Graduate student and undergraduate issues have been the focus of the University of Virginia’s Faculty Senate in recent years. But at the group’s annual retreat on Jan. 27, several senators argued that the senate should advocate for faculty concerns, including recruitment and retention, work-life issues and supporting research and intellectual life at the University. Thirty-six members used the retreat as an opportunity to discuss what the group has done over the past 10 years and where its focus should be over the next five to seven years. Discussion continues today with a meeting at 3 p.m. in the Rotunda Dome Room. Full story.

Inside UVA

Open the February issue of Ebony magazine and you will find U.Va. law student Raqiyyah Pippins (left) listed as one of the 30 Ebony “Young Leaders of the Future.” In addition to her studies, the ambitious young Pippins is chair of the 6,000-member National Black Law Students Association, the largest student-run organization in America.“One of the projects Pippins is working on as chair of the NBLSA encourages minority students to consider attending law school. “In a lot of ways, Raqiyyah typifies what we hope all of the Virginia law students will be, which is not only professionally skilled and not only ethically sound, but also with a strong sense of public responsibility,” said John Jeffries, dean of U.Va.’s School of Law. Full story.

U.Va. News Services