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Report backs the use of race in admissions

This week the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights plans to release a report that strongly criticizes an alternative to affirmative action used by colleges in California, Texas and Florida. These colleges have stopped using race as a factor in admissions and instead have passed legislation guaranteeing that the top 10 or 20 percent of graduating students from each of the state's high schools will have a place in that state's public university system. Commission members voted six to two to condemn the use of the system, endorsing racial preferences as the best way to ensure diversity on college campuses. Commission members encouraged President Clinton to support strongly the defense of affirmative action in college admissions processes. This issue has implications in the upcoming presidential race, where the likely Democratic and Republican contenders have opposing views on the issue. Democratic candidate Vice President Al Gore has voiced his support for affirmative action, while Republican Texas Gov.


News

ASU plans Asian-American admissions committee

Members of the Asian Student Union are working with the Office of Admissions to increase Asian and Asian-American student enrollment through an annual phone-a-thon and possibly through the creation of a new formal admissions committee for students of Asian heritage. While the ASU has held an annual student-run phone-a-thon for the past few years, the organization hopes to expand involvement in the Office of Admissions by creating a formal admissions committee, ASU Director of Networking Ray Caro said. The admissions committee for students of Asian heritage most likely will be structured after the committees already in place for black and Latino student recruitment.


News

Ramazani, Maus receive Guggenheim award

Two University English professors, Jahan Ramazani and Katharine Maus, were recently honored by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for their outstanding work in English literature. Ramazani and Maus are two of 182 scholars - and two out of only four recipients in the field of English literature - to receive the Guggenheim Fellowship.


News

Washington cleared of assault allegation

A Charlottesville General District Court judge dismissed misdemeanor assault charges against third-year Commerce student Ronnie Washington, Student Council executive vice president, at a Friday morning hearing. Washington had been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery after an incident that occurred March 2 at Jones' Wrecker, located at 420 West Main Street. The victim had alleged that Washington struck him during an argument when Washington came to retrieve his towed car. The alleged victim then obtained a warrant from the Charlottesville magistrate for Washington's arrest.


News

Celera leads race for human genome

Reaching a scientific milestone at least four months ahead of industry expectations, biotechnology company Celera Genomics Group announced Thursday it had taken the first step in unlocking the human genetic code by sequencing the complete genome.


News

NEH awards $1.01 million to professors

The National Endowment for the Humanities announced Wednesday that six grants, totaling $1.01 million, will be awarded to researchers at the University - marking the second largest amount the NEH has awarded to any single institution this spring. Through supporting projects that explore all aspects of American history, the NEH aims to offer Americans a better understanding of their cultural past. The NEH offers grants three times each year.


News

Noble condemns online college courses

David F. Noble, controversial higher education watchdog and history professor at York University in Toronto, spoke to about 30 professors and students yesterday afternoon in Ruffner Auditorium on the topic of online higher education. The author of several books and essays, including "Digital Diploma Mills: the Automation of Higher Education," Noble said he is particularly opposed to the computerization of university courses and electronic distance education. Vice Provost for Health Sciences Bob Reynolds introduced the speaker as "one of the most outspoken critics of distance learning." Noble focused his message on his belief that the elimination of the interpersonal aspects of the university experience degrades the quality of the education, especially because the goal of the educators becomes "profit" rather than "pedagogy." He began his speech with a brief history of what he called the "commoditization of higher education." As early as the 1890s, proponents of correspondence learning argued that using letters to communicate with teachers would soon eclipse traditional higher education by providing individualized and personalized attention to the student and added convenience, Noble said. He said the same arguments are used today by supporters of online universities. "The expectation of financial returns fueled by the extravagance of technological fantasies" has led to relaxation of legal safeguards and sound financial management, he added. Noble also spoke extensively on his work to expose the controversy over a contract between UCLA and the Home Education Network (now called OnlineLearning.net), a private company that provides university courses on the Internet.


News

Georgia suspends ATO for hazing

University of Georgia officials said the death of Georgia sophomore Benjamin Folsom Grantham III in a traffic accident last week was related to a fraternity hazing incident. Grantham, an Alpha Tau Omega pledge, was riding in the cargo area of a sports utility vehicle driven by a fellow fraternity member when the vehicle flipped over and hit a tree.


News

Jury convicts Davis of rape, robbery

A jury returned six guilty verdicts against Montaret Davis and recommended a sentence of 90 years in prison yesterday after almost seven hours of deliberation. Davis faced felony charges following his Oct.


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Students could face technology requirements

A joint resolution passed unanimously by the Virginia State Senate eventually could lead to a statewide technology curriculum at all Virginia public colleges and universities. The resolution calls for a group of government officials to study the possibility of developing a technology curriculum, which would include an across-the-board set of competency requirements for all students throughout the Commonwealth. "For a university to be a great university in the 21st century it has to be technologically advanced," Computer Science Dept.


News

California reports increase in minority admissions

The University of California system has admitted a number of minority students that surpasses pre-Proposition 209 levels for the first time since affirmative action was eliminated from its admissions process. In 1995, the UC Board of Regents decided to eliminate race and gender as a factor in admissions.


News

Clinton administration hopes to increase NIH, NSF funds

The University stands to gain considerably from the 7 percent increase in national science research funding recently proposed by the Clinton administration. Congress currently is reviewing Clinton's Science and Technology Initiative, which was unveiled in the 2001 Federal budget proposal and supports a $2.9 billion increase in research funding over the 2001 fiscal year. "It's significant because it's higher this year.


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Research program secures $480,000 in funds

The Faculty Senate Undergraduate Research Awards are quickly growing into a well-funded program that some faculty members hope eventually will be a widely recognized part of the University's unique academic offerings. Faculty Senate Chairman David T.


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University purchases vacant lot on Emmet Street

In a quest to support future University growth and enhance the appearance of one of the University's major entry corridors, the University currently is in the process of buying a lot of land at the intersection of Emmet Street and Massie Road. One part of the lot lies near University Gardens, which is University housing for married students. The University wants to ensure that the land is not developed, which the city almost did about 35 years ago when it discussed building a road through the property, Board of Visitors Secretary Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam said. "The city had a misguided attempt to connect downtown Charlottesville to Emmet Street by connecting Emmet Street to Rugby Road," Gilliam said.

Latest Podcast

The University’s Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Undergraduate Admission, Greg Roberts, provides listeners with an insight into how the University conducts admissions and the legal subtleties regarding the possible end to the consideration of legacy status.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/02ZWcF1RlqBj7CXLfA49xt