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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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Metro calendar

February 12

Thursday, Feb. 12 Film: "Passion for Sustainability" 12:30-1:30 p.m. WHERE: Bender Library, Media Classroom INFO: This documentary focuses on Portland, Ore., businesses with a set of environmentally sustainable practices called The Natural Step. CONTACT: For more information, call Chris Lewis at 202-885-3257.

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Campus brief

February 12

AU was named to the 2008 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition given to schools for community service, according to an AU press release. The 2008 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll award is given to schools that show outstanding community service skills throughout a one-year period.

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News

Clubs find peace through Frisbee

By Katie Litvin | February 12

Two AU clubs on opposite sides of the political spectrum, Students for Justice in Palestine and AU Students for Israel, tabled on the main quad Tuesday on behalf of one cause: Frisbee. Chelsea Lund, a senior in the School of International Service, brought together many of AU's clubs to support the union of sports and conflict resolution.

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International brief

February 12

A firefighter died after a 40-story Beijing luxury hotel, scheduled to open this year, burned down Monday near the end of the Chinese New Year's celebrations, CNN.com reported. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel was unoccupied at the time of the fire, but one firefighter died of smoke inhalation.

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Senate urges bookstore change

By Lindsey Anderson | February 12

The AU Undergraduate Senate unanimously passed a resolution Feb. 1 encouraging the Campus Store to list the ISBNs of textbooks online rather than directing book buyers to the Follett Higher Education Group's Web site. The resolution seeks to alter the bookstore's relationship with Follett, its textbook provider, before its contract with the company expires in June, according to Class of 2012 Sen. Jared Alves, one of the bill's sponsors. Rather than merely directing students to efollett.com to purchase their books, the resolution encourages the university to list the ISBNs, authors and editions of textbooks.

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Site gives students deals on food, clothes

By Marisa Kendall | February 12

A new Web site that offers discounts to local restaurants, retail stores and events is beginning to attract AU students with its deals. CityShopGirl.com, founded in October of 2008 by Kelly Collis Fredrick, lets users register for free to receive daily e-mail updates about promotions in the D.

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Speaker emphasizes sexual purity

By Justin Van Der Horn | February 12

A Wellness Center-sponsored abstinence education program that focused on sexual purity ended Monday night with students openly challenging the presented views. During the question-and-answer session, some students in the audience challenged what they described as religious overtones, exclusion of gay people and rhetoric pertaining to sex victims.

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National brief

February 12

Police arrested a Middletown, Ohio, teenager after he allegedly ordered more than $37,000 worth of candy and charged it to his former high school, reported WLWT.com. Jad Holmes, 18, ordered more than 100,000 candy bars and lollipops from a candy manufacturer using the school's purchasing number, police told WLWT.

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Kerwin calls for alumni involvement

By Charlie Szold | February 12

Expansion of AU's national prominence and improvements in alumni relations are extremely important to the university's continued growth, President Neil Kerwin said during a Kennedy Political Union event Monday. "We need to find ways to engage alumni in the light of the university, we need to serve their needs as they progress through life, needs for career assistance, needs for lifelong learning," he said.

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Kerwin takes AU's questions

By Ethan Klapper | February 9

Despite difficult economic times, the university continues to remain in good financial health, AU President Neil Kerwin said at an informal question-and-answer session Sunday night. "Every indicator we have is very positive," he said. This was the worst economy he has seen since 1982, a year when enrollment at AU dropped by 6.5 percent, Kerwin said.

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Metro brief

February 9

Several inmates at the Prince George's County jail disabled locks to escape from their cells Friday, assaulting guards on the level below, according to The Washington Post. At least eight prisoners escaped from their cells, where the locks could be disabled with plastic utensils or deodorant caps, the Post reported.

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TDR faces sticky situation with peanut butter recall

By Katie Litvin | February 9

Bon Appetit, the company that manages on-campus food options including the Terrace Dining Room and the Tavern, will wait for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval to serve some peanut butter food choices. More than 1,000 peanut butter products were recalled nationwide starting Jan.

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AU open to new food

By Travis Mitchell | February 9

AU Housing and Dining Programs will hold three open forums this week as part of its plan to replace two underperforming campus food vendors and expand the diversity of university dining options. The meetings will be open to the entire AU community and will focus on the future of the Pura Vida and Chick-fil-A vendors.

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International brief

February 9

An elderly milkman pleaded guilty Friday to supplying marijuana to customers in the northwestern England town of Burnely, the Associated Press reported. Robert Holding, 72, entered the plea to charges that he regularly dropped off marijuana at the homes of certain customers, as well as milk.

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Campus brief

February 9

AU's Center for Environmental Filmmaking, in conjunction with Filmmakers for Conservation, are teaming up for the fourth annual spring film series, according to the School of Communication's Web site. In a series of events between Feb. 10 and Apr. 14, films from National Geographic and Animal Planet, as well as from SOC professors Chris Palmer and Larry Engel amongst many others will be presented.

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