Editing University of Virginia (section)

===Student activities===
Many events take place at the University of Virginia, [[Events Held on The Lawn at UVA|on the Lawn]] and across Grounds. One of the largest events at UVA is Springfest, hosted by the University Programs Council. It takes place every year in the spring, and features a large free concert, various inflatables, games. Another popular event and tradition is Lighting of the Lawn in the winter. Established in 2001 as a tribute to the September 11 Attacks, Lighting of the Lawn consists of a light and music show on the Lawn. Another popular event is [[Foxfield Races|Foxfield]], a [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]] and social gathering that takes place nearby in [[Albemarle County]] in April, and which is annually attended by thousands of students from the University of Virginia, neighboring colleges, and local residents.<ref name="foxfield">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/24000_plus_descend_on_foxfield_for_annual_steeplechase_social_gathering/20967/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915145603/http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/24000_plus_descend_on_foxfield_for_annual_steeplechase_social_gathering/20967/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2008 |work=Daily Progress |location=Charlottesville |date=April 27, 2008 |last=Borden |first=Jeremy |title=24,000-plus descend on Foxfield for annual steeplechase, social gathering }}</ref>

[[File:University of Virginia Amphitheater.jpg|right|upright=1.25|thumb|The University Amphitheater is often used for outdoor lectures and student gatherings.]]

The student life building is called Newcomb Hall. It is home to the Student Activities Center (SAC) and the Media Activities Center (MAC), where student groups can get leadership consulting and use computing and copying resources. It also features several meeting rooms for student groups. Student Council, the student self-governing body, holds meetings Tuesdays at 6:30&nbsp;p.m. in the Newcomb South Meeting Room. Student Council, or "StudCo", also holds office hours and regular committee meetings in the newly renovated Newcomb Programs and Council (PAC) Room. The PAC also houses the University Programs Council and Class Councils. Newcomb basement is home to both the office of the independent student newspaper ''The Declaration'', ''[[The Cavalier Daily]]'', and the Consortium of University Publications.

In 2005, the university was named "Hottest for Fitness" by ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine,<ref>{{cite magazine | title = America's 25 Hot Schools | magazine = [[Newsweek]] | date = August 2004 | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5626574/site/newsweek/ | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070903110639/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5626574/site/newsweek/ | archive-date = September 3, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> due in part to 94% of its students using one of the four indoor athletics facilities. Particularly popular is the Aquatics and Fitness Center, across the street from the Alderman Dorms. The University of Virginia sent more workers to the [[Peace Corps]] in 2006<ref name="Peace Corps1">{{cite web| url = http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2006.pdf| title = Peace Corps – Top Producing Colleges and Universities| access-date = December 8, 2006| publisher = [[Peace Corps]]| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080227132115/http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2006.pdf| archive-date = February 27, 2008| df = mdy-all}}</ref> and 2008<ref name="Peace Corps2">{{cite web| url = http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2008.pdf| title = Peace Corps – Top Producing Colleges and Universities| access-date = January 16, 2009| publisher = [[Peace Corps]]| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090115041744/http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2008.pdf| archive-date = January 15, 2009| df = mdy-all}}</ref> than any other "medium-sized" university in the United States. Volunteerism at the university is centered around Madison House which offers numerous opportunities to serve others. Among the numerous programs offered are tutoring, housing improvement, an organization called Hoos Against Hunger, which gives leftover food from restaurants to the homeless of Charlottesville rather than allowing it to be discarded, among numerous other volunteer programs. Many students also choose to volunteer as emergency responders, the most common stations being Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS) in the city of Charlottesville and Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department (STVFD) in Albemarle County.<ref name="HoosGiveBack">{{cite web| url = https://news.virginia.edu/content/local-emergency-services-attract-students-who-want-give-back| title = Local Emergency Students Attract Students Who Want to Give Back| date = August 31, 2021| access-date = January 28, 2024| archive-date = January 28, 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240128171539/https://news.virginia.edu/content/local-emergency-services-attract-students-who-want-give-back| url-status = live}}</ref>

As at many universities, alcohol use is a part of the social life of many undergraduate students. In 2005, concerns particularly arose about fourth-years consuming excessive alcohol during the day of the last home football game.<ref name="4thYear5th">{{cite web| url = http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2005/12/01/coverHighSpiritsWahoosTack.html| title = High spirits: Wahoos tackle fourth-year fifth| access-date = December 11, 2006| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060627121634/http://readthehook.com/stories/2005/12/01/coverHighSpiritsWahoosTack.html| archive-date = June 27, 2006| df = mdy-all}}</ref> President Casteen then announced a $2.5&nbsp;million donation from [[Anheuser-Busch]] to fund a new UVA-based Social Norms Institute in September 2006.<ref name="SocialNorms">{{cite web| url = http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2006/09/28/NEWS-socialnorms-A.doc.aspx| title = Busch league: UVA gets big bucks to ban binging| access-date = December 11, 2006| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202123/http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2006/09/28/NEWS-socialnorms-A.doc.aspx| archive-date = September 30, 2007| df = mdy-all}}</ref> A spokesman said: "the goal is to get students to emulate the positive behavior of the vast majority of students". On the other hand, the university was ranked first in ''[[Playboy]]''{{'}}s 2012 list of Top 10 Party Schools based on ratings of sex, sports, and [[nightlife]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url = http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/top-10-party-schools| title = Top 10 Party Schools| access-date = September 26, 2012| magazine = [[Playboy]]| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120927031710/http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/top-10-party-schools| archive-date = September 27, 2012| df = mdy-all}}</ref>