(Commentary by Gerald Warburg, national security policy expert and professor at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy) Amidst multiple crises, American lawmakers have valuable opportunities for crucial reforms now that Donald Trump no longer occupies the White House.
In a survey by UVA’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, researchers showed Americans’ growing distrust in institutions such as business, government and the media. It noted that 68% of Americans agree “you can’t believe much of what you hear from the mainstream media” and 63% believe that “media distortions and fake news” are a very or extremely serious threat to America.”
Virginia localities have a new tool to help maximize the economic potential of solar development in their communities. UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service is partnering with Virginia’s Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy to develop the new Virginia SolTax model.
A UVA professor and student team have been looking into a way to transmit energy on the moon. Mool C. Gupta, the UVA Langley Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, led the team to participate in the 2020 Big Idea Challenge Awards.
(Commentary) On Friday, UVA’s Federalist Society Chapter will hold its 2021 Originalist Symposium. I spoke at this conference last year – it was one of my final trips out of town before the lockdown. This year, the students have upped the ante, and put together a stellar lineup. You can register today to attend virtually.
Judy Moore, director of the West Virginia Hive Network, navigated landing three of their clients in this spring’s University of Virginia Appalachian Impact Investing Due Diligence class. UVA only selected eight companies for this social entrepreneurial course.
The Jefferson Trust, a nonprofit that is part of the UVA Alumni Association, is giving nearly $1 million in grants this year that will benefit UVA and the greater Charlottesville area.
UVA will hold a Temporary Employee Hiring fair virtually this Thursday. There are a variety of positions to fill. “We have lots of positions available. Our access associates, front desk screeners, saliva screening ambassadors, certified nursing assistants, certified medical assistants, and many many more,” said UVA Talent Flexibility Manager Janet Turner-Giles.
The library at the UVA School of Law has launched a website exploring the history of the school’s connections to slavery.
UVA has launched a new version of its COVID Tracker. According to a release, the new version includes enhanced features providing additional detail on the prevalence of the virus in the UVA community.
UVA officials on Tuesday said 17 residents of Gibbons residence hall have tested positive for COVID-19, a little more than a week after students returned to Grounds. Students and resident staff in the hall have been told to remain in their rooms for at least 24 hours to allow another round of testing. Officials hope to determine the extent to which the virus has moved through the hall and develop mitigation methods to stymie its spread.
Even now, whenever [former UVA history professor] Julian Bond’s name comes up among those who were alive and politically aware during the 20th century’s second half, they wonder how someone so telegenic, witty, and skilled in the mechanics of political life never ascended to higher office.
(Podcast) Emily Ogden, a UVA associate English professor and the author of “Credulity: A Cultural History of U.S. Mesmerism,” is the guest.
Fox Sports’ Joe Buck is one of the best-known play-by-play announcers in football. Chris Long played in the league for 11 seasons. It’s only logical, then, that their paths crossed from time to time over the years. What makes their story unusual is that one encounter between the announcer and the defensive lineman [and UVA alumnus] took place in Africa. It forever changed Long’s life and has contributed to saving the lives of an untold number of others.
UVA graduate Ramon Breeden will leave his development footprint on the housing market. The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority made the call as part of a huge effort in the South First Street area. Richmond-based construction company Breeden Construction will handle phase one of the South First Street revitalization.
After months of searching for a new Superior Court judge for Judicial District 15B of Chatham and Orange counties in North Carolina, Alyson Grine was sworn in as judge on Jan. 22. Grine earned a Master of Arts in Spanish from the University of Virginia.
(By Jessica Swoboda, graduate student in English and Jefferson Fellow) “Attunement” was a catchword with the first-year students from the University of Virginia who decided to spend the semester abroad in the fall of 2019. We were in London, exploring how and why we became attached (or didn’t) to works of art we encountered during our time there.
Between the trend of midterm elections usually favoring the party that is not in the White House, a closely divided House, and a party apparatus ready to continue their expectations-exceeding 2020 strategy while Democrats rework theirs, Republicans are on track to winning back the House in 2022. “It has the makings of what could be a good year for the Republicans when it comes to the House,” said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the UVA Center for Politics.
Analysts say it’s the top U.S. Senate race to watch in the 2022 midterms. “The sole toss-up Senate race to start the 2022 cycle is Pennsylvania,” said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, the nonpartisan newsletter at the UVA Center for Politics.
As for the 11 legislators who are running for governor, lieutenant governor or attorney general, “Maybe they technically can raise money” during a special session, said Larry Sabato, director of UVA’s Center for Politics, noting that he is not “100% certain” on the issue. “But doing so is clearly against the spirit of the law, since this so-called special session is just a sleight-of-hand maneuver around the GOP’s refusal to have the normal length session. Anybody who raises money during this extra session is creating an issue that their opponents can and should use against them on the campaig...