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With today marking the final day of publication for The Cavalier Daily before Winter Break, now is the time to continue our tradition of giving the "Pink Flamingo" awards to the people and groups who have made the news during the past semester.
In the wake of the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, University students commemorated the tragedy in a variety of ways. Nearly 1,000 students gathered around the Ampitheater to participate in a candlelight vigil, and Sustained Dialogue hosted an interfaith dialogue to share experiences about the events. Some students had not previously been exposed to Islam, while others came to debunk stereotypes about the religion. Given this dialogue - and misconceptions concerning the recent alleged bias incident at Beta Bridge - The Cavalier Daily examines Muslim students' experiences at the University.
The Board of Visitors was briefed Friday on what could evolve into a year of construction along the Lawn with resident chimney renovations this winter and Rotunda roof repairs next March.
Two apparent acts of anti-Semitism took place this past weekend outside a Lawn room belonging to Keenan Davis, a fourth-year College and first-year Graduate Arts & Sciences student. University police filed a report yesterday about the incidents and will continue with an investigation.
The Board of Visitors recently approved a $22.9 million plan to renovate the roof and columns of the Rotunda. To put that into perspective, that amount of money is equivalent to more 2,000 in-state student tuitions - or about half of a class - for this academic year. Maybe we are all jaded at the thought of millions of dollars being poured into an unconvincing project, but that is not what worries me most about this announcement. What concerns me is that for an institution that places such emphasis on character, thought and integrity, the University has repeatedly dropped the ball on carrying out these virtues. The Rotunda renovation is the latest example of how glitter is encouraged over substance.
Think back to your first impressions of the University as a prospective college student. Maybe you had siblings or friends already here, who gave you your first glimpse of a real college student's life, or maybe you first came on an admissions tour. Then who did you meet? More likely than not, it was an ambassador.
By now, a typical University student is probably tired of walking.
There are a lot of things I won’t miss about this University, but then there are also a lot of things I will. For example, I won’t miss the tag lines so universally touted by those at this school: honor and student-self governance, two ambiguously defined ideas that for some reason we’re all supposed to embrace as the keys to what makes us so unique. As if that’s not enough to make us unique, I also won’t miss the unnecessary nicknames we apply to the most basic of terms: our campus and our year. I’m sorry, but even after four years, I have trouble not feeling pretentious when I tell people that I did not live on campus as a freshman, but on Grounds as a first-year.But then, pretentiousness is something we seem to pride ourselves on, too. After all, who other than University students delights so much in referring to this place as Mr. Jefferson’s University? We’re crazy to want so badly to live in a tiny room on the Lawn devoid of a private bathroom and susceptible to constant intrusions on our privacy by tourists who want to see how students “really lived” back in Jefferson’s time. Yet we do it for the same reason we find it so necessary to wear dresses and ties to football games, or spend a day drunk and dressed up at a horse race. We embrace pretentiousness.Enough, though, of what I won’t miss about my time here. There is plenty to make up for the popped collar craze and the ill-defined buzzwords that supposedly make our University great.When I took a tour here as a high school senior, I heard more about athletics, social activities, and tradition than I did about academic opportunities and professors. But the classes I have taken and the people who have taught them are what truly define a student’s experience here. From my first semester to my last, I have been inspired, challenged, encouraged and supported by numerous professors. As the students of such qualified and curious scholars, we have been given the opportunity to indulge our own curiosities and to seek out what interests us the most. The breadth of choices we are given each time the course offerings are released, and the depth of scholarship we are met with each time we attend a lecture are what truly make this University stand out.Before my first year, I knew little about Charlottesville’s art and cultural scenes. Yet the artistic, musical, and overall creative culture that is Charlottesville goes well beyond the Dave Matthews Band and will hopefully continue to grow and flourish years from now. That we, as students, have access to so many creative opportunities around town makes the one-size-fits-all nature of Grounds much more bearable. For every pair of Seven jeans walking around Newcomb Hall, for every frat house blaring DMB songs throughout the day, there are any number of Charlottesville locations where students can go for relief from the monotony.I will miss the Cavalier Daily not only as a source for University news, but also, and much more importantly, as a means for expressing my anger, appreciation, confusion, and/or disbelief, depending on what kind of news the previous week has brought. At a place where the party line is hard to escape, the student newspaper — especially the Opinion page — allows students to express their thoughts, whatever they may be. Criticism of University policies or of decisions made by student-run organizations is productive. It begins and sustains the kind of dialogue that will ultimately — hopefully — lead to change. I will miss having such a venue for free expression.It practically goes without saying that I will miss my friends immensely. They more than anything or anyone else have made my time here meaningful and fulfilling.And so four years have passed since the first day I walked on campus — Grounds, I mean — as a freshman — first-year, whatever. Much of that time has unfolded like a sitcom, and all too often I’ve had to take a step back and laugh at the sheer zaniness of it all. Listening to a University Guide telling prospective students about the community of trust while standing in front of a sign at the library reading: “Guard your belongings. Thefts have been reported.” Watching intoxicated fans tumble down the hill at Scott Stadium while the football team blows another lead. Watching classrooms deteriorate while the athletic department budget continues to expand. Mindlessly adopting U.Va.