News

News

National brief: Brandy sued for $50 million in wrongful death case

By Jimm Phillips | February 1

The parents of a woman who was killed in a crash involving actress-singer Brandy asked for $50 million in damages in a wrongful death suit against the artist on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. The suit, which was filed on behalf of Aboudihaj Ahmed and Labridi Zohra in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleged that Brandy was driving recklessly on Dec.

---

News

GW Presidential Search Timeline

February 1

April 4, 2006 George Washington University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg announces he will retire at the end of July 2007 after 19 years in office. Late April The board of trustees conducts a series of town hall meetings with parents, alumni, staff, students and Foggy Bottom residents during the following months to gain additional input in the search process.

---

News

Prez search not comparable with GWU's timeline

By Jimm Phillips | February 1

The time line used by George Washington University during its recent presidential search should not be compared to the one American University is using in its own search, according to Presidential Chief of Staff David Taylor. "I think each institution has different needs and different goals," he said.

---

News

Limited voting rights restored to D.C. delegate

By Howard Perlman | February 1

AU students and professors have mixed reviews on the future of District congressional voting rights after Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., and other non-state representatives in the House of Representatives Thursday regained a voting right they lost in 1995.

---

News

Al-Jazeera journalist urges students to view other media

By Brian Kalish | February 1

More people across the world trust Al-Jazeera than Western press, said Josh Rushing, star of the documentary "Control Room" and a correspondent for Al-Jazeera English, during a speech in Mary Graydon Center Tuesday. "It's critical to understand that there are different perspectives about how the world works," said Bill Gentile, a professor in the School of Communication, whose class hosted Rushing.

---

News

College Democrats suspended for mishandling club finances

By Kendra Garstka and Kyra Smerkanich | February 1

Student Activities suspended AU's chapter of the College Democrats last Thursday for failing to adequately deposit and keep track of money earned through fund raising last semester, according to College Democrats president Matt Kent. According to Kent, Student Activities Director Karen Gerlach told the College Democrats they will not receive their $1,750 second-semester allocation of AU Club Council funds, but Kent said they will still function as a club.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

News

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.

---

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.

---

News

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.

---