In The News

Larry Sabato Director of the Center for Politics

Given his status as one of American history's most revered Renaissance men, it's no surprise that Thomas Jefferson liked to play a few tunes when he wasn't writing the Declaration of Independence or inventing the dumbwaiter. Jefferson played the cello and a baroque keyboard called the clavichord, but his main ax was the violin. For our third President, music was "an enjoyment, the deprivation of which...cannot be calculated." It even played a big role in the courtship of his wife, Martha, who played guitar and keys. Today, Jefferson's extensive music library is housed at the Universi...

“For many years now, I have been working in the area of how microorganisms, bacteria and parasites in particular, cause trouble in our gastrointestinal track, and you could say that I am nothing but a diarrhea doc.” Dr. Richard Guerrant’s accolades, however, tell a very different story. Most recently, Governor Bob McDonnell named the 68-year-old Virginia native and Founder and Director of the Center for Global Health at the UVA School of Medicine one of the state’s top scientists.

Speaking to a crowd of high school and middle school students, civil rights activist, singer and actor Harry Belafonte said that citizens have a duty to speak the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable, to those in power. … The events were part of the University of Virginia’s ongoing celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and also presented by the Virginia Film Festival.

At the University of Virginia, scientists are fine-tuning formulas that could predict ecosystem collapse, allowing people time to make changes and save complex webs of life.

Sean Doolittle A former pitcher with the Cavaliers Baseball team Inbox: What's the deal with Manny? OaklandAthletics.com / Jan. 23 Hugh M. Fain III Who received his law degree from the School of Law Hugh M. Fain installed as president of Virginia Bar Association Virginia Business Magazine / Jan. 23 Gene Lyons Who earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia and has worked as a full-time writer since 1976. Arkansas Authors to Discuss the Art of True Crime Writing Hendrix College Events and News / Jan. 23 Nils Okeson Who graduated from the Law School and holds a bachelor of a...

Darcy Alimenti A second-year nursing student Stephanie's Heroes: Darcy Alimenti Newsplex.com /Jan,  23 Forrest Brown A Jefferson Scholar and a member of the rowing team row2k Interview - Virginia's Forrest Brown row2k.com / Jan, 24   Rachel H. Farr A graduate student in the Department of Psychology Same-sex couple challenging Michigan adoption law seeks equal rights for themselves, their kids MLive.com / Jan,  24   Neil Peterson Who is working on his doctorate in nursing Faculty-Mentored Research Helps Students and Teachers Universe.byu.edu / Jan, 23    David Rei...

Dave Evans An associate professor in the Department of Computer Science Sebastian Thrun, Mastermind of Stanford\'s Free AI Course, Forms Free Education Website Geekosystem / Jan. 23 Russ Federman Director of Counseling and Psychological Services within the Department of Student Health Four threats to your well-being, from childhood to old age C-Ville Weekly / Jan. 24   Jeff Goldsmith An associate professor of public-health sciences and president of the consulting firm Health Futures Inc. Will ACOs show financial returns? FierceHealthcare / Jan. 23   Paul Halliday A professor of...

Robert Henderson A fellow at the Miller Center

Folks in Wise held honors for the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a week later than the rest of the nation on Monday, but that made the tribute all the more special for the area faithful to his cause. Sponsored by the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, MLK Day organizers wanted to hold off this year’s observances to allow students from the college and the area’s Flatwoods Job Corps Center to return from the recent holidays and take part as usual.

… The plight of public universities and colleges was recently spotlighted by The Post’s Daniel de Vise in an examination of deteriorating conditions at the University of California at Berkeley. State support has declined from 47 percent of the school’s operating budget in 1991 to 11 percent. Tuition has skyrocketed, faculty have been furloughed, classes are bigger and California students have been turned away in favor of out-of-state residents, who pay more. The University of Michigan has witnessed a decline in state support from 48 percent to 17 percent over two decades, wh...

In brief remarks Monday, Harry Belafonte, a singer, actor and civil rights activist, said America, particularly its youth, must awaken from its culture of narcissism and hedonism. The comments came ahead of Belafonte’s participation today in the keynote event of the University of Virginia’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. Belafonte acknowledged and praised the progress the country has made on racial issues in the last century.

… For Columbia University, which saw a nearly 9 percent drop in undergraduate applications from last year, one culprit is the 33 percent increase in submissions in 2011, when compared to 2010. What helped cause last year’s upward swing? It was the first year that Columbia agreed to accept the Common Application, the universal form accepted by more than 450 colleges and universities. (The University of Virginia saw a similar jump in applications this year — nearly 18 percent — after restoring an early admission program, after a four-year hiatus.)

Students gathered at The University of Virginia College at Wise will speak with Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank and Flight Engineer Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station at 9:25 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 26.

… The APOGEE team designed an infrared camera, part of which was built at the University of Virginia, for the 2.5-meter telescope in Apache Point, New Mexico, that was originally used for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

The University of Virginia is bringing a big name in music and civil rights to Charlottesville. Belafonte is a well-known singer and social activist.  He's in Charlottesville headlining UVA's Martin Luther King Junior celebration.

By Christopher Jon Sprigman Law professor Commenting on the SOPA and PIPA protests and the Supreme Court's decision in Golan V. Holder.

By Molly Bishop Shadel Associate professor of law Many of the women who go to law school will find that they have invested in a degree outfitting them for a career that they ultimately will flee. Lawyers and law professors should care deeply about this problem, as should anyone in a profession with a similar attrition issue.

By James Rubin Assistant professor of business administration at the Darden School of Business The big idea: When does corporate social responsibility (CSR) become an integral way for companies to engage stakeholders and build or maintain trust in the company?

By Damian Irby Center for Politics' director of global initiatives One can learn only so much in a week, but I left Afghanistan with an increased level of awareness and understanding of Afghan government and civil institutions, life in Kabul, and where Afghans and the Center for Politics' past and future exchange participants are literally and figuratively coming from. There are so many challenges.