In one of the more interesting uses of social media, U.Va. Student Council President Colin Hood posted a video on YouTube and his Facebook site to address a recent racial harassment incident on the Corner.
Just finished the first draft of the story on President Casteen’s State of the U address today, and thought I might empty the notebook here and note a few things that did not make it into the story (at least not yet, as the editors are now working):
With Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow this morning, the kids still bouncing off the walls at home after last weekend’s snow and wild rumors circulating around Charlottesville about another major winter event (never mind tonight’s 4-6 inches), I decided to put in yet another call to Jerry Stenger, who heads U.Va.’s State Climatology Office.
First of all, Jerry is becoming more popular than Larry Sabato. Even as I spoke with him, he fielded calls from two other reporters.
So what is this we hear about huge snow this weekend?
“Right now, any way you slice it, it looks like we’re in for a doozy,” he said.
Last week’s discovery of the body of Morgan Dana Harrington is a sobering reminder that Charlottesville is not an isolated haven from the problems of the world. Vice President for Student Affairs Patricia Lampkin has sent out a letter to U.Va. students reminding them of specific steps to take to make it less likely that they could be victimized.
Dr. Marcus Martin, interim vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity and professor of emergency medicine, led 20 U.Va. students to St. Kitts and Nevis for a J-Term course on “Health Care and Disaster Preparedness in the West Indies.” Here’s his report:
Our students learned the fundamentals of emergency care and disaster preparedness through a series of lectures, direct observations, skills modules and exploration of the preparedness infrastructure currently existing in the small developing federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
And the students had two real-life encounters with the importance of disaster preparedness and response in the Caribbean and West Indies. One, of course, was the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti on Jan. 12 causing us to pause, helpless, and reflect on the reality of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The other was a volcanic eruption on nearby Montserrat, which sent a cloud of ash our way thick enough to cause airline cancellations . (We all returned home safely.)
A student told a fitting story during Friday’s dedication of the Mark E. Fletcher Gymnasium at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Colin Hood, now the vice president for organizations for U.Va.’s Student Council, recalled being invited to a Rotunda dinner during his first year, when he was a member of the council’s Safety and Wellness Committee. He had been told that he would be seated next to the chairman of the University Safety Committee, which would give him a good chance to do a little networking.
As the search continues for missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, her parents have asked for the Charlottesville community’s help in circulating fliers with information about their daughter and how the public can provide information to help in the search. You can download them here.
Tips may be anonymous, and a $150,000 reward has been established through Crimestoppers for information leading to her safe return or information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. Harrington was last seen the night of Oct. 17, when she was in Charlottesville for the Metallica concert.
Daniel and Gil Harrington issued this statement on Thursday, Oct. 29:
Halloween is one of those holidays that U.Va. students love to celebrate. Coming as it does this year on a Saturday and the date of a home football game, and on the heels of the disappearance of Morgan Dana Harrington from the Oct. 17 Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena, University officials are warning students to exercise some prudent planning.
Patricia Lampkin, U.Va.’s vice president and chief student affairs officer, sent an e-mail to students on Tuesday offering tips for a safe celebration. “Halloween marks a time when your safety is of special concern to me and many others,” she wrote. “Occurring this year on a Saturday, along with a home football game, may mean more celebrating than usual. This can be a stressful time, too, with midterms and anticipating the end of the semester and upcoming holidays. The weather is changing, and darkness comes sooner in the evening.
Have you seen this young woman?
The University of Virginia Police Department is seeking information that would help locate Morgan Dana Harrington, a 20-year-old student from Virginia Tech, who was last seen on Saturday near the John Paul Jones Arena, site of a Metallica concert that night.
Morgan was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with the tan letters that spelled “Pantera” across the front, a black mini-skirt with black tights and knee-high black boots. She has long blond hair and blue eyes. Morgan is 5-feet-6-inches tall and weighs approximately 120 lbs.
If you have seen Morgan Dana Harrington or have knowledge of her whereabouts contact the University of Virginia Police Department at 434-924-7166.
