The Hustler introduces its TheThe HustlerHustler EditorialEditorial BoardBoard explainsexplains Focus section this issue, itsits decisiondecision toto expandexpand newsnews taking a closer look at coverage in Wednesday issues … Submit your events to the InsideVandy Vanderbilt stereotypes… ForFor more,more, seesee ‘Our‘Our View’View’ calendar by e-mailing [email protected] For more, see Focus, page 8 Opinion, page 5 For more, see Calendar at InsideVandy.com THETHE VOICEVOICE OFOF VANDERBILTVANDERBILT SINCESINCE 18881888 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2007 • 119 TH YEAR, NO. 10 THE WALL compiled by HARISH KRISHNAMOORTHI TODAY Bilotta and Gragg win VSG election Fulbright information session All students interested Ticket to lead first Vanderbilt Student in applying for the Fulbright Grant Government with 66 percent of vote. Program for study, research or teaching by KRISTEN CHMIELEWSKI grants, should attend Asst News Editor an information session in Sarratt 189 from 12 Cara Bilotta and Perry Gragg won the fi rst Vanderbilt p.m. to 1 p.m. Student Government general election yesterday with 66.4 percent of the vote. TODAY In all, 2,425 votes were cast. Krish Vigneswaran and Ashley Vanderbilt vs. Holmes received 29.9 percent of the votes and the write-in Florida viewing candidates Kevin McNish and Joe Hills received 2.6 percent party of the votes. Students and friends of the candidates gathered in Sarratt Promenade to await the results at 8 p.m. Student Government Association Attorney General at Elizabeth Scott was very pleased with the response to the election. Come watch the “It was a clean election and lots of people came out to vote,” Commodore men’s said Interhall Attorney General Chris Skene. basketball team play Newly elected Vanderbilt Student Government President in Gainesville against Cara Bilotta found the whole experience exciting and surreal. the No. 1 Florida “As the fi rst VSG president there is a lot of pressure and a lot Gators in the Student of precedents to be set,” Bilotta said. Life Center Ballroom Until turnover March 21, Bilotta and Gragg plan to work tonight. There will be with various student organizations, talking to people and free food, prizes and a putting together their cabinet. live feed of the game. Vigneswaran said he and Holmes campaigned as much as they could. THURSDAY, FEB. 1 “We gave students a lot to ask for,” he said. Celebrate the start He also spoke previously with Cara and discussed the of Black History various concurrent points within each of their platforms that Month will be addressed in the new VSG organization. Come to Ballroom C He does not plan on running for another elected position of the Student Life within VSG, but will defi nitely apply for other positions in KELLY HOCUTT / The Vanderbilt Hustler Center on Thursday to Please see VSG ELECTION, page 2 Supporters of Cara Bilotta and Perry Gragg congratulate the team on their win Tuesday night in Sarratt. celebrate “A Moment in History” to kick off Black History Month. The program begins Lawmakers hear at 1 p.m. and readings Reporter Judith Miller begin at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be of interference in served. contradicts Libby over leak THURSDAY, FEB. 1 McGill Hour global warming on Energy Conservation of CIA operative’s identity Beth Conklin, an science anthropology and Journalist testifies for prosecuter who jailed her. by H.JOSEF HEBERT religious studies Associated Press professor; Jonathan Gilligan, an earth by MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN controversy over her reporting WASHINGTON — Federal scientists and environmental Associated Press techniques. Her appearance at have been pressured to play down global sciences professor; the trial filled the courtroom warming, advocacy groups testifi ed Tuesday and Doug Wood, a WASHINGTON — Reporter seats for the first time and drew at the Democrats’ fi rst investigative hearing philosophy professor, Judith Miller testified Tuesday several retired reporters. since taking control of Congress. will speak on an that former vice presidential Accompanied to court by her Th e hearing focused on allegations Energy Conservation aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby defense attorney, Bob Bennett, that, for years, the White House has and Global Warming identified a CIA operative to her Miller answered Fitzgerald’s micromanaged the government’s climate panel moderated on two occasions on dates earlier questions in a calm, clear voice programs and has closely controlled what by Doug Fischer. than he has told investigators he while never taking her gaze scientists have been allowed to tell the Refreshments will be first heard the information from from him. She seemed less calm public. provided, and the another reporter. when questioned by defense “It appears there may have been an event will be held Miller, the former New York attorney William Jeffress; her orchestrated campaign to mislead the Thursday at 6 p.m. Times