News

University researches cost-efficient social services

University economics professors and students are collaborating with the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County in an effort to make social services more cost-efficient and effective.The project focuses on the Charlottesville/Albemarle Commission on Children and Families, an agency charged with managing the Comprehensive Services Act, Commission Director Gretchen Ellis said.?The Comprehensive Services Act is a state-wide program that provides funding for kids that need foster care, are at-risk, or have special-[education] needs that can?t be met in public schools,? Ellis said.

Connecting gown with town?

Student Council has allocated about a quarter of its available University Unity Project grant money, $2,700, to student groups working within the Charlottesville community.With the help of a $10,000 donation from the University Bookstore, Student Council developed the initiative with the hope of creating a stronger connection between the student community and the Charlottesville community, University Unity Project Chair Rob Atkinson said.

ACT grows in popularity

While the SAT Reasoning Test remains the most widely taken college entrance exam, the ACT is gaining popularity among college-bound high school students in this admission season.According to data on The Washington Post?s Web site, the number of ACTs taken by students nationwide thus far in 2008 is about 20 percent higher than in 2005.

Council discusses financial concerns

The weakened state of the American economy was a central issue discussed at the General Faculty Council meeting yesterday afternoon.

Speaker leads discussion on hate crimes

Last night, a small crowd of University students gathered to participate in a forum titled ?Erasing Hate: A Community Discussion,? led by Thomas B.

Researchers discover way to reverse effects of aging

In the November issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, University researchers in the endocrinology department published their discovery of a way to increase growth hormone levels in the elderly that may lead to advances in reversing the physical effects of aging.Asst.

Students face registration complication

The Web site through which many College students were supposed to obtain their access codes for course registration was taken offline Nov.

StudCo, landlords compromise on leases

Two prominent Charlottesville landlords agreed at a meeting yesterday to work with Student Council next fall to encourage students to not rush to sign leases for off-Grounds housing.

University students to begin art program in county schools

Student Council?s Student Arts Committee recently announced the creation of the Arts Education Program, through which committee members and other interested University student volunteers will teach Albemarle County elementary and middle school students about art.This effort, Committee Chair Jenny Smith said, seeks to supplement both art education and education on a broader level.?The arts are enriching to education generally,? Smith said.

City saw fewer voters than expected Nov. 4

Though Charlottesville had its highest voter turnout ever this year, the percentage of registered voters who voted Nov.

Correction

The Tuesday, Nov. 11 News article ?Slutzky may run against Bell in 2009? quoted Del.

Perriello sees gains, declares win; final outcome remains unknown

Though Democratic candidate Tom Perriello declared victory Friday in his Fifth District congressional race against Republican incumbent Virgil Goode, the official outcome of the race remains unknown.

AHIP names Madison House 2008

The Albemarle Housing Improvement Program honored Madison House, the University?s student volunteer center, with the 2008 Housing Hero Award last Thursday.The award is given annually ?to highlight families or organizations or individuals within the community that embody the spirit of AHIP?s vision or have someway promoted what it means to be a good neighbor in our community,? said Jennifer Jacobs, director of resource development at AHIP.Jacobs noted that Madison House was recognized for its decades-long relationship with AHIP, the latter of which grew out of a University volunteer group formed in response to the destruction caused in 1969 by Hurricane Camille.

Slutzky may run against Bell in 2009

Albemarle County Supervisor David L. Slutzky is contemplating whether he will run against four-term incumbent Del.

Government expands student loan purchasing program

The Department of Education announced plans to expand the department?s ongoing loan purchase program Friday in the hopes of continuing to stabilize the credit market for college students and families seeking education loans in light of the current economic crisis.?This is sort of the student loan bailout program,? University Financial Aid director Yvonne Hubbard explained.

Hong Kong driver kills SAS student

According to a press release issued by Semester at Sea?s Institute for Shipboard Education, which is academically overseen by the University, Kurt Leswing, a 21-year-old student participating in the program, was fatally struck by a driver while visiting Hong Kong last week.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), a 1983 University Law graduate, has been named to the advisory board of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.?Governor Napolitano exemplifies the Virginia ideal of the citizen lawyer,? University Law School Dean Paul Mahoney said regarding the alumna?s appointment.

City Council discusses Charlottesville poverty problems

At a work session last Thursday, Charlottesville City Council members discussed strategies for improving the situation of Charlottesville citizens living in poverty.?We have more trouble than a lot of other communities,? Council member David Brown said, noting, though, that because Charlottesville is home to the University , the poverty rate is inflated because it includes University students who earn under $15,000 a year.Council member Holly Edwards pointed to the number of free and reduced lunch recipients as a more accurate measurement of poverty in the city.

Referendum approved by U.Va. voters

From Brown College to the language houses, the University features a number of housing options geared toward specific student interests.

Nebraskans approve affirmative action ban

On Election Day last week, 58 percent of voters in Nebraska supported a measure to end the practice of affirmative action in public employment, public education and public contracting.Colorado voters faced a similar choice on their ballot this year, and although votes are still being counted, the votes to keep the practice currently outweigh the alternative, 51 to 49 percent.Bill Harvey, University vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity, noted that he was pleased that voters in Colorado looked at the proposition on their ballot carefully enough to understand that ?there is a need and opportunity for us to provide a chance for people who are historically not represented to get a chance to be involved in higher education and employment.?Roger Clegg, president and general counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity based in Falls Church, Va., which supports banning some kinds of affirmative action, however, holds a different perspective.