-speak and engaging in random ritualized practices all in the name of tradition.So I can’t say I will miss guys in ties and girls in pearls or worshipping the school’s founder along with the rest of the TJ cult. Nor will I miss listening to administrators mindlessly babble on about student self-governance and upholding hundred-year-old traditions. What I will miss is something like a blooper reel of the University experience — the stuff the directors don’t really want the audience to see. Therein lie the most worthwhile moments of the past four years.Amelia Meyer’s column appeared Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at a.meyer@cavalierdaily.com.
We are currently mired in what is being termed the Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the Depression of the 1930s. Many Americans households are cutting back and are at a loss about what they can do until the stimulus package kicks in. I think that we as college students should follow suit. Here are some easy ways to help us cut back and save money.Entertainment is an area where easy cuts can be made. Cable television might be a very good target, even for students who are reluctant to give up watching their favorite shows. They might just want to eliminate the extras like HBO and Showtime. And lucky for them, Housing has made that tough decision for us by not allowing premium channels in on-Grounds housing.Also, upperclassmen tend to spend a lot of money at bars. I think they should take a page out of the first-year play book and go to fraternity parties where the beer is free. That, or just go to Alcoholics Anonymous, which might prove far more cost effective. Food also is one of students’ top expenses at the University. It is said an army travels on its stomach, and college is no exception. In my opinion, the most straightforward way to lower your grocery bill or tab on the Corner is to exploit the copious amounts of free food on Grounds. Nary a day goes by when I don’t see a flyer for “Free Food.” One night you could eat dinner with the European Society, the next night with the Indian Student Organization. Not only could you fill your belly, but you might also learn something. Should this plan fail, you could just end up losing a few pounds.Another area of concern is housing, which costs Wahoos hundreds of dollars a month, but does afford students a variety of alternative options. Now, I’m not talking about on- versus off-Grounds housing, JPA versus 14th Street apartments, but rather, paid versus free housing options. I have found that many people here hold their social networking skills in the highest regard, counting hundreds of friends at the University. To you, I suggest living the lifestyle of a vagabond. moving from couch to couch, crashing at your friends’ pads. Not only could you be living for free, but you would also be able to test the bounds of your friendships. To everyone else, I suggest making a home of classroom buildings like Cabell Hall and the Chemistry Building, neither of which are ever locked and both of which are oddly homey when you’re not listening to a lecture. For years, students have turned Club Clemons into a hotel during exams, but why not make it your permanent address? Still, my personal favorite would be to pitch a tent on the Lawn or in the Amphitheater and just claim to be protesting something. As for utilities, I think that group showers and open fires are underutilized.In addition high living expenses, one of the leading problems of today’s economic climate is the expensive cost of health care. I think this area is less of a problem for college students, mostly because of our elixir of youth. But if taking care of your body with a healthy diet, exercise and plenty of sleep isn’t your style, I suggest insurance fraud. If insurance companies like AIG can rob the American people with poor investment decisions, then why can’t we steal right back from them? University students are clever and creative and I doubt you’d get caught. Even if you did, it’s a white collar crime. Do you to even go to jail for that? I bet it’s like a resort anyway, only with free room and board, not to mention cable. If that doesn’t work out you could always make your body your greatest asset and maximize your utility at the same time — if you know what I mean.While the Commerce School, a pillar of the University, was recently named the top public undergraduate business school in the nation, the financial collapse has left some Commerce students with some grim-looking job prospects. They used to be the high rollers around Grounds — always good for a drink or a pizza. But they are still a fountain of advice, which is quite invaluable at times such as these. Some of my friends in the Commerce School have suggested that I reinvest my Plus Dollars into the Plus Euro or Plus Yen markets. I also think that we shouldn’t let our Citibank stock just sit there doing nothing. Why not use it as toilet paper or paper towels?On a fundraising front, I believe that founding a fraudulent contracted independent organization is your best move. Just think about it: You could apply for Student Council funding. You could collect dues. You could have Qdoba nights or sell pizza on Beta Bridge. And speaking of activities — and I don’t know about the rest of you — I have a closet full of T-shirts that I’ve gotten for free. During times like these, you can’t look at them just as garments. Rather, they’re collector items with great resale value. John’s column runs biweekly Mondays. He can be reached at j.gregory@cavalierdaily.com.
