The Residence Hall Association held their executive board elections last week to choose next year’s president and three vice presidents.

Christine Felty, a sophomore in the School of Communication was elected president, Hillary Roviaro, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences was elected vice president of administration and finance, Jenny Leland, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs will be the new vice president of programming and Keiko Iioka, a sophomore in the School of International Service will be the new vice president of advocacy and community coordination.

The student response to the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region helped pressure Congress into action, but members of the international community need to increase involvement there, State Department Sudan Programs Group Press Officer Joan Mower said during a panel discussion on the Darfur crisis Thursday night.

AU needs to create a better “neutral space” on the university’s campus where different campus communities feel they can connect with one another, School of Communication Artist-in-Residence Russell Williams said during the Strategic Plan Steering Committee’s first town hall meeting Friday.

Legislators channeled $2.25 billion into 920 colleges and universities during the 2008 fiscal year, including a $3.2 million earmark from Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., The Chronicle of Higher Education reported Friday.

McGovern allocated the money through the Department of Defense to fund the Army Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Used Defense Sites program in Spring Valley, according to Michael Mershon, McGovern’s press secretary.

SG BRIEF Martin Sheen will be the final speaker in KPU’s “Leaders of Today Become Leaders of Tomorrow” speakers series on April 14 at 8:15 p.m. in Bender Arena, KPU Director Amanda Fulton announced Sunday night. Fulton said she asked Sheen to speak about “how his role on ‘The West Wing’ reflects real life politics and how he can use his fame to bring awareness to social issues.

Monday, March 31 Walking Tour: “The Blossom Secrets Stroll” 10 a.m.-noon WHERE: National Mall METRO: Smithsonian (orange and blue lines) INFO: Go on a guided walking tour that reveals the stories and secrets behind the cherry trees. The tour will meet outside the Smithsonian Metro station.

The wealthy benefit from the same structures that hurt the poor, Joseph’s House founder Dr. David Hilfiker said Thursday afternoon during a forum on poverty and homelessness.

“I was shocked for instance to discover that you can be absolutely penniless,” he said.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty announced Wednesday the city will pay $2.5 million to repair the 17th Street levee - a flood barrier by the Potomac River the Federal Emergency Management Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deemed unsuitable last year.

The funding is in response to FEMA’s proposal last year for an extended flood zone in the District that would include the Federal Triangle, sections of the Mall, the base of Capitol Hill and a large section of Southwest D.

U.S. colleges’ support for Middle Eastern colleges could reduce the cycle of poverty in the region, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said during a speech Thursday as part of the Lebanese American University Board of Trustees luncheon at D.C.‘s Ritz-Carlton Hotel.