Beta Bridge paint removal under consideration

Not surprisingly, the issue of “tradition” came up when the University of Virginia’s Facilities Management proposed to strip Beta Bridge of hundreds of layers of paint, citing safety as its concern. When a chunk fell off earlier this year, it was discovered that some coats were still moist from years ago, having been covered with new messages before aerating. I learned that a proposal was submitted by an art student a few years ago to remove the paint as performance art. I wonder if the student ever attempted it, and if so, if he/she was stopped in the name of “tradition.”

Beta Bridge may see paint removal
Cavalier Daily, October 22

Pancakes for Parkinson’s

Forty thousand dollars raised? Not exactly how the pancake fundraiser went in Pledged: the Secret Life of Sororities! I thought this student body didn’t like fundraising, but glad to see they proved me wrong.

UVa pancake fundraiser stacks up $40,000
Daily Progress, October 24

Free condoms

Students dressed up as condom fairies and distributed more than 700 rubbers (courtesy of Planned Parenthood) on Halloween. The CD columnist who wrote up his experience seemed less than thrilled about his costume, but anyone who’s lived in a big city has probably seen scantily-clad condom brand ambassadors do the same thing, and sex sells… safe sex. Great job. And no, I’m not going to make the argument that just because people have condoms, they’ll have sex. Remember, I’m pro sex, anti “societal expectation on women to pay $50 for a singular lingerie item with a 4 square inch surface area that is seen for less than ten seconds before being left for Rover on the floor, without a counterpart for men, notwithstanding store location, and of course I buy it, but actually, I feel sexiest commando, don’t you?” Yay for Planned Parenthood, honestly one of my favorite causes out there.

Safe sex with latex
Cavalier Daily, November 5

AccessUVa on Tour

UVA joins Harvard and Princeton in a 19-city tour to educate low-income students and their families about financial aid options. All three schools also did away with their “Early Decision” application processes, and I wonder if this is correlation or causation. Anyone want to chime in? I was surprised to learn and pleased to report (to the chagrin of those of you who like picking on your college town college) that William & Mary was deemed more “economically exclusive” than UVA.

UVa reaching out to low-income students
Daily Progress, November 4

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