News

News

Campus Brief

September 17

The start of the 2007-2008 school year saw the number of incoming international freshman students rise from 31 attendees last year to 52 this year, according to American Today. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services conducted follow-up phone calls and sent e-mails to accepted international students to answer their questions, and aid in the decision-making process leading to the increase of international students on campus, American Today reported.

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Facebook profiles soon to be available on Google search

By Tracey Breese | September 17

It's hard to find an AU student without a Facebook account, and soon anyone using search engines will be able to find out if he or she does. Facebook users were notified in Facebook's News Feed Sept. 5 that through the social network home page anyone can search for users' profiles and see their name and profile picture, unless the certain user sets privacy settings.

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College Dems reveal plans for N.H., Ky. campaigning

By Kellsey Miller | September 17

The AU College Democrats highlighted a number of upcoming events and the club's stance on some campus issues during its first meeting Wednesday evening. College Democrats President John Cipriani started the meeting with a speech highlighting political events that led to the Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives and the Senate last November.

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News

International Brief

September 17

Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, a key U.S. ally in Iraq, was killed in a bombing outside his house Thursday afternoon in Anbar province, The Washington Post reported. According to the Post, the bomb exploded while Risha was in his backyard talking on a cell phone.

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Alcohol transport policy altered

By Laraine Weschler | September 17

Students receiving a second medical transport due to alcohol consumption will now be in violation of the Student Conduct Code and may be subject to judicial charges, according to Associate Dean of Students Sara Waldron. Previously, alcohol-related transports did not violate the conduct code.

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Metro delays price increase

By Bobby Allyn | September 17

Metro officials proposed raising prices across the board Thursday, but members of Metro's board of directors blocked discussion, saying the increases were too high. Proposals would cost AU students and other riders at least an extra 45 cents on Metrorail and 25 cents on Metrobus.

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Debate team earns awards at Columbia tourney

By Allie Feras | September 17

Teams from the AU Debate Society took first, second and third places last weekend at its first tournament of the school year, according to Ryan Van Parys, the debate team's co-president and a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students from the debate society also took the first, second and fourth place titles for individual speaking at the tournament, which was held at Columbia University, Van Parys said.

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News

Metro Calendar

September 17

Monday, Sept. 17 Film - "The Power of Forgiveness" 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Washington District of Columbia Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. N.W. METRO: Dupont Circle (red line) INFO: This documentary explores the role of forgiveness in various faiths and the behavioral science behind the action.

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SG advisers moderate discussion on diversity

By Howard Perlman | September 17

A forum held Thursday evening was the first in a series of efforts to increase diversity within the Student Government. More than 15 students met in the Kay Spiritual Life Center Thursday evening for an SG diversity discussion moderated by Kimberly Herrera and Leon Thomas, Student Activities' two program advisers.

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Jailed scholar speaks of Iran imprisonment

By Jeanette Lenoir | September 13

Haleh Esfandiari credits her safe return to the United States after eight months in an Iranian prison to a letter from her boss to Grand Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Lee Hamilton, the president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, wrote to Khomeini requesting his help in obtaining Esfandiari's release on humanitarian grounds.

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ANC holds sway over AU construction

By Carolyn Phenicie | September 13

After all the planning and fundraising, AU has one more hurdle to leap before gaining approval from the D.C. Zoning Commission to complete any construction on campus - the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. University officials must petition the ANC for its endorsement of any construction projects, according to David Taylor, chief of staff for President Neil Kerwin.

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AU alumni sue for $1.5 M

By Carolyn Phenicie | September 13

Two AU alumni are suing the university for $1.5 million for defamation of character because of an incorrect item in an alumni magazine. The item stated the two men were married to each other and that one had just been named the chief operating officer of an advocacy organization called the Gay Rights Brigade, according to the New York Post.

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Religious groups march for unity

By Sakina Rangwala | September 13

Hundreds of people from different religions walked together along Massachusetts Avenue Sunday afternoon to symbolize unity among the communities of Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs in D.C. The Unity Walk, in its third year, united people as Sept.

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Reid to push D.C. voting in Senate

By Patricio Chile | September 13

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., renewed the fight for voting rights in the District last week after announcing plans to push legislation granting D.C. a voting representative in the House, according to Congressional Quarterly. The ongoing effort has garnered support from some AU students.

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Panel: secrecy challenges media

By Chris Bedford | September 13

A breakdown of the basic system of checks and balances has forced the United States' press into a unique and dangerous position, according to panelists at the American Forum Monday night in Katzen's Abramson Recital Hall. This week's forum, moderated by SOC professor Jane Hall, brought five experts to discuss how their professions have changed in the past six years, how they expect the course of change to continue and what role they feel the press has to play in the modern age.

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Metro Brief

September 13

A noose found hanging on a tree last week near a University of Maryland building that houses black campus organizations is being investigated as a possible hate crime, according to The Washington Post. "I want to assure the campus community that [Department of Public Safety] Chief Ken Krouse will use every means at his disposal to aggressively track down the culprits," UMD President C.

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International Brief

September 13

Pakistani authorities deported former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday, four hours after he returned from exile vowing to end President Pervez Musharraf's rule. The action may lead to another confrontation between Musharraf and the Pakistani Supreme Court as Sharif's lawyers challenged his petition to the judiciary Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

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