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Muslim panel explores different sects, Islam in America

By Ali Goldstein | February 26

A Sunni and a Shi'a speaker called for dialogue between the two Islamic sects during the panel discussion, "Sunni-Shi'a Differences: Realities, Myths, and Challenges" in the McDowell formal lounge Feb. 22. Imam Abo Fazel Nahidian from the Manassas Mosque, a Shi'a mosque in Virginia, and Sunni professor Sulayman Nyang from Howard University were the featured speakers of the event, which was sponsored by the Minaret of Freedom Institute and the American University Muslim Student Association.

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AU officials discuss budget, presidential search

By Jimm Phillips | February 26

AU students' tuition and housing costs will rise by 6 percent annually in 2008 and 2009 in the budgets passed by the board of trustees Friday, according to Interim Provost Ivy Broder and Vice President of Finance Donald Myers. The board also allowed for two modifications to the increase.

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Utah university blocks use of YouTube.com

By Harry Spencer | February 26

Brigham Young University recently added Youtube.com, the popular user-generated video Web site, to a list of URLs blocked to its students. The school blocks sites it considers to contain violent or pornographic material. AU blocks no Web sites currently, but has the capacity to do so if deemed necessary.

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Search committee to decide on making final candidates public

By Jimm Phillips | February 26

The Presidential Search Committee will decide whether to release the names of final candidates for AU's presidency and conduct site visits with them based on how much confidentiality the candidates feel they need, according to Presidential Search Committee Chairman Gary Abramson.

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Campus brief: Kogod professors conduct FTC study on advertising

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 26

Kogod School of Business professors Michael Mazis and Manoj Hastak recently completed two studies for the Federal Trade Commission that concluded while the public does believe testimonials in advertising, results of including testimonials vary, according to a report in American Weekly.

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Eating disorders in athletes not typical

By Ali Goldstein | February 22

Coaches must pay attention to the warning signs of eating disorders in their athletes, according to a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. While the AU athletic community agreed coaches are key in the fight against eating disorders, many said the issue isn't very prevalent here.

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BOE extends dates to run for SG office

By Kim Selman | February 22

The AU Board of Elections held an additional mandatory information session last night after extending the deadline to run for Student Government executive positions because fewer than 30 people had shown up for previous sessions, according to BOE Chair Joe Pavel.

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Campus calendar

By Brian Kalish | February 22

Thursday, Feb. 22 "U.S. Education Law and Its Human Rights Impact" 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Washington College of Law, room 603 This one-day conference will address mandatory education in the U.S. public education system, which does not guarantee equal education but equal access for all.

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Free to Speak

By Erin Wildermuth | February 22

Last Thursday I found myself very cold. Need you ask why? I was fighting for freedom, protesting the arrest and confinement of an Egyptian blogger. What can I say, it's what I do. Generally, I was fighting for freedom of speech. Specifically, it was to free Kareem.

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U.S. media under-covers Latin America

By Rebecca Kern | February 22

U.S. mainstream media coverage is "hit or miss" in terms of introducing recent political movements in Latin America to the U.S. public, according to Jose Carreno Figueras, a Washington, D.C., correspondent for the El Universal, a Mexican newspaper, and a speaker at Tuesday evening's American Forum.

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Campus brief: Eagle Endowment grant funds high school conference

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 22

Students from 16 area high schools gathered at AU Feb. 3 for a peace and conflict resolution workshop co-sponsored by the Career Center and the School of International Service's Peace and Conflict Resolution program, according to American Weekly. "This provided a great opportunity to plant some important seeds in young leaders directly, as opposed to giving teachers ideas about how to plant those seeds," Rebecca Davis, an SIS graduate student who helped organize the event, told American Weekly.

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Panel says racism still prevalent in U.S. society

By Kelly Barrett | February 22

One thing young people often do not acknowledge is that institutionalized racism is still alive in this country, Lucenia Williams-Dunn, the first female mayor of Tuskegee, Ala., said. In honor of Black History Month, Williams-Dunn spoke along with other "children" and "grandchildren" of Alabama Monday night to recount their experiences growing up in the South during the civil rights movement.

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Community colleges help some students

By Robyn Slagle | February 22

Students often think of community college as the "13th grade," according to Mike Davis, a writer for Chronicle Careers Web site. However, several AU students who went to community college before attending AU found their experiences at community college to be extremely beneficial.

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Metro brief: Attendance declining at Smithsonian museums

By Jimm Phillips | February 22

The number of visitors to the Smithsonian's museums and the National Zoo have declined 27 percent since 2001, according to NBC4.com. Since 2001, overall attendance at the Smithsonian Institution's 18 museums in the District and New York City, as well as the National Zoo, has declined from 31.

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Class drafts possible student bill of rights

By Courtney Albon | February 22

AU students are drafting a Student's Bill of Rights to fill what they see as a void in the campus community. While studying human rights in a class recently, Sergio Garciduenas-Seas, a senior in the School of International Service, and his classmates were asked by SIS professor Mubarak Awad whether AU has a bill of rights for students.

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Showerheads prompt focus on student feedback

By Kyra Smerkanich and Elizabeth Royall | February 22

The recent installation of new low-flow showerheads and faucets in AU's dorms has provoked controversy and upset many students, leading the director of Facilities Management to admit making a mistake in not consulting with students before the decision was made.

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International brief: Blair announces gradual British troop withdrawal from Iraq

By Jimm Phillips | February 22

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced yesterday he would begin pulling out some of his country's 7,100 troops stationed in Iraq in the coming months, according to The Associated Press. Under the plan, which Blair announced during his weekly appearance before the House of Commons, 1,600 British troops would withdraw from Iraq during the next few months.

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