More evidence has been discovered in the Sally Hemings-Thomas Jefferson saga, this time casting doubt on the claims of the descendants of Monticello slave Tom Woodson, who assert Woodson was the product of the Hemings-Jefferson affair. A DNA test on the Rev.
BERKELEY, Calif.-Nearly three-and-a-half years after Californians voted to ban affirmative action with Proposition 209, Phong La, president of the Associated Students of the University of California-Berkeley, maintains that passing the controversial referendum was a "premature" decision. Many students and administrators at University of California schools said they feel the same way, and view the ballot initiative as a mistake. The initiative, passed in November of 1996, outlawed public institutions from using preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity or gender. Despite increased outreach programs targeted at underrepresented minority students - specifically Hispanic, Latino and black students - admissions officials at the University of California-Berkeley and the University of California-Davis admit it has been difficult to maintain previous levels of representation of these minorities. Richard Black, vice chancellor for admissions and enrollment at Berkeley, said many members of the university community recognize the benefits of affirmative action. "Many individual staff members feel affirmative action is important," Black said. Ultimately, however, the University of California Board of Regents and California state laws control the university's admissions criteria, he said. "We are professionals and we follow policies of the Regents and the laws of California, even when those don't agree with our own personal positions," he added. Yvonne Marsh, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment services at Davis, said the administration and student body were generally in favor of affirmative action despite 209's passage. Related Links See the stats! University of California @ Berkeley University of California @ Davis But much of the decision-making process went over their heads.
With the effective end of one of the shortest presidential primary seasons in recent elections, Republican Party officials have begun considering alternatives that would allow more states to participate in the delegate selection process. "It was decided Super Tuesday who would be the nominee," said Morton Blackwell, the Republican National Committee chairman of Virginia.
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia unanimously approved a proposal yesterday to establish a Ph.D.
DAVIS, Calif.-Richard Black, vice chancellor for admissions and enrollment at the University of California-Berkeley, has done more than just witness firsthand the far-reaching consequences the end of affirmative action has had on his school.
In addition to surpassing the University's $1 billion Capital Campaign goal in December, funds grew by another $8.58 million in February, bringing the Campaign total to $1.103 billion. According to totals as of Feb.
The University is taking steps toward breaking down international and technological barriers by conducting its first distance learning education course. Students at the Istanbul Technical University now have the opportunity to take an Engineering course taught by a University professor via television screens and other technological resources. Mark Shields, assistant professor of technology, culture and communications, teaches nine Turkish students in his course on Technology and Human Development. Shields and the Turkish students are able to interact with one another over phone lines, but recently have experienced some problems with congestion. While there has been some disruption in teaching because of technical difficulties, Shields said he overcame the troubles by rescheduling and pre-recording some classes. Although the Turkish students do not speak English as their primary language, the language barrier has caused little confusion, Shields said. "They said they have no trouble understanding me ... but they are somewhat reluctant sometimes to ask questions," he said. John Payne, University director of educational technology, said although the Istanbul school is the "preeminent engineering school in Turkey," it does not offer humanities courses. Shields teaches the same course to University students, but he said he modifies the way he teaches the Turkish students "because of the nature of the medium." The University's Information Technology Center gave the international students temporary e-mail accounts so they can interact with Shields' other students through the course Web site. Shields said the Istanbul Technical University is not much different from the University in terms of difficulty of admission and student population, but unlike the University, it offers free education to its students. Despite the high quality of education at the Turkish school, Payne said Adil Ozkaptan, who first thought of the idea for the distance course, believed the level of education at the school still could be improved. Payne said Ozkaptan - an 84-year-old man who immigrated to the United States in the 1940s - conceived the distance learning course as part of a lifelong teaching process for Turkish students.
The University's top funding wish was granted last Monday when the Virginia General Assembly appropriated $9 million of its $48.1 billion budget to the University in order to construct a new studio art building that will be located near Carr's Hill. The assembly also provided the University with $400,000 for the renovation of the current studio art building, Fayerweather Hall. This will provide all of the funds that the University needs for the project, said Leonard W.
University student Megan Stoker, a resident of Colonial Heights, Va., passed away last Friday after battling leukemia for over a year. Stoker, an English major and history minor, performed with the Virginia Sil'hooettes, an all-female a capella group.
