 The sky over the practice field next to Klockner Stadium rained UVA students, staff and faculty members last Tuesday, as The Golden Knights, the U.S. Army’s skydiving demonstration team, made tandem jumps with the lucky 10 who were selected from a pool of volunteers. Pictured here are student Taylor Richardson and Golden Knight Bill Vansoelen. |
Tuesday 3/11
Van Halen postpones again
A press release from John Paul Jones Arena says that Van Halen, scheduled to play at the venue Tuesday, March 11, has once again pushed the date back “so that Eddie Van Halen, who is currently under doctors’ care, can continue medical tests to define a course of treatment.” The Charlottesville show is the first of a slew of dates extending through April 15 that the band will reschedule, according to the release. The tour will start back up again on April 19 (we’ll believe it when we see it), and new dates will be announced soon.
Wednesday 3/12
Report downplays student drinking
James Turner, executive director of UVA’s National Social Norms Institute, noted in an L.A. Times travel blog that a U.S. government survey (funded by Anheuser Busch companies) found that 81 percent of 18- to 22-year-old undergraduates do not drink heavily. “Sadly, partying youth will always be more newsworthy than those volunteering for Habitat for Humanity,” Turner wrote in an e-mail. “But the more we portray positive and accurate images of how college students spend their free time, the more young people will realize that unhealthy behaviors are the exception, and not the norm.”
Thursday 3/13
UVA grad tied to Spitzer case
The New York Governor Eliot Spitzer prostitution-ring debacle is making waves even down here in Virginia. According to the New York Daily News, UVA graduate Tameka Lewis’ family is completely baffled by the fact that federal prosecutors charge that she was a booking agent for the Emporers Club VIP. The Daily News quotes her uncle in Harrisonburg as saying, “She’s just too clean. Even when she does the dishes, she puts on gloves. It just doesn’t make any sense.” Lewis is currently free on bail.
Friday 3/14
Media General stations to sign off?
Today Media General—the ailing parent company of The Daily Progress and other newspapers—announced it will sell two TV stations to Hoak Media Corporation as part of what Media General President and CEO, Marshall Morton, calls MG’s “strategic plan to divest five stations.” Media General reported that January revenues were off from the same month last year and shares of the $337 million company were near their 52-week low at the close of business today: $14.76.
Saturday 3/15
Cav Daily cartoon sparks outrage again
On Thursday, The Cavalier Daily ran a comic strip by UVA students Eric Kilanski and Kellen Eilerts that portrayed Jesus being crucified while bombing as a standup comic at open-mic night. “What’s the deal with these crosses?” he asks. “Go back to Bethlehem,” shouts one heckler. The comic of course raised the ire of some campus dwellers, and once again, The Cav Daily found itself in the midst of another cartoon controversy. In September, cartoonist Grant Woolard was forced to resign after the student paper published his cartoon “Ethiopian Food Fight.” On Saturday, The Cav Daily announced it will be reviewing its comics policy.
Sunday 3/16
Singletary to play again
The UVA men’s basketball team made an early exit from the ACC tournament, losing in the first round and canceling hopes of an NCAA tournament bid. With a record of 15-15, the Cavs were even snubbed today by the NIT (a.k.a. the “Not Important Tournament”). And yet there is life after seeming death: Sean Singletary will play again at the John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday, March 18, taking on the Richmond Spiders in the first round of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational.
Monday 3/17
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Big donation for Habitat
It’s a good Monday to be Overton McGehee, director of the Charlottesville branch of Habitat for Humanity: A $1 million donation from area philanthropist Hunter Smith, the largest in the group’s 15-year history, became public this weekend. McGehee told WCAV that the gift will support matching funds for six houses at Habitat’s Nunley Street project, plus the transformation of two trailer parks, Sunrise and Southwood—all three being examples of Habitat’s strategy toward mixed-income development
