News

News

Dorm security may change

By Tamar Hallerman | February 16

Despite mixed reactions from residents about the double-barrier security system installed in Letts Hall over winter break, Director of Housing and Dining Programs Chris Moody said his team wants to expand the security system to the rest of the residence halls within the next few years. Until this semester, Letts residents only had to use swipe access once when they entered the building - at the front door, with an AU identification card. That is the same system used in all other dorms on campus, except Nebraska Hall. Moody said the double-barrier system adds another layer of security to Letts, where students must swipe their IDs again to get through the doors that lead to the residential part of the building.

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News

Author expresses hope for Iraq

By Lindsey Anderson | February 16

For the first time, the situation in Iraq does not feel like utter chaos, according to Anthony Shadid, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author. He said he noticed the difference when he recently visited the country and found it to be quite different from how it was between 2003 and 2006.

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News

What restaurants do you want at AU?

February 16

"I want something that will take a meal swipe. I think that that's more important because if you look at on the weekends, there's nothing besides TDR, and TDR is not always the best option, depending on what food you're looking for. I don't care what kind of food it is as long as I can use a meal swipe.

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News

New D.C. public library policy bans naps in facility

By Marisa Kendall | February 16

Although the D.C. Public Library system recently imposed stricter security measures that include banning visitors from sleeping in branch libraries, AU students can continue to nap in Bender Library without risk of penalization. The new regulations are part of a larger policy review aimed at making the library more welcoming, according to George Williams, public information officer for the D.C. Public Library system. There was originally a rule in place prohibiting patrons from napping for longer than 15 minutes, but it proved difficult to enforce.

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News

National brief

February 16

Inmates at a county jail in southeastern Iowa could find themselves paying for toilet paper, according to the Des Moines Register. Des Moines County officials were looking into the idea to help meet a $1.7 million budget shortfall, the Register reported. The idea is under consideration in response to an edict by the county's Board of Supervisors that said departments needed to cut costs if they wished to avoid furloughs or layoffs, according to the Register.

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International brief

February 16

A Dutch city is missing its municipal pornography collection, the Associated Press reported. Erik Krikke, a spokesman for the city of Leeuwarden, told the AP a city employee or visitor may have accidentally taken the collection, which is small enough to fit in a moving box.

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News

AU students keep Founders' Day traditions

By Meg Fowler | February 16

This week is Founders' Week at AU, a long-standing tradition of events, culminating at the end of the week with the popular Founders' Day Ball on Saturday. The theme of this year's Founders' Week is "Founded at AU," because the aim of the week is to celebrate AU traditions, according to Ben Schorr, the events coordinator for Student Government.

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News

Film fest addresses taboos

By Olivia Stitilis | February 16

An energetic crowd of different backgrounds and ages laughed together as comedian Dean Obeidallah joked about Muslim stereotypes and other topics often considered taboo on Friday night in the Tavern. The D.C. Muslim Film Festival, "Art Under Fire," sponsored by the American Islamic Congress and Project Nur, opened Feb. 13 at AU with a showing of "Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age," and a live performance by one of the comedians featured in the film, Obeidallah.

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News

Metro brief

February 16

A carjacking suspect shot at police Thursday night at Third and Upshur streets N.W. after the police attempted to stop the suspect's car, The Washington Post reported. Authorities said a man wearing a ski mask and black clothing forced a woman out of her SUV at the 300 block of Taylor Street, N.

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News

Campus brief

February 16

AU's Residence Hall Association won four awards at the No-Frills conference Feb. 8. Among the four awards granted was the School of the Year for the Central Atlantic Region award - "the highest honor a member school can obtain," according to Jay Nagle, RHA's national communications coordinator and a junior in the Kogod School of Business.

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News

Metro calendar

February 16

Monday, Feb. 16 Ford's Theatre open house 9 a.m.-5 p.m. WHERE: Ford's Theatre, 511 10th St. N.W. METRO: Metro Center (red, orange and blue lines) INFO: Plays and National Park Service ranger-led talks will celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth.

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News

SG brief

February 16

Student Government Vice President Andrew Woods and Director of Events Ben Schorr updated the Undergraduate Senate Sunday about Founders' Day Ball developments. Schorr told senators the sale of additional tickets on Saturday went according to plan and 10 tickets were left over.

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News

AU student devotes year for service

By Clint Rice | February 16

Raphael Dunfey, a sophomore in the School of International Service, devoted an entire year of his life to service when he deferred his enrollment at AU to spend a year in D.C. as a City Year volunteer. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to school right away," he said.

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News

Metro brief

February 12

Faced with a budget shortfall of more than $150 million, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority officials are considering money-saving options that include closing the rail system early, The Washington Post reported. According to the Post, Metro General Manager John B.

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News

Police blotter

February 12

Feb. 4 A student reported a fire outside of Constitution Hall and extinguished the flames with water. The Department of Public Safety responded and noticed a large pile of newspaper ashes on the step landing near the Tenley field side doors. Public Safety contacted the Grounds Department to remove the ashes.

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News

U. of the People offers cost-free online courses

By Clint Rice | February 12

Shai Reshef is starting a new online university, complete with courses, students, professors and deans. What it will not have, however, is tuition. The University of the People, as it is called, relies heavily on volunteers and both retired and active professors.

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USPS cuts could affect AU

By Lindsey Anderson | February 12

The U.S. Postal Service may cut one day of mail delivery per week due to budget deficits, possibly affecting AU students and the university mail delivery system. Postmaster General John E. Potter proposed the delivery cuts to Congress on Jan. 28, asking the legislators to rescind the requirement that mail be delivered six times per week in order to compensate for the U.S. Postal Service's deficit of $2.8 million last year, according to The Washington Post. The post office will likely face a $6 billion loss this fiscal year unless action is taken, Potter told the Post. Delivery on the da

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