Cabs strike to protest meter system

By Patricio Chile

D.C. cab drivers went on strike yesterday to protest Mayor Adrian Fenty's decision to require time-and-distance meters instead of the zone system, leaving cab companies scrambling to provide cabs for Halloween revelers. Representatives from SoberRide, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program's free cab campaign for partygoers, expressed confidence Wednesday afternoon that the campaign would be unhurt by the strike. (continue reading)

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Drag Race

Annual High Heel Drag Race attracts hundreds

By Amanda Krause

The neighborhood surrounding Dupont Circle's 17th Street bustled with excitement Tuesday night as the block between P and S streets became the staging ground for the annual High Heel Drag Race. The race, in its 22nd year, occurs on the Tuesday before Halloween and consists of glamorously dressed drag queens taking to the street for a foot race. (continue reading)

AU receives low grade for campus sustainability

By Chris Cottrell

AU received a D+ for environmental sustainability on a Sustainable Endowments Institute report card, which ranks U.S. and Canadian colleges. The second annual College Sustainability Report Card assessed 200 public and private universities with the highest endowments. (continue reading)

Web site aims to query candidates

By Laraine Weschler

Voters who did not get their YouTube questions answered by presidential candidates have a new option, according to Rachel Tardiff, a freshman in the School of Communication. Tardiff and a group of students, including about 15 from AU, created Straight2theCandidates. (continue reading)

Kerwin speaks about vision for new AU plan

By Jimm Phillips

AU needs to reassert itself as a major player in D.C. and the metropolitan area, President Neil Kerwin said Tuesday during a speech in the McDowell Formal Lounge. The university has, at times, neglected its home city and region, he said. "The fact is, Washington, D. (continue reading)

AU makes no changes for D.C. drought watch

Restrictions in area remain voluntary

By Rachel Trainer

The D.C. area, including AU, has been under a drought watch since early October. While AU has not instituted any additional water restrictions as a result of the drought watch, it recently began implementing new programs to start conserving water, according to Willy Suter, director of Facilities Management. (continue reading)

Campus calendar

Thursday, Nov. 1 Close the School of Americas Interest Meeting 9-10:15 p.m. WHERE: Basement, Kay Spiritual Life Center INFO: This is a mandatory meeting for all people who are interested in or undecided about going on the trip to protest the School of the Americas Nov. (continue reading)

Campus brief

Saffron Revolution comes to AU campus

People involved in the Saffron Revolution attempted to educate AU students from Monday to Wednesday through activities on the main quad. Saffron Revolution's goal was to teach students about the 100,000 nonviolent protesters in Myanmar. Before the recent government crackdown became violent, the protesters demanded freedom and human rights in the country, according to an e-mail from Leslie Miller, president of Student Campaign for Burma. (continue reading)

Metro brief

Metro conductor used cell phone before deadly accident, authorities say

The operator of a yellow line train that fatally struck two Metro track workers in Alexandria last year lied to federal investigators about using her cell phone prior to the collision, according to reports and transcripts released last week by the National Transportation Safety Board. (continue reading)

National brief

FEMA criticized for fake news conference

Michael Chertoff, secretary of Homeland Security, scolded his employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Saturday for holding a news conference last week in which FEMA staffers acted as reporters. "I think it was one of the dumbest and most inappropriate things I've seen since I've been in government," Chertoff told MSNBC at a real press conference. (continue reading)

International brief

U.K. man pleads guilty to "rogering" a bike

A U.K. man has pleaded guilty to sexual breach of peace and has been placed on the sex offenders' registry after he was caught having sex with a bike last year at a hotel in Ayr, Scotland, Telegraph.co.uk, a British online newspaper, reported. Deputy Fiscal Gail Davidson told the court two hotel employees keyed into Robert Stewart's room and found him naked from the waist down "holding the bike and moving his hips back and forth as if to simulate sex," according to the Telegraph. (continue reading)

Police blotter

Wednesday, Oct. 24 An unknown individual damaged Fletcher Gate, causing a gap in the gate. A vehicle parked in Nebraska Hall had its right passenger window broken into. There was a theft in the men's locker room at the Jacobs Fitness Center. Anyone who has additional information should contact Public Safety. (continue reading)

WAMU radio show ranked 'powerful' by research firm

"The Diane Rehm Show" has 1.7 million listeners

By Jimm Phillips

"The Diane Rehm Show," which originates from WAMU 88.5 FM, a National Public Radio affiliate owned by AU, ranked on an industry list as one of the 10 most powerful programs in public radio. Audience Research Analysis, a public radio research firm that helped rank the programs, measured power based on the number of listeners the program drew to its station and away from competitor stations. (continue reading)

Tuition costs increase nationwide

AU cost to rise by 6 percent

By Caitlin Hillyard

College tuition and fees are rising at twice the rate of inflation nationwide, including tuition at AU, according to a recent report by the College Board. According to the 2006-2007 Financial Plan and AU Financial Aid Application, the cost of tuition last year came to $29,206. (continue reading)

South Sudan crisis ignored in midst of Darfur attention

By Allie Feras

An amplified focus on the genocide in Darfur has drawn international attention away from tragedies occurring in south Sudan, filmmaker Jen Marlowe said at a panel discussion Tuesday evening. "The peace process that was started [in South Sudan] ... has been allowed to slide back into what looks like a slide back into civil war," Marlowe said. (continue reading)