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District Court upholds student privacy

By Shelley Johnson | March 31, 2000

A recent U.S. District Court ruling stating that colleges cannot release files from student judicial proceedings endorses the University's conviction that student records from disciplinary proceedings should remain confidential. The Court ruled that student disciplinary files qualify as "educational records" under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which prohibits disclosure of student records that include personally identifiable information or that the students or parents have not authorized for release by the college. The decision emphasized that colleges will be expected to publish annual statistics on the number of crimes on campus, including data on murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and hate crimes.

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University graduate schools ranked with best in nation

By Maria Tor | March 31, 2000

U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings of graduate schools yesterday, naming the Law School number eight in the nation. All the University's graduate schools were ranked in the top tier. The Nursing School was the only school whose rankings improved, moving from 24 in 1998 to 21 this year. The Darden School's number 11 rank was the same last year. The Law and graduate Engineering Schools each dropped one slot, from seven to eight, and from 35 to 36, respectively.

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UJC selects Percopo as chairwoman

By John McArdle | March 31, 2000

The University Judiciary Committee held its executive committee elections last night. Elected officers, including College Rep.

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Symposium focuses on character

By Sarah Salwen | March 31, 2000

The two-day National Symposium on Character in Politics kicks off in the Rotunda Monday morning and will feature speeches and panel discussions with notable figures including former Independent Counsel Kenneth Star and Co-Director of Empower America William Bennett. The conference, sponsored by the University's Center for Governmental Studies, is designed to bring together a variety of politicians, journalists and authorities on the issue of personal character in politics. It will be "full of controversial speakers from both major political parties," said Larry J.

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Oldham earns second

By Rachel Schatz | March 31, 2000

The University now can boast that it has not one but two Truman scholars in its midst. Third-year College student Andy Oldham, a Jefferson and Echols Scholar from Lynchburg, is the second University student this year to receive the $30,000 scholarship for students planning careers in government and public service. Oldham was told he received the scholarship after an interview in Washington, D.C., Monday where he said he met remarkable students from across the country, including two from the territory of Guam. As he walked into his room with his bag still on his back, he heard the phone ring.

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VICS clash leads to second arrest

By Emily Roper | March 30, 2000

University Police arrested third-year College student Arun Jesudian last night on charges of assault and battery following an incident that occurred Saturday between him and third-year College student Richard Kim. "It was alleged that he [Jesudian] had assaulted Mr. Kim," University Police Sgt.

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Democratic hopefuls share Council ideas

By Barbara Krabill | March 30, 2000

Three Democratic Charlottesville City Council candidates encouraged student activism in local politics and addressed city-University issues before the University Democrats last night. "I'm suspicious of those who say students are temporary citizens who have no role," incumbent Council member Maurice Cox said. Cox, fellow incumbent Meredith Richards and challenging candidate Kevin Lynch face election May 2 against three Republican candidates and two independents.

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Study examines near-death episodes

By Shetal Patel | March 30, 2000

"I relinquished my will and identification with personality and individuality, setting aside my sense of self," said Linda Stewart of Hamden, Connecticut, in an e-mail interview with The Cavalier Daily. Describing her near-death experience, Stewart said, "I felt a strange detachment from my physical body and the life I had created." Blurring the boundaries between science and religion, reality and dreams, the existence of near-death experiences is controversial.

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Beta Bridge painting causes concern for University's Latino community

By Margaret Chipowsky | March 30, 2000

Members of the University's Latino community have reacted with anger to an early Monday morning incident in which a Hispanic Heritage Week message on Beta Bridge was painted over with an offensive message. The remarks included "Durty Sanchez, donde está?" and were accompanied by a painting of a Mexican sombrero. "As college students, we know better than to use racially-offensive language in a public venue," said La Sociedad Latina President Catalina Ocampo. Ocampo said a group of LSL students painted the bridge with the Hispanic Heritage Week message around 1 a.m.

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Talks to include health, genetics

By Tracy Barger | March 30, 2000

From cloning to euthanasia to managed health care, numerous important and complicated issues have surfaced recently in the field of bioethics. This Friday and Saturday the University will be hosting the second National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference, which brings together students and researchers from throughout the country to discuss these and other bioethics-related topics. "The point of the conference is to put undergraduates from around the country in touch with each other and encourage them to stay active in the field" of bioethics, said Jonathan Moreno, Professor of Biomedical Ethics and Director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics. In addition, the conference provides an opportunity "to bring attention to the fact that the University of Virginia has an excellent bioethics program," fourth-year College student Planning Committee member Shelley Cavalieri said.

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Council approves new committee on housing

By Sarah Marchetti | March 30, 2000

With the creation of a new ad hoc committee, Student Council will investigate safety in off-Grounds housing and provide prospective student tenants with pertinent information before they make their housing decisions. Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to create an ad hoc committee to research conditions in off-Grounds housing. College Rep.

