News

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

Ugandan org gives hope for orphans

By Michael Ginsberg | September 13

Ugandan orphans, abductees and former child soldiers, distraught by the country's 21-year-old civil war, often spend their lives isolated by their communities and without the hope of a future, said Anywar Ricky Richard, the founder of Friends of Orphans, a nongovernmental organization in Uganda.

---

News

Security added for 9/11 concerns

By Jimm Phillips | September 13

D.C. and campus police increased their presence around AU's campus in recent days in response to government-issued requests for additional security in connection with the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to Public Safety Director Michael McNair.

---

News

National Brief

September 13

The construction of four new towers where the World Trade Center once stood forced the annual Sept. 11 commemoration ceremony to be held at a nearby park for the first time Tuesday, The Associated Press reported. "Just so long as we continue to do something special every year, so you don't wake up and say, 'Oh it's 9/11'," Kathleen Mullen, whose niece died in the attacks, told The Associated Press.

---

News

SPA prof shows off musical side in Tavern

By Patricio Chile | September 13

Zeebop, an acoustic jazz band that features School of Public Affairs professor Gregg Ivers on drums, performed Wednesday evening in the Tavern as part of the Kennedy Political Union's "Professors are People, Too" series. The "Professors are People, Too" series is an offshoot of last year's KPU "Finest Faculty" series, which featured speeches from professors who had won the Faculty Scholar Award, according to Amanda Fulton, KPU director and a junior in SPA and the School of Communication.

---

News

Campus calendar

September 13

Thursday, Sept. 13 Thai-Burma Border Alternative Break Information Session 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Anderson Conference Room INFO: Join the student trip leaders for an information session about the Thailand-Burma border winter alternative break trip. They will talk about the Burmese democracy movement trip and answer questions.

---

News

Campus Brief

September 13

Red Shipley, host of the show "Stained Glass Bluegrass" on WAMU 88.5, will retire Sept. 16 after hosting the show for 25 years, according to an e-mail sent to the AU community by Kay Summers, director of public information for the radio station. "'I want to retire while I'm at the top of my game,'" Shipley said, according to Summers' e-mail.

---

News

Comm agency awards Catalyst for excellence

By Elyse Franko | September 13

Catalyst, AU's student-run science magazine, won an award for publication excellence from Communications Concepts Inc., a Virginia-based communications advising firm. The biannual magazine was one of 35 publications to win an award of excellence in the category for magazines and journals under 32 pages.

---

News

Douglas serves as acting secretary

By Kendra Garstka | September 10

Student Government President Joe Vidulich appointed Cait Douglas, one of his chiefs of staff, as acting secretary of the SG after Alex Manzanares, a sophomore in the School of Communication, resigned last week. "She's been doing a lot of publicity stuff for a lot of different departments," Vidulich said.

---

News

AU to fund undergrad research

By Jimm Phillips | September 10

AU will begin funding undergraduate research projects this semester through three new programs, Interim Provost Ivy Broder told members of the Faculty Senate during its meeting Wednesday. The programs make up the university's first centralized effort to offer grant money for undergraduate research, Broder said.

---

News

Students volunteer in efforts to help Peru quake victims

By Kim Selman | September 10

Several AU students volunteered at the Peruvian Embassy during the last week of August to aid in disaster relief efforts following an earthquake that occurred in Lima, Peru, Aug. 15. The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale, killed at least 540 people and injured at least 1,500, according to The Associated Press.

---

News

Metro Calendar

September 10

Monday, Sept. 10 Black Cat Anniversary Party 8 p.m. WHERE: 1811 14th St. N.W. METRO: U Street-Cardozo (green line) INFO: The Aquarium, Facemat, Pessimist Parade and Dennis Kane will perform in celebration of The Black Cat's 14th anniversary. The event is free.

---

News

Abroad fair previews programs

By Michael Ginsberg | September 10

Students who attended AU's study abroad fair Thursday found information on more than 100 study abroad programs in 34 countries. AU Abroad program representatives, some of whom are former AU Abroad participants, answered students' questions and shared their own experiences.

---

News

Richardson: Cut student loans for service

By Patricio Chile | September 10

New Mexico Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson announced a proposal to cut student loans if college graduates complete a year of community service, a plan that some AU students said they support, but question whether Richardson would follow through with it.

---

News

Metro Brief

September 10

The body of Effi Barry, the former first lady of the District and ex-wife of former mayor and current council member Marion Barry, D-Ward 8, will lie in state next week in the John A. Wilson building, according to The Washington Post. Barry died Thursday in Annapolis after suffering from acute myeloid leukemia, the Post reported.

---