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Following the recent collapse of layers of paint from Beta Bridge, University Facilities Management is currently deciding whether to remove all paint layers from the historic student canvas. According to Richard Hopkins, landscape superintendent of Facilities Management, the layers of paint fell off the bridge earlier this semester because of improper painting in the past. Analysis revealed there is a layer of green paint that never properly adhered on the ease side of the bridge, according to Hopkins.
Members at last night's Honor Committee meeting debated proposed changes in bylaws regarding appeals in the post-trial process. Submitted by the ad-hoc Committee on Procedures, the proposal seeks to simplify the appeals process and further involve non-Executive Committee members. Currently, the five-member Executive Committee, composed of the committee chair, vice chair for investigations, vice chair for education, vice chair for trials and the vice chair for community relations, decides whether there is a substantial basis for appeal. The proposal aims to change the members of the Appeal Review Committee from the five Executive Members to two executive members and three Committee members who are not part of the Executive Committee. Members of the ad-hoc Committee on Procedures said they felt this was a beneficial change that would allow "fresh eyes" on an Honor case, noting that Executive Committee members follow cases from the time they are reported to the trial. "The 'fresh eyes' idea stands out as a major point, because the Executive Committee is privy to a lot of information from previous cases," Commerce School Representative Eric Flow said.
While Friday marked the release of the spring 2008 Course Offering Directory for University students, the date also marked the culmination of months of planning on departmental and University levels.
Should we the people of the United States of America rewrite our Constitution by holding another Constitutional Convention?
In an effort to reach out to Hispanic and Latino applicants, the Admissions Office plans to hold information sessions in Spanish at four Northern Virginia high schools this week.
The Albemarle County Service Authority has adjusted drought restrictions to allow more water usage under certain conditions and reduce the financial stress on companies depending on this use, according to Gary Fern, executive director of the Albemarle County service authority.
The University's Office of Information Technology and Communication recently won a national award for a video demonstrating how information posted on the Internet can lead to problems in professional settings. According to ITC systems analyst Scott Crittenden, the Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services of the Association for Computing Machinery selected the University's 70-second video, titled "The Job Interview," as "Best of Category" in the promotional video/audio category Oct.
The Jefferson Scholars Foundation may not seek an additional $3 million bond from Charlottesville City Council in its effort to construct a new headquarters, adding to the controversy that it might demolish a 93-year-old building. The Foundation, formed by the Alumni Association to offer merit-based scholarships to top University students, purchased the property located at the intersection of Maury Avenue and Clarke Court in February.
As students peruse the new Course Offering Directory released today, they can expect to glean positive teacher recommendations when they check RateMyProfessors.com, since the Web site ranked University faculty 15th in the country. Faculty Senate Chair Ricardo Padron was pleased and not surprised that the University was rated so highly, because "there is a lot of good teaching here." The popular Web site, which is owned by MTV, is the largest online professor ranking site for universities.
University students concerned about the recent staph infection outbreak in Virginia high schools can rest easy, according to Dr. James C.
Following a streak of robberies occurring on the outskirts of Grounds, an armed robbery involving a University student occurred at about 1 a.m.
Students vociferously responded to Hoos for Israel and Students Defending Democracy's showing of the film "Obsession" last night. The film, an opinionated compilation of television footage and testimony, drew heated reaction from the mostly University student crowd in its portrayal of world terrorism, jihad, ideological movements and a supposed parallel between Nazi fascism and Islamic extremism. A discussion session after the end of the movie was mediated by Law School faculty member Frederick Hitz, who formerly served as inspector general of the CIA. "Immediately after 9/11, there was this great realization that terrorism could come to America," said Marie Cohen, Hoos for Israel president and co-president of Students Defending Democracy.
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently awarded Darden Prof. Greg Fairchild an $850,000 grant to support and further his study of the business models of successful community development financial institutions. CDFIs are organizations that invest in the revitalization of minority and lower-income areas, according to Fairchild.
Dozens of notices of claims of wrongful death or negligence related to the Virginia Tech shootings were filed by a Tuesday deadline, preserving the right of families of victims to bring charges against Virginia Tech, local authorities and Commonwealth officials in the future.
Is America ready for a minority president? A discussion sponsored by University Democrats and Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc. sorority posed that and other questions to a panel of representatives from various student groups last night. Moderator Eugene Resnick, University Democrats minorities and women's affairs coordinator, noted the importance of the upcoming presidential election, given that it is the first time in history several major presidential candidates are from groups typically underrrepresented in the political field. "We are all here because we care about our country and the presidential election next year," Resnick said.
Having recently appointed its first assistant dean of diversity and equity, the Education School is seeking both to examine its own diversity and to prepare its students for the multicultural world they will encounter after graduation. According to Education School Dean Robert Pianta, the appointment of Stanley Trent, associate professor of curriculum, instruction and special education, will advance the Education School's efforts to become even more culturally, racially and socioeconomically diverse. "I felt that if we were going to be serious about the issue of diversity and equity, we needed a school-wide leader position to do that," Pianta said, noting that Trent has prior experience working with historically black colleges and is fully prepared to take on the responsibility of the new position. Trent said being able to play a vital role in diversity issues is something he has wanted to do for a long time, adding that diversity is an important piece of the education puzzle that must be addressed.
After a significant overhaul of its investigative procedures last year, the Honor Committee released a report last week that highlighted some of the resulting changes, including a decrease in the length of investigations. According to Vice Chair for Investigations Linda Liu, since the changes were enacted Dec.
