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News

International brief: PM, ambassador committed to Iraq

By Kyra Smerkanich | October 30

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad issued a statement saying they are committed to developing a strong relationship between the U.S. and Iraq, the Associated Press reported. This statement came Friday after the death toll for U.

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Mushnick calls for changes to Tavern

By Cait Douglas | October 30

Student Government President Ashley Mushnick submitted a memorandum Wednesday to Director of Housing and Dining Programs Julie Weber and Bon Appetit Manager Yvonne Matteson addressing student concerns about the quality of service in the Tavern. Mushnick commended Housing and Dining Services for facilitating the first Dining Services Committee Meeting but was wary of what students might take away from negative experiences.

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Metro calendar

By Rebecca Kern | October 30

Tuesday, Oct. 31 "Monster" Through Nov. 26 Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Rorschach Theater, 1459 Columbia Road N.W. Metro: Columbia Heights (green line) "Monster" has been called one of the most frightening and creative adaptations of Mary Shelley's classic novel "Frankenstein.

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Metro briefs

October 30

District developer acquitted of fraud, conspiracy charges A D.C. jury voted Friday to acquit developer Douglas Jemal on charges that he bribed officials to get government contracts at taxpayers' expense, according to The Washington Post. Jemal was found guilty on a lesser charge of wiretapping, but the jury rejected the U.

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'Minds' combat mental health stigma

By Chris Nye | October 30

In order to reduce the high levels of depression and anxiety among college students, negative perceptions surrounding mental illness must be eradicated, according to members of the student-based advocacy group Active Minds. According to Active Minds founder Alison Malmon, the purpose of the "Mental Health on Campus Conference," which took place at AU this past Friday and Saturday, is to further the organization's fight against a legacy of ignorance and misunderstanding concerning mental health via a "movement that will break stigma and effect change on campus and in society.

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Campus brief: WCL to offer first-year electives

By Brian Kalish | October 30

The Washington College of Law will offer electives to first-year students in their spring semester of study, according to a press release. Previously, students all took the same first-year course load, Dean Claudio Grossman said in the press release. Beginning with the current class, first-year students will be able to take one elective course on topics including international law, intellectual property law and trial advocacy principles and techniques.

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Study shows AU profs vote, fund Dems

By Emily Freifeld | October 30

Results from an independent study, conducted by the author, of voter registration records and political contributions revealed that AU professors were mostly Democrats as of spring 2006. The study surveyed voter registration records from D.C. and Montgomery County, Md.

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Tour explores haunted D.C. sites

By Madalyn Wasilczuk | October 30

On a cold, rainy night in D.C., a group of AU students ready to "Experience D.C." embarked on the Capital Hauntings Ghost Tour of Lafayette Park, one of the most "haunted" areas of the District. The tour guide, who went by Renee, told the stories of the Washington elite who made their homes around the park many years ago.

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WCL grant enables human rights work abroad

By Elyse Franko | October 30

The Washington College of Law launched its Freedom of Expression Program Wednesday night, officially announcing the acceptance of a $77,000 grant from the National Endowment for Democracy to fund a program focusing on "freedom of expression" cases in North and South America.

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AU wins community service award

By Allie Feras and Kaylor Garcia | October 26

In recognition of its efforts to serve its community, AU was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for General Community Service Oct. 17, the 20th anniversary of the Campus Compact. The Campus Compact is "a national coalition of more than 1,000 college and university presidents - representing some 5 million students - dedicated to promoting community service, civic engagement, and service-learning in higher education," according to the Campus Compact Web site.

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Father-son duo debate opposite political sides

By Kendra Garstka | October 26

Religion is necessary in this country, according to Maury Litwick, the Republican son in the "Relatively Political" father-son debate Tuesday night hosted by the College Republicans. "The only reason Americans feel a sense of right and wrong is because of religion," he said.

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Graduate students provide business consulting services

By Rebecca Kern | October 26

The Kogod School of Business is one of a limited number of graduate business schools in the country to offer a course where companies pay for consulting services from students, according to The New York Times. Robert Sicina, an executive-in-residence and a Kogod international business professor, is the director of Kogod's MBA programs and has been integral in creating the consulting course for Kogod graduate students.

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Forum tackles gay issues

By Peggy Wu | October 26

AU hosted a forum on Monday filled with panels, presentations and film screenings on gay rights and issues to emphasize public awareness of those issues, according to Nicholas Shigeru Sakurai, program coordinator of the GLBTA Resource Center, which sponsored the event.

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MGC to be renovated over summer

By Brian Kalish | October 26

Over the summer of 2007, the first floor of Mary Graydon Center will be renovated to make it more "student friendly," according to Mike Elmore, senior director of the University Center. The current plans, still being evaluated, include a plan to move the bathrooms currently located near the Tavern and to knock down that wall to create an open space into the Tavern, Elmore said.

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International briefs

By Kyra Smerkanich | October 26

New machines could create voting problems New voting machines, long lines and large numbers of people to count could prove troublesome in the upcoming midterm elections, according to Reuters. "In close elections, it may be days and weeks before a winner is known in a particular race," Paul DeGregorio, chairman of the U.

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Campus calendar

By Kendra Garstka | October 26

Thursday, Oct. 26 Fidelity Investments Representative on Campus All day A representative from Fidelity Investments, one of the AU retirement plan providers, will be on campus to meet one-on-one with faculty and staff about their retirement savings plans. To schedule an appointment, call 800-642-7131.

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Students recruited to work polls

By Kendra Garstka | October 26

Continuing to prove its title as most politically active school in the nation, AU is the only university in D.C. that has recruited students to work at polls for the Nov. 7 midterm elections, and its 104 student workers is the largest number from all universities, said Robert Pastor, director of the Center for Democracy and Election Management and a professor in the School of International Service.

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