Around Campus

JMU, VMI cadets will march with game ball

ROTC units from James Madison University and Virginia Military Institute will begin a 61-mile march today with the game ball for Saturday's football game.

The JMU Duke Battalion and VMI's Marshall-New Market Battalion will march the ball from Lexington to Harrisonburg as a tribute to the sacrifice of those serving in the armed forces.

The march will begin with a ceremony at 11 a.m. in front of VMI's Cameron Hall. JMU football captains Charlie Newman and Dorian Brooks will be on hand as the cadets embark on the three-day march.

On day one, the ROTC cadets will march 17 miles along U.S. 11 from VMI to Raphine, where they will camp at the Cyrus McCormick Farm. The second day they'll march 24 miles to the Verona Volunteer Fire Department.

The final 20-mile trek Saturday will put them in Bridgeforth Stadium in time for the scheduled 6 p.m. kickoff.

UR map highlights accessible routes

University of Richmond students have created a map of the campus to aid people with accessibility concerns.

Students in an Introduction to Geographic Information Systems class last year used portable GPS units to map the 350-acre campus. They noted barriers such as stairs, curbs and steep slopes that present challenges for people who use wheelchairs and crutches.

The map highlights more easily accessible routes, handicap parking spaces and automatic doors. Copies are available through the university's print shop, and an online map will be available soon.

Homeland security conference at VMI

Virginia Military Institute will hold a conference tomorrow and Saturday on the role of the citizen soldier and homeland security.

Keynote speakers include retired Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré, who led Joint Task Force Katrina after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; retired Maj. Gen. Arnold L. Punaro, former chairman of the U.S. Commission on the National Guard and Reserves; and Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, deputy combatant commander, U.S. Northern Command.

Nobel economist will speak at U.Va.

Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate known as the "father of microfinance," will speak Sunday at the University of Virginia's University Hall.

Doors open at 1 p.m., and Yunus' talk, which is free, is at 2:30 p.m.

The economist is credited with helping to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh by making small loans to poor entrepreneurs, most of them women.

Karin Kapsidelis reports on higher education. Contact her at (804) 649-6119 or .