Digest -- U.Va. Top News Daily

Facilities Management Crews Tackle Area’s Snowfalls
Senior Groundsworker Steve Hester (above) pours anti-icing pellets into a pail on Monday afternoon as he works to keep University byways clear. U.Va.’s Facilities Management crews worked through the night of Dec. 5 and into the next morning, keeping University walks and roadways clear throughout Central Virginia’s first snowstorm of the season. Initially there was concern about the snow weight on trees, but no branches were reported down. (Dec. 8)

Blue Ridge Poision Center Urges Precaution When Winterizing Vehicles
With the beginning of winter just around the corner, people should be thinking about preparing their vehicles for the cold months ahead. What many people don’t think about is how dangerous antifreeze can be. Most antifreeze used for car radiators contains 90 percent to 95 percent ethylene glycol, a substance that is alluring to children and to pets because of its sweet smell and taste. Ethylene glycol irritates the digestive tract, causing nausea and vomiting. It depresses the central nervous system and may lead to fluid build-up in the lungs, heart failure, kidney failure, seizures, coma and death. For more information, contact U.Va.’s Blue Ridge Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. (Dec. 8)

U.Va. Ranks in the Top 20 for Study Abroad Numbers
With 1,427 U.Va. students studying abroad last semester, the University was recognized as one of the “Top Twenty” universities sending the highest number of U.S. students abroad for academic year 2003-2004. This designation was awarded by the Institute of International Education, the independent, nonprofit organization that administers the Fulbright Scholar program and that was created in the wake of WWI to foster greater understanding between nations through international educational exchange. For more information, visit www.opendoors.iienetwork.org. (Dec. 6)