News

News

Pipe leak closes tunnel

By Tamar Hallerman | November 3

A recent pipe leak in the south end of the Butler Pavilion tunnel has resulted in the closure of one of the main campus's busiest roads and a significant re-routing of traffic as repairs are being made. Steam pressure caused the leak, said Director of Facilities Management Willy Suter.

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National brief

November 3

The Minneapolis, Minn., Star Tribune became the latest of several news organizations to receive an "anthrax" package on Thursday, despite Wednesday's arrest of a leading suspect. Marc Keyser, who was responsible for more than 120 anthrax hoax letters, was taken into custody Wednesday at his home in Sacramento, Calif.

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International brief

November 3

Thousands protested in Rome Thursday after the Italian government approved changes to the country's school system the previous day. Reforms include failing students with poor behavior, assigning elementary students the same teacher for all five years and instating mandatory uniforms in school, the Associated Press reported.

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Metro Calendar

November 3

Monday, Nov. 3 Ghost tours at the National Building Museum 8-9 p.m. WHERE: The National Building Museum, 401 F St. N.W. METRO: Judiciary Square (red line) INFO: Experience the hidden scare factor of one of the city's most beautiful buildings. Tickets are $18 and prepaid registration is required.

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Contest winner meets Al Gore

By Katie Litvin | November 3

An AU senior won the chance to meet with former Vice President and 2000 Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore Wednesday through a contest run by Power Vote. Casey Roe, a senior in the School of Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences, recruited the most pledge signatures on Facebook for Power Vote, according to Brianna Cotter, the organization's communications director.

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Ask AU: Who are you voting for in '08?

By Clint Rice | November 3

The Eagle surveyed 50 likely voters on the main quad and in Mary Graydon Center about whom they voted for or planned to vote for in the presidential election. The unscientific poll found 84 percent of these voters had voted or planned to vote for Obama, while 12 percent had voted or planned to vote for McCain.

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Some AU students have trouble receiving ballots

By Nicole Glass | November 3

Many AU students will vote for the first time this election. Most will use the absentee ballot system because they are too far from home to vote at their registered polling place, but some have had complications in receiving their ballots. To vote via an absentee ballot, Americans must first register to vote and can then request a ballot by sending in a form to the state in which they are registered.

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Professors may decide to hold classes on Nov. 4

By Olivia Stitilis | November 3

Election Day does not guarantee a day off for students at AU, as the decision to cancel class on Tuesday is in the hands of individual professors. AU does not cancel all classes on Election Day. The decision to cancel classes on Election Day is one of heated debate at universities around the country.

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Campus brief

November 3

Students in the class Election 2008: Politics, Polling and the Youth Vote, conducted and published a poll on USAToday.com that focused on the upcoming presidential election. Professor Dotty Lynch's class worked with USA Today, Gallup and MTV and conducted two surveys, one from Sept.

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Campus calendar

October 30

Thursday, Oct. 30 Speech: French Deputy Ambassador Fran?ois Rivasseau 2:30-3:30 p.m. WHERE: School of International Service Lounge INFO: Rivasseau will speak about the French presidency of the European Union and diplomatic relations between the United States and the EU.

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AU explains holiday scheduling

By Sarah Rudnick | October 30

Although AU students come from different backgrounds, different parts of the country and even different corners of the world, they must all adhere to the same calendar, only getting days and holidays off that the university delineates. AU's academic and holiday schedule goes through an involved process before it becomes the university's legitimate annual calendar.

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Students consider D.C. schools' safety on Election Day

By Carol Cummings | October 30

D.C. public schools will remain open on Election Day despite concerns about students' safety in these schools. AU students typically agree with this decision, yet some still worry for children's safety with strangers in their school buildings. A record number of voters are expected to vote this election year, leading some school polling locations to close for the day.

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Hagel calls for U.S. diplomacy

By Howie Perlman | October 30

Politicians who take office in January must work to improve America's standing in the world through emphasizing mutual goals between America and other nations, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said at a Kennedy Political Union event Tuesday. "The next leaders of America are going to be required to build on what our great leaders did for the world after World War II and that is to engage," he said.

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Domestic Workers comment on Inequality

By Justin Van Der Horn | October 30

Myrtle Witbooi and Hester Stephens, representatives of the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers' Union, stressed during an event Monday night that despite advances in South African law and government, poor black women have seen little change. The panel focused on apartheid, the system of legalized racial separation in South Africa that ended in the early 1990s.

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Metro brief

October 30

Metro has begun random bag searches on Metrorail trains and Metrobuses to increase rider safety and privacy and minimize delays, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority officials announced Tuesday. The program is not in response to any specific threat, but rather to increase safety before next week's presidential election, according to The Washington Post.

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Juicy Campus creator tells all

By Charlie Szold | October 30

Juicy Campus creator Matt Ivester said he never anticipated the amount of untrue and hurtful gossip found on the controversial Web site during a speech at Georgetown University Tuesday. It was the first time Ivester has made a public appearance since the Web site went live in August 2007.

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International brief

October 30

Special U.S. forces raided Syria Sunday, killing a senior Iraqi militant leader responsible for running weapons, money and foreign fighters across the Iraq border, officials told The New York Times. The raid was the boldest U.S. attack since the nation invaded Iraq five years ago, according to The Times.

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