Legal News

Katzen Arts Center open for business, ready for students

A variety of work from 22 different artists displayed in the newly opened Katzen Arts Center showcases the type of talent and vision that will be featured in the museum in the coming season. The inaugural exhibit, titled "Soft Openings" opened to the public July 16 and will run through September 17.

Laptops continue to disappear from unlocked dorm rooms

Seven laptop computers have been stolen from residence halls this summer, prompting Public Safety to discuss security with new students and present a proposal to the university that would make an anti-theft tracking system available for purchase at the campus bookstore.

Music notes

Engineers "Engineers" Echo Sounds like: Airy, ambient synth-pop with a melancholy twist. A- For an indie band that claims to be driven by the "restless, symphonic power of music," Engineers have had a good year. Since the release of their self-titled debut album in March, they've traveled 'round their native England and trekked across the United States with fellow Brits Bloc Party and Charlatans.

Ruckus downloading program rejected after trial semester

AU will discontinue Ruckus, a music and movie downloading program offered last spring, after a survey of 398 students conducted in April revealed many didn't support the service during its free trial period. The university is still considering several other legal file sharing programs with input from students, including the Residence Hall Association, which announced on Sunday it will recommend Napster.

Katzen Arts Center open for business, ready for students

A variety of work from 22 artists displayed in the newly opened Katzen Arts Center showcases the type of talent and vision that will be featured in the museum in the coming season. The inaugural exhibit, titled "Soft Openings" opened to the public July 16 and will run through September 17.

All thumbs: Advice for freshmen

Thumbs Up Get off the red line ... D.C. is a fun city with tons to do, so make sure you do it. We live in one of the nicest parts of the District, but while the allure of Tenleytown is tempting the real joy of D.C. lies elsewhere. Make sure to get involved in the city's celebrations, including the internationally-reknowned spring Cherry Blossom festival.

Campus brief: No summer break for campus construction

As the Katzen Arts Center nears completion, AU prepares to tackle other major campus projects, including a new School of International Service building and the School of Communication's move from Mary Graydon Center to the McKinley building. While Katzen will open this fall, the SIS building is still only a concept.

Latest 'Batman' goes behind the mask

"Batman Begins" Directed by Christopher Nolan With Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Katie Holmes PG-13 A- The Dark Knight returns. Eight years after the movie franchise seemingly gasped its last breath with director Joel Shumacher at the helm, Batman has been rebooted into a new series that delves more into the character's roots than CGI.

Is activism the answer?

On my way to Subway the other day, the rants and raves of a multitude of protesters emanated from Farragut Square Park, but one in particular caught my ear. I looked up to see a sandal-clad, pony tail-haired, ripped cargo shorts-sporting hippie kid appearing from an alleyway.

New security aims to keep viruses off network

A new virus protection system is being implemented to prevent infected computers from logging onto AU's network, EagleNet, and to remind users to regularly update their virus protection software. The introduction of the software is a response to high rates of infection among computers on the AU network, which have mostly affected students.

Staff editorial: AU continues upward climb

In the past, when we told people we go to AU, they'd say, "Oh. Where's that?" But with the school's steady improvements, people are starting to respond instead with, "Oh, I hear that's a good school." Some students complain that President Benjamin Ladner, who received the second highest salary of any D.

Library coffee kiosk coming soon

Bender Library's new coffee kiosk will be finished by the beginning of July, according to Diana Vogelsong, associate university librarian at AU. The Mud Box, given its quirky moniker by a student who won a naming contest last spring, is one of many projects the library has been working on for the next academic year.

Fourth of July: Only in D.C.

Ah, summer in the District. Between diving headfirst into internships and classes, it's easy to forget that D.C.'s long, lazy days and temperate, starry nights are punctuated with a fabulous slate of fun (and free!) events. Make the most of your time in the nation's capital by grabbing some shades, hopping on the Metro and jumping right in! Things to know: The National Mall is most accessible from the Smithsonian Metro stop located on the Red/Orange/Blue lines.

Campus brief: School of Communication class examines social change

Students in a new School of Communication class covered the impact a new baseball stadium will have on Southeast D.C. through an array of techniques, from a documentary to public service announcements. The goal of the class, Communication and Social Change, was to explore the effect of the proposed $585 million stadium on all residents using a variety of media, according to the course's professor, Charlene Gilbert.

Comics

Campus brief: SG rolls out new Web site for fall

The Student Government's new Web site will include opinion forums and regularly updated content when it is completed in time for the beginning of Welcome Week. The new system will make it easier to get news, events and pictures on the site. SG directors will be able to add content themselves, instead of filing an update request with the webmaster, according to Ben Murray, the SG's director of information technology.

Sacrifice for the love of the game

In Washington, double-speak and controlling the message is the name of the game. It's true when it comes to politics, but do college athletes do the same thing? Apparently they do. I was in the crowd of reporters at the Charlotte Bobcats training who were grilling Duke basketball player Shavlik Randolph about why the underperforming, often-injured "big white stiff" was considering the NBA draft.