Virginia Democrats may not exercise much power in the General Assembly these days, but Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, said yesterday he remains optimistic about the party's future.
As hundreds of potential first years stroll Grounds this week and next, many will decide whether to come to the University based on the taste of the dinning hall food or the cleanliness of the dorm room they happen to visit.
Six of the nine Charlottesville students accused of attacking University students between last September and this January entered guilty pleas in Charlottesville Juvenile Court yesterday. Four of the individuals entered guilty pleas of malicious wounding by mob, Commonwealth Attorney David Chapman said.
Third-year College student Ambrose Faturoti said he thought his love of people played an important factor in his invitation to live in 15 West Lawn, the honorary Gus Blagden room. "The sum of your life is the sum of the quality of your relationships," Faturoti said. A selection committee announced Friday that Faturoti would be the next recipient of the Lawn room, known unofficially as the "Good Guy" room.
Greek-sponsored Habitat for Humanity House reaches completion After six months of building during the fall and winter, a Habitat for Humanity home co-sponsored by the University Greek system and the Venable Neighborhood Association recently was completed. The house, located on 10 1/2 Street, officially turned over to Charlottesville resident Shirley Early and her family in a dedication ceremony Saturday. Fundraising for the project began two years ago, amounting to $20,000 donated by the Greek system.
The Board of Visitors did the expected at its meeting this past weekend and raised tuition, in accordance with the Finance Committee's recommendations. However, at least one of the Board members who considered the tuition hike wasn't supposed to be there. Gov.
Gov. Mark R. Warner unveiled modest changes to Virginia's 2003-2004 budget yesterday, tacking on $30.6 million in proposals to the $50 billion budget the General Assembly approved last month.
The Medical Center received the second largest donation in University history, amounting to $52.6 million, University President John T.
Lambda Phi Epsilon, the University's first Asian-American fraternity, introduced its members to the community Sunday afternoon during a ceremony in the Rotunda Dome Room. The event attracted members of the Asian-American student population, as well as Aaron Laushway assistant dean of students of fraternity and sorority life, Assistant Dean of Students Ajay Nair, andChristine McGill, interim program coordinator for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, all of whom spoke at the ceremony. The new fraternity, which was officially founded last March, marks the 36th of Lambda Phi Epsilon's 37 chapters nationwide. Lambda Phi Epsilon is the only Asian-American interest fraternity recognized by the National Inter-Fraternity Council. Those involved with the launching of the fraternity at the University said they were excited by the historic implications of the group's founding. "The emergence of ethnically and culturally based organizations is a very recent phenomenon," Laushway said.
A combination of humor, anger, bitterness and hope emerged from the dialogue during last night's "Reflections on Complexions IV: The Real World," in a filled Newcomb Hall Theatre.
The importance of international trade organizations recently became emphasized by thecontroversy over the U.S.
Students missed class yet again on Friday after two separate bomb threats forced the closure of two University buildings. Despite a police investigation and administrative efforts to reduce bomb threats' impact on the community, Wilson Hall and South Michie Hall shut down due to the threatening telephone calls. "This isn't the kind of thing we expect in a community of trust," University Police Capt.
On the steps of the Rotunda on Saturday, about 50 protesters gathered to demand the University pay subcontracted workers a "living wage." This is an issue the Board of Visitors may address at its next meeting. The commonly accepted definition of a living wage is the salary needed to bring a family of four up to the poverty line.
U.S. News and World Report recently published the rankings of graduate programs for 2003, and the University's graduate schools held on to their high positions. The U.S.
Risk of shock, electrocution from printer cords prompts recall The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of 2.5 million DeskJet and Photosmart printer cords last week. The recall covers a group of cords produced by Longwell Electronics for Hewlitt Packard printers.
The University's Board of Visitors voted this weekend on plans for tuition and fee increases, approving the Board Finance Committee's recommended 8.8 and 8.5 percent hikes for in-state and out-of-state students, respectively. These finalized changes will raise the total tuition and required fees from $4,197 to $4,569 for Virginia residents and from $18,229 to $19,779 for non-Virginians. Following the Virginia General Assembly's $124.3 million reduction in higher education funding across the state, state lawmakers decided to keep individual college and university reductions within the range of 3.2 to 15.8 percent, depending on each institution's financial health. Additional revenues generated by a high out-of-state student population led the General Assembly to approve a 15.6 percent, or $25.7 million, cut in state funding for the University. "The tuition that's generated [from the increases] only covers half of that amount," said Colette Sheehy, vice president of management and budget.
In spite of the nation's economic recovery, this year's class of college graduates faces a barren job market that could prove the worst in almost a decade. Earlier this year, Marilyn F.
University President John T. Casteen III announced yesterday that the Commerce School and the College will undertake a joint venture to result in additional classroom space and the creation of interdisciplinary courses and programs. Commerce School Dean Carl Zeithaml, who led the effort to work with the College, explained the motivation behind the project.
A private partnership bought Loan Oak farm on Wednesday, which is part of the land donated to the University by John W.
Several neighborhoods near the University soon may enact new restricted parking regulations during weekday hours. The Charlottesville City Council at its April 15 meeting will hold a public hearing on proposals from neighborhood planners to change the parking ordinance for area neighborhoods. The proposal comes in response to resident demand to keep commuters, among them University students and medical center employees, from parking for extended periods of time on the street. "People were concerned that when they came home from the movies or dinner, they wouldn't have a place to park," Neighborhood Planner Jinni Benson said. Another issue included safety for those having to park long ways from their homes and walk, Benson said. The Jefferson Park Avenue and Venable area neighborhoods hope to update several streets to permit parking status, including Shamrock, Harmon, Wertland, Edgewood, Fendall, Old Farm, Cottage, Winston, Burnley and Wayside. Another proposal will change the times University area streets are restricted.
