News

News

Students learn research skills in library workshops

By Courtney Albon | January 29

Students have taken advantage of the Walk-in Workshops held in Bender Library, according to Senior Reference Assistant Drew Lemerise. He said in an e-mail that of 92 events held during the 2005-2006 academic year, the workshops had 533 attendees. Kirstin Allen, an instruction/reference librarian, said the classes are formed as a response to common questions students ask at the reference desk.

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Violent wind storms kill 47 across Europe

By Emily Blanck | January 29

A damaging storm system with extremely high winds killed at least 47 people across northern Europe last week, according to The New York Times. While AU students are studying abroad in the region, none of them have reported any problems resulting from the dramatic weather, according to Kristin Barbee, AU Abroad adviser in charge of some of the countries affected by the storms.

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Metro brief

January 29

WMATA to begin testing strobe lights on some Metrobuses The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority plans to begin testing the use of strobe lights on 100 Metrobuses that run in the District, The Washington Post reported. The strobe lights, which are scheduled for installation within the next 60 days, are supposed to warn pedestrians of the presence of a Metrobus, according to The Post.

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Poll details foreign disapproval of U.S. policies

By Tony Romm | January 29

AU students expressed frustration this week over a recent British Broadcast Company poll, in which 73 percent of people surveyed worldwide disapproved of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war. The survey, conducted Nov. 3 to Jan. 9, polled over 26,000 people from 25 different countries.

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News

SG delays statement on NCOR

By Cassie Passinault | January 29

A week after a petition against the National Conference on Organized Resistance gained attention across campus, Undergraduate Senate Speaker Ben Murray led the Senate in a discussion Sunday about how to deal with the situation. The body decided to wait until the Residence Hall Association meeting Wednesday on NCOR to decide how to proceed.

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Thousands demand peace on Mall

By Rebecca Kern | January 29

Thousands of protesters rallied and marched on the National Mall and at the Capitol Saturday against President Bush's recently-proposed surge of troops to Iraq. AU students joined protesters from many different faiths, locales and backgrounds to voice their views against the ongoing war.

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Campus breifs

January 29

WCL distinguished scholar to host panel on discrimination The Washington College of Law will host Gay McDougall, a distinguished scholar in residence at WCL and an expert on UN independent minority issues, according to a press release. McDougall will introduce a panel of other experts on discrimination in an event titled "International Efforts to Combat Racial Discrimination," on Tuesday, Jan.

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Age restrictions discussed after death in D.C. club

By Dyane Jean Francois Fils | January 29

The D.C. Council held a hearing Thursday to discuss legislation barring minors from clubs that serve alcohol, prompted by the killing of a 17-year-old girl Jan. 20 at a U Street club, according to The Washington Post. Although several AU students said they feel safe in D.

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AU fire system exceeds code

By Brian Kalish | January 29

AU's fire alarm system is fully functional, Willy Suter, facilities management director, said, dispelling recent rumors that parts of the McDowell Hall fire alarm system were not functioning. Still, many students say they do not take fire evacuations seriously due to the large number of false alarms, especially in the South Side residence halls.

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Names of AU prez candidates being withheld

By Jimm Phillips | January 25

The Presidential Search Committee will not publicly confirm or deny recent reports naming former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams or Interim President Neil Kerwin as possible candidates for president of AU, according to presidential Chief of Staff David Taylor.

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NCOR blasted in Web petition

By Kyra Smerkanich | January 25

Student opposition to the National Conference on Organized Resistance has been growing through a Web site and online petition that has garnered over 200 signatures of those against the group's annual conference returning to AU. NCOR is currently scheduled to hold its annual conference at AU March 9 to 11, according to the NCOR Web site.

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D.C. conference pushes for cabinet-level peace department

By Allie Feras | January 25

The Peace Alliance, a citizen action group supporting a culture of peace, will host a conference to raise awareness and lobby for the creation of a cabinet level Department of Peace, Maggie Lada, an intern for The Peace Alliance and senior in the School of International Service, said.

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AU prof doubles as stand-up comedian at Bethesda hotel

By Amanda Glensky | January 25

School of Communication Professor Chris Palmer teaches film full time at AU, but he could never teach his daughters to do a handstand, he admitted to 100 people during his stand-up comedy routine Saturday night. Palmer said he uses inspiration from his family and the AU community in his stand-up set at Laugh Riot at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, Md.

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Indian economy grows through inspiration of others

By Kyra Smerkanich | January 25

India is historically an entrepreneurial country that has absorbed business practices from other countries, explaining why India has steadily grown economically, said R. Gopalakrishnan, executive director of Tata Sons, a prominent Indian corporation at the India Forum held Wednesday in the School of International Service Lounge.

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International brief: Israeli president faces charges of rape, abuse of power

By Jimm Phillips | January 25

Israeli President Moshe Katsav faces an indictment on charges of rape and abuse of power, according to the Associated Press. Katsav, who serves as Israel's ceremonial head of state, is alleged to have forced himself on female employees. The scandal came to light last summer after one of Katsav's female employees alleged that he had forced her to have sex.

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National brief: Watergate burglary coordinator dies at 88

By Jimm Phillips | January 25

E. Howard Hunt, the coordinator of the Watergate burglary and other clandestine activities during the Nixon administration, died of pneumonia in Miami Tuesday at the age of 88, according to Reuters. Hunt, once a CIA agent, was officially a consultant to President Richard Nixon, and lead the group of "plumbers" hired to plug up information leaks in the Nixon administration with G.

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Uninspired Dears show leaves 9:30 crowds unenthused

By Hilary Crowe | January 25

The air was fresh and smoke-free Saturday night at the 9:30 club, an atmosphere befitting the congenial crowd and bands that were to take refuge there for the night. The show, headlined by Montreal indie rockers The Dears, stood in stark contrast to the harsh, cement surroundings by churning out mind-numbingly ethereal pop from start to finish.

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