Winter 2009 | The University of Virginia Magazine

How Did We Get Here?

A quick guide to the health care debate

A “pocket guide” to why this debate is happening and what circumstances have propelled reform initiatives, as told by U.Va. faculty experts.

Bringing the Hospital to the People

800 medical professionals. 1,800 volunteers. 2,700 patients. 1 weekend of free health care.

Inside beige tents, medical staff from the University of Virginia provide free health care to anyone who comes to the Wise County Fairgrounds. Meet a few of the people who depend on the Remote Area Medical clinic for medical treatment, as well as those who volunteer their services.

From Pennsylvania Avenue to Sesame Street

Sherrie Sandy Westin trades politics for puppets in many-hued career

Westin trades politics for puppets.

Did You Know?

A collection of University esoterica

Do you know which popular soft drink is named for a U.Va. alumnus? Or how about the top-secret military experiments conducted in the shadow of the Rotunda?

Lunar Lunacy

Phil Plait battles ‘bad science’

Phil Plait (Grad ’90, ’94) has a simple lesson plan. Known Webwide as “The Bad Astronomer,” he wants to stop bad science, especially the spread of misinformation about all things celestial.

Space Odyssey

Alumni who have “the right stuff”

Beginning in the 1960s and continuing through the most recent shuttle flight, U.Va. alumni have journeyed beyond the earth's bounds to work--and walk--in space.

Small Town, Big Acts

University hosts top musicians

Renovated venues have helped bring an impressive assortment of musical headliners to Grounds.

Celebrating Service

Madison House marks 40 years of student outreach

Madison House grew from the efforts of U.Va. volunteers to help storm victims.

Space-Age Eraser

Laser used to clean capitals

Conservators used a laser to clean 180 years of grime from the column capitals of Pavilion II.

Floating ideas

Learning Barge takes to the water

The Learning Barge has gone from concept to classroom.

Breaking Through, Looking Back

Alumni celebrate historic achievements

More than two dozen alumni recently returned to Grounds to commemorate their role in desegregating the University of Virginia during the 1950s and ’60s.

Fresh Art

Renovated museum opens its doors

The University of Virginia Art Museum reopened after a $2 million summer renovation.

Story Genius

Creative writing professor wins prestigious grant

Short story writer Deborah Eisenberg was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant in September.

Minding Manners

Civility Project compiles rules using Washington’s model

Lack of respect and courtesy constitute a serious national problem, according to a study conducted in 2002, and most people interviewed saw the problem as getting worse.

Verbatim

For 20 years, our state has put essentially every other priority ahead of education. It has done this for so long that most people simply take it for granted now that the state can dodge this most basic of its obligations.

Holding Steady

Still No. 2 among publics

This year’s U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of America’s best colleges yielded a familiar outcome for the University.

The Campaign for the University of Virginia

More than 77,000 alumni have contributed to the campaign. Here are the five largest gifts to U.Va.

Campaign Hits $2 Billion

Milestone reached despite economic challenges

Against the backdrop of the deepest recession since the 1930s, the University announced on Sept. 14 that it had reached the $2 billion mark in its $3 billion fundraising campaign.

Supersized Ring

Astronomers recently found the largest planetary ring in the solar system swirling around Saturn.

Feeling Wobbly?

Weak ankles benefit from training

Like a chain, the body is only as strong as its weakest link.

Burning Question

Early farmers changed the weather

Our ancestors may have begun warming the planet 8,000 years ago.

Sports Shorts

ACC honors BakhtiarFormer U.Va. gridiron great Jim Bakhtiar (Col ’58, Med ’63) is now officially an ACC legend.Bakhtiar was the…

Laying a Foundation

Coach Tony Bennett discusses philosophy and goals

Coach Tony Bennett discusses philosophy and goals.

Confidence Game

Neuhauser focuses on birdies, not butterflies

Whitney Neuhauser stood over her second shot in a playoff for the state championship and committed the golfer’s ultimate sin. She doubted.

Admission FAQs

How is the University using social media in its admission process?

How is the University using social media in its admission process? From dispelling rumors to engaging students in a new…

Sharing a Vision

Art contest winner moved by Rotunda

Jennifer Tsai was so moved by the beauty and symbolism of the Rotunda, she knew it would be hard to leave when she graduated

China Connection

Ties with Asian giant blossom with efforts by students and alumni

A collaborative effort is strengthening Chinese connections among U.Va. alumni, students and officials.

Bestsellers at the U.Va. Bookstore:July through September 2009

1. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown2. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith3. The Time…

New & Notable

Couture Construction

Two alumnae, an urban planner and an artchitect, formed Chromat Garments. They make fashion that borrows heavily from architecture.

Required Reading: R. Jahan Ramazani

Professor R. Jahan Ramazani (Col ’81), chair of the English department, edited the Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry, co-edited the 20th-century volume of the Norton Anthology of English Literature and published a book of poetry.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Professor interprets autism with music

Michael Rasbury is a sound designer, a composer and a professor of drama at U.Va., and he co-wrote a play inspired by his son, a musical about a boy with autism named Max.

The Philosopher Mechanic

Reassessing the value of working with one’s hands

Crawford argues that physical labor that offers tangible results—a motorcycle that starts, a plumbing system that doesn’t leak—provides satisfaction, both intellectual and psychic, that office work often lacks.

In Memoriam

Letters to the Editor

I found the article “Targeting Addiction” (Fall 2009) very intriguing. I especially was curious if Dr. Bankole Johnson’s research (or…

Student Life: Food for Thought

Dining halls offer students more options than ever

The bounty of dishes available at the University’s dining halls could easily be mistaken for a gourmet restaurant.

First Person: Terrorism on Trial

Lawyer represents defendants in U.S. and at Guantanamo

Over the last year, Edward B. MacMahon Jr. (Col ’82) has been working as a defense attorney in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Short Course: Saving Green

Rethinking energy use

During the month of August, it cost $21,769.85 just to cool Newcomb Hall. The University is making eye-opening numbers like these available on its online “Building Dashboard,” which displays energy use in Newcomb Hall.