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Campus calendar

By Brian Kalish | February 1

Thursday Feb. 1 "Making Your Documentary Matter 2007" 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall The Center for Social Media's third annual conference, open to documentary filmmakers, non-profit communications directors, funders and students, will focus on how to craft a powerful communications tool for social change.

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Campus brief: Eco-Sense week of action to raise awareness concerning climate change

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 1

In a joint effort with Campus Climate Challenge, a North American organization of colleges that promote environmental groups, Eco-Sense will hold a week of action to inform students of important environmental issues, according to a club press release. "At American University, we have already held a successful student referendum to move the university towards wind-generated energy," Eco-Sense President Claire Roby, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said in the press release.

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U.S. colleges changing image to attract more male students

By Allie Feras | February 1

Women outnumber men in enrollment at many top universities, leading some schools to change their images to attract more men, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. But AU administrators said they see no problem with women making up a majority of the university student body, according to Acting Director of Admissions Cristan Trahey.

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AU Presidential Search Timeline

By Jimm Phillips | February 1

Oct. 10, 2005 The board of trustees fires President Benjamin Ladner following an investigation into his alleged misuse of university funds. Then-Provost Neil Kerwin is named acting university president. July 10, 2006 The board of trustees announces in a press release that it will formally begin the search for a "permanent president" in September.

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Decline in federal funding leads to alternate student employment

By Peggy Wu | February 1

As federal work-study funds decline, many students across the country and at AU opt to work part-time. Federal work-study funds have decreased by $9.9 million this academic year, bringing the total amount to $980.4 million, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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Metro brief: Police officers allegedly allowed protesters to vandalize Capitol Building

By Jimm Phillips | February 1

U.S. Capitol police allegedly allowed protesters to spray-paint graffiti on a portion of the Capitol Building's west steps during Saturday's anti-war rally, according to The Hill and NBC4.com. Approximately 300 protesters spray-painted anarchist symbols on a portion of the steps after U.

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School closures based on road conditions

By Melissa DeCosmo | January 29

Various factors, including road conditions affecting employees and students living off-campus, are considered when the choice is made to delay or cancel classes, according to Jorge Abud, the assistant vice president of facilities and administration. "Our decision during a snow event is primarily based on area road conditions, since we recognize that off-campus students, as well as employees, need to be able to travel to the university in order to carry on a typical day," Abud said in an e-mail.

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Metro calendar

By Rebecca Kern | January 29

Monday, Jan. 29 "Climbing the Hill: Choosing Your Path" 6-7:30 p.m. Capitol Hill, Cannon Building, room 121 Metro: Capitol South (blue and orange lines) Join the School of Public Affairs Congressional Alumni Career Committee for the first in a series of panel discussions about employment opportunities on Capitol Hill.

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National briefs

January 29

UNC-Chapel Hill mistakenly e-mails nearly 3,000 acceptance letters The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sent acceptance letters to 2,743 applicants by mistake last Tuesday, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The e-mail, which asked students to submit their midyear grades, was meant solely for applicants accepted through UNC's early-notification program.

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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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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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