News

News

International students showcase their cultures

By Madalyn Wasilczuk | November 13

The International Student Leadership Team and the International Student and Scholar Services Office presented International Vibe, a night of food, performances and dancing in the Tavern Friday. Fanta Aw, director of International Student and Scholar Services, said the night was put on to introduce the new International Student Leadership Team, made up of both undergraduate and graduate students, and enrich the campus by presenting culture in a fun and educational way.

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National brief: Pledge of Allegiance banned from student trustee meetings at California college

By Jimm Phillips | November 13

Student trustees at a California college banned the Pledge of Allegiance from their meetings because they saw no reason to swear allegiance to God or the United States government, according to Reuters. The decision to ban the pledge from student trustee meetings at Orange County-based Orange Coast College caused controversy on campus, prompting Christine Zoldos, a political science major at the school, to recite the pledge during the board's meeting on Wednesday night.

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Kogod revamps logo to change national image

By Howard Perlman | November 13

The Kogod School of Business is undergoing a campaign to improve the aesthetic quality of its logo, Web site and brochures. In the "About Kogod" section of Kogod's newly refurbished Web site, Dean Richard M. Durand said the school hopes to further integrate its approach to interdisciplinary business education into all of its materials.

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Dems expected to alter higher education laws

By Peggy Wu | November 13

With the new Democratic control of the House of Representatives, the new stance on higher-education issues is anticipated to benefit the academic community through funding for academic research and federal funds for students, according to The Chronicle for Higher Education.

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Study shows independent voters on rise

By Peggy Wu | November 13

A recent study released by AU's Center for the Study of the American Electorate showed an increase in the number of voters registering as independents from 14.4 percent in 2002 to a record high of 16.7 percent. This increase in the number of independent voters will benefit the Democrats in the short run, according to Curtis Gans, the center's director and lead researcher.

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Citizens' role in media increases

By Kendra Garstka | November 13

Just when journalists thought the public couldn't get any more cynical about the media, citizens are now focusing on do-it-yourself journalism, said Pat Aufderheide, director of AU's Center for Social Media. "The audience has simply refused to stay the audience," Aufderheide said.

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Education schools face challenges

By Brittany Schell | November 13

AU's School of Education is no exception to the criticism from a recent survey showing that a growing number of educators think education schools do not give teachers enough background in their subject matter. Arthur Levine, the former president of Columbia University's Teachers College, surveyed school principals for the study, according to The Washington Post.

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SPA program trains leaders of tomorrow

By Cait Douglas | November 13

Four years after submitting their applications, the 28 members of the senior Leadership class are gearing up for their final semester together. They have planned community service projects and successful fundraisers, stepped into the real world with internships and will end it all this spring with their final seminar.

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Teleservice jobs provide flexibility

By Elyse Franko | November 13

More students are contracting as independent telephone service agents, according to LiveOps, a teleservice made up entirely of work-at-home employees. Students can work from their dorms or apartments taking orders for national pizza chains, conducting political polls and doing similar phone-based work, said Elizabeth Gordon, a LiveOps spokeswoman.

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Campus briefs

By Brian Kalish | November 13

WAMU to hold reading, signing of NPR series' essay collection WAMU 88.5, AU's National Public Radio affiliate, will hold an essay reading and book signing of "This I Believe," a recently published collection of essays from the NPR series of the same name, according to a WAMU press release.

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SG Senate passes transparency bill

By Cassie Passinault | November 13

The Undergraduate Senate passed legislation yesterday, a bill on the establishment of open government. The bill was sponsored by College of Arts and Sciences Senator Peter Wahlberg and was established to facilitate better communication between the legislative and executive branches of Student Government and between the SG and the university community.

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Harvard paper suspends staff members for plagiarism

By Emily Blanck | November 9

The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University's student newspaper, recently suspended two staff members who allegedly plagiarized material for the paper. Although reports of such incidents - like one in 2004 when an Eagle columnist was suspended for allegedly plagiarizing material - are infrequent, they bring up issues of ethics in college media much like those dealt with by professional journalists.

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Russian trafficking growing

By Courtney Albon | November 9

Human trafficking has been a problem since the beginning of slavery, while punishment for trafficking only began in the 20th century, according to Yelena Varpakhovskaya, chair of criminal law and criminology at Irkutsk Prosecutors' Training Institute and one of six panelists who participated in a discussion Wednesday in Mary Graydon Center about human trafficking in Russia.

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AU tuition increase follows slowing national trend

By Kelly Barrett | November 9

AU's tuition increase this year was the same as the national average increase in tuition of four-year private colleges across the country, according to Nana An, AU's executive director of Budget and Payroll. AU's 2006-2007 tuition fee increase was 5.9 percent, or $1,238, according to An.

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Sex health education lacking at AU

By Andrea Chong | November 9

The recently released Trojan Sexual Health Report Card conducted a nationwide survey on sexual education at various colleges. While AU was not selected as one of the schools surveyed, the report brings attention to sex and sexual health awareness at AU. The score was based on criteria that included an informative Web site on sex health awareness, condom and contraceptive advice and availability on campus, HIV and STD testing, sexual assault counseling services and advice columns for sexual issues or relationships.

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National briefs

By Jimm Phillips | November 9

Rumsfeld resigns from Defense Dept. President Bush announced that he accepted Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation and that he would name former CIA Director Robert Gates to replace him at a press conference yesterday. Rumsfeld, who had been Defense Secretary since Bush came into office in 2001, had been increasingly embattled as public support for the war in Iraq decreased.

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Campus calendar

By Kendra Garstka | November 9

Thursday, Nov. 9 "You Call This Journalism? The Emerging Landscape of News" 4:30-6 p.m., Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center Sponsored by the Center for Social Media in collaboration with the Integrated Media Association, this panel discussion will feature journalism and media experts to examine the future of public media and citizen journalism.

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