university students studying in America have raised the eyebrows of Arab-American groups. The FBI said, however, it is just conducting business as usual and when interviews with students are conducted they are only part of larger, counter-terrorism investigations. FBI Special Agent John Iannarelli at the national press office said media reports of an organized, nationwide program to interrogate Iraqi students and even naturalized Iraqis are "totally blown out of proportion." Iannarelli credits misconceptions by the public for the negative position some have taken to the Bureau's presence on college campuses. "Some people always have the incorrect information, and they were upset, which is understandable," he said. Iannarelli added that since the Sept.

Symposium addresses conflict in Kashmir

Inside a packed Rotunda Dome Room, three distinguished speakers shared their views concerning the Kashmir conflict with students Wednesday night. Kasmir is a disputed region between India and Pakistan which has been the source of contention between the countries for decades. The South Asian Leadership Society organized the symposium, titled "What's wrong with Kashmir?" History Prof.

Free Monticello tours for students

Students of Mr. Jefferson's University will be able to visit and explore his home this weekend and all on a college budget. Monticello will be open for free tours Saturday Feb.

Personnel receive smallpox vaccine

Virginia launched its defense against bioterrorism on Wednesday, vaccinating five Charlottesville area health care workers for smallpox. Four staff members at the Charlottesville Health Department and one University Medical Center doctor were the first people immunized against smallpox in the Commonwealth after 10,000 doses of the vaccine arrived at the Virginia Department of Health Jan.

Alumni Council to address Greek relations

As part of an ongoing study to improve alumni relations with the University's Greek organizations, members from the Young Alumni Council will meet today with representatives from the University's four Greek councils, according to Aaron Laushway, assistant dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life. The four councils consist of the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Inter-Sorority Council, the Black Fraternal Council and the Multicultural Greek Council. "Increased alumni involvement and support is particularly welcomed," Laushway said.

Council sends reading days referendum to students

Student Council President Micah Schwartz sponsored a resolution presented to Council last Tuesday proposing an increase in the number of reading days before final exams each semester. Council approved the resolution that night.

Sexual harassment alleged at Howard U.

Howard University currently is investigating whether a professor asked students to pose seminude for a magazine he edits. African-American Studies Prof.

Commission advises Title IX changes

Advocates for women in athletics dodged a knock-out punch last week, though some say women's athletics are still endangered by a national commission reviewing Title IX and pledge to continue the fight for the statute outside the ring. Thursday, the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics signed off on a set of recommendations that would give universities and colleges more flexibility in allocating funding for men's and women's programs, but did not suggest broad changes to the law. Former WNBA star Cynthia Cooper and Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland co-chaired the 15-member panel. The commission's recommendations, made last week, are less severe than originally anticipated, but reactions are mixed from women's organizations both at the University and around the nation. "I was really glad to hear" major changes were avoided, said Katy Bauer, vice president of the University's National Organization for Women chapter. NOW Co-vice President Lindsey Heddleston concurred with Bauer.

Construction begins on new Observatory Hill facilities

Preliminary steps for the construction of a new Observatory Hill Dining Hall began last week, ushering in a year of major renovation in the Alderman road area. Construction, which will involve demolishing both the current O-Hill structure and the Tree House facility in favor of a modernized 62,000 square foot building, is expected to be finalized by Fall 2004.

Honor Committee distributes new CD-ROM to first years

Late last week, the Honor Committee mailed out new CD-ROMs to first-year and transfer students. The CD-ROMs "serve as an introduction for first years to the Honor Committee," Committee Chairman Christopher Smith said. In the past, the Committee generally displayed a 10-minute honor video during orientation, which they later mailed home to incoming first years and transfer students.

ABC issues Foxfield fine, liquor license probation

This spring's Foxfield races may be a tamer than previous years because of punishments handed down Jan.