With $4.6 million in their pockets, a University-led team of researchers has just begun work on strengthening the Department of Defense's security systems. The five-year project, "Helix: A Self-Regenerative Architecture for the Incorruptible Enterprise," is backed by the Department of Defense's Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative award.
The Board of Visitors will increase in-state tuition for University undergraduate students by 8.3 percent next year.
Astronomy Prof. Trinh Thuan's work dealing with the relationship between light and philosophy has won him international recognition. The French Academy in Paris honored Thuan with the Grand Prix Moron award, an award comparable to the Nobel Prize, for his seventh book "The Ways of Light: Physics and Metaphysics of Light and Darkness," Thuan said. According to a University press release, Thuan's book was published by a French publisher earlier this year and is expected to be published in English at some point. As an award that generally signifies outstanding achievements in philosophy, the Grand Prix Moron is given to an individual who in some way revolutionizes French literature, according to Astronomy Prof.
Many dream of graduating from the University, but few have the opportunity to return less than a decade after they obtain their degrees to walk the halls of this institution as professors.
Friday the 13th will actually prove to be lucky for five groups receiving Jefferson Trust grants, which consist of hundreds of thousands of dollars to go towards various projects. Nursing students working in Africa, University of Virginia Art Museum filmmakers producing a movie about Jeffersonian art, the South Lawn Project, the Public Interest Law Association and Ronde and Tiki Barber's alumni donation program will receive grants totaling $325,000. "Each of these proposals was chosen because the trustees thought they would enhance the University's reputation and its impact on the rest of the world," Alumni Association President Tom Faulders said. The fund addresses needs of various groups at the University, Faulders added. Trust director Michael Clarke said the fund fills a hole created by "reduced state support." According to Clarke, this is the second time the Trust will award grants to University groups. The South Lawn Project receivs the largest gift, $150,000, to assist in classroom expansion, Faulders said. "The Trust specifically looks to make a difference in students' lives and help out the academic side of the University," Faulders added. According to Clarke, the Trust does not award grants to specific types of University associations, but instead tries to look at all of the University's needs. "We look at opportunities that our deans and department heads consider a priority as well as things that the Board of Visitors thinks are important to the school," Clarke said. The grant recipients also are striving to enhance the University's reputation, according to Jill Hartz, University of Virginia Art Museum director. "It's our goal to produce a [film] that the field as a whole would be interested in and can be used by admissions to show applicants what projects at the University can give them hands-on experience and expand the classroom." Hartz said. The project will also show faculty what they can do with funds from the Trust, Hartz added. "The sizzle with the process is the idea and mission of the Trust," Clarke said.
Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for the University to establish classes in civic skills during a lecture given to students and a handful of faculty members last night. "Growing up civic means you can see through phony politicians," Nader said.
As the date for the beginning of the Google Book Search web application lawsuit draws near, many have continued to voice concerns about the legal aspects of the project, including a University professor. According to Google spokesperson Jennifer Parson, Google Book Search is an attempt by Google "to make all of the world's books discoverable online." The program, Parson noted, is intended to help readers find the book they are looking for online and then direct them to a library or bookseller for the entire text. Google is gathering this content by digitizing the books and other works available in certain university libraries, including at the University. According to Media Studies Prof.
The largest gift in University history will go to support the creation of a school of leadership and public policy, University President John T.
Several state organizations have raised concerns about the University's request to maintain donor anonymity, despite laws that such information is to be made public. At Monday's meeting of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, the University asked for the Council to make an exception concerning preexisting public policy, according to the Council's staff attorney Alan Gernhardt.
Former Gov. Mark Warner criticized current U.S. energy strategies and foreign policy and expressed a desire to return to political office during an address to University students yesterday. Warner said America is currently "at a moment of remarkable change," in which the American people have begun to question the government's foreign policy because it is not aligned with American values. According to Warner, these values include respect for the law, the importance of human rights and America's reputation as a "place of aspiration." One theme of Warner's speech was how the energy crisis could unite a country that is currently divided. He said the current policy of "Let's borrow money from China to buy oil from countries that don't like us" is not effective. Warner's address capped off a series of lectures in an introductory politics class taught by Prof.
