Batten gives $100 Million
The University of Virginia received the largest gift in its history—$100 million—on April 12 from retired Landmark Communications, Inc. executive Frank Batten, Sr. The dough will go to create the Frank Batten
News
Nader to students: get angry
“So here you are: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 years old. Where are you going to be in 50 years? What will you be doing? Do you talk about that on your cell phone?” On April 12, Ralph Nader gave his lecture, “While You Were Watching Big Brother, Big Brother Was Watching You” to hundreds […]
How to wrap a tuition increase
UVA’s Board of Visitors approved a tuition increase on April 12. That means UVA in-staters will pay 8.3 percent more per year ($655) in tuition and fees, bringing their yearly total to $16,133; out-of-staters are due for 7 percent more ($1,805), yielding a $35,383 annual total. Luckily, nobody puts a positive spin on a tuition […]
T.J.'s b-day
Dear Ace: I noticed that UVA and Monticello are commemorating Jefferson’s birthday on Friday, and I got to wondering: How would Thomas Jefferson have celebrated?—Celia Brating Celia: Images of T.J. in a pointy hat, hopped up on Sprite and Doritos, tearing open presents with abandon and harassing a party clown are certainly tempting to conjure, […]
Black is white
O.K., kids, pop quiz: In the last few weeks one member of Virginia’s U.S. Senate delegation issued a statement condemning the homophobic views of General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Pace had publicly opined that homosexual acts are immoral). He then proceeded to pile on embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales […]
Correction from previous issue
Due to a data entry error, the write-up in last week’s calendar for the April 6 David Sedaris reading at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center incorrectly included the phone number for the Wilson School of Dance. We hope that fans of Sedaris’ humor appreciated the mix-up, and we commend the good-natured way […]
Robin Campo and Cynthia Burke
art Realism is back—at least that’s the impression given by two shows, by Robin Campo and Cynthia Burke, currently at McGuffey. Within a postmodern context, the quest to faithfully represent the world finds two quite different champions in these artists, a sculptor and painter respectively. Campo’s show, “Offering,” tends more toward the deadpan, while Burke’s […]
The Blood Brothers, with Celebration and Ultra Dolphins
music There are new fliers around the Satellite Ballroom tonight: Two hang loosely from the PA system near the stage, a third sits above the bar and all of them read: “Have Fun. No Stage Diving. No Crowd Surfing.” Danny Shea, manager of Plan 9’s Corner location and booking agent for the Ballroom, says that […]
Folk Music for the End of the World
cd A friend recently mentioned how he couldn’t help but listen to depressing music. “I try to find upbeat stuff, but I always end up going back to really sad music,” he said. “It’s just better.” He has a point. Unless you’re out for a rousing night on the town, pensive and existential music is […]
Good news for people who love bad news
Like so many paths you don’t want to travel, the road to censorship is paved with good intentions. The desire to protect turns into an act of suppression.