News

Snakehead fish gets the hook from the U.S.

Last Friday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared illegal the importation and interstate transportation of live snakehead fish or their eggs in response to growing concerns that the predatory fish, native to southeastern Asia, poses significant risk to the fish and wildlife populations of the United States. In July, nearly 100 juvenile northern snakehead fish were found in a pond in Crofton, Md.

Board approves mid-year tuition surcharge

The University Board of Visitors gave Leonard W. Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer, authorization last Friday to levy a mid-year tuition surcharge for students that could be as high as $500 per student. Any surcharge will be an addition to base tuition in spring 2003.

Casteen announces 15 percent budget cuts

Anticipating cuts in state funding, University officials announced Oct. 3 they will institute new budget cuts immediately. University President John T.

University agrees to join Mt. Graham telescope project

In a move surrounded by controversy, the University announced last Thursday that it has joined the Mt.

City imposes 50 percent surcharge on all water use

Because of the worsening drought conditions, Charlottesville City Council will impose even more water restrictions beginning Oct.

News in Brief

College Board study finds waiting lists popular The number of colleges with applicant waiting lists increased over the past four years, a study conducted by the College Board revealed. In 1998, 388 schools had waiting lists, while the number increased to 449 this year, the study showed. Over the same time period the total number of students put on waiting lists also increased from 95,791 to 133,522. Higher education experts attributed the newfound popularity of the waiting list to the competitive college environment. With more schools competing for students, estimating the number of students who will accept offers of admission has become more difficult, the experts said. The number of students who were accepted off waiting lists also increased from 1998 to this year, going from 12,300 to 15,135, the College Board study showed. Virginia students pass SOLs in record numbers More students than ever passed Virginia's Standards of Learning exams this year, results released last week showed. Statewide passing rates improved on 23 of the 28 exams, which are given in May to Virginia students in grades three, five and eight, and throughout high school. Starting in 2004, Virginia students will have to pass a certain number of the exams in order to receive a diploma. Students improved the most on the eighth grade history exam and the high school world history II exam, where passage rates improved by 22 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Every exam had a passage rate of at least 70 percent, except the eighth-grade English and reading exam, which 69 percent of students passed. Beginning in 2007, schools will lose accreditation unless 70 percent of their students pass the exams. Although proponents of the exams say they add accountability to Virginia's K-12 education system, critics charge that the SOLs encourage rote memorization rather than foster critical thinking skills. -- Compiled by Josh Goodman

University reinstates library hours

After reducing library hours early this semester because of the budget cuts, the University will restore hours to both Alderman and Clemons libraries, University Librarian Karin Wittenborg announced yesterday. Wittenborg said an expanded schedule will be available as soon as the library can hire students and supervisors to staff the new hours. "It was clear that the hours of the library were really important to students," she said.

University receives $114 million gift from Harrison estate

During a period of continued bad financial news from Richmond, the University received some good news from the estate of the late David A.

News in Brief

Yale University permits military recruiters to recruit at law school Under pressure from the Defense Department, the Yale University Law School on Tuesday temporarily suspended its policy against allowing military recruiters on campus. The school formerly permitted recruiters to visit the campus only if first contacted by students. Defense Department officials had threatened to prevent $350 million in research funds from going to Yale if the law school did not change its policy.

Virginia scores near top in education report, best in South

Virginia is among the top states in higher education opportunity and participation, and stacks up better with other states than it did two years ago, according to the Measuring Up 2002 report, released yesterday by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

Another carcinogen found in popular foods

There appears to be another reason not to supersize those fries. A recent study conducted by the Swedish National Food Authority found that many high-carbohydrate foods, cooked at high temperatures contain the chemical acrylamide -- a compound known to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Committee to build on-Grounds projects

Student Council voted on Tuesday to form the Studio Collaborative Committee and provide it with $10,000 to design and build projects for the University. The ad hoc committee originally tried to establish itself as a Contracted Independent Organization.

Grant money aids gifted students in rural areas

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the Curry School of Education's National Research Center on the Gifted & Talented over $1 million yesterday for their new project, which will benefit bright students in poor regions of the country. Project "LOGgED On," Learning Opportunities for the Gifted Economically Disadvantaged Online, will set up an interactive distance learning environment for rural and poor urban-area high schools across the country.

Man arrested for Onesty Hall thefts

While most University students probably attributed the Virginia football team's 0-2 start to turnovers and sloppy defense, the traumatic aftereffects of a massive theft also might have had something to do with it. Shawn Edward Tate, a 19-year-old Albemarle County resident and former University employee, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of stealing from Onesty Hall $34,500 of personal items from 11 University football players between Aug.

Federal grant to offset state's teacher shortage, fund mentoring program

In the face of statewide teacher shortages, Gov. Mark R. Warner announced Virginia's acquisition of a $13.5 million Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant on Monday. The three-year grant, issued by the U.S.

A WHOLE LOT OF HOLE

What does it really mean to be the best?

The annual U.S. News & World Report College Rankings are one of the most influential and eagerly anticipated evaluations in the higher education world, affecting everything from the decisions of prospective students to the self-esteem of university administrators. Yet some critics of U.S.

Police search for attacker in assault on student

Third-year College student Thomas "Gary" Sharp was assaulted early Saturday morning in the 1700 block of Gordon Avenue. At approximately 2 a.m., near Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, a stocky, white male attacked Sharp from behind, according to Charlottesville Police.

News in Brief

College at Wise students attack SGA president Three University of Virginia College at Wise students were charged and released on bond Monday for assaulting fellow student Jimmy Joe Adkins. Stephen Wade Hopkins, 25, Jeremy Lyn Male, 27, and Keynen Ry Almer, 23, are accused of stripping off Adkins' shirt and chain necklace and hitting him with the chain. They were released on $25,000 bond Monday after being charged with abduction and assault of the victim. Adkins, Wise's Student Government Association president, is a member of the Gamma Chi Omega fraternity. The accused are members of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and apparently were angry that a rival fraternity's letters were painted on Hopkins' house. Wise asked the males not to return to school.

Garden Reading