The threat of fraudulent activity remains just a click away for online banking customers. Researchers have discovered methods hackers are using to circumvent added security measures on the Bank of America Web site. Researchers at Indiana University released a video Tuesday that shows the potential for fraudulent activity on the bank's Web site despite the implementation of SiteKey, a widely used online security system.
"Choosing journalism as a profession in Iran is not like walking in a mine field. It is like stepping on a mine." These were the words of Roozbeh Mirebrahimi, Iranian reformist journalist and blogger, who spoke at the Miller Center of Public Affairs last night about the current state of censorship and the press in Iran. Before Mirebrahimi delivered his speech, Politics Prof.
Non-profit colleges and universities do not provide enough opportunities for adults seeking to obtain a college degree, according to research by Education school faculty. The research was released earlier this week as part of a report on the availability of higher education for adults. Assistant Education Prof.
A producer of "An Inconvenient Truth" will visit Charlottesville next week as part of a nationwide tour to encourage students to take action against global warming. Laurie David, producer of the controversial documentary featuring former Vice President Al Gore, will speak at the Charlottesville Pavilion on the Downtown Mall April 19. According to Charlottesville Pavilion Marketing Director Tami Keaveny, the Charlottesville presentation will include video and music about global warming and a performance by Robert Randolph & The Family Band. Keaveny added that Grammy winner Sheryl Crow will attend other performances on the tour but will not be present at the Charlottesville presentation. Publicist Briele Douglass said the tour is targeted at college students. "They started this tour to really urge college students to get involved because they hold a lot of power," she said. In a press release, David stated that college students have been the driving force for change in the past. "Now -- more than ever -- is the time for students across the country to become global warming activists," she stated. -- compiled by Kacie Varriale
U.S. Congressman Virgil Goode, R-Va., was issued a citizens' indictment April 6 after allegedly failing to meet the demands of constituents protesting his support for the war in Iraq. The indictment came after the trial of 11 protesters who were arrested for staging sit-ins at Goode's Charlottesville office during the month of March. Jennifer Connor, one of the protestors arrested, said the group felt "obligated" to indict Goode since he is not representing the views of his constituents concerning the war in Iraq. "We are required to speak out against the crimes being committed in Iraq, and it's Goode's obligation to speak out on these things," Connor said. Goode said in most cases his views and decisions represent the views of his constituents. Goode said he had tried to contact the group by responding to letters written by constituents and spoke with one of the constituents. "I got the impression that they weren't interested in anything but getting arrested and getting publicity," Goode said. The protestors received a 30-day jail suspension pending two years of good behavior. -- compiled by Marisa Roman
The new members of the Executive Committee oversaw their first meeting when Student Council voted last night to allocate traveling funds to the Virginia Rifle and Pistol Club, after denying the club money in the first round of appropriations. Council also approved a resolution recommending changes to the Lawn Pavilion selection process. According to the club's initial appropriations request, "their travel fees were in the form of weekly requests," Student Council President Lauren Tilton said.
After two months of debate, Charlottesville City Council adopted a $100 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year at yesterday's meeting. In a four-to-one vote at City Hall, Councilor and Mayor David E.
While there are many awards that recognize individuals for upholding the ideals set forth by Thomas Jefferson, the Muzzle Awards are some of the few that recognize individuals believed to undermine the values he espoused. The Charlottesville-based Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, an autonomous, non-profit group advocating freedom of expression, announced the recipients of the 2007 Jefferson "Muzzle Award" yesterday. According to Josh Wheeler, associate director of the Thomas Jefferson Center, the awards are given annually on or near Thomas Jefferson's birthday and are presented to institutions or individuals who impeded free expression during the preceding year. "When the program first started 16 years ago, it was just us keeping our eyes and ears open for violations," Wheeler said.
