News

Love handles leave bedroom and enter laboratory research

Plastic Surgery Prof. Adam Katz may bring love handles back in style. Katz has found that discarded fat tissue may be an excellent source of stem cells, which potentially can develop into any of the 220 cell types that make up the human body. "A patient could in the future use their own fat cells to heal themselves," Katz said. Stem cells often are called pluripotent because of their unique ability to transform into other kinds of cells.

University could gain Mariner's museum

A dispute between Bank of America and the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Va., may result in the University's acquisition of the museum. The Mariner's Museum, one of the largest international maritime museums, exhibits scale-models of early American ships, navigational maps of the Chesapeake Bay and many other nautical displays. The museum came into conflict with Bank of America over the sale of $8 million in West Virginia coal lands that the museum owned.

Is it acceptable to harvest stem cells from human embryos?

Without question, embryonic stem cells possess the potential to provide cures for some of the deadliest human diseases.

UC-Berkeley sexuality courses face administrative scrutiny

The University of California-Berkeley announced it would suspend a student-instructed male sexuality class Monday, following reports of the course's related extracurricular activities. The male sexuality course at Berkeley is a "de-cal" or "Democratic Education at Cal" program.

News in Brief

The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced last Thursday it will give pay raises and retroactive pay to 42 female faculty members.

Student leaders keep

Concerns over inclusion of the entire University community in student self-governance have arisen following the approval of a petition to put the informed retraction amendment before the student body. Over 11,000 students in the School for Continuing and Professional Studies are bound by the honor code, but are not allowed to vote on referenda to change it. At an Honor Committee meeting Sunday, SCPS Rep.

IFC, ISC report large increase in rush numbers

The appeals of Greek life attracted a larger-than-average number of first years last month. As a result, both the Inter-Fraternity Council and Inter-Sorority Council saw a marked increase in turnout during rush. IFC Rush Chairman Steve Bowman said 621 men rushed this spring, up from last year's 498. Bowman said he believes technology helped account for the increase. "We allowed first years to register and pay online," he said.

Governor considers BOV appointments

In an effort to end what he considers partisan politics in selecting members for governing boards of Virginia's public colleges and universities, Gov.

Staff express concerns with budget cuts

Hoping to assuage fears about the impact of Virginia's higher education funding cuts, Colette Sheehy, vice president of management and budget, conducted two town hall meetings yesterday, repeatedly stressing officials' "hopes that we would not have to lay people off at the University." The meetings were held in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom and the Facilities Management Building.

Graduate Labor Alliance to organize student union

In an effort to gain greater influence within the University community, the Graduate Labor Alliance is seeking support for unionization among College graduate students. The GLA, an informal group of graduate students who support unionization, plans to announce the formal creation of a graduate student union sometime this spring, GLA member Kate Nash said.

Schools collaborate to build solar house

In an innovative project, University Engineering and Architecture students are joining forces to build a solar-powered house. The entirely student-run project calls for the design, fundraising and construction of an 800-square-foot home run completely on energy from the sun.

Honor to complete Bloomfield cases soon

According to Honor Committee statistics released yesterday, only 18 trials still are pending from the 158 total cases filed by Physics Professor Louis Bloomfield since April 2001. "Our goal is really to leave the new [Honor] Committee with a very few number of trials and hopefully that committee will have them done by the end of the academic year," Committee Chairman Thomas Hall said. Of the 51 cases referred to trial, 13 resulted in guilty verdicts.

General Assembly releases budget plans

Marching forward in an uphill struggle to mend Virginia's budgetary crisis, state lawmakers issued revisions to their competing House and Senate budget plans Sunday - plans that include deep funding cuts and in-state tuition hikes that will place an unavoidable strain on the University and other Virginia colleges. In meetings that Sen.

College to create Asian American studies program

In response to persistent student interest, the University plans to add Asian American studies to its repertoire of academic programs in the College, once funding is available for a director. The Asian Student Union has lobbied for over 10 years to start an Asian American studies program at the University. The hiring freeze has hindered the program's implementation, preventing the University from hiring a program director.

News in Brief

The Cancer Center Benefit Dinner hosted University women's basketball coach Debbie Ryan at their annual benefit dinner last night. Proceeds from the dinner, which featured a video presentation honoring the late Sen.

News in Brief

Wilder, Berger speak at law forum

Former Democratic Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and former National Security Advisor Samuel "Sandy" R. Berger spoke to students and faculty at the Law School's third annual Conference on Public Service and the Law Saturday. Wilder spoke primarily about his personal story and state governance, while Berger focused on national and international affairs. Wilder, who now serves as chairman of the Governor's Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness, addressed many of the problems facing Virginia in a question and answer session. Though he supported Gov.

Dance Marathon receives record $50,000 donation

With the help of an anonymous $50,000 donation, the 2002 Dance Marathon raised $111,897.43 this past weekend, shattering its supporters' wildest expectations. "For those of us who have been involved in the Dance Marathon for many years, that single moment when we received the $50,000 anonymous donation was so emotional because the amount was more than we had ever received in one year," Morale Committee Chairman Kemper Steele said. The fourth annual Dance Marathon took place from 7 p.m.

Allow for self-regulation in business practices

GLOBALIZATION'S spread has heightened concerns about the ability of national governments to regulate the conduct of multinational corporations with respect to environmental protection.

Ayers announces new research office

A new Office of Undergraduate Research that will oversee major research fellowships and provide grant information, guidance and research presentation opportunities for undergraduate students will be launched this summer. College Dean Edward L.