Although wild behavior has become an expected practice of college students on Spring Break, two University students found that it does not pay to start celebrating prematurely. In the early morning of Friday, March 10, the last day of classes before Spring Break, four people were arrested as a result of streaking the Lawn. First-year Architecture student Benjamin Webne and two non-University students, Angus Lamond and Daniel Mulloy, both of Alexandria, Va., were charged with indecent exposure. First-year College student Michelle Shea was charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the incident. University Police Capt.
Charlottesville Police have one man in custody and are pursuing another suspect following an armed robbery on University Circle Friday night. The incident took place outside 41 University Circle at 10:40 p.m.
Tragedy struck Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Penn. early Sunday morning when the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house caught fire, killing three Bloomsburg students in the blaze.
In an Honor Committee meeting last night, current and newly-elected members met to decide how to run the Committee's most recent referendum and set a date for the student vote. If passed, the referendum would remove seriousness as a consideration in determining guilt in honor cases concerning academic cheating.
Although colleges across the country have launched extensive alcohol prevention programs, a Harvard University study indicates that these efforts may have proved effective only for students living on campus. Incidents of binge drinking among college students living in off-campus housing increased from 1997 to 1999, but decreased among students living on campus during the same time period, according to the Harvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study (CAS). While the study found no overall increase in binge drinking, there were increases in percentages of students who binge drink more than once a week and students abstaining from alcohol consumption. Binge drinking is defined as five drinks at one sitting for men and four drinks at one sitting for women. An increase in binge drinking was found among off-campus residents while the increase in abstention was attributed to dormitory residents. But University officials said this trend does not seem to apply to the University. A report on alcohol use within the University indicates that there has been a decrease in binge drinking both on and off Grounds in recent years, said Marianne Bell, health educator at the Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education. Henry Wechsler, principal investigator of CAS and Director of the College Alcohol Studies Program at the Harvard School of Public Health, said he believes the findings indicate a need for greater cooperation between colleges and the outside community in alcohol abuse prevention issues. "A big part of the problem involves off-campus parties and drinking in local bars," Wechsler said. He said he advocates working with bar owners and other merchants to restrict alcohol sales to college students, especially to minors. "Elimination of specials, free ladies' nights, and happy hours ... is a priority," he said. The study also suggested that colleges should focus more on punishment for alcohol violations than on educating students about the dangers of alcohol abuse. But Director of Student Health James C.
After three days of student voting, third-year College student Joe Bilby captured the Student Council presidency, defeating Brendan Dignan, also a third-year College student, by 661 votes in a run-off election. Bilby won with 1,444 votes to Dignan's 783, with 12 percent of the student body voting in the election.
The upcoming City Council elections look to be one of the most competitive races in recent memory as many consider the Republican Party to have a strong chance of winning at least one seat on Council for the first time in 12 years. But this election could see different results because of growing voter discontent with the status quo, Elizabeth Fortune associate dean of the Architecture School and Republican candidate said. "Voters see the need for change.
If you are facing a long drive home and suffer from ADHD, Ritalin may help you get home safely. Three recent University studies are shedding light on the controversial stimulant Ritalin, which doctors say has been over-prescribed in recent years and is sometimes touted as a miracle drug to improve concentration. A report published last week by University Health System researchers in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that Ritalin, the drug commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can improve driving in young men with ADHD. ADHD is a common disorder which prevents individuals from focusing their attention on specific tasks for an extended amount of time. Dr. Daniel Cox, principal investigator of the study, said that individuals with ADHD are three to five times more likely to receive traffic violations and get into automobile accidents than those without ADHD. Cox tested men between the ages of 19 and 25 in a computerized simulation that generated rush-hour driving conditions. Cox and Dr. Larry Merkel, a co-investigator in the study, tested two groups of six men -- half that took a placebo drug and half that took Ritalin.
A Faulkner Apartments resident reported that three men entered his suite and assaulted him around 11:45 Monday night. The three men allegedly beat the victim with a chair, their feet and their fists, Sgt.
After 20 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Thomas J. Bliley (R-7th) announced this week that he will retire from the House at the end of this term. Bliley, from Richmond, has served as chairman of the House Commerce Committee since January 1995.
After devastating losses in all 16 Super Tuesday primaries, former Sen. Bill Bradley (D) is expected to bow out of the nominating process today in a press conference at his New Jersey campaign headquarters. While the Bradley camp would not confirm the candidate's withdrawal officially, many political experts believe retreating from the race is Bradley's only option. "He's absolutely foolish not to" drop out of the race, said Robert Holsworth, chair of the department of international and public affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Bradley collapsed," said Larry J.
