Headlines @ U.Va.

Decision-making time

Every spring, U.Va. courts thousands of high-school seniors and their families during its Days on the Lawn program, where soon-to-be college students can tour the Grounds, attend classes and cultural events and decide if U.Va. is the place for them. Spring Fling, held April 10-12, is part of Days on the Lawn. It’s aimed at recruiting minority students who have been offered admission to U.Va. Above, visitors watch a performance by a student dance group in Newcomb Hall Ballroom April 11. At right, parents and students attend an information session. U.Va. has offered admission to 5,661 applicants for the coming academic year.

Photos by Andrew Shurtleff

Smiths give $23.5 million for the arts

By Carol Wood

Carl and Hunter Smith have been investing in the University of Virginia for many of the 45 years they have lived in Charlottesville - and always with an eye toward furthering the University's goals and aspirations.

On Thursday, through a combination of personal pledges and foundation commitments, the Smiths pledged $22 million to the University toward a $47 million performing arts center and $1.5 million to endow a student marching and concert band.

Smith said he and his wife were drawn to the performing arts center project for many of the same reasons they got involved in the expansion of the University's football stadium more than six years ago. Full story.

SARS, war cancel trips

By Matt Kelly

Disease and conflict have forced the University to cancel summer study trips to Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai in China and Jordan. Another trip has been rerouted.

“This is bad luck,” said William B. Quandt, vice provost for international affairs. “We usually don’t have a war and a plague at the same time.”

The “plague” is the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, blamed for 495 deaths as of April 21. It has spurred the State Department to issue travel warnings about China, leading to the University’s decision earlier this month, Quandt said. Full story.