With a number of ongoing and planned construction projects, the University has improved its communication with local government, its agencies and community residents, Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris said, specifically noting the success of community-University relations concerning the South Lawn Project construction and unified emergency services.Whenever the University has a development project, it works with Charlottesville City Council to make sure the project does not adversely affect the city, Norris said, noting that the University often seeks city input even when approval is not necessary. The University has “been very good in recent years in notifying the city — and not just the city government but the neighborhoods and citizens,” Norris said, citing pre-development information as well as frequent updates for local residents. Though the city does not always agree with decisions made by the University and vice versa, there is always discussion between the two entities, he added.University Architect David Neuman said the University holds community forums when it has development plans that will affect neighborhoods around the proposed project. For example, almost 300 community members attended a September forum about the South Lawn Project, he said, to learn more about the project and voice their concerns.“There is a lot of good will, but [the relationship] requires a lot of listening because each [group] has a strong opinion about what they’re doing and why it’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s in conflict with what other people think,” Neuman said.He added that the purpose of clear and frequent communication between the University and neighborhoods is to resolve any issues that may arise before they become significant or controversial.City Manager Gary O’Connell said the city has been involved in many projects that the University has undertaken, such as the South Lawn Project. He noted that the University has been very careful about its development plans and making sure it recognizes city concerns.“It’s pretty amazing that with the level of development going on that things have gone as smoothly as they have,” O’Connell said. “I think it’s a testament to the University being open ... about their plans ... I don’t think many universities do that.”David Slutzky, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors member, said most of the University is within Albemarle County’s jurisdiction, not the City of Charlottesville’s and is therefore subject to the county’s zoning regulations.“We’ve had a very constructive dialogue between the county and University, which has involved the city when appropriate,” Slutzky said. He noted that the University is always reasonable when it approaches the county to petition for permission to change the zoning of its property.Slutzky noted that the University initially played a key role in getting city and county representatives to sit down together to discuss other issues of mutual interest. The City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the University signed the Three-Party Agreement in 1986, said Leonard Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer. The agreement, which outlines the relationship between the three parties, is “somewhat unique” among higher education institutions, he said.O’Connell said the intent of the agreement was to provide a forum for regular and formal discussion between the three institutions.A major feature of the Three-Party Agreement is the Planning & Coordination Council, which brings executives from the three groups together quarterly to discuss topics of mutual interest, University Community Relations Director Ida Lee Wootten said. PACC members include the city manager, two City Council members, the county executive, two members of the County Board of Supervisors, the University president and University chief operating officer, Sandridge said.Neuman said the three parties try to be proactive in their approach to common problems and concerns by sharing information with one another in advance. He also noted that the University has a seat on the planning committees for both the city and the county, while the city and county have seats on the University’s planning committee.“PACC is a real recognition that we share all the basic environmental and structural concerns,” Neuman stated. He also noted that PACC helps the city, county and University to coordinate essential services to the community. Some of the topics covered by these committees include construction projects, sustainability, transportation, storm water, sewage, infrastructure, and quality of life issues, Sandridge said.Norris said “there is a joint interest in keeping this a safe, healthy, and prosperous community, so we tend to work well where there are opportunities for collaboration.”One key area of collaboration is in providing unified emergency services, Sandridge said. Marjorie Sidebottom, University director of emergency preparedness, said the city, county and University have been working together for 20 years to create a joint emergency operations plan, which is now regarded as a national model. “In terms of emergency preparation, there aren’t really any distinctions or lines” between the parties, she said, adding that “there are very few places that have ... a single plan” in the event of an emergency.Some of the emergency provisions include a joint 911 center that is funded and run by all three entities, Sidebottom said.In addition to committee meetings that cover topics such as emergency preparedness, many officials said they regularly meet one-on-one with other leaders to discuss common concerns. The