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News

MGC, Dorms Recieve Facelifts, Updates for Fall

By Allie Feras | June 21

AU has undertaken a wide variety of construction projects this summer, remodeling select campus buildings and updating outdoor facilities. According to University Architect Jerry Gager, the offices of Academic Affairs, Campus Life and Financial Services collaborated to decide on the construction projects.

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Groups may meet with presidential finalists

By Jimm Phillips | April 30

Small, constituency-based groups may have the opportunity to meet confidentially with presidential finalists before the board of trustees selects someone for the position next month, Presidential Search Committee Chairman Gary Abramson said Thursday at a town hall meeting.

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SMU petition criticizes Bush library

By Howard Perlman | April 30

An online petition has added fuel to the debate between members of Southern Methodist University's faculty, staff and administration over whether SMU should build the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on its campus. Some students at AU are not sure if the Bush library would be welcome on AU's campus but believe there would be benefits of hosting the library.

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NCAA bans text messaging between coaches, recruits

By Elizabeth Royall | April 30

A new National Collegiate Athletic Association text messaging ban will affect American University's athletic teams to varying degrees. The new rule bans NCAA coaches from text messaging recruits. Recruits can text message coaches, but coaches cannot reply, according to The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

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Arab Studies head's contract not renewed

By Jimm Phillips and Kyra Smerkanich | April 30

Students expressed their concerns over the College of Arts and Sciences' decision to not renew the contract of the head of Arab Studies at the board of trustees' town hall meeting Thursday. The students, who had also started a Facebook group, will be able to discuss their concerns with CAS Dean Kay Mussell on May 3, according to an announcement posted on the Facebook group's page.

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Student government brief: SG confirms executive cabinet

By Cassie Passinault | April 30

At press time on Sunday, the Undergraduate Senate was in session to confirm the nominations of the executive cabinet. Those approved include Amy McConnel, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, as Board of Elections chair; Rick Edwards, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, as Student Advocacy Center director; Vanessa C.

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Metro calendar

By Jimm Phillips and Rebecca Kern | April 30

Monday, April 30 Charlie Rangel Book Discussion 7:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble Booksellers (Georgetown) - 3040 M St., N.W. Metro: Foggy Bottom-GWU (blue and orange lines) Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., will discuss his autobiography, "And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress.

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College grad creates beer-launching fridge

By Elizabeth Royall | April 30

A recent Duke University graduate says sometimes laziness may prevent someone from getting a drink. Hence his new invention: a beer- or soda-launching refrigerator. "I think the beer-launching fridge is really cool," Abby Evans, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.

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Capetown abroad program cancelled

By Brian Kalish | April 30

Students who planned to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, for fall 2007 were recently shocked to learn their program was cancelled. Students were told on Monday that their program was cancelled because the University of Cape Town, where they were scheduled to study, was "not communicating with AU properly regarding student health and safety concerns," Taylor Robinson, a junior in the School of Public Affairs who was scheduled to attend the program, said in an e-mail.

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Students divided over AU Abroad visa, course services

By Christopher Cottrell | April 30

Students are expressing mixed opinions about whether the AU Abroad office provides enough help and guidance, especially with obtaining visas. The AU Abroad office provides students with information on a range of topics, including cultural disparities, housing, program fees, safety and travel information.

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Metro brief: Howard University president announces retirement

By Ali Goldstein | April 30

Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert announced Friday he would retire in June 2008, according to NBC4.com. Swygert's decision to retire came several weeks after faculty members called for his resignation. The letter from the faculty senate to the school board, marking long-standing tension between Swygert and the faculty senate, described Swygert as, "incompetent.

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Indiana University considers removing segregationist's name from building

By Chris Cottrell | April 30

What do a Saudi-Arabian arms dealer and a bigot from Indiana have in common? They both sat on the boards of trustees at two accredited American universities and have had campus sport complexes named after them. At Indiana University, the sports complex adjacent to the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, bears the name of Judge Ora L.

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National brief: Doctors have close relationship to drug reps, study reports

By Ali Goldstein | April 30

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 94 percent of doctors have relationships with the drug industry, such as receiving free food or drug samples, according to The Washington Post. Other relationships between doctors and drug representatives included being reimbursed by the drug industry for continuing medical education or for giving lectures.

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Westboro Baptist church links Virginia Tech shootings to homosexuality

By Donny T Sheldon | April 30

The Westboro Baptist Church, centered in Topeka, Kansas and headed by Fred Phelps, is comprised of some 80 devout followers, 80 percent of whom are related. The church has been in existence for 16 years and has recently encountered a spike in media attention within the past few months as a result of the members' reactions to recent tragedies such as Sept.

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More Profound Truths from a 20 year old

By Caleb Enerson | April 30

Sting reuniting with the Police. Steven Spielberg making another Indiana Jones movie. Michael Jordan returning to basketball. It's hard to call it quits and just ride off into the sunset. So here's part two of my pontification about politics. I wish I were a politician or an actor.

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AU announces commencement speakers

By Jimm Phillips | April 30

The speakers at AU's four graduation ceremonies will include a top NBC journalist, a National Public Radio program host, a top official in the U.S. Government Accountability Office and a U.S. senator, according to information obtained by The Eagle. David Gregory, chief White House correspondent for NBC News, will speak at the School of International Service and School of Communication's joint graduation May 13.

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Letter to the editor

April 30

It has been brought my attention that Professor Mary Ann Fay, head of the Arab Studies Program and renowned professor in the Department of Sociology, has been refused a renewal of contract and will therefore not be allowed to return to teach next semester.

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