News

News

More than 25% of Metrobuses late

By Marisa Kendall | September 11

New technology allowed the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to report that more than 25 percent of its buses did not arrive on their scheduled times in July, according to data released recently on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Web site.

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MGC bridge nearly complete

By Ethan Klapper | September 10

The new pedestrian bridge between the main quad, Mary Graydon Center and Butler Pavilion will open this weekend after unstable soil found over the summer forced delays in its construction, according to University Architect Jerry Gager. "We found some unsuitable soil, so we had to change some engineering aspects of the structure," he said.

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News

Gingrich analyzes '08 election

By Howie Perlman | September 8

Although Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, is her party's vice presidential nominee, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., believes Republican presidential nominee John McCain seriously considered asking Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., he said at a Kennedy Political Union event Saturday.

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National brief

September 8

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Thursday it will pay the hotel expenses of nearly two million Hurricane Gustav evacuees in Baton Rouge, La., according to the Associated Press. FEMA plans to pay the costs "to make sure that people don't feel economic pressure to return home prematurely, before it's safe," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the AP Wednesday.

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News

Students review goals proposed in strategic plan draft

By Jen Calantone | September 8

Student Government President Seth Cutter will deliver undergraduate input on the first draft of AU's strategic plan to the university's board of trustees on Monday after receiving input from students over the past two weeks. Cutter held a meeting Saturday in the Butler Board Room, which was open to all students, to discuss what revisions students believe the Strategic Planning Committee needs to consider before they submit the plan to the board.

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News

Silver line to create new airport travel options

By Maureen McCarty | September 8

Students' airport travel options could branch beyond the District following the Federal Transit Administration's approval to begin construction on the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. While the FTA's Aug. 23 approval of the project does not guarantee full funding of the $5.

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Student Government brief

September 8

The Undergraduate Senate unanimously voted to amend to the Student Government election regulations Sunday. Emily Ann Kokol, acting chair of the Board of Elections, submitted adjustments. Senators Andy MacCracken and Jason Cunningham submitted amendments.

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Campus calendar

September 8

Monday, Sept. 8 Dance - The Metro D.C. Dance Awards 7:30 p.m. WHERE: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, Virginia Avenue and Rock Creek Parkway N.W. METRO: Foggy Bottom/GWU (orange and blue lines) INFO: Dance/MetroDC will recognize excellence in area dance performance during the eighth annual presentation of this ceremony.

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Metro brief

September 8

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial moved closer to construction after the National Capital Planning Commission approved construction plans Thursday, according to The Washington Post. The commission approved the final building plans, but rejected plans for security bollards and a donor recognition wall, The Post reported.

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Campus brief

September 8

Former Kogod School of Business Dean Sterling Ivison Jr., 89, died Aug. 16 from Alzheimer's disease. Ivison, who taught finance, earned an Outstanding Teaching Award from AU in 1978. He became Kogod's acting dean in 1981 and held that position until 1983, according to a memo Dean of Academic Affairs Haig Mardirosian sent to the campus community on Thursday.

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News

Hanna overestimated

By Rebecca Kern | September 8

No significant damage, flooding or electrical outages occurred AU's campus after Tropical Storm Hanna hit the D.C. area with heavy rain and wind this weekend, according to Public Safety Cpl. Logan Asay. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport received 3.

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International brief

September 8

U.S. troops crossed Pakistani borders early Wednesday morning to launch a ground attack against a suspected Taliban military haven, according to The Washington Post. Pakistani parliament has condemned the raid, which reportedly killed 15 people, as a violation of Pakistani territory that could potentially undermine security cooperation with the U.

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Crime reports increase

By Jen Calantone | September 8

What seemed like a recent increase in criminal activity on and near AU's campus was actually the result of more notification to students about these types of crimes, according to Public Safety Chief Michael McNair.

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Environmental program expands

By Rebecca Kern | September 8

AU created the Department of Environmental Science as a separate program from the Department of Biology this year and is working to increase the program's curriculum offerings. The move comes as other schools nationwide have started to strengthen their environmental programs because of increased interest in the green energy field.

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High enrollment squeezes resources

By Ethan Klapper | September 4

Enrollment deposits came at a record rate for the class of 2012, eventually causing the class to be the largest in AU's history, according to Sharon Alston, interim associate provost for enrollment. The university could attribute the enrollment spike to many factors, including new admissions marketing initiatives and the national media attention they received in the spring, Alston said.

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Study in China increases

By JAE CHOI | September 4

AU students are part of a rising number of U.S. students studying abroad in China. During the 2007-2008 school year, 54 AU students studied abroad in China as compared to 23 students during the 2003-2004 year. More than 10,000 U.S. students have signed up to study in the country this year, according to USA Today.

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Campus brief

September 4

Napster has terminated its contract with all colleges, including AU. In an e-mail to AU Housing and Dining Programs, Napster said it was ending its nationwide on campus program with all schools this year. Rick Treter, director of residence life for Housing and Dining, said AU's contract with Napster started in 2005.

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