Soldiers’ Stories

We spoke with alumni in the military about their experiences. They range from infantrymen and aviators to doctors, engineers and chaplains.

A Sound for All Seasons

Student leadership, always at the heart of U.Va.'s band, is helping guide the group to a new level.

The Hair Detective

Through isotopic hair analysis, environmental sciences professor Stephen Macko can tell what his students ate for breakfast and what Oetzi the iceman enjoyed during an ancient repast.

The Continuing Education of Ms. Groves

After a rocky first year in an Atlanta school, Groves decided to put her Harvard master's degree to work in the community that first helped her.

All Aces

Fourth-year Somdev Devvarman, ranked No. 1 in the nation and the NCAA defending singles champion, led U.Va. to an undefeated regular season and the ACC Tournament title. The Cavaliers’ stellar…

News Briefs

The University of Virginia bestowed its highest external honors—the annual Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals—during Founder’s Day celebrations in April. The medals recognize the achievements of those who embrace endeavors that…

Puzzling Appearance

The author and editor of more than 150 books, founder of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and subject of the 2006 documentary Wordplay, Shortz returned to Grounds on April 3 to deliver a lecture and challenge his audience with puzzles.

Gusburger in Paradise

As part of the annual Springfest festivities at Nameless Field, students tested their gastronomic limits in the Gusburger Eat-Off. Fourth-year Chris Jenne of Virginia Beach successfully defended his 2007 title,…

Thirst for Knowledge

When more than a billion people lack clean drinking water, the efforts of two U.Va. students might seem like a drop in the bucket.

Three History Amigos

BackStory, a weekly call-in radio show, features U.Va. historians Peter Onuf and Brian Balogh teamed with Ed Ayers, president of the University of Richmond and a former U.Va. historian and dean, as the "history guys," and their on-air patter might beg comparisons with Click and Clack of NPR’s Car Talk.

Bookmarked: Digital Collections at U.Va.

Digital Collections at U.Va

Verbatim

"Orbiting the earth, as thrilling as it is, is not exploring space."

Opportunity, Not Poverty

The third-year economics student won a 2008 Truman Scholarship, worth about $30,000, for his leadership potential and commitment to public service. With sufficient credits to receive his bachelor’s degree this spring, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy this fall.

Close Call

The prospect of asteroids smashing into Earth might seem highly unlikely, but for astronomers like U.Va. research scientist Greg Black, it’s a scenario to be taken seriously. A large asteroid could cause catastrophic damage; asteroids have hit the planet many times in the past and may have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Return on Investment

Gustafson has used her skills in making a living as an investor to give back to the University, and for her contributions the U.Va. Women’s Center selected her for its 2008 Distinguished Alumna Award.

Overfertilized

Galloway’s work earned him the 2008 Tyler Environmental Prize, which is administered by the University of Southern California and is considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the fields of environmental science, energy and environmental health.

Cartoon Flaps

A cartoon that caused an uproar after its publication in the student newspaper last year was at the center of another wave of controversy this spring.

A Career in Caring

Lancaster will step down in August as dean of the U.Va. School of Nursing. She has held the position since 1989, making her the longest tenured dean on Grounds.

Deep-Rooted Politics

Where we fall on the political spectrum may be more than the result of rational thought. Political ideologies appear to…

What Makes Snakes Scary?

Adults and children alike seem to have an innate visual ability to detect snakes and spiders, according to research by…

Hacked

A trio of hackers led by a University doctoral student in computer engineering has cracked the security code of a…

An Olympic First

Cromer (Col ’02, Grad ’03) was an All-American at U.Va., and visions of standing on the winners’ podium at the Olympics bring a smile to her face.

Twenty-five Love

Few things in sports rank up there with an undefeated season.Except, maybe, having hometown fans set an attendance record in…

Hoopla for Singletary

He became the fifth Cavalier to score 2,000 points (2,062), and he is the only player in ACC history to have 2,000 career points, 500 career assists, 400 career rebounds and 200 career steals.

Having a Ball

Prum began playing professional paintball—where two teams play capture-the-flag by shooting at each other on a battlefield of inflated bunkers—his second year at U.Va. After graduating, he plans to move to San Diego to work for KEE Action Sports, one of his team’s sponsors.

Top of Their Game

They have no coaches. They have little money. And they have no adequate University practice facilities. But the men’s and women’s squash teams at U.Va. have lots of spunk and talent, judging from national championships they brought home from a tournament at Harvard in February.

Giving Back with Sacks

Patrick Kerney has a job with a simple description—get the quarterback.

Right Place, Right Time

Freed has to play the role of mentor and psychologist, and on occasion she has to trot out to the circle and talk to a Cavalier pitcher, even though she hated when coaches did that to her as a player.

No Balking at Relief

It comes as little surprise that O’Leary would tackle an issue like Katrina relief with such energy. She played volleyball at U.Va. as a first- and second-year, then joined the softball team. She saw time as a pitcher early in her career before becoming a full-time outfielder.

Weak Economy?

Identifying options and setting realistic goals should be a regular exercise for every professional, no matter where you are in…

JILL becomes OLLI

The name may be different, but the mission remains the same.And online opportunities and a new partnership portend a bright…

Bringing Ideas Together

The center, located on two acres on Maury Avenue, is scheduled for completion by the beginning of the 2009 fall semester.

Windows on the World

New & Notable

Required Reading: Michael J. Klarman

A leading authority on the history of civil rights law, U.Va. law professor Michael J. Klarman won the 2005 Bancroft Prize for his book From Jim Crow to Civil Rights.

Heating Up

Sparky’s Flaw is a classic story of a high school garage band made good, and is as homegrown as they come.

Carnival Atmosphere

Since 2006, Mason has been using his skills with a camera to capture the spirit and color of Carnival in Cape Town.

In Memoriam

Letters to the Editor

This is the grave of Henry “Harry” Noble Taylor (Col ’51), who was an editor of the Cavalier Daily and…

Student Life: All Aboard the Campaign Trail

College students have historically been dismissed as unreliable by pundits and political advisers. At the polls, their numbers tend to be disappointingly low. But these students are clearly not the fickle supporters that political strategists have assumed.

First Person: Cuba from the Bottom Up

Nowhere has news of what was, by all accounts, one of the most anticipated transitions of power been received with more yawning than in Cuba itself.

Short Course: Body of Work

Retrospect: 1957: Faulkner Among the “Snobs”

After Faulkner arrived on Grounds, his "observations on ‘Virginia snobs’ caused somewhat of a sensation," wrote Virginius Dabney in Mr. Jefferson’s University. "He liked the state, he said, ‘because Virginians are all snobs and I like snobs.’"

President's Letter: Surrounded by History