Northern Virginia Community College students probably won’t see metal detectors installed anytime soon, but college officials are re-assessing security following a December shooting at the Woodbridge campus.

The college recently launched its Presidential Commission on Safety and Security and gave it until April 30 to review the adequacy of emergency resources put in place following the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre—the worst school shooting in the nation’s history.

What’s better than playing video games at home, with all the lights off, just you and 5 million other people all connected by headsets? Playing with friends at school, that’s what. Video games have become more of a social past time than ever.
With such a drastic leap toward social gaming, why are some gamers still insisting on sitting alone in front of their consoles day after day, playing against opponents they don’t even know?

Getting a credit card is about to become a lot harder for those younger than age 21. New regulations intended to clean up the credit card industry include additional measures to protect young people. The so called Credit CARD Act will go into effect on Feb. 22.  The new law was championed by President Obama to protect consumers from unfair practices of the credit card industry.
The CARD act requires those younger than 21 to prove they earn enough money to pay off a credit card. Otherwise, a person age 21 …

Dr. Terry Alford has received Virginia’s prestigious Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Just 12 faculty members out of 177 were chosen from Virginia’s public and private colleges for the state’s higher education award.

Alford routinely receives glowing teacher evaluations for his “enthusiasm, passion, energy and dynamic teaching style,” as Dr. William Kinsella, Assistant Dean of History noted. One student declared him the “best history teacher I have ever had,” while another applauded him for bringing “enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge and a fabulous sense of humor to his chosen subject.”

Bright and early one recent morning, students from Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus loaded onto a bus headed to Richmond, home of the Virginia Senate. Nervous, yet full of excitement, these students were able to dip their toes into politics and get a first-hand look at what really happens behind the scenes.

NOVA sponsored its first annual Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 18. The event coincides with the National Day of Service which always takes place on the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. This NOVA Day of Service included two on-campus and two off-campus events. Both on-campus events, a free vehicle maintenance program and a school supply drive, took place on the Alexandria campus.

There’s a familiar buzz in the air, a strangely comforting feeling that reminds me of home. Walking down the street, with cold gusts of wind seeping through my cotton gloves and wool coat, I take a moment to look around and observe the ongoing preparations for Christmas day.

The street lamps are adorned with wreath-like decorations, setting off a hazy yellow light that feels all at once familiar and nostalgic. Christmas carols are blasting from the speakers from nearby stores. The songs take me back to Manila, to my family and friends, my home—the way all Christmas songs do. Every song is a time machine, every song has its own moments with me and I am here and there all at once.

The weapon used by a Woodbridge college student now charged with the attempted murder of his math instructor jammed on him, preventing him from firing a third round from his high-powered rifle.

Jason M. Hamilton, 20, was unable to continue shooting at instructor Tatyana Kravchuk, who ducked behind a desk and was not hit, Prince William County police Maj. Ray Colgan said. No one was injured.

Every year, various campuses at Northern Virginia Community College hold an alcohol awareness week, which doesn’t sound like much fun from a college student’s point of view. But aside from the tables with fliers warning about the effects of alcohol and a trailer displaying a mangled car from a drunk-driving accident, mocktails were served to those willing to undergo an obstacle course while wearing beer goggles, much to the delight of onlookers.
Mocktails are non-alcoholic cocktails. And these beer goggles don’t make anyone look good, least of all the wearer. …

On Oct. 15, the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College hosted a College Transfer Day. With about two months of planning the transfer day was created to give students who were planning to transfer to a university some idea of where they would like to go by  providing an opportunity to explore options and meet staff from colleges of their choice.
Michael Donnelly, one of the leading forces behind event, worked to make the day a success with the help of counselors, Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center …