(Commentary by Cristina Lopez-Gottardi, assistant professor and research director for public and policy programs at UVA’s Miller Center) Sunday’s protests in cities across Cuba were unprecedented in their scale and in the boldness of Cuban citizens to confront authorities and the repression that has plagued them for six decades. The sweep and scope of this weekend’s protests appear to mark a new and distinct era of broad citizen defiance and disaffection with the island’s 62-year old communist regime.
Across the country, colleges and universities are coming to grips with their racist histories by launching new education programs, creating research committees, removing Confederate iconography, and considering reparations. The University of Virginia was established by Thomas Jefferson, the third American president, who was an enslaver. In 2014, UVA founded the Universities Studying Slavery consortium as part of its commitment to confronting racial injustice.
Food insecurity is a big concern in Charlottesville, especially as the area begins to recover from the pandemic. UVA Health is opening a food pantry in the Battle Building where it will provide fresh produce to families who are without enough food.
Parsing out the reasons for demographic change can be complicated, but some local and regional trends might offer clues to why some Virginians are starting families – and where. “No one has a clear answer, but I think part of it can be traced to a change in priorities,” said Hamilton Lombard, a demographer with UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center. “And it is unbelievably complicated, but I think there is something to be learned from looking at certain regions of the state.”
If there’s anyone maybe even more excited than [UVA alumnus] Mike Tobey for his first-ever participation in the Olympic Games, that’s Mrs. and Mr. Tobey back in the States – his parents, who are now also fully geared up with the proper equipment to cheer for their son.
Tim Shields remembers the spring breakers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, heckling him for bringing his prototype basketball hoop onto the beach. It was spring break in March 2019, and the former UVA student had driven 15 hours with his transportable basketball hoop.
Nineteen-year-old University of Virginia student Natalia Marshall wanted to buy a handgun for protection from an abusive ex-boyfriend. When she was turned down by a dealer, she sued to challenge the law.
The case was filed in 2018 on behalf of plaintiffs Tanner Hirschfeld and Natalia Marshall, who were both then University of Virginia students. Hirschfeld, then 20, and Marshall, 18, had both tried unsuccessfully to purchase handguns from licensed dealers. Marshall reportedly wanted a gun to protect herself from an abusive ex-boyfriend.
A federal law that for more than 50 years has banned licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults between age 18 and 21 is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. Tuesday’s ruling was prompted by a lawsuit by 19-year-old Natalia Marshall, a University of Virginia student who said she wanted a handgun as protection from an abusive ex-boyfriend.
Tina Thompson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a Hall of Famer, has been a mentor for Atkins since she was an assistant at the University of Texas when Atkins played there. The relationship has endured and now both are in the same region again, with Thompson coaching the University of Virginia. Thompson — a co-head coach for the WNBA all-stars along with Lisa Leslie for Wednesday night’s matchup with the women’s national team — knows Atkins, 24, belongs on the Tokyo-bound squad. “I reminded her [that] she’s in this space because she deserves to be there,” Thompson said. “Being in this pos...
“It’s pretty clear that Youngkin is trying to avoid getting pinned down on specific issues,” said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “This makes sense as a candidate who belongs to a party that has been on the wrong side of recent trends in Virginia.”
For many public health experts, the upcoming school year is a looming reminder that children remain one of the most vulnerable populations for catching and spreading new cases of COVID-19. “It’s going to depend so much on the local context of the school system,” said Dr. Taison Bell, a UVA infectious disease specialist. Children under 12 aren’t yet eligible for a shot, and likely won’t be until later this fall. But growing research shows that vaccinations among adults can be key to protecting younger age groups.
Concerns about fake religious exemptions were echoed by Professor Douglas Laycock at the University of Virginia. While he said he “generally believe in very strong protections for the free exercise of religion” and noted his advocacy for it in front of the Supreme Court, Congress and state legislatures, Laycock said the university “has ample reason to require everyone who is medically eligible for vaccination to be vaccinated. … Some people can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons,” Laycock said, and argued that unvaccinated people “are a threat to everyone around them.”
When choosing a pediatric provider, keep those future conversations in mind. Charlotte J. Patterson, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, wrote in an email, “parents can ask questions about how practitioners handle issues relevant to sexual orientation and gender identity. This can help parents ensure that, whether gay or straight, cisgender or nonbinary, their children will receive safe, inclusive, and supportive medical care.” She also suggested that parents can consult with local groups — PFLAG or L.G.B.T.Q. resource centers — for recommendations about pediatric practice...
(Audio) A little under a week after the assassination of President Moïse, Haitian police have made several arrests. Catherine Porter, Toronto Bureau Chief for the New York Times and and author of the memoir “A Girl Named Lovely,” about her experience in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and Marlene L. Daut, professor in and associate director of UVA’s Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies, join to update us on the ongoing investigations and break down the history that got us here.
Dr. Gregory Saathoff, a UVA forensic psychiatrist who also was called as a witness for prosecutors, told the jury Tuesday he believed Ramos understood the criminality of his actions. “My opinion is that Mr. Ramos is criminally responsible for the events of June 28, 2018,” said Saathoff, who also is a psychiatric consultant for the FBI.
The Virginia softball program has hired Mike Roberts to be its associate head coach and pitching coach, the school announced on Tuesday. Roberts heads to Charlottesville after spending the past three seasons as the associate head coach and pitching and infield coach at Louisiana. During Roberts’ time on the staff, the Ragin’ Cajuns won back-to-back Sun Belt championships and reached two NCAA regional finals.
Kyle Whitten has agreed to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays as an undrafted rookie. The Osbourn Park graduate was not chosen during the three-day 20-round Major League Baseball Draft that finished Tuesday. A right-handed pitcher who played four seasons at the University of Virginia, Whitten spent the majority of his college career as a reliever. He pitched in 79 total games, including three starts which all came his freshman season.
Two juniors on the Virginia baseball team were selected in Tuesday’s portion of the MLB Draft. Shortstop Nic Kent and pitcher Zach Messinger have decisions ahead of them. They could opt to return to Charlottesville for a final collegiate season or instead turn professional. … Redshirt senior catcher Logan Michaels was not drafted, but shared on social media after the draft that he has signed a deal with the Baltimore Orioles organization.
Players’ individual social media accounts were flooded with congratulations from teammates, friends and fans. The team-wide group chat was active as players celebrated the achievements of UVA’s draft choices.