News

News

Metro brief: St. Elizabeth's understaffed, group alleges

By Jimm Phillips | April 12

University Legal Services, a District-based disability advocacy organization, filed documents in U.S. District Court Monday alleging that St. Elizabeth's, the District's public mental hospital, lacks enough staff to maintain the facility and treat the patients, The Washington Post reported.

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Students tour Nebraska

By Brian Kalish | April 12

Nebraska Hall is in the process of being renovated into a residence hall with apartment-style living that includes single rooms and a living room with a kitchen. The hall is scheduled to open in fall 2007, The Eagle previously reported. The hall "will provide students with another type of living experience," said Prakash Karnani, assistant director of Housing and Dining Programs operations.

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Proposed policy to limit minors' access to clubs

By Tony Romm | April 12

A newly proposed D.C. City Council policy would place greater restrictions on alcohol-serving nightclubs by requiring an adult to accompany all patrons under 18 years old after 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends, The Washington Post reported last week.

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Campus briefs

By Kyra Smerkanich | April 12

AU students win environmental scholarship Three AU students have been awarded the Morris K. Udall Scholarship, an award that gives undergraduate students interested in studying the environment $5,000, according to American Weekly. Erin O'Sullivan, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, Claire Roby, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Casey Roe, a sophomore in CAS, were named winners, American Weekly reported.

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National brief:Google Earth launches Darfur mapping service

By Jimm Phillips | April 12

Google and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum launched a project Tuesday that maps out the atrocities occurring in Darfur, Reuters reported. Google Earth users are now able to zoom in on Darfur, a western region of Sudan, to view the more than 1,600 villages damaged or destroyed by the Janjaweed during the conflict.

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Leadership Committee approves '07-'08 budget

By Cassie Passinault | April 12

The Leadership Committee of the Undergraduate Senate held a late-night meeting April 9 to approve the 2007-2008 school year budget allocations. The committee heard a presentation on the budget recommended by SG Comptroller Robert Donigian, a senior in the Kogod School of Business.

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AU College Republicans e-board under fire

By Brian Kalish | April 12

A general meeting of the College Republicans on April 2 turned into a near shouting match when club members voiced concerns over recent allegations of constitutional violations by the club's current executive board, highlighting concerns of some about the club's internal affairs.

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SG, Health Center to launch online forum for feedback

By Elena Isella | April 12

The Student Government Campus Life Committee is launching an initiative with the Health Center to provide better health care services to the AU student body. The joint initiative began last semester with informing students about the resources and students' rights at the Health Center.

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Plame, Matthews cancellations to help fund final speakers

By Kim Selman | April 12

The Kennedy Political Union, the on-campus organization that works to acquire prominent guest speakers for AU events, has dealt with two high-profile speaker cancellations this semester, which KPU Director Taylor Robinson said were due to circumstances out of KPU's control.

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Former college president advocates for lower drinking age

By Kaylor Garcia | April 12

John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont, is leading a grassroots movement to lower the drinking age to 18, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Some AU students remain skeptical about whether he would make much of an impact on current drinking practices.

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AU diplomat presents research

By Kyra Smerkanich | April 12

The importance of border communities and the challenges of border management was the research topic presented by AU professor and Diplomat-in-Residence Daniel Hernández. Hernández, a senior fellow for the Center for North American Studies, led by fellow professor Robert Pastor, addressed an audience that included students, faculty and influential political and economic leaders Wednesday evening over dinner.

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Princeton's quota policy limits grade inflation

By Jewel Edwards | April 5

Princeton University's adoption of a new grading policy to reduce grade inflation by limiting the number of A's given to students has led some Ivy League schools to consider implementing a similar policy. AU faculty members said grade inflation is a problem at AU, but they do not have or plan to use a similar grade deflation policy.

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Protesters confront Rove post-speech

By Allie Feras and Kara Newhouse | April 5

Karl Rove's Secret Service detail and American University campus police dragged protesters from the road between Kay Chapel and the Ward building Tuesday night after 16 AU students and community members broke through police tape to lie in front of Rove's car as he exited a College Republicans sponsored event.

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SG begins debate over allocation of $500,000 budget

By Cassie Passinault | April 5

Executive-based organizations asked the Student Government for more money during the SG's annual budget hearings, held March 31. These hearings are one of many steps necessary for the SG to draft a budget plan for the 2007-2008 school year. The SG budget totals over $500,000.

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Metro calendar

By Brian Kalish | April 5

Thursday, April 5 Men's Health Fair 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bender Arena Lobby Community organizations and AU departments will provide health screenings and resource information. Free, confidential HIV testing for faculty, staff and students will be available until 2:30 p.

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Metro brief:Bill advances to give D.C. mayor control of schools

By Jimm Phillips | April 5

D.C. City Council members gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would give D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty control of the city's public school system, according to The Washington Post. If the council and Congress give final approval of the policy, Fenty would have direct control of the school system with the school superintendent reporting directly to him.

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Aramark to limit its services during event

By Brian Kalish | April 5

Aramark will provide limited housekeeping services in Hughes and McDowell Halls for three days during the week of April 8 to teach students about the value of conflict and social justice issues, according to Eric Ratner, resident director of those halls. Some students said they are confused about what would occur during the weeklong program, "A Week Without Housekeeping.

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