News

News

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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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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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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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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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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NPS to renovate Mall

By Emily Blanck | November 6

The National Park Service unveiled a new planning effort Wednesday that marked the beginning of a major overhaul of the National Mall and other sites maintained by the NPS. Vikki Keys, superintendent of the Mall and Memorial Parks, said the goal of this new effort is to "keep the monuments as beautiful and accessible as possible.

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High youth turnout expected at polls

By Rebecca Kern | November 6

A recent poll by the Harvard Institute of Politics showed that 32 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds said they "definitely" plan on voting in this midterm election, which would be the largest proportion of this age group to vote in a midterm election in the past 20 years.

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Flash aids in WCL foreign recruitment

By Brittany Schell | November 6

The International Legal Studies Program at the Washington College of Law launched an interactive "flashmap" on its Web site about two weeks ago to allow prospective students to learn about the program in their native languages and provide information for recruiters who are looking for employees with legal expertise in certain areas.

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Employers view social Web sites when hiring

By Amanda Glensky | November 6

One-in-four hiring managers admitted to using Internet search engines to research potential employees and one-in-10 used social networking sites in their screening processes, according to a September 2006 CareerBuilder.com survey, which may jeopardize college students' employment chances if they post questionable personal information online.

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Presidential search firm hired by AU

By Jimm Phillips | November 6

Presidential Search Committee Chairman Gary Abramson announced at the board of trustees' town hall meeting Thursday that the committee had selected Shelley Weiss Storbeck from Edward W. Kelley & Partners to conduct AU's presidential search. In other board news, Rebecca Geller, a third-year student in the Washington College of Law, introduced herself at the beginning of the meeting as the student trustee-designate.

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Students offer input to board

By Jimm Phillips | November 6

As part of its implementation of the governance reforms enacted last May, the board of trustees hosted a town hall meeting Thursday to discuss issues of importance to the AU community. Although the board had intended the meeting to be a "question and answer session," some trustees also asked for audience input.

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Alums give tips, advice to pre-meds

By Wah-Hui Ong | November 6

A variety of speakers addressed more than 80 pre-med students about a wide array of internships and volunteer opportunities, provided tips on applying to medical school and gave advice on career options at the AU health professions seminar Friday. Frederick Carson, pre-medical programs coordinator at the College of Arts and Sciences, organized the event, which featured 20 speakers.

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Metro briefs

By Jimm Phillips | November 6

GWU and student settle mental health lawsuit George Washington University officials and a former student settled a lawsuit brought by the student against the university, according to the Associated Press. They did not disclose the exact details of the settlement, according to the AP.

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International brief: Taiwanese First Lady to be indicted on embezzlement, forgery charges

By Jimm Phillips | November 6

Taiwanese First Lady Wu Shu-chen is expected to be indicted on charges of embezzlement and forgery, according to The Washington Post. Officials at the Taiwan High Prosecutor's office said they believe Wu embezzled the American equivalent of $450,000 over a period of four years by using forged receipts to claim expenses from a government slush fund for diplomatic purposes.

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National brief: Evangelical leader resigns from posts amid gay sex scandal

By Jimm Phillips | November 6

The president of the National Association of Evangelicals resigned Thursday after a male escort alleged that he and the former president engaged in a sexual affair, according to The Washington Post. The escort, Mike Jones, revealed in radio and television interviews that the Rev.

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Environmental issues addressed in film fest

By Tracy Kania | November 6

Students and environmental enthusiasts packed Wechsler Theatre Nov.1 to get a glimpse of "The Best of the Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival 2006" and to listen to a special presentation by Philippe Cousteau, grandson of the renowned environmentalist and explorer Jacques Cousteau.

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Metro calendar

By Rebecca Kern | November 6

Tuesday, Nov. 7 Women in Politics' "Party in 'Da House ... and Senate: Election Night Happy Hour" 7-10 p.m., Cloud Dining Lounge, 1 Dupont Circle N.W. Metro: Dupont Circle (red line) Join the Women and Politics Institute to watch the election returns. Tickets are $10.

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