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Rain
Falls, Water Levels Rise |
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Photo
by Andrew Shurtleff
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| Several
days of rain, combined with aggressive water conservation steps,
have brought area reservoirs back past 75 percent. For more,
see Water
levels up, usage down. |
Voters say yes!
Bond wins big
By
Lee Graves
Virginia’s
voters sent a clear message about the importance of higher education
Tuesday by approving bonds to fund about $846 million for building
projects at colleges and universities around the state.
The
margin of approval was high — 72 percent statewide — as
voters turned out in surprisingly strong numbers despite a blanket
of rain across the commonwealth.
The
bond package includes $68.3 million for nine projects at U.Va. The
needs range from $24.2 million toward a new medical research building
to about $12.5 million for infrastructure such as “chillers.”
Passage
of the bonds comes at a critical time, when state agencies, including
colleges and universities, are beleaguered by budget cuts. Tuesday’s
vote obviously raised morale around Grounds.
“For
me, this vote is encouraging and inspiring. For Virginia and the
public interest in the quality of life, it is a triumph,” said
University President John T. Casteen III.
“It
means that Virginians want the state to get back to work. And it
shows that we are not divided on the priority that education has
for Virginians. Nor are we divided on the necessity that the public
take responsibility for the core financing of academic buildings
in the public colleges.”
People
are asking for responsible use of public funds, Casteen said, adding
that he believes that with passage of the bond Virginia will be
able to build its way out of the recession.
The
package touches many parts of the University — the schools
of engineering and medicine, the College of Arts & Sciences,
even Facilities Management.
Dr.
Arthur “Tim” Garson Jr., vice president and dean of the
School of Medicine, expressed gratitude for Tuesday’s result.
“We have the citizens of the Commonwealth to thank for their
support. We pledge to use the new laboratory space to improve the
health of those closest to us,” he said.
Full story.
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