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National briefs

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | April 3

FBI investigates Red Cross The FBI has begun investigating Red Cross volunteers who distributed relief supplies allegations of theft and other crimes were made against them, the USA TODAY reported Friday. Red Cross workers allegedly diverted supplies away from the relief effort, and the Red Cross is accused of breaking its rule of not using convicted felons as volunteers.

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Latino youth gather at AU

By Susanna Reid | April 3

More than 100 high school students, parents and members of the AU community gathered at eighth annual Latino Youth Conference (LYC), hosted by the Latino and American Student Organization (LASO). LASO has been put on the LYC with the goal of promoting higher education, leadership, community involvement and a positive Latino identity, according to conference material.

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McCurry discusses interview techniques

By Mike Scher | April 3

Former press secretary for the Clinton administration Mike McCurry spoke at AU on Friday. McCurry, who was press secretary from 1995 to 1998, spoke to Alice Walker's "Art and Science of Interviewing" class in the Battelle Atrium McCurry was known for his genial manner, and quick wit, saying things like "I guess old press secretaries never die-they just get double parked in the no comment zone," according to Walker.

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April Fool's Day celebrated with fake stories, clever pranks

By Kate Oczypok | April 3

A March 2006 survey by CareerBuilder.com reported that 33 percent of workers played a practical joke on a co-worker and 17 percent said they planned office tricks for this year's holiday. Being on a college campus makes practical jokes easier to accomplish.

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Immigration bill raises objections

By Rebecca Kern | April 3

Fifteen hundred students from Fairfax, Arlington and Falls Church, Va., and 300 students in Kensington, Md., left their middle and high schools Thursday to protest an immigration bill that the House has passed and has raised objection nationwide. The House bill H-4437, sponsored by Rep.

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Students divided over Israeli election results

By April Astor | April 3

On the AU campus, opinions vary greatly on how recent election results in Israel and Palestine will impact progress toward Middle East peace. Israel's centrist Kadima party, led by acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, won the country's parliamentary election Tuesday with a total of 28 seats.

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Iraqi media experiences new freedoms

By April Astor | April 3

Before the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the only media in Iraq was government run. There was no chance to express a second opinion, said Hamdi, an Iraqi newspaper editor. "Since the arrival of the liberating forces, a new page in the life of Iraq has begun as far as the media is concerned," he said on Thursday.

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Holocaust Remembrance Week

By Kate Oczypok | April 3

In remembrance of Holocaust, members of AU's Jewish community are holding events this week to honor those who died. The week includes a private tour of the Holocaust Museum and movie screenings. There is also a Holocaust Memorial Shabbat Friday evening. Monday, April 3 Screening and discussion of "Paperclips.

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Greeks dance for charity

By Kate Oczypok | April 3

Delta Gamma won the AE Phi Phollies Thursday night in the Tavern. The event raised money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The DG girls won a gift certificate to Ruby Tuesday's for their efforts. The group danced to female-themed songs including "Like a Virgin," "My Humps," "Hollaback Girl" and "Respect.

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Students raise money, collect