News

News

Board of Visitors backs plans by Fraternity Working Group

By Maria Tor | January 22, 2001

The Fraternity Working Group - a committee headed by Dean of Students Penny Rue to generate ways to strengthen the fraternity system - submitted its report to the Board of Visitors on Friday. The Board enthusiastically approved the recommendations, which focused on strengthening student self-governance in the Greek system, improving alumni and faculty involvement with the houses and increasing University involvement with fraternities financially and structurally. Rue formed the group of administrators, students, faculty and alumni after the Board directed the University administration to seek ways to promote the health and strength of the Greek system.

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Honor votes to send proposals to referendum

By Sarah Salwen | January 22, 2001

With Student Council elections drawing near, the Honor Committee is working hard to pass on several proposed constitutional changes to be voted on by the student body.

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Financial jargon pervades all streets, not just Wall Street

By Diya Gullapalli | January 22, 2001

A 10-year-old harassing his friend during a heated game of Monopoly might sound like this: "Look!

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$15 million gift funds material science facility

By Kadie Bye | January 19, 2001

Gregory Olsen, president and CEO of Sensors Unlimited, Inc. and a 1971 Ph.D. graduate of the Engineering School, has pledged a $15 million dollar gift to the materials science department of the Engineering School. The majority of the gift will be used to construct a building connecting material science to the chemical engineering building.

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BOV to hear plans for strengthening fraternities

By Ann-Woods Isaacs | January 19, 2001

One year after calling on fraternities to improve their resource management skills, today the University's Board of Visitors will listen to the findings of the fraternity working group, a group of fraternity members, alumni and administrators. Headed by Dean of Students Penny Rue, the fraternity working group aims to strengthen and stabilize the University's fraternity system, which recently has felt financial strains amid conflicts with administrators over the timing of formal rush. Items in the proposal include increased administrative resources, improved alumni interaction and long-term housing improvements for fraternity members. "The recommendations focus on developing the relationship between the University and the fraternity system," said Inter-Fraternity Council President Justin Saunders, a member of the fraternity working group. "It is not surprising that when students have complete freedom there will be short-term thinking," Rue said. Rue also wants to improve the conditions within the fraternity lifestyle and help the fraternities foster a more positive academic environment. "The stated fraternity ideals are absolutely consistent with the ideals of the University," Rue said.

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Gilmore supports bill to add 17th BOV member

By Emily Roper | January 19, 2001

Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) endorses a bill proposing the addition of a 17th member to the University's Board of Visitors.

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City Council to consider higher parking fines

By Michael Loatman | January 19, 2001

Charlottesville City Council's ambitious plan to stiffen parking laws in the Downtown Mall area has become a point of contention following complaints from businesses in the area. In recent months, Council discussed reducing the amount of time a car could park on the Downtown Mall from two hours to 90 minutes and doubling fines for exceeding the limit from $5 to $10. At a meeting held last Tuesday, however, City Council allowed the public to comment on the parking ordinance and local business owners expressed grave concerns over reducing the time to 90 minutes. Many business owners said they felt customers who go to the Downtown Mall for a movie or shopping would no longer have enough time, Councilor Meredith Richards said.

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Nursing group witnesses El Salvador quake

By Oliver Longwell | January 19, 2001

The earthquake that rocked El Salvador on Saturday created aftershocks felt as far as Charlottesville. Eleven members of the University community finally arrived home safely on Tuesday, after being trapped in the South American nation while awaiting a flight to the United States. The group, which included seven nursing students, a medical student, an undergraduate history student, a sociology graduate student and a faculty member, was in El Salvador representing the University in Nursing Students Without Borders, a program dedicated to improving health care in impoverished nations.

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Dirks wins coveted Marshall accolade

By Abby Curran | January 18, 2001

After graduation, at least one University student will leave Jefferson's Academical Village to study in the historic halls of Oxford, all expenses paid. Fourth-year government major Katie Dirks recently received a prestigious Marshall scholarship, which will allow her to earn a master's degree in international relations at Oxford University over the next two years. The British government finances 40 Marshall scholarships each year to enable American students to further their studies at British institutions.

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Capital Campaign concludes on high note

By Jaime Levi | January 18, 2001

Five years and about $1.4 billion after its launch, the University's Capital Campaign finally came to a close at the end of December. Although the campaign has ended, Vice President for Development Robert D.

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Board bumps Judiciary proposals from agenda

By John McArdle | January 18, 2001

Two days before she was scheduled to appear before the Board of Visitors to present proposed changes to the University Judiciary Committee's Standards of Conduct, UJC Chairwoman Lissa Percopo was informed yesterday by Board officials that her presence would not be required at the Friday meeting.

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University removes century-old trees from Academical Village

By Justin Bernick | January 18, 2001

To students walking near the Rotunda, Central Grounds may look eerily empty. More than simply the bleakness of winter, large bare spots where magnificent trees once stood make the Lawn appear more barren. Facilities Management removed six decayed trees on the Lawn and cut down one tree from each garden at Pavilion III and Pavilion IX over Winter Break because of concerns that their old age could pose a danger to Lawn visitors and residents.

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BOV to consider six UJC Standard revisions

By John McArdle | December 6, 2000

It looks like the Honor Committee isn't the only University judiciary body attempting to make major changes in the way it operates.

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College receives $20 million gift for astronomy, sociology

By Antoinette Alston | December 6, 2000

Graduate alumnus Frank Levinson and his wife Wynette will announce today a $20 million donation to the College.

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Florida Supreme Court to decide validity of Gore's election appeal

By Emily Roper | December 6, 2000

As the saga of election 2000 continues, the Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments tomorrow in an appeal made by Vice President Al Gore as he contests the state's vote certification. Leon County Circuit Court Judge N.

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Supreme Court to hear Bush Florida suit today

By Emily Roper | December 1, 2000

As the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments today from lawyers for both presidential candidates, both University students and the American public nationwide may be starting to lose patience.

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University to receive 110 acres for research facility

By Michael Loatman | December 1, 2000

Pending Gov. James S. Gilmore III's (R) approval, the University should soon obtain 110 acres of land to build the Blue Ridge Research Park, which would be the University's third such facility. The proposed transfer of land also would include an additional 32-acre grant that the University may lease to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, which plans to build a Monticello tourism and visitors center, said Leonard W.

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Honor proposals call for diversity

By John McArdle | December 1, 2000

With the Honor Committee gearing up for a large-scale education effort that will present six proposed constitutional amendments to the student body, the Committee hopes the major issue of diversity doesn't get lost in the shuffle. The Honor System Review Commission's analysis of racial diversity and the honor system takes a candid look into defining the problem and perceptions of racial bias in the honor system. "We do not believe - and there is absolutely no evidence to suggest - that students of color behave less honorably than their white counterparts," the report states.

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2020 commission reports draw criticism from College faculty

By Justin Bernick | December 1, 2000

The Virginia 2020 Commission report does not address decaying and outdated buildings, the funding and prioritization of new academic programs or any diversity issues, College faculty members said during a particularly heated meeting yesterday. Virginia 2020 is an initiative to bring the University to new heights in the fields of the fine and performing arts, international activities, public service and outreach, and science and technology.

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ADAPT warns against Corner Crawl

By Maria Tor | December 1, 2000

Students who are planning to attempt the infamous "Corner Crawl" on their 21st birthdays now will get a card in the mail from the University reminding them of the dangers of drinking irresponsibly. The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), a student peer education group, will start mailing birthday cards to University students turning 21 urging them to "Celebrate!