News

Chief Taiwanese rep talks about country's relationship with U.S.

Chances are the computer you use everyday is imported from Taiwan despite the U.S. government's refusal to recognize it as a country. Joseph Wu, an expert on the unique bond between the United States and Taiwan, and a representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, lectured in Jepson Hall Thursday about the importance of Taiwanese-American relations. "Taiwan is a very important partner of the U.S.

Panel examines McCain, Obama's foreign policy

John McCain and Barack Obama disagree on where America should be fighting the war on terror, but still have similar messages, two former White House advisers said in a panel Thursday. Stephen Yates, who served as the deputy national security adviser under Vice President Dick Cheney, and Derek Mitchell, a Defense Department official during the Clinton administration, discussed how presidential hopefuls McCain and Obama would approach foreign policy if elected in front of about 35 students and community members in Jepson Hall April 3. Terrorism remains the primary concern for all candidates, with McCain believing Iraq is the central focus of the war on terror, Mitchell said. "Obama says to get out of Iraq as carefully as we went in carelessly, and then focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan," Mitchell said. As far as considering Iraq as the current center of the war on terror, candidates are debating and evaluating what has been done so far and what to do now that war has been waged, Yates said. "Is there a war on terrorism?" he asked.

Richmond alum who sold company to Yahoo! for $720 million receives accolades

The three most important things to manage in life are experience, change and time, the senior vice president of Right Media LLC said at the Robins School of Business honors convocation Tuesday morning. Michael Walrath, a University of Richmond alumnus, was on campus to receive the Robins School of Business Executive of the Year Award for 2008.

History professor awarded Guggenheim fellowship

The Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious academic grants in the country, has been awarded to a University of Richmond history professor.

Dining Hall stays green and spreads awareness for Earth Day

University of Richmond Dining Services is green in the eyes of the state, and with Earth Day approaching on April 22, spreading awareness of sustainability is a priority. Dining Services was certified as a Virginia Green Restaurant this year, though Cathy Moran, purchasing manager for Dining Services, said that Richmond had been complying with Virginia Green standards for at least five years now. "We're not very good about patting ourselves on the back," Moran said, "and I think that's maybe why we really didn't toot the horn before, but all along we've had a lot of green in-house." On Earth Day, Sierra Club, Renew and Dining Services are getting together to hold a food waste study and portion awareness day.

Decreasing Richmond tuition not an option, Schuyler tells WCGA

President Edward Ayers' Chief of Staff Lori Schuyler presented the proposed strategic plan to the newly elected Westhampton College Government Association Wednesday night. "A strategic plan forces you to see how you are going to prioritize your time, how you are going to prioritize your energy, how you are going to prioritize your resources," Schuyler said.

Play examines civil rights as campus reels over doll incident

The University of Richmond Department of Theatre and Dance and the University Players will soon present their last production of the season in the wake of a recent racial incident in Cousins Studio Theater. The production, "The Meeting" by Jeff Stetson, is being directed by associate professor Chuck Mike.

Stadium construction could commence in eight months

The University of Richmond's plans to "move Spider football home" are still being developed as the university awaits approval of a special-use permit from the City of Richmond, but some neighbors are still not sure they're on board with the plans. The university hosted a community meeting about the stadium on April 1 to address the concerns of those that might be affected by the stadium at any point, from temporary construction concerns to long-term concerns about traffic and noise on game days.

Robins school proposing tougher academic admission standards

The faculty at the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business has approved new academic standards for entrance to the business school and has sent a proposal to the University Faculty Senate to be voted on, according to Dean Jorge Haddock. According to the new plan, in order to be eligible to major or minor in business, economics or accounting, students would have to have a 2.7 grade point average after completing at least 12 units at the end of three semesters of college coursework including Principles of Microeconomics, Fundamentals of Financial Accounting, and Calculus I or Scientific Calculus, or their equivalents.

Time magazine editor discusses role of religion in presidential politics

The controversy regarding presidential candidate Barack Obama's pastor and his religious background show the important role that religion plays in American politics, said Amy Sullivan, nation editor at Time magazine yesterday. Sullivan, author of "The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap," said that Sen.

Newly appointed RCSGA senators sworn in, examine diversity issues

Recently elected Richmond College Student Government Association President Matthew Whittaker swore in newly appointed senators and class chairs during the senate's weekly meeting on Wednesday night in the Whitehurst Living Room. "We have a lot of new people, and I think they will all be pretty great," Whittaker said. He hopes that the newly elected members will bring in an outside perspective, he said. President Edward Ayers' Chief of Staff Lori Schuyler talked about Ayer's strategic plan and its purpose to identify collective items that the university should work toward.

Strategic plan eyes concerns of university community

President Edward Ayers and his staff have been working with the community to draft a strategic plan that will outline certain goals, values and principles for Richmond's future. A draft of the plan has been posted on the university's Strategic Plan Web site along with other challenges, opportunities, goals and missions.

U.S. Fed chairman to address finance stability at Jepson Alumni Center

His words move the world's economic markets. His policies capture the attention of Wall Street investors, swing interest rates, sway consumer confidence, and attempt prevent economic recessions while expanding the U.S.

Students mobilize against black doll noose incident

After this year's third racially charged incident on campus and what some consider a slow response from the administration, students are evaluating their emotions and taking action. Various university community members convened Friday afternoon in the Brown Alley Room to discuss the incident -- the first of many meetings to today, when a group of students will personally address President Edward Ayers.

Tibetan protests close to home for one student

Halfway across the world, Tibetan protests have turned violent and resulted in a bloody clash with Chinese security forces and the imposition of martial law.

Proposal grants early registration to some athletes

Beginning this summer, all incoming first-year student-athletes will be given early registration privileges for the fall 2008 semester.

Sigma Chi's Derby Days raises more than $20,000 for cancer research

The University of Richmond chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity raised more than $20,000 for breast cancer research last week with the help of sorority participation in Derby Days, its annual philanthropic event. The Sigma Chi brothers encouraged seven on-campus sororities to compete against each other in a T-shirt sale, bake sale, car wash, pieeating contest, powder puff football game, scavenger hunt and a brother's auction. The winners of each event were chosen based on the amount of money they raised per fundraising event and by the points they scored per game.

Black doll found hanging by rope in school theater

Law student killed in cliff fall

Robert A. Slimak, a third-year student at the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law, died after falling from the notoriously dangerous Crabtree Falls cliffs in Nelson County. He died around 3:30 p.m.

Football wide receiver reaches plea in fight case

Kevin Grayson, the University of Richmond football team's top receiver last season, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery and has been sentenced to 50 hours of community service as part of a plea agreement reached after a fraternity fight in February. Grayson, a redshirt freshman, also received a six-month suspended jail sentence for three years as part of the plea deal between Grayson's defense lawyer and Commonwealth Attorney Elizabeth Hobbs. Grayson, a Richmond native, had been charged with felony malicious wounding by senior Brett Waikart after a scuffle at the Sigma Chi Fraternity lodge Feb.