News

News

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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News

National brief: Researchers predict 'very active' hurricane season in 2007

By Jimm Phillips | April 5

Hurricane researcher William Gray and his team at Colorado State University announced Tuesday they now predict 2007 will be a "very active" hurricane season, The Associated Press reported. Gray's team predicted a total of 17 named storms will form in the Atlantic during the 2007 hurricane season, which begins June 1.

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News

Student safety top priority abroad

By Jennifer B. Hanson | April 5

Each year students across the United States pack up their bags and board planes going around the world to participate in study abroad programs. At AU, over 60 percent of the student population studies abroad before graduating, according to the AU Abroad Web site, but safety is an ever-growing concern.

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News

Ambassador day programs to replace overnights

By Ali Goldstein | April 5

The American University Ambassadors will scale back their overnight program this spring, focusing instead on creating day programs called "A Day in the Life" to give prospective students a glimpse of AU life, said Sarah Goode, the senior assistant director of on-campus events.

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Students express concern over graduation tickets

By Patricio Chile | April 5

Limited seating in Bender Arena will require graduating seniors and their guests to have tickets for the School of Communication, School of International Service, School of Public Affairs and Kogod School of Business commencement ceremonies May 13. The limited number of tickets has caused some seniors to worry about obtaining enough tickets.

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News

Campus briefs

April 5

TDR Employees win Bon Appetit Award Terrace Dining Room employees were honored by Bon Appetit, receiving the company's Great Expectations Award, according to American Weekly. "The award says that we will be an example for each of [Bon Appetit's] accounts on the East Coast," TDR General Manager Yvonne Matteson told American Weekly.

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News

New study ranks NYU as top 'dream college'

By Dyane Jean Francois Fils | April 5

Prospective college students chose New York University for the third consecutive year as their "dream college," according to a survey by the Princeton Review. Although AU is not always their first choice, several students said the university's proximity to Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, international embassies and other resources made it a good place to spend their undergraduate years.

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News

Cherry blossoms bloom, tourists flock to Tidal Basin

By Elena Isella | April 2

D.C.'s annual Cherry Blossom Festival began this past Saturday, attracting tourists, locals and AU students who went to the National Mall and Tidal Basin to enjoy the sights and celebrate the beginning of spring. Akina Hiramoto, a senior in the School of International Service, has visited the festival twice since the cherry blossom trees began to bloom.

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News

Campus briefs

April 2

AU to host fourth annual 'Night' rally A march around campus and a candlelight vigil will take place on April 10 as part of AU's fourth annual "Take Back the Night" event, meant to raise awareness about sexual abuse and sexual assault, according to an event press release.

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