Spring 2021

Features

Pep Banned
For 30 years, UVA’s scrambling Pep Band managed to stay one punchline ahead of the authorities.

The rise and fall of a J-School at UVA
Amid the fervor of the Great War, UVA rid itself of a journalism school, and the pacifist it rode in on.

Making the most of a COVID situation
In a hard year, some UVA notables found comfort and escape in books, music, movies and the woods. Here are the good things that have helped them through.

Undergraduate application rates hit records
A few factors likely contributed to surging rates across all schools and from students of diverse backgrounds.

Spring semester rolls on
Students return for another unusual semester on Grounds, marked by limited group sizes and regular testing, even as in-person classes continue.

On the shelf
From academic research to rollicking fiction, UVA alumni and faculty members have been churning out books on a variety of topics. Here’s a look at some of them.

Groovin’ on Grounds
When we asked alumni about their favorite college-year bands, the answers ran the gamut. Here’s a selection.

Trial based on UVA research may help treat COVID-19
A drug shown by UVA studies to be effective against certain immune-system responses shows promise in trials at Washington University in St. Louis.

More connections made between brain and immune system
New developments about injury and infection have emerged from two UVA studies.

College life in quarantine
For some UVA students, isolation and quarantine have brought new challenges to an already unusual year.

Letters to the Editor
Readers share their thoughts on past issues.

From President Ryan: Starting the dialogue
President James E. Ryan introduces a new series, Democracy Dialogues.

From the Editor
Editor Richard Gard provides a preview of the Spring magazine.

A legacy on the court
Forty years ago, UVA’s basketball team rose to No. 1 for the first time, paving the way for the top-ranking teams of recent years.