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News

Provision would counter digital piracy at colleges

By Kim Selman | February 18

Provisions in the newly renewed Higher Education Act would mandate colleges, including AU, to purchase computer tools that would detect student music and video piracy. Officials from Educause, an information technology association for higher education institutions, and the American Council on Education are pushing for the removal of these provisions.

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International brief

February 18

Kosovo's parliament voted Sunday to establish independence from Serbia, the Associated Press reported yesterday. Serbia and Russia immediately criticized the secession as illegal, while the United States and the European Union support the move. Kosovo sidestepped the United Nations and appealed directly to the U.

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MGC, North side dorms hit by water main break

By Ethan Klapper | February 14

A water main break near the Mary Graydon Center loading dock Tuesday afternoon caused a water pressure disruption in a number of buildings on the North side of campus. The situation started when Public Safety reported water flowing through the tunnel, according to Juan Allen, chief operating engineer for Facilities Management.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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'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.

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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.

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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.

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GW to install AEDs on campus

By Patricio Chile | February 14

George Washington University will attempt to ensure immediate care for victims of sudden cardiac arrest by installing 135 additional automatic external defibrillators in highly populated buildings on its Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon and Virginia campuses. An AED is a device approximately the size of a laptop computer that analyzes abnormalities in a person's heart rhythm through two attached electrodes placed on the chest.

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Students strut at Queers and Allies show

By Rachel Trainer | February 14

Members of Queers and Allies donned boas, bras and baseball hats in their annual drag show last night in the Tavern. Queers and Allies held the show in conjunction with ATV, Eagle Nights and DC Kings as part of Founders' Week. Audience members could just watch from their seats, but many chose to participate.

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Health insurance costs rise at some U.S. colleges

By Kim Selman | February 14

College students across the nation are facing unforeseen health insurance charges on their tuition bills, but AU does not require students to buy a school-sponsored insurance policy if they already get coverage from a policy. While the Student Health Center does offer an AU insurance policy, they do not require students to buy it if they have insurance that has an equal or greater level of coverage, according to Cynthia Wilson, the center's business manager.

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Army Corps considers further digging at Pit 3 site

By Christopher Cottrell | February 14

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering relocating its Engineered Control Structure to another location at the Pit 3 site at 4285 Glenbrook Road so they can investigate for other potential nearby munitions, said Dan Noble, project manager of the Army Corps' military munitions response program, at a Spring Valley community meeting Monday.

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Ambassador describes Haitian contributions to U.S.

By Christopher Looney | February 14

Without Haiti, the United States would not "be what it is today," Haitian Ambassador Raymond Joseph said during a speech in the McDowell Formal Lounge Monday. Haiti's impact has largely been overlooked because it is a republic where slaves used force to win their freedom at a time when slavery was still legal in the United States.

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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.

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