News

News

AU ranked 28th among safest college campuses

By Maureen McCarty | February 14

Reader's Digest ranked AU as the 28th safest campus out of 285 U.S. colleges and universities analyzed for the effectiveness of their public safety programs. The magazine determined campus safety based on U.S. Department of Education crime rate statistics from 2004 and 2005 and a general survey that 135 institutions agreed to participate in, according to Reader's Digest Web site.

---

News

College Republicans seek opportunities

By Jen Calantone | February 14

Politics on university campuses are meaner than politics in Washington, Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, said at the College Republicans' annual Republicalooza event held Tuesday night. The event was also an opportunity for students to speak with different companies and agencies to see what kinds of job opportunities and internships were available, according to club President Will Haun.

---

News

'Passion party' leads sex responsibility week

By Rachel Trainer | February 14

AU students need information to be empowered to make sexual decisions, according to Women's Initiative Director Vanessa Mueller. This week, Women's Initiative organized a series of events to mark Sexual Responsibility Week - a national celebration held annually during the week of Valentine's Day, Mueller said.

---

News

Police blotter

February 14

Wednesday, February 6 Someone found a heavily intoxicated female vomiting in the Katzen Arts Center. The D.C. Fire Department transported her to Sibley Hospital. A resident assistant in Anderson Hall reported a heavy smell of marijuana in a room. Public Safety officers responded but found no illegal drugs in the room.

---

News

Potomac Primary draws students

By Patricio Chile | February 14

AU students and residents of D.C., Maryland and Virginia braved the cold weather Tuesday to cast their votes in the Democratic and Republican primary elections. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won all three Democratic primaries, beating out his sole major rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Among Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain maintained his dominance over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. The nearest polling site to AU was the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church on Nebraska Avenue, located across from the university's main campus.

---

News

Campus Calendar

February 14

Thursday, February 14 "The Vagina Monologues" 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Washington College of Law, room 603 INFO: The Women's Law Association is presenting its rendition of "The Vagina Monologues" to inform viewers of the prevalence of violence against women. Tickets are $10 and sales will benefit the Tahirih Justice Center, an organization that engages in direct litigation, public policy advocacy, education and outreach to ensure systemic change that protects women and girls from violence.

---

News

Briefs

February 14

NATIONAL BRIEF FBI warns against heartbreaking virus A Valentine's Day e-card from an unknown sender may contain an unexpected "Storm Worm" virus, which infects a user's computer to steal his or her personal information, the FBI warned Tuesday. "With the holiday approaching, be on the lookout for spam e-mails spreading the Storm Worm malicious software (malware)," FBI officials said in a press release.

---

News

AU tuition remission error impacts 150 employees

By Allie Feras | February 14

AU will reimburse employees for any taxes they may owe as a result of an error in processing tuition remission that affected approximately 150 employees' spouses who attended AU between 2004 and 2007, according to Executive Director of Human Resources Beth Muha.

---

News

House passes collegiate aid legislation

By Christopher Cottrell | February 11

The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday to tackle rising tuition costs and increase inaccessibility for low-income students at colleges and universities around the U.S., including at AU, according to a press release from the House Education and Labor Committee.

---

News

International brief

February 11

Officials in northern India conducting medical research will purchase 1,300 gallons of cow urine to study its curative properties, according to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. The bovine by-product is an important component of Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine in southern Asia.

---

News

National brief

February 11

The Writer's Guild of America has reached a preliminary deal with the television networks and movie producers that could finally end the 14-week writer's strike, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday. The Guild's 10,000 members still need to ratify the pact, but writers can expect to be at their desks again as early as Wednesday once votes are counted, according to the Times.

---

News

Students at AU, nationwide differ on priorities in choosing colleges

By Kristen Boghosian | February 11

While a University of California, Los Angeles survey indicates students nationwide say academic reputation and financial aid affect the colleges they choose, students who choose to attend AU indicate they have other priorities in mind. The UCLA survey's results were released last month from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program Freshman Survey, a survey conducted by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute.

---

News

'Kumar' star promotes Obama campaign at AU

By Rebecca Kern | February 11

Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy has attracted a large youth following that helped him win the Iowa caucuses and other contests, actor Kal Penn said during an event Friday night at the Washington College of Law. Penn, known for his roles in the film "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and the television show "House," encouraged young people to vote during the event.

---

News

Campus brief

February 11

The 2011 Class Council is trying to get the freshman class more involved on campus by creating groups to assist each of the council's officers, according to 2011 Class Secretary Cait Chew. "We want to get more of the freshman involved in class council and give the freshman class a bigger presence in different events around campus," Chew said.

---

News

Metro brief

February 11

The top remaining presidential candidates are making a final push for voter support before this Tuesday's Potomac primaries. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama gave speeches last weekend at the Virginia Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Richmond, while Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov.

---

News

Students to participate in 'secret shopper' program

By Kristen Boghosian | February 11

AU is looking to improve its dining services through Eagle Eyes, a new Auxiliary Services program that will allow students, staff and faculty to evaluate food vendors and receive some reimbursement for the meal, according to Auxiliary Services Director JoDe Norris.

---

News

AU ball celebrates Kerwin, founding

By Jimm Phillips | February 11

Student Government President Joe Vidulich toasted AU President Neil Kerwin and the university's 115th anniversary at the combined Inauguration Celebration and Founders' Day Ball Friday at the Italian Embassy. Approximately 1,250 people attended the sold-out event on the embassy's first floor.

---