News

News

International brief

September 20

The Iraqi government expelled Blackwater USA, the security firm that protects U.S. diplomats, on Monday after Iraqi civilians were allegedly shot by Blackwater contractors in western Baghdad on Sunday, The Associated Press reported. Blackwater USA said 11 Iraqis were dead, but the Iraqi Defense Minister disputed that number, saying at least 20 were killed, according to the AP.

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News

Guest attempts robbery in Leonard

By Jimm Phillips | September 20

A non-student guest was arrested after he allegedly attempted to rob an AU student in Leonard Hall on Saturday afternoon, according to Sgt. Dale Booth, an officer in Public Safety. Jared R. Islas, who is not directly associated with the university, allegedly attempted to rob a male freshman in one of the hall's elevators.

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News

Metro brief

September 20

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, D, has issued a new gun purchase regulation that requires prospective buyers to sign a waiver releasing their mental health records to the state police, according to The Washington Post. The ruling, which went into effect Aug.

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News

Campus brief

September 20

Jocelyn Hill was promoted to the position of director of recreational sports and fitness, according to a general announcement made by Today@AU. Hill received her master's degree from American University and has been employed by the university for eight years, according to the announcement.

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News

National brief

September 20

President Bush selected Michael Mukasey, a former New York federal judge, to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general, according to The Associated Press. Mukasey, appointed to the bench in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, was the former chief U.S. district judge in Manhattan, the AP reported.

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News

WAMU alters format to all news and talk

By Allie Feras | September 20

WAMU 88.5 FM switched to an all-talk and news format Monday, moving its bluegrass music programs to high-definition radio, according to WAMU Director of Public Information Kay Summers. As part of the switch, WAMU has reformatted its two HD stations. HD-2 now provides bluegrass programming, while HD-3 offers news and talk programs not heard on the flagship 88.

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News

Congress to pass changes to student federal aid act

By Kaylor Garcia | September 20

AU students using loans to help pay for college may get assistance in paying off those loans after graduation once Congress passes a compromise version of the current College Cost Reduction and Access Act. After it is passed, the bill must be signed by President Bush, who has threatened to veto it twice in the past.

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News

Obama stumps for hope

By Carolyn Phenicie | September 20

Every American should be able to graduate from college without massive debts, said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at a rally Tuesday. "We should make [college] affordable and accessible for every American because it is what the American dream is built on," the Illinois senator said.

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News

Library remains open overnight

By Kim Selman | September 20

Sixty-one people used their AU IDs to swipe in to the library Monday, using the library's new 24-hour schedule, which started at midnight. Those students who are not already inside the library by midnight will need to swipe their AU ID cards outside the door in order to enter, said Katherine Simpson, assistant head of access services for the library.

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News

Metro Brief

September 17

Victor Z. Kolako, a former Metrobus driver who killed two pedestrians last February after making an illegal left turn, pleaded guilty last week to two felony counts of negligent homicide, The Washington Post reported. In return for Kolako's guilty pleas, the U.

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News

SG Brief

September 17

The Undergraduate Senate passed a resolution to support shuttle bus drivers in their attempt to unionize with a vote of 11-2 at their meeting on Sunday. Although the shuttle drivers voted 9-8 in favor of unionization, "AU has been spending a lot of money trying to stop it," said Class of 2009 Senator John Cipriani, who sponsored the resolution.

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News

National Brief

September 17

A 21-year-old woman testified Thursday against Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, claiming that he forced her into marrying her older cousin when she was only 14, The Washington Post reported. "I felt betrayed by the people I trusted most .

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News

Kerwin dissolve international office, VP Pastor to resign

By Jimm Phillips | September 17

Robert Pastor, vice president of International Affairs, will resign at the end of this year once a plan to dismantle the current Office of International Affairs is fully completed, according to a statement President Neil Kerwin sent to AU's deans, academic department chairs and program directors Sept.

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News

War protest

By Sakina Rangwala | September 17

Thousands of people, including AU students, marched down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House to the Capitol Saturday to protest the Iraq war. After almost two hours of speeches and demonstrations, the protesters, led by seven members of Veterans Against the Iraq War, marched to the Capitol.

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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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News

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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News

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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