News

News

Public Safety, SG Start Emergency Text Alert System

By Allie Feras | June 21

Students, faculty, staff and parents can now sign up for text message emergency alerts for all of D.C. and American Univerity, according to a press release sent out by Student Government Chief of Staff Joe Pavel. Public Safety and SG decided to implement the program in response to the Virginia Tech massacre, according to SG President Joe Vidulich.

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Board Delays Decision on Search's Future

By Jimm Phillips | June 21

The board of trustees decided to delay making a decision on how to proceed with AU's ongoing presidential search until later this summer, board and Presidential Search Committee Chairman Gary Abramson said during a briefing following the board's special meeting Wednesday.

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AU wrestler dies in car crash

By Dave Stone | June 21

Jimmy Pepper, a member of AU's wrestling team, died July 31 in a car accident in Columbia, Ill. He was 19. Pepper, who would have been a sophomore in the Kogod School of Business, was driving on an exit ramp of state Route 3 when he lost control of his car and crashed into a ravine.

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Metro Calendar

By Ali Goldstein | June 21

Thursday, June 28 D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids 7 p.m. RFK Stadium, 2400 E. Capitol St. S.E. Metro: Stadium Armory (blue and orange lines) The District's professional men's soccer team takes on the Colorado Rapids. Tickets cost between $18 and $45.

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Community Responds, Rebuilds

By Carolyn Phenicie | June 21

A temporary structure to house the 14 vendors displaced by the April 30 fire that gutted Eastern Market's South Hall should be completed by late July, according to a May 18 press release from Mayor Adrian Fenty's office. The structure will be a "tent-like" building measuring 50 feet by 230 feet and will have space for all 14 vendors whose businesses were destroyed in the fire, according to the press release.

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Board to Meet to Endorse Candidate

By Jimm Phillips | June 21

The board of trustees will hold a special meeting during the last week of June to formally approve a recommended candidate to be AU's next president, according to a source familiar with the search process who wished to remain anonymous. The meeting will come several weeks after select groups of students and faculty, as well as AU's school deans, vice presidents and other university officials, met with three finalist candidates on multiple occasions during late May and early June.

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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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