January 31, 2006Radford students petition city councilThe Radford University Student Senate posted an online petition today in an effort to improve relations between the city and students. A resolution to post the petition was unanimously approved by the senate Monday. Tensions between students and the city have simmered for years, bubbling up on occassion such as last year's Quadfest. "The senate just wants to make sure that there's some type of mutual respect between the students and the city," Student Government Association President Stephanie Harmon said. "It's just a follow-up to some of the instances that happened earlier in the year." Students have complained in the past of an overzealous police force while police and the occassional citizen at city council meetings have voiced concerns of students getting out of hand. Interestingly, the petition mentions the possible voting power of students. While Virginia law remains murky on the issue of college students voting in local elections, hundreds of Virginia Tech and Radford voters registered locally last fall. Harmon does not know when the petition will be presented to city council, but the petition's first paragraph has the right idea. Wherever there are votes, you'll find attentive politicians. January 27, 2006Student named in McCloskey caseA search warrant filed today in Montgomery Circuit Court names Virginia Tech junior and Glenvar High graduate Aaron Pierce in the investigation. Go online for breaking news of this development. Pierce has not been arrested. The warrant says Pierce admitted to police that after hearing of McCloskey's injuries, it had been "in the back of his mind that he may have hit him" while driving a 2006 Ford Explorer between two parties the night of Nov. 4. Pedestrians, bikers being run down in college townsTwo Virginia Tech students were hit by a car in Blacksburg Tuesday while crossing the street. Recent pronouncements by Blacksburg Police indicate that the death of Brian McCloskey in November was likely the result of a car hitting the pedestrian while the driver illegally cut through a bike trail. Given these incidents, Virginia Tech students might be interested in what's going on at UNC-Chapel Hill. Two pedestrians and a biker were killed this week when struck by cars in three separate incidents in Chapel Hill. With a population of about 26,000 students, many of whom walk and bike through crowded downtown Blacksburg, I'm surprised more accidents don't happen here. Continue reading "Pedestrians, bikers being run down in college towns" » January 25, 2006STD's vs. NRAIf you're new to Virginia and need to gauge state politics, you'd be well served to look at some of the college-related bills being proposed by the House of Delegates and the Senate in this year's General Assembly session. If nothing else, the bills indicate which is the more conservative of the two chambers. In Thursday's paper, I have a story on House bill 1572, which would give students the right to pack heat on campus. The scuttlebutt in Richmond is it may get through the House of Delegates but likely won't pass the Senate. In fact, it's possible that it could be turned completely around into a bill giving public universities explicit rights to regulate firearms on campus. January 24, 2006Sexual harassment reportThe American Association of University Women Educational Foundation released a study today that said about two thirds of college students have been sexually harassed. The study, which was covered by national news sites did not involve any Virginia colleges. Virginia Tech Police Chief Debra Duncan said her department has investigated a few incidents of reported sexual harassment this year. January 20, 2006Tech engineering program in EgyptVirginia Tech posted this notice on its website today touting a new graduate engineering program it's offering in Egypt. This distance-learning venture with a Middle Eastern country comes after a program involving visiting professors from Saudi Arabia caused some controversy this summer. The program involved gender-separated classes that the Tech community and its provost denounced as "incompatible" with school policies. January 18, 2006General Assembly primerWith the General Assembly convening this week, you can go online for a quick look at some student-related issues state legislators will be discussing: The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has a hot list of higher education issues to be discussed during this session as well as a long list of every piece of legislation or report related to higher education. Virginia 21 spokesman David Solimini listed the group's "Save 1246" campaign as its biggest grassroots effort during this session. Other issues of note include a campus safety grant program, and a textbook purchasing report by SCHEV. Solimini said Virginia 21 is interested in limiting textbook bundling and creating a system where professors act more as consumers, listing the prices of textbooks to help inform students and create more competition amongst vendors. January 17, 2006Technology in the classroomFrom Blackboard technology to Facebook, students in college today study in a completely different environment than I did when I graduated five years ago. But how many students out there are planning on skipping classes offered by some of their more technologically-savvy professors who offer notes and even podcasts of classes online? The Los Angeles Times explores this in a story today. Professors fed up with student absenteeism argue that there can be such a thing as too much technology in class. January 13, 2006Jesse Jackson's visitFor those Tech students just returning to Blacksburg from Christmas break, you still have a chance to see the Rev. Jesse Jackson speak at Burruss Hall Monday night. His speech will kick off a series of events in Blacksburg next week honoring King. Tickets for Jackson's speech are free and still available. In tomorrrow's Current you can find excerpts from a conversation I had with Jackson earlier this week. He's visited Blacksburg before and said he received a warm reception. He has strong opinions, as you might expect, on poverty, a recent bill that would cut billions of dollars from student loan programs, college athletes and Pat Robertson. But Jackson has his own problems stemming from an incident in December 2001. Regardless of your opinion of Jackson, he's still a big name with plenty of opinions who should be expected to leave his mark during his brief visit. January 11, 2006Student Loan funds hang in the balanceI wrote a story in Tuesday's Roanoke Times about Kiplinger's Financial Magazine ranking four Virginia colleges, including Virginia Tech, in its Top-20 for value. The magazine based the rankings on quality of education and affordability, which took into account financial aid. Now recent moves by Congress could make it harder for students to borrow money for school. The Oregon Daily Emerald has a good story today on where legislation stands that would cut $12.7 billion from federal student loan programs to free up money for military spending and tax cuts. Barry Simmons, Virginia Tech's director of scholarships and financial aid, said the cuts "are pretty much a done deal." But a conference report settling some of the differences between the plan passed by the House and the one passed by the Senate still must be approved by each body for it to take effect. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law. January 9, 2006McCloskey investigation continuesWith Tech students not due to return to Blacksburg until next week, Blacksburg Police released more information Monday on the mysterious death of Tech freshman Brian McCloskey. Roanoke Times reporter Joe Eaton wrote today that police seized two vehicles in the investigation. Just as students have left the town, so has the investigation. One vehicle was seized in Winchester and another in Roanoke. Police aren't releasing any other details about the vehicles or their owners. They are still asking for witnesses to come forward and the reward has increased to $30,000. |
About this blog
Rhode Island native and Virginia Tech reporter Greg Esposito posts on everyday college life, trends and issues affecting the 35,000-plus students in the New River Valley and beyond.
Tim Thornton, who is old enough to have children attending college, is still taking classes and is still fascinated by colleges, the students who populate them and the bureaucrats who operate them. His reporting beat is Radford University.
West Virginia native Anna Mallory blogs on student life topics at Virginia Tech, Radford University, New River Valley Community College -- and beyond.
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