reporter who spent eyes darted occasionally to the public about climate change,” said Rep. in the McGill Hall TV 85 days in jail trying to avoid jury, and she cleared her nose Henry Waxman, D-Calif. Waxman is Lounge. revealing these conversations, into a handkerchief. chairman of the Oversight and Government said Libby identified the wife of MILLER Anticipating a defense attack Reform Committee and a critic of the Bush FRIDAY, FEB. 2 a prominent Iraq war critic as himself told Libby the war critic’s on her memory, Fitzgerald administration’s environmental policies, Civil rights leader a CIA employee in face-to-face wife worked at the CIA. brought out that Miller did not including its views on climate. to speak at meetings on June 23 and July 8, The discrepancy over when mention the June 23 meeting Climate change also was a leading topic in Vanderbilt’s Benton 2003. Libby learned about Plame is in Libby’s office during her first the Senate, where presidential contenders Chapel Libby, then Vice President a major element in the charges grand jury testimony — after she for 2008 lined up at a hearing called by Sen. Civil rights pioneer Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, told on which he is being tried. He finally decided Libby had freed Barbara Boxer. Th ey expounded — and at and Vanderbilt the FBI and a grand jury that he is not accused of leaking her her from a promise not to discuss times tried to outdo each other — on why Distinguished thought he was hearing Valerie name but rather of perjury and their conversations. Miller they believed Congress must act to reduce University Professor Plame’s CIA job for the first time obstruction of the investigation testified that, at Fitzgerald’s, heat-trapping “greenhouse” gases. James Lawson will from NBC’s Tim Russert on July into how her name leaked. Libby request she went back and found “Th is is a problem whose time has come,” lecture at the Benton 10, 2003. now says his memory failed him notes of the June 23 meeting and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Chapel on Feb. 2 at Five government officials, when he spoke with Russert and then described it in a later grand proclaimed. 1 p.m. A reception including ex-White House press other reporters. jury appearance. “Th is is an issue over the years whose will immediately secretary Ari Fleischer, also have Miller became a heroine to Libby’s attorney did come time has come,” echoed Sen. John McCain, follow at the Owen testified that they discussed many press groups when she back at Miller again and again R-Ariz. Graduate School of Plame and her CIA job with went to jail rather than discuss over her memory of the June Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said that “for Management. Libby before July 10. conversations with a source 23 meeting and her memory decades far too many have ignored the Earlier Tuesday, the jury saw whose identity she had agreed in general. Their exchanges warning” about climate change. “Will we Check out notes Libby took on or about not to reveal. She since left the occasionally became testy. ■ look back at today and say this was the http://calendar.vanderbilt.edu for more events. June 12 indicating that Cheney Times for freelancing amid a moment we took a stand?” ■ ��������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ����� ������ ������������� �������������������� ���������� �������������������� �������������� ���������������������������� 2 Wednesday, January 31, 2007 The Vanderbilt Hustler www.insidevandy.com WEATHER compiled by HARISH KRISHNAMOORTHI IN THE KNOW TODAY The news you need — in brief VSG ELECTIONS: Turnover to compiled by HARISH KRISHNAMOORTHI CAMPUS occur March 21 Vanderbilt gains ground in national competition for federal research dollars Vanderbilt University has advanced in one of the principal Partly Cloudy, 36/30 national rankings of the value of federal research grants awarded to faculty members, according to an annual report compiled by the National Science Foundation (NSF). THURSDAY Published last November and formally called “Federal Obligations for Science & Engineering Research & Development,” the ranking places Vanderbilt at No. 23 in the nation. Last year, the university posted a similar gain to No. 24 from No. 25, after breaking into the top tier of the nation’s research universities two years ago by jumping from No. 31 to No. 25. “We’re in a great position for an institution of our size,” Rain/Snow, 40/32 Dennis said. G. Hall, associate provost for research and graduate FRIDAY education. “At this level, moving higher becomes increasingly competitive. We should feel great about how far we’ve come: Vanderbilt was at No. 38 only six short years ago.” MASON HENSLEY / The Vanderbilt Hustler Source: VANDERBILT NEWS SERVICE Krish Vigneswaran and Ashley Holmes received 29.9 percent of the vote, behind Bilotta and Gragg, who received 66.4 percent. Federal officials sign immigration From VSG ELECTIONS, page 1 received the e-mail in the morning.