News

Search for College dean nears finish

Nine months ago, College Dean Melvyn P. Leffler announced he would resign in August. Nine months later, his replacement still is unknown. But according to Gene Block, chairman of the search committee charged with finding Leffler's replacement, there are several "exceptional" applicants from which the new dean will be chosen. "We have interviewed a number of external as well as internal candidates," Block said.

Faculty Senate findings support dining facility

It's official - University professors are interested in having an on-Grounds faculty dining facility in which they can enjoy lunch with one another, University guests and students. Faculty Senate members recently learned the results of a survey asking faculty about potential plans for an additional University dining facility.

Honor case statistics show rise in investigations, trials

At a meeting last night, the Honor Committee released its official case statistics for the 2000-2001 Committee term.

Task force recommends restructuring athletics

In a report presented Friday to the Board of Visitors, the Virginia 2020 Strategic Planning Task Force for the Department of Athletics recommended restructuring the University's 24 varsity sports into four tiers to combat an athletics program deficit that is projected to reach $47.4 million by 2010. The task force also recommended the elimination of men's indoor track and field and the addition of women's golf in order to address the budget deficit and Title IX concerns regarding equality between men's and women's athletics. If the changes are approved, women will make up 51 percent of the University's athletes, up from 47 percent.

How to venture for capital

With dot-com bubbles bursting and the NASDAQ nosediving, you might think that nobody's going to start a new company anytime soon.

BOV approves new projects

At the April Board of Visitors meeting this weekend, members discussed a number of issues including proposed capital outlay projects, tuition and rate increases, and the University's 2020 commission reports. The Board of Visitors is composed of 16 members appointed by the governor, and a non-voting student member.

Grocery gadget changes checkout

You've just gotten used to the disembodied and robotic voice that has replaced telephone operators.

Bush's tax cuts are based on fuzzy math, blurry arguments

Well, it's over. Tax season officially ended yesterday, as thousands of Americans dropped their 1040s in the mailbox and kissed significant portions of their income goodbye.

Reflections on Complexions tackles race debate

"I've been in many places where it wasn't okay to talk about what we are going to talk about tonight," Asst.

Dukakis addresses 2000 election issues

Last night, 1988 Democratic presidential nominee and former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis addressed a crowd of about 500 students, faculty and community members in the Chemistry Auditorium regarding the state of the presidential election system. Dukakis's speech was part of the annual National Symposium Series sponsored by the University Center for Governmental Studies.

Tanner discusses social security

Michael Tanner, director of health and welfare at the Cato Institute, discussed the future of Social Security in the United States and actively endorsed privatization of the system last night in a forum hosted by Students for Individual Liberty. Tanner pointed out how the system now discriminates on the basis of both gender and race. "Social security under the current system penalizes married women who work and those people with shorter life expectancies," Tanner said. Under the spousal benefit rule, wives are entitled to 50 percent of the social security their husbands receive.

Pavilion X awarded to Commerce dean

Pavilion X soon will have a new resident. Commerce School Dean Carl P. Zeithaml will move into the historic pavilion this summer.

Board to forgo decision on Unocal

According to a letter sent by Rector John P. Ackerly III to the prime minister of the Burmese government in exile, the Board of Visitors will not address a Unocal shareholder resolution when it convenes this weekend. The University now invests $2.1 million in Unocal, a Los Angeles-based oil company that built a pipeline in Burma in 1996.

Filling a role traditionally played by the Student Council appropriations committee, Newcomb Hall officials will assign office space to student organizations in the coming months. An executive decision by Council President Abby Fifer removed the appropriations committee's control over Contracted Independent Organization office space allocation.

News in brief

Law enforcement officials following the case involving a top Republican's eavesdropping on a conference call between high-ranking Virginia Democrats are now considering a full grand jury investigation into the matter. Ed Matricardi, the executive director of the Virginia Republican Party, listened in on a conference call March 22 between 30 Democratic lawmakers and Gov.

Journalists discuss effects of terrorism in media

Top journalists and Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato discussed the media's new role after Sept. 11 and its mixed success in accurate and in-depth reporting at a panel held in Gilmer Hall yesterday. The panel, moderated by Politics Prof.

What's up, doc?

Dressed in a white lab coat pulled neatly over a shirt and tie, a tall man with an affable smile peered through his glasses and discussed the accomplishments of the University's Health System. "Our success is a tribute to the wonderful faculty and staff we have here - they made this happen," Robert W.

University Hospital improves training for geriatric care nurses

Nearly half of hospital patients across the country - and 30 percent of patients at the University's Medical Center - are age 65 or older.

Students prepare for NASA launch

Gabriel Laufer, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and a team of mostly undergraduate engineers seem to have struck the right balance between theory and reality. On April 26, they plan to launch a payload with infrared atmospheric sensors to the edge of the sensible atmosphere.

'Cooter' to contest Congressman Eric Cantor this fall

Boss Hogg beware. The actor who played Cooter on "The Dukes of Hazzard" is running for political office right here in Virginia. Former Georgia Congressman Ben Jones has thrown his hat in the ring for the House of Representative seat in Virginia's seventh district. Jones, a Democrat, will challenge Republican incumbent Eric Cantor in the election this November. Though the filing date for candidacy was not until April, the two, who currently are uncontested within their parties, likely will be the candidates, Politics Prof.