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News

Tree falls on North side, blocks roadway

By Rachel Trainer | January 24

Adverse weather conditions Thursday caused a large tree to fall on North side and block the road in front of McDowell Hall, according to William Suter, director of Facilities Management. No one was injured, but the tree nearly missed Josh Casey, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, who was exiting McDowell just as the tree fell.

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Award-winning Jordanian teen athletes visit AU

By Lara Aqel | January 24

Ten Jordanian students came to AU Tuesday, where they participated in physical fitness activities, ate in the Terrace Dining Room and explored future career paths in health promotion. AU's International Institute for Health Promotion hosted the students, who were recipients of the King Abdullah II Award for Physical Fitness.

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AU Abroad subpoenaed

By Allie Feras | January 24

The New York Attorney General's office sent subpoenas and document requests to AU regarding the university's study-abroad programs. The investigation seeks to determine whether the university receives kickbacks from abroad program providers, according to The Washington Examiner. Arrangements between providers and universities are often undisclosed and could limit student options and increase prices, according to The New York Times. The kickbacks could include rebates, free and subsidized travel, unpaid seats on advisory boards, help with back-office services, marketing stipends and other benefits.

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Students volunteer, help Kenyans

By Laraine Weschler | January 24

AU students studying abroad in Nairobi, Kenya this semester are volunteering with relief efforts to help the 250,000 Kenyans displaced by recent violence following elections in December. The contested results of last month's elections in the country led to widespread violence, leaving 685 dead as of Tuesday, according to CNN.

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Georgetown paper fights for its name

By Christopher Cottrell | January 24

Students working at Georgetown University's largest on-campus newspaper, The Hoya, are not giving up in their struggle for independence from the university. However, a recent trademark dispute over the paper's name has proven burdensome. In August 2006, the president and directors at Georgetown applied for rights to The Hoya's masthead, according to information obtained from the U.

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SG executives discuss plans for semester

By Rebecca Kern | January 24

The Undergraduate Senate focused its first meeting of the semester on increasing student representation in the administration, revamping Phil Bender, Founders' Week and Eagle Nights and launching a bike-lending program for students. After a semester characterized by the elections and appointments of new Student Government executives, SG President Joe Vidulich said he hoped to focus less on the bureaucracy of the SG and more on "getting things done for students.

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Delayed permits slow AU projects

By Brian Kalish | January 24

Delays in AU's receipt of D.C.-issued building permits have pushed back the construction and opening dates for the Kogod School of Business expansion and the new School of International Service building, according to university architect Jerry Gager. Demolition is now complete on the former Experimental Theatre and Butler Instructional Center, which stood next to the existing Kogod structure.

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Web site provides information for women

By Jen Calantone | January 24

AU women have a new place to get information after Friday's launch of a new Web site called The Virtual Women's Resource Center. The Office of Campus Life and the Wellness Center launched the site, which Laura Kovach, a health educator in the Wellness Center, runs.

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Advocates, politicians rally against abortion

By Patricio Chile | January 24

Three Republican politicians voiced their support for tens of thousands of anti-abortion advocates who rallied at the National Mall and walked to Capitol Hill Tuesday as part of the annual March for Life demonstration. Members of AU Students for Life, an anti-abortion club on campus, attended the event along with other AU students.

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Campus calendar

January 24

Thursday, Jan. 24 Table Talk Lunch Series Noon WHERE: Lounge, Kay Spiritual Life Center INFO: Harry Jaffe, a writer for Washingtonian magazine, and Calvin Woodland, a staff member in D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham's office, will hold a discussion on "Race and Politics: The Case of the District of Columbia.

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Obama to speak at AU

By Jimm Phillips | January 24

Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is holding a campaign rally in Bender Arena Monday at 12:15 p.m. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., according to a press advisory issued by the Obama campaign. More details to follow.

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Drivers to strike fare changes

By Patricio Chile | January 24

D.C. cab fares will start $1 lower than originally decided in a plan Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced at a press conference Jan. 16. The base fare for District cabs will be $3

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Brownback champions McCain, faith

By Bobby Allyn | January 24

The Republican Party needs to focus on faith, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said during an AU College Republicans event Wednesday evening. "We need more of a faith-based aspect in our movement," he said. "We should find a way to pull more religious folks into it.

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Campus briefs

January 17

Aufderheide to appear at Sundance Pat Aufderheide, director of the School of Communication's Center for Social Media, will appear at the Sundance Film Festival. Aufderheide will sign copies of her book, "Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction," Jan. 19 at Dolly's Book Store on Main Street in Park City, Utah, a street located in the heart of the festival.

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Metro fare increase faces glitch

By Kim Selman | January 17

Newly increased Metro fares have not gone into effect flaw-free, as thousands of Metrobus riders who used SmarTrip cards had to pay the full fare instead of a free or discounted charge earlier this month. Approximately 23,000 Metrobus riders who paid their fares with SmarTrip cards were inadvertently charged the full rate, rather than getting a free or discounted charge, according to information on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Web site.

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AU in N.H.

By Patricio Chile | January 17

While Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., were winning their respective parties' New Hampshire primaries, 28 AU students documented the political event as part of a School of Communication course. In the course, "Special Topics in News Media: Covering the 2008 Presidential Election," students divided into six small groups.

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AU alters schedule for inauguration

By Jimm Phillips | January 17

Many classes that meet Feb. 8 will be shortened under a modified schedule so all members of the AU community can have the opportunity to attend President Neil Kerwin's inauguration ceremony, according to an e-mail memo Dean of Academic Affairs Haig Mardirosian sent to the AU community Jan.

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