Legal News

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor: Seth Johnson's line of reasoning that a liberal should not have an opinion on who becomes the next pope is specious at best. The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the First Amendment to require a "wall of separation" between church and state; thus it not only prohibits government from adopting an official denomination or religion, but requires government to avoid excessive involvement in religion.

'Death' descends on D.C.

Don't show up at Tuesday's Death From Above 1979 gig at the Black Cat in socks and sandals, the band's T-shirt and badly cut jeans. If you do, singer and drummer Sebastien Grainger may just punch you in the face, but that's merely speculation. He considers the above ensemble to be a "don't," a label commonly doled out by Vice Magazine, an edgy publication housed by the band's record label.

Mock hip-hop-umentary is big pimpin'

If more movies opened with a bling-encrusted rap artist holding fistfuls of cash and shaking two bottles of Armadale over a steaming hot tub full of honeys, maybe more movies would be box office hits. At least, that's what producer and director Damon Dash seemed to think when cutting together his mocumentary masterpiece, "Death of a Dynasty.

Metro brief: Police search for missing UMd. student

Arvin Sharma, a 22-year-old University of Maryland student, has not been seen since he left to spend a night out with a group of old friends. Now police are asking for the public's help with any information leading to Sharma, who was last seen at Club Lime, a popular nightspot in Southwest D.

The hit list

1. www.43things.com This collective Internet oasis allows users to create a list of 43 goals, wishes, hopes or desires, and displays them in list form on its homepage using tags much like those utilized on flickr.com. Registering with a valid email address lets one manage his or her list by prioritizing set goals, crossing off accomplished ones or perusing other users with similar aspirations.

Opinion: Azerbaijan must work for WTO membership

Like many other countries, Azerbaijan is considering becoming a member of World Trade Organization. But the road to the WTO membership can be long and difficult. Azerbaijan has to think about its competitive advantage in today's global world, and compare cost and benefits of becoming a WTO member.

Staff editorial: Univ. college system a bad idea from start?

This year's freshmen will have the opportunity to participate in a new program geared toward integrating their academic and social lives. In the University College program, three floors in McDowell Hall and four in Anderson will have 18 to 20 freshmen living on them.

Corrections

Corrections and Clarifications In the April 21 edition of The Eagle, a Page 4 article accidentally misspelled SG Secretary Joe Vidulich's name. The Eagle apologizes for this error. We love you, Viddy.

Ladner chooses Pura Vida for new coffee shop

A Pura Vida coffee shop will move into Mary Graydon Center, AU President Benjamin Ladner announced last Wednesday, because he said the company's socially responsible fair trade product suits AU's values. The choice represents "American University's institutional values and another opportunity to translate those values into a demonstrated public responsibility," Ladner said in a campus-wide e-mail.

Is the Nats' bandwagon well-built?

Be warned. This is another Nationals column. These days they're about as plentiful as District pedestrians donning blue or red baseball caps bearing the cursive W. (If the proliferation of columns and caps counts toward a team's future success, the city should plan the World Series parade now.

Scars of atomic bombing still felt today

A speaking tour of Japanese students and a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing made its way to professor Peter Kuznick's Social Forces that Shaped America class Friday to talk about the first atom bomb drop and the future of atomic weapons. The Chugoku Shimbun newspaper is sponsoring the speaking tour, which began in San Francisco and will end in New York this week.

Stewart trial covered by SOC prof

Reporting on Martha Stewart's stay in prison stretched the journalistic skills of AU professor Alicia Shepard, who had to find creative ways to glean information about a celebrity she was not allowed to interview. "I stopped cars going to the prison and asked for interviews.

Comics

Campus calendar

Monday, April 25 George Mason vs. AU Women's Lacrosse 3 p.m., Reeves Field For more information, contact the Athletics Department at x3000. Baja Fresh with the Gymnastics Team 5:00-9:00 p.m., Dupont Circle Baja Fresh Join the AU Gymnastics team for dinner at Baja Fresh in Dupont Circle.

Video Game Newsbits

Bangladeshi government threatens Sony The government of Bangladesh has threatened to take legal action against Sony because of references to the country in the video game publisher's upcoming tactical shooter "SOCOM 3," according to Chinese news service Xinhua.

Cabinet meeting reports on year

AU President Ben Ladner held his annual year-end cabinet meeting Tuesday morning and answered questions from University officials about new buildings on campus and new academic programs, including the University College program. Members of Housing and Dining including Julie Weber, Rick Treter and Peter Schline (the voice of x1100 fame), as well as other faculty and staff, attended the meeting, which was open to the public, including undergraduate and graduate students.

Opinion: Facts don't take sides in debate

Students may have noticed the blue and pink flags that took up a perfectly good sunbathing area on the Quad last Thursday. These flags were part of the "Cemetery of the Innocents" that was sponsored by AU Students for Life. Each flag signified one of the 4,000 lives that are lost each day through abortion.