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News

Carlson discusses 2008 election, opines on presidential candidates

By Rachel Trainer | February 21

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has the best chance of winning both the Democratic nomination and the general election, MSNBC talk show host and political pundit Tucker Carlson said at an AU College Republicans event Wednesday night. "If you're betting on this election, be careful, but here's what to look for: Foreign policy to come back as an important subject and for the Obama campaign to do something crazy," Carlson said.

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Facebook users can now completely delete their profiles

By Ethan Klapper | February 18

Facebook users can now delete their accounts completely after the company added instructions Tuesday to the help page on its Web site. The social network's actions come days after The New York Times reported that many users were having trouble completely deleting their accounts.

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Campus brief

February 18

AU's Residence Hall Association received two awards at the Central Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls' business meeting Feb. 9, according to Dorothy Mejia, RHA president. Centennial Hall Resident Director Leah Kreimer received an award for "Adviser of the Year," while the entire RHA beat The University of Maryland, Baltimore for the RHA Building Block Award, which is given to the residence hall association showing the most improvement to its environment within the last academic year.

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SG brief

February 18

The Undergraduate Senate upheld a veto of the election reform bill and passed a resolution sending condolences over the shooting at Northern Illinois University during their meeting yesterday. Student Government President Joe Vidulich vetoed "A Bill to Ensure the Credibility of Election Bill," which the senate passed last week.

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AU recognized for community service on honor roll

By Alyssa Wolice | February 18

AU recently earned placement on the 2007 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in the "with Distinction" category for commendable service and service directed toward aiding disadvantaged youth. The award, which the Corporation for National and Community Service started giving out in 2006, recognizes colleges and universities that show "innovative, effective and exemplary community service," according to a press release from Learn and Serve America, an independent federal agency of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

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Nigeria program to start in fall '08

By Christopher Schmidt | February 18

AU students who are able to study abroad in Nigeria beginning this fall will gain valuable experience on the American University of Nigeria's campus, AUN President Michael C. Smith said at an information session Thursday. "The students will be immersed with students from all over Nigeria - an international experience like none other," Smith said.

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Metro brief

February 18

Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., drew record numbers of voters to the Maryland polls during the state's primary elections Tuesday, The Washington Post reported. Nearly 41,000 Democratic voters cast votes for either candidate, while only half as many Republicans showed up.

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Metro calendar

February 18

Monday, Feb. 18 George Washington Birthday Parade 1-3 p.m. WHERE: South St. Asaph Street at Wilkes Street, Alexandria, Va. METRO: Eisenhower Avenue (yellow line) INFO: Take part in the largest parade in the nation celebrating Washington's birthday.

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Students start T-shirt, shoe businesses

By Lara Aqel | February 18

Nearly 67 percent of teenagers who participated in a Junior Achievement Worldwide survey released Nov. 6 wanted to start their own businesses, according to information on the organization's Web site. Two students studying at AU - Dan Lachman and Kim Mesches - have turned dreams of owning their own businesses into a reality.

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Metro police to target thieves

By Lauren Cater | February 18

The Metro Transit Police Department is increasing enforcement efforts throughout D.C.'s Metrorail system in an attempt to stem a recent rise in robberies, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced last week. Police will monitor the entire rail system and will increase their security presence in areas where they observe heightened levels of activity, said WMATA spokesman Steven Taubenkibel.

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National brief

February 18

Three taxi cab drivers in Georgia are facing charges of delivering beer without a license, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday. Police officials told the Journal-Constitution they are currently investigating taxi drivers who "allegedly delivered beer instead of passengers.

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NIU shooting renews concerns about on-campus safety

By Patricio Chile | February 18

The shooting spree at Northern Illinois University that claimed the lives of six people Thursday has renewed questions about the safety of college campuses across the nation. The incident came nearly a year after a gunman killed 32 students at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and follows a series of campus shootings that have occurred since that tragedy.

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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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