University also seeks to plays a central role in the community, Norris said. He noted that the University has been involved in training local teachers and providing University student volunteers as tutors. Sandridge said the University tries to be a good neighbor, citing its voluntary payment of real estate taxes. As a state agency, the University is not required to pay real estate taxes, he said, but the University chooses to do so in order to foster good relations and make an investment in the city, adding that this has been well-received by the municipal governments. The University also volunteers its services when the City or County needs help dealing with a certain issue with which the University has expertise; likewise the city and county help the University in similar situations, Sandridge said. Neuman also pointed out that the entities do not get overly involved in issues that do not concern them. “There are certain issues that [city and county officials] feel are theirs and they want the University to respect that and likewise [for the University],” he said. “Each makes up its own mind, but with a good sense of consultation and collaboration. [The City and County] are respectful of our opinions, and [we are of theirs].”Although the relationship between the three parties is strong, Norris said there are “any number of issues where there’s room for continued and expanded collaboration.” Norris also noted that there recently has been more dialogue between the city government and the University’s Student Council recently about how to work together to address mutual concerns.“We really do need to have a very close working relationship with the City of Charlottesville,” Student Council President Matt Schrimper said, noting this is the first year that Student Council has had a student liaison position on the City Council.Schrimper said he hopes Student Council can work with the city government to address off-Grounds safety and off-Grounds housing in order to improve student life.Colin Hood, Student Council’s liaison to the City Council, meanwhile, said there though there might have been a lack of communication between the organizations in the past, he hopes to improve the relationship.O’Connell, though, emphasized that the relationship between the three primary parties is well-grounded. He said in the 22 years since the three-way agreement was signed, there has been a “pretty dramatic shift” in the relationship between the three entities, crediting the University’s willingness to change its approach to the relationship as instrumental in the shift and citing the transparency of the University in sharing its plans with the government and community as a major factor in that change. “I’ve talked to a lot of city managers in university towns across the country, and I think our [relationship] is one of the best,” O’Connell said.
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, this was printed in your newspaper. Would you tolerate it?" Naseem Alavian said she posted that denunciation of Grant Woolard's "Ethiopian Food Fight" cartoon on her Lawn room door because she did not think the comic should be tolerated. But if there were any expression that ought not to be tolerated at the University, it would be a demand that a member of the community be silenced.
THE UNIVERSITY has long prided itself on the diversity of its student body. Women make up 55 percent of its undergraduates; another 35.7 percent of undergraduate students are from non-white American backgrounds. Thirty-two percent of undergraduate students come from outside Virginia, hailing from 48 different states and 106 foreign countries.
IF YOU'VE ever toured Grounds, a University Guide surely told you how students once managed to haul a cow to the top of the Rotunda. Well, today another cow lives on the Lawn -- a cash cow, in Pavilion VI.
Nearly 300 students submitted applications this winter for the most prestigious housing in Charlottesville. The Lawn Selection Committee recently decided which of these students will have the opportunity to move into a Lawn room in August. Those involved in the selection process provided insight about the method of selecting the honored students and discussed the effectiveness of this process.
I've applied for a Lawn room every year at this University, and every year my efforts to procure myself a spot of immortal glory have been rebuffed by a Lawn committee grown fat with self-importance. They choose people according to what is called a "GPA," as well as the number and quality of their so-called "achievements." This is obviously an inefficient metric by which to select those worthy of a Lawn room because the best candidates (i.e. me) don't get picked.
A room in the Academical Village with Grounds as a front yard and some of the most interesting people you'll ever meet as neighbors; no, it's not living on the Lawn -- it's living on the Range.
In a university setting rich with history, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society holds a distinguished position. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest continually existing organization at the University.
awn acceptance letters were sent out Feb. 10 -- the 2006-2007 Lawn class has been chosen. Two hundred eighty-four rising fourth-years applied for 47 coveted non-endowed Lawn rooms.
awn acceptance letters were sent out Feb. 10 -- the 2006-2007 Lawn class has been chosen. Two hundred eighty-four rising fourth-years applied for 47 coveted non-endowed Lawn rooms.
awn acceptance letters were sent out Feb. 10 -- the 2006-2007 Lawn class has been chosen. Two hundred eighty-four rising fourth-years applied for 47 coveted non-endowed Lawn rooms.