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News

City offers prospects to new residents

By Clark Williams | April 12, 2000

Whether or not they appreciate it, University students are living in what many magazines have voted one of the most pleasant communities in the nation, and that quality has led to an influx of jobs and people that is altering the area's small-town features. Charlottesville is attracting high-tech businesses and young professionals to the area, helping to push its unemployment rate down to 1.4 percent -- the lowest in the Commonwealth. And most of the newcomers are settling in Albemarle County, one of the wealthier counties in the state, forcing it to build schools and add public services at a rapid pace and prompting debates over growth. The area is known for its temperate weather, picturesque scenery and low pollution levels.

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Financial hardships hinder city's growth

By Emily Rockwood | April 12, 2000

Charlottesville tourists often are impressed by the bustling Route 29 retail district and the University's fine architecture, but upon closer inspection, the city of Charlottesville is not all "red bricks and white columns," said Ryan Harvey, director of the Madison House Boosters program, a program that sends volunteers to help at Charlottesville public schools. While Charlottesville boasts a booming economy, spurred by an influx of small technology firms and a small 1.4 percent unemployment rate compared to the already-low national average of 4 percent, many Charlottesville residents still are underemployed and living in poverty. "The [economic] growth has escaped these pockets.

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Professors' salaries increase nationally

By Maria Tor | April 12, 2000

American collegiate faculty members' salaries increased by 3.7 percent this year, according to the American Association of University Professors' annual salary report released this week. The AAUP reported that the average salary of a full-time faculty member rose from $56,282 last year to $58,352 this year. The report found full-time professors earn an average of $76,197 nationwide.

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McPheeters to increase FSC's visibility

By Christine Buurma | April 12, 2000

In a closed-door meeting last night, members of the Fraternity-Sorority Council elected third-year College student Michael McPheeters as their organization's president for the 2000-2001 academic year. Third-year College student Sakwa Bunyasi will serve as FSC vice president.

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Out-of-state costs rise by 5 percent

By Sarah Marchetti | April 12, 2000

Tuition for out-of-state students will increase by 5 percent from $15,617 to $16,393 if the Board of Visitors approves the tuition proposal by the University Budget Office this weekend. Out-of-state students now pay 133 percent of the actual cost of a University education, said Director of Budget Melody Bianchetto at an information session for students yesterday. The Budget Office did not propose an increase in tuition for in-state undergraduate students in compliance with the General Assembly's 1995-96 tuition freeze on in-state rates. Bianchetto said she does not believe the rise in out-of-state tuition costs will prevent students from attending the University. "We did a survey of students who were accepted but did not attend the University.

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Cigarettes may have caused Ivy Gardens fire

By Jacqueline Roper | April 11, 2000

Discarded cigarette ashes appear to be the cause of the Thursday afternoon fire at the Ivy Gardens Apartment complex. Someone tossed the ashes into a garbage can and then left the building, giving the ashes time to smolder and cause the fire, Albemarle County spokeswoman Lee Catlin said. The fire, which Catlin said is assumed to be accidental, left five Darden and three Law School students homeless and caused an estimated $500,000 in damages - $380,000 for damages to the structure and $120,000 for the loss or damage to the contents of the affected apartments. While the majority of the damage was caused by smoke and water, especially in the apartments on the lower floors, some flame damage did occur, Catlin said.

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U.S. Senate votes to increase Pell Grants by $400

By Margaret Chipowsky | April 11, 2000

The U.S. Senate narrowly approved legislation Friday that would increase the amount of Pell Grant financial aid available to eligible college students. Pell Grants, money given by the federal government to college students who demonstrate financial need, will now be available in sums up to $3,700 - a $400 increase from the current $3,300 maximum amount.

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Construction relocates several Rotunda offices

By Margaret Chipowsky and John McArdle | April 11, 2000

Some University officials will be packing up and temporarily moving out of the Rotunda at the end of the semester. Some offices, including the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, will relocate for about six months while construction is done on the Rotunda, where the offices currently are housed. The main focus of the construction project will be to replace the slate that currently covers the terrace above the Rotunda offices with a more protective, waterproof foundation. Other officials, such as Board of Visitors Secretary Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam, said they intend to remain in their offices unless the noise and disruption prove to be too much of a hassle. "I'd almost do anything rather than move," Gilliam joked. He said some offices have a great deal of water dripping, but the situation in his office is not as bad. In addition to replacing the Rotunda portico, workers will be installing a ramp on the west side of the Lawn entrance to the Rotunda and replacing the Lawn sprinkler system.

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Report backs the use of race in admissions

By John Teschner | April 11, 2000

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.

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Gilmore budget change may fund Peabody Hall

By Jaime Levi | April 11, 2000

The application fee for University admission soon may drop from $60 to $40 if the Virginia General Assembly passes a budget amendment proposed yesterday by Gov.

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ASU plans Asian-American admissions committee

By Christine Buurma | April 10, 2000

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.

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Ray heads local networking firm

By Katie Archer | April 10, 2000

Most Engineering students stay bogged down with work during their four years at the University. But simply being an engineer was not enough for one student.

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Kintz files $1.25 million suit against University

By John McArdle | April 10, 2000

The University now faces a third lawsuit resulting from the decision to suspend three students who were involved in the Nov.

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State tax form lets citizens give refund to Center

By Vinay Jain | April 10, 2000

University graduates throughout the state might run across a familiar name as they pore over Virginia's tax forms this year. The University's Center for Governmental Studies, founded by Larry J.

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Ramazani, Maus receive Guggenheim award

By Michael Loatman | April 10, 2000

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.

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Washington cleared of assault allegation

By Margaret Chipowsky | April 10, 2000

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.

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Celera leads race for human genome

By Peter Ngo | April 10, 2000

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.

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NEH awards $1.01 million to professors

By Abby Curran | April 7, 2000

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.

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Noble condemns online college courses

By Sarah Salwen | April 7, 2000

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.

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Georgia suspends ATO for hazing

By Carolyn Klosko | April 7, 2000

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.