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News

Housing and Dining director to leave in February

By Brian Kalish | January 22

On Feb. 3, Housing and Dining Programs Executive Director Julie Weber will walk out of her office like she does at the end of every day. However, it will be her last time doing so, as she leaves behind 10 years at AU to begin a similar job 2,000 miles away at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.

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Students prefer e-mail over office hour visits

By Rebecca Kern | January 22

A recent survey conducted by The Minnesota Daily found that three out of four students said they would rather e-mail a professor than go to his or her office hours, and this trend seems to be true for students and professors at AU as well. Michaela McGill, a sophomore in the School of Communication, said she would rather e-mail a professor because it is convenient and saves her time.

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National bill to lower student loan interest rates

By Peggy Wu | January 22

The House of Representatives passed a bill that will cut interest rates on student loans in half by a vote of 356-71 Wednesday, which will affect college students across the U.S., including those at AU. Under the new bill, the College Student Relief Act of 2007 and also known as H.

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Campus briefs

By Kyra Smerkanich | January 22

AU grad's film selected for Sundance "Girl 27," a documentary co-produced by Lindsay Webster, a 2003 graduate of the School of Communication, was selected to compete in the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary tells the story of an underage dancer who was raped at a MGM party in 1937.

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Students to be notified of packages electronically

By Kyra Smerkanich | January 22

Housing and Dining is starting a new package system that will notify students of the status of their package electronically and allow them to swipe their student identification card to receive their packages. The goal of the system, according to Chris Moody, associate director of Housing and Dining programs, is to create a "paperless and tracking accountability system.

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Saudi diplomat encourages tolerance, openness

By Kendra Garstka | January 22

Understanding and tolerance of one another as human beings is key to maintaining good relationships between the United States and Saudi Arabia, according to Turki-Al-Faisal, ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "We need you to come to our part of the world .

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National brief: Journalist's killer gets 65-year sentence

By Jimm Phillips | January 18

The man convicted of murdering New York Times journalist David E. Rosenbaum was sentenced to 65 years in prison last Friday in D.C. Superior Court, according to The Washington Post. The sentencing came several months after Percey Jordan, 43, was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery of a senior citizen.

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Campus calendar

By Brian Kalish | January 18

Thursday, Jan. 18 Table Talk: "Race Progress: Truth or Illusion?" Noon-1:30 p.m. Kay Spiritual Life Center lounge Panelists will provide perspectives on the 1857 Dred Scott decision and the 1957 founding principles of the Southern Christian Leadership Council.

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Campus briefs

By Kyra Smerkanich | January 18

AU named No. 8 for Peace Corps alumni AU made No. 8 on the list of the top 25 medium-sized schools that have alumni serving in the Peace Corps, according to a press release from the Peace Corps Press Office. With 41 alumni currently serving, AU moved up three spots in the rankings from last year, according to the press release.

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Students look for other textbook sources

By Brittany Schell | January 18

Many American University students found alternative means of buying their books this semester instead of purchasing them from the campus bookstore. They said they found better prices for books at various Web sites. Curtis Harris, a sophomore in the School of International Service, said he bought all of his books on Amazon.

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MacArthur Fellow joins SOC

By Ali Goldstein | January 18

After being selected a MacArthur Fellow - a fellowship given out by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for exceptional creative work in any field, according to the Foundation's Web site - Charles Lewis joined the School of Communication faculty this year as Distinguished Journalist in Residence.

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Derailment leads to metro investigation

By Jimm Phillips | January 18

The derailment of a Metrorail train earlier this month caused officials at the National Transportation Safety Board to question the system's safety. On Jan. 7, a Green Line train derailed in a tunnel near the Mount Vernon Square Metro station, causing 18 injuries.

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International brief: Winter storm death toll hits 51

By Jimm Phillips | January 18

The death toll from a winter storm that affected residents from Texas to New England rose to 51 Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. The storm, which had nearly exited off the East Coast by Tuesday, brought high winds, snow, ice and flooding to areas of the country from Oklahoma to Maine.

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Students divided over Iraq proposal

By Rebecca Kern | January 18

AU professors and students have mixed reactions to President Bush's recent proposal to deploy 21,000 more troops to Iraq and allocate billions of dollars for Iraqi reconstruction projects. Bush announced in his Jan. 10 address to the nation that he plans to double the number of troops in Baghdad by sending 16,000 more troops to the capital.

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AU prof clarifies copyright laws with pamphlet

By Ali Goldstein | January 18

Pat Aufderheide, director of American University's Center for Social Media, has long written about documentary films, but she said they are an especially vital means of communication now more than ever. "Between the poles of homogenized corporate media and the blogosphere, documentarians are critically important," Aufderheide said.

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Prof attendance policy undefined

By Stephen Tringali | December 7

John Renga, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said two of his chemistry classes were canceled this semester simply because his professor didn't think chapter 13 in the course textbook was worth studying. "Don't show up for the next two classes," Renga said his professor announced one day.

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Mental health services lacking

By Rebecca Kern | December 7

Mike Evans has served in the U.S. Army, run for a seat in the House of Representatives and has been nominated to the Democratic National Committee's Veterans and Military Families Council by Howard Dean - all while coping with depression. But Evans, a senior in the Kogod School of Business, said it hasn't been easy, and universities - including AU - could do more to support students dealing with mental illness.

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