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Possible policy changes provoke faculty concern

By Abby Curran | March 30, 2000

General Faculty Council members yesterday expressed their displeasure over possible revisions to policies of retention requirements and notification of termination. Joyce Green Pastors, chairwoman of the Council's General Faculty Policy Committee, said a committee comprised of Provost's Office officials and the Council - a 16-member organization representing all non-tenure track faculty members - submitted the most recent draft of proposed changes to the Provost's Policy on General Faculty in December. But Pastors said certain problems within the revision look like they will prevent the draft from getting approval. Specifically, she said the Council finds problems with the clauses discussing standards of notice for releasing employees and expectations of continued employment. As the draft is written now, there is no expectation for continued employment, she said. The Provost's Office seems more interested in the best interests of the administration than that of individual faculty members, Pastors said. Questions were raised over whether the alleged lack of expectation for continued employment would deter people from accepting positions within the University and cause them to choose to accept positions at other colleges and universities. Assoc.

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University to give USEM professors grants for research

By Abby Curran | March 29, 2000

The Office of the President will award new fellowships this fall, granting a semester's sabbatical research leave at full pay to two University Seminar professors. Vice Provost Barbara Nolan said fellowship recipients will spend the fall semester pursuing active research, which presumably will lead to scholarly publication.

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Parent group improves awareness of housing security concerns

By Tina Hong | March 29, 2000

In light of recent crimes occurring on and near University Grounds, University students are raising concerns about their safety. On Feb.

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Couric prepares for 2001 lieutenant governor race

By Emily Roper | March 29, 2000

State Sen. Emily Couric (D-25th) said she might run for lieutenant governor in Virginia's 2001 elections in order to have a chance to make a stronger impact on the government at the state level. "It's an exploratory effort right now," Couric said.

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Arrest may affect City Council race

By Michael Loatman | March 29, 2000

City Republicans are hoping that recent developments in Charlottesville politics, including the removal of former City Republican Committee Chairman Dale McGlothlin and his arrest for assault a few hours later, will not affect their chances in the upcoming City Council elections. The volatile events within the City Republican Party occurred at last Wednesday night's City Republican Party meeting. At the meeting, Michael Crafaik's supporters, who held a majority, voted to remove McGlothlin as chairman and replace him with Crafaik. Related Links City Council Later that evening, at 10 p.m.

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Escort Service hopes to receive overhaul, more funding

By Amy Shapiro | March 29, 2000

After two alleged assaults on University students this month - one involving a robbery in a Lambeth Field apartment and an armed robbery of two students walking on University Circle - the University community is stepping up to increase safety for students and staff. The first major initiative has been to improve the efficiency of the Escort Service, the late-night van service founded by Student Council to safely transport students during late hours. But demand for the Escort Service has grown much larger than its ability to provide rides since its operation was taken over by University Police in 1997. University Police Chief Michael Sheffield said he estimated the Escort Service will give about 60,000 rides this year, 10,000 more rides than last year. Related Links University Police "It is a fast growing transportation system," Sheffield said. Because of this growth, University Police and Council have put forth efforts to make the Escort Service more efficient. Last October, Leonard Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief financial officer, indicated to Council that it was his desire to improve the Escort Service, said College Representative Abby Fifer. The University Police and Sandridge met earlier this month to discuss the University Police budget and the future of the Escort Service. "We did agree that we needed more information, therefore the Budget Office will work with the Police Department to conduct a needs assessment and cost analysis of the Escort Service," Sandridge said. Currently the Escort Service employs three vans to cart students to various locations around Grounds and to some off-Grounds areas from 7 p.m.

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Glazer hopes to contribute business expertise to Board

By Jaime Levi | March 29, 2000

(This is the first article in a three-part weekly series about the new Board of Visitors members.) Charles L.

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'Greed' to audition student trivia buffs

By Jon Fishman | March 29, 2000

Money-hungry University students soon will get a chance to satisfy their financial appetites. The Fox quiz game show "Greed" will visit Charlottesville tomorrow in search of contestants for its upcoming "College Rivalry Week." A trip to Los Angeles and up to $2 million in prize money will be at stake. "Greed" wants to choose up to four University students to compete on the air with other ACC students against teams from the Ivy League, Pac-10, and Big Ten conferences, according to Head Contestant Coordinator Hayley Blain. Ruby Tuesday's restaurant on Emmet Street will host auditions at 10 a.m.

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Chavez-Thompson urges activism

By Christine Buurma | March 28, 2000

"You can expound any view you want in this country, but if you want to join a labor union, you're in big trouble." Linda Chavez-Thompson, executive vice president of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations and the highest-ranking woman in the labor movement, made this statement Monday night in a speech in the Campbell Hall auditorium. About 35 people attended the event, which was sponsored by several organizations on Grounds, including the National Organization for Women, the Women's Center and La Sociedad Latina. "There are millions of working people who still can't raise their families or pay rent," Chavez-Thompson said. She said the AFL-CIO is lobbying for a higher minimum wage, expanded health care and increased access to technology and job training for workers. There is a "secret war" that companies are waging to prevent employees from joining labor unions, she added. Chavez-Thompson said companies often threaten workers with the prospect of being fired if they voice an interest in joining a labor union. While Chavez-Thompson said Charlottesville was not necessarily known as a union town, she commended the Women's Center and the Living Wage Campaign. The University's Living Wage Campaign aims to raise the current minimum wage from $6.24 to $8 per hour. Chavez-Thompson said she is encouraged by such efforts to raise workers' standard of living, but feels there still is much to be done. "Workers are demeaned almost every single day," she said.