News

News

Universities called to invest responsibly

By Michael Ono | February 4

AU should invest its endowment in socially responsible companies that respect human rights, Cheyenna Weber, organizing director of the Responsibility Endowment Coalition, said to a group of students during a teach-in Thursday in the McDowell Formal Lounge.

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SETH to warn about info breach

By Jimm Phillips | February 4

Officials in the School of Education, Teaching and Health will notify students whose personal information may have been compromised after three boxes of student records ended up in a McKinley Building hallway. A total of six SETH-owned boxes were among those removed in late January after being found in a second floor hallway inside the building.

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Global warming and politics meet

By Rachel Trainer | February 4

People need to look at global warming from both an economic and political view, according to Bracken Hendricks, co-author of "Apollo's Fire," a book about creating a clean-energy economy. "Things that weren't political are becoming political," he said at a panel discussion Thursday night as part of a three-day teach-in on climate change called "Focus the Nation.

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Panelists: U.S. not prepared for vote

By Jen Calantone | February 4

Shortcomings in election administration have left many eligible voters disenfranchised, said Dr. Robert Pastor, co-director of the Center for Democracy and Election Management, during a panel discussion Thursday. The panelists, who spoke in the Butler Board Room, discussed whether the nation is ready for the 2008 presidential election.

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INAUGURATION WEEK: Calendar of events

February 4

Monday, Feb. 4 Scholarship, Creativity and Professional Contributions Day Panel Presentation - "Ideas into Action: Faculty Share Their Professional Experiences" 1 p.m. WHERE: MGC 5 INFO: Washington College of Law Dean Claudio Grossman, College of Arts and Sciences professor Caleen Jennings, CAS professor Robert Jernigan, WCL professor Jamin Raskin and AU President Neil Kerwin will discuss academia as public intellectuals.

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Fast-food marketing influences habits

By SANDRA FLORES | February 4

Parents are more likely to feed their children fast-food when exposed to fast-food marketing, according to a study conducted by Kogod School of Business professor Sonya Grier. Grier conducted the study to address the "research void" in the work being done to tackle obesity problem in the United States, which the Centers for Disease Control designated as an epidemic.

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Metro Calendar

February 4

Monday, Feb. 4 Lecture - "Reflections from South Africa: Libraries and Societal Change" Noon-1 p.m. WHERE: The Library of Congress, Mumford Room, James Madison Building (sixth floor), 101 Independence Ave. S.E. METRO: Capitol South (blue and orange lines) INFO: The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' President-elect Ellen R.

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Sallie Mae cuts student aid

By Kim Selman | February 4

Sallie Mae's decision to cut loans to students at colleges with low graduation rates will affect only a small number of AU students, according to Martha Holler, managing director of corporate communications for the company. "A small number of AU students with low credit scores and no cosigner may see a decline in their approval rates and may need to work with another lender to secure a private loan," Holler said in an e-mail.

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AUSG to sign students up to vote for 2008

By Lauren Cater | January 31

For 2008, AU's Student Government plans to increase student voter registration by starting a program similar to one already implemented by the George Washington University Student Association. GW Votes, a new nonpartisan initiative developed by the GW Student Association, aims to register all GW students who are eligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election.

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National brief

January 31

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards ended their campaigns for their parties' presidential nominations yesterday. Neither managed to win a single state's primary since the primary process began earlier this month.

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International brief

January 31

A Tokyo teacher was arrested Monday after stealing the underwear of six young schoolboys at knifepoint, according to Kyodo News. The 26-year-old teacher allegedly approached the group of eight boys and showed them the knife, after which two of the boys ran away, Kyodo News reported.

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Dulles Metrorail project in doubt over fed funding

By Christopher Cottrell | January 31

Supporters of the proposed Metrorail extension to Washington Dulles International Airport got a short reprieve this week when Transportation Secretary Mary Peters agreed to wait before issuing her decision about whether or not the project would receive federal funding.

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Metro brief

January 31

Georgetown University officials announced Tuesday that a hard drive stolen from the Student Affairs Office contained personal data on 38,000 students, faculty and staff, according to The Hoya, Georgetown's student newspaper. On Jan. 3, officials alerted Georgetown's public safety department, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service, which deals with potential misuse of private information, about the theft, The Hoya reported.

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Students 'die-in' against Iraq

By Rachel Trainer | January 31

Student activists staged a "die-in" last night in Mary Graydon Center, during which they laid on the floor of the lobby to protest the Iraq war. Students from the Community Action and Social Justice Coalition wore all black clothing for the event, which was meant to draw attention to the lives lost in the Iraq war and raise student awareness about the situation, according to Jenna Robson, a freshman in the School of International Service.

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Kennedy endorses Obama

By Bobby Allyn | January 31

Barack Obama has the inspirational power and capacity to change America, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said in front of thousands of supporters at a campaign rally for the Illinois senator held in Bender Arena Monday. "In Barack Obama, I see not just the audacity, but the possibility of hope for the America that is yet to be," he said.

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Campus brief

January 31

Students struggling with alcoholism can turn to the new student-only Alcoholics Anonymous meetings starting in February. Though AA was on campus before, Wellness Center health educator Laura Kovach said they sought to create a place where students feel comfortable.

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Springer mocks, comments on own show

By Bobby Allyn | January 31

Jerry Springer poked fun at his own show during a Kennedy Political Union-sponsored event last night at the University Club in Mary Graydon Center. "First, I'm sorry for the show," he said. "I can't explain it. I really can't justify the show." The event began with a performance by Mission: Improvable, AU's student-run improvisation group.

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