1. Trump’s win over Clinton
According to a poll of the student body conducted by The Cavalier Daily, 75 percent of respondents supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Given the overwhelming support for Clinton on Grounds — and the fact that numerous national polls projected a Clinton win — this was definitely one of the more surprising moments of 2016 for many students.
2. Hate speech on Grounds
It’s 2017, shouldn’t we know that hate speech is a huge no-no? We are all officially adults, and we could at least act like it in the sense that we are respectful to one another. So next time you have a dry-erase marker in your hand, think a little harder about what you’re about to write and grow up a little — try a dad joke instead!
3. Bronco Mendenhall
I wasn’t really expecting anything amazing from Bronco Mendenhall in his first year as football head coach, but I thought we would at least do better than only two wins out of 12 games. But apparently he likes a challenge, and he has certainly found one with the University football team. I’m excited to see where he will take us, but it would be nice if the football team could get it together before the matchup against Virginia Tech.
4. Basketball transfers
There was a week or two where the University’s basketball players were dropping like flies. There were whispers throughout Grounds about who would be leaving next and where would they be going. An underlying panic set in since basketball is arguably our best sport. So long Jarred Reuter, Marial Shayok and Darius Thompson. Good luck, and once a Wahoo, always a Wahoo.
5. 1515 opening
This spring, 1515 University Avenue opened on the Corner as a student space to hang out, do work and get some good eats. It’s especially geared towards students that don’t want to hang out in bars on the weekends, but don’t want to stay at home either. The space used to be a bowling alley, diner, apartments, drugstore and a used book store! It’s seen a lot of history, and it is a great place to get Crumbs, play skeeball and foosball or relax with friends in the reflection room.
6. Protests, protests and more protests
The day after Trump’s inauguration, people started taking to the streets in protest against his presidency. Then against his immigration ban. Then against his proposed cuts to scientific research. It seems like there are protests every weekend, even now in April. Charlottesville has also been home to quite a few satellite marches.
7. T. Sully announces she’s stepping down
I respect President Teresa Sullivan’s choice to step down as the University's president when her contract expires in the summer of 2018, but where else are we going to find a president with a name that lends itself so easily to nicknames? T. Sully, Sully, The Sullinator … I could go on. She’ll probably miss Carr’s Hill and the beautiful view of the Rotunda from her office at Madison Hall, but not as much as we will miss her. Best wishes, President Sullivan.
8. The Rotunda opens
Finally! The beauty of the Rotunda has been restored. Now streakers can say they ran the full expanse of the Lawn. Hopefully we’ll get at least a year without scaffolding covering the Rotunda before they decide it needs repairs again. So enjoy it while you can!
9. Special waitlist for rich kids
If the University had a signature ice cream flavor, it would be Daddy’s Money. Documents have surfaced revealing a “heads up” list in the advancement office for applicants connected to major donors, but the University claims that it does not influence admissions decisions. Other schools have a special list of donor’s kids, but it’s still kind of embarrassing to have it out in the open. Student Council investigated the alleged preferential treatment, but found nothing. It all seems rather fishy to me.
10. The intensity of the StudCo election
The Student Council presidential election was highly contentious. There was an anonymous letter written against third-year Batten student Kelsey Kilgore and controversy over her spending, which was projected to total around $2,490. The University Board of Elections interim expenditure report estimated student elections would cost a total of about $6,800, but less than half of that was actually spent and Kilgore spent $1,125 on her campaign. Her opponent, third-year College student Sarah Kenny, only spent $337 on her campaign — but won with 82.5 percent of the vote.
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