Legal News

News

MIT professor ends hunger strike over tenure

By Kaylor Garcia | February 26

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology biology professor ended his hunger strike Feb. 16 protesting the MIT biology department's decision to deny him tenure. James Sherley claimed he was denied tenure because of racial discrimination, but decided to cease his 12-day hunger strike.

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Opinion

Saving Social Security

By Tom Noble | February 26

For over a year now, a theory on how to save Social Security has been bouncing around in my head. The straight-forwardness of my plan is grounded in pragmatism, yet it is strangely absent from most of the dialogue in and outside of the Beltway. I propose to gradually increase the age at which people receive benefits.

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Sports

Seniors go out with win over Lafayette in last regular season game

By Patrick Ambrosio | February 26

With just a little under three minutes gone by in the second half and the Eagles holding a six-point lead, senior Brayden Billbe had a clear look at the basket and went for a lay-up that was blocked by Lafayette's Ted Detmer, Billbe's third straight missed field goal.

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News

(Product) Red combines conscience, consumerism

By Kate Craig | February 26

There's a trendy new way to get on board with a global cause. (Product) Red, founded on Jan. 26, 2006, by activist and U2 lead singer Bono and Bobby Shriver (Chairman of Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), is a for-profit brand name whose proceeds are earmarked for combating the AIDS epidemic in Africa through The Global Fund.

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News

National brief: 'Kentucky Fried' rats overrun NYC restaurant

By Jimm Phillips | February 26

About a dozen rats were seen scampering around the eating area of a Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell restaurant in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood Friday, according to the Associated Press. Onlookers began to amass outside the restaurant's windows after a television crew began filming the rat onslaught.

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News

Music notes

February 26

Peter Bjorn and John "Writer's Block" (Wichita/V2) Sounds like: A good old PB&J. Grade: A- The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is renowned as humble yet incredibly satisfying; therefore, it's quite comparable to "Writer's Block," by Sweden's Peter Bjorn and John.

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News

Conductor visits AU, teaches master class

By Drew Richardson | February 26

Leonard Slatkin, world-renowned music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, came to the Katzen Arts Center on Feb. 21 for a master class and Q-and-A session. The event was held in the Abramson Family Recital Hall and featured Slatkin leading an open rehearsal with the American University Symphony Orchestra while students, faculty and community members watched from the audience.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: No matter what, at least we can watch YouTube

February 26

Brigham Young University in Utah has blocked YouTube.com from its server. The Mormon school blocks all Web sites it deems to contain "pornography, adult content and violence" in order to "provide a safer environment when browsing the Internet by preventing access to inappropriate Web sites.

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Sports

Women win home finale over Lafayette

By Justin Hall | February 26

The AU women's basketball team led from the opening whistle to the final buzzer on Saturday, defeating Lafayette 60-46 in the final home game of the season. With the victory, the Eagles clinched the fourth seed in the Patriot League tournament and will face Navy in Annapolis, Md.

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News

Muslim panel explores different sects, Islam in America

By Ali Goldstein | February 26

A Sunni and a Shi'a speaker called for dialogue between the two Islamic sects during the panel discussion, "Sunni-Shi'a Differences: Realities, Myths, and Challenges" in the McDowell formal lounge Feb. 22. Imam Abo Fazel Nahidian from the Manassas Mosque, a Shi'a mosque in Virginia, and Sunni professor Sulayman Nyang from Howard University were the featured speakers of the event, which was sponsored by the Minaret of Freedom Institute and the American University Muslim Student Association.

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News

AU officials discuss budget, presidential search

By Jimm Phillips | February 26

AU students' tuition and housing costs will rise by 6 percent annually in 2008 and 2009 in the budgets passed by the board of trustees Friday, according to Interim Provost Ivy Broder and Vice President of Finance Donald Myers. The board also allowed for two modifications to the increase.

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Opinion

Staff editorial: Diversity panel offers constructive approach

February 26

In response to controversial recent postings on the Daily Jolt and Facebook, several primarily black fraternities organized a "University Diversity" panel to discuss race relations on campus. Some of the 150 people in attendance came in response to a posting on The Daily Jolt by Jolt editor and Eagle editorial columnist Paul Perry.

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News

Utah university blocks use of YouTube.com

By Harry Spencer | February 26

Brigham Young University recently added Youtube.com, the popular user-generated video Web site, to a list of URLs blocked to its students. The school blocks sites it considers to contain violent or pornographic material. AU blocks no Web sites currently, but has the capacity to do so if deemed necessary.

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News

Search committee to decide on making final candidates public

By Jimm Phillips | February 26

The Presidential Search Committee will decide whether to release the names of final candidates for AU's presidency and conduct site visits with them based on how much confidentiality the candidates feel they need, according to Presidential Search Committee Chairman Gary Abramson.

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News

Campus brief: Kogod professors conduct FTC study on advertising

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 26

Kogod School of Business professors Michael Mazis and Manoj Hastak recently completed two studies for the Federal Trade Commission that concluded while the public does believe testimonials in advertising, results of including testimonials vary, according to a report in American Weekly.

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News

Gym Class Heroes school 9:30 club crowd

By Madalyn Wasilczuk | February 26

As Gym Class Heroes took the stage, flag waving, at the 9:30 club Wednesday night, fans old and new were instantly caught up in the band's melodic sound and quick lyrical flow. As the band began to play, a familiar hook filled the air-the sounds of an old fan favorite, "Papercuts," off the group's album "The Papercut Chronicles.

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News

Class drafts possible student bill of rights

By Courtney Albon | February 22

AU students are drafting a Student's Bill of Rights to fill what they see as a void in the campus community. While studying human rights in a class recently, Sergio Garciduenas-Seas, a senior in the School of International Service, and his classmates were asked by SIS professor Mubarak Awad whether AU has a bill of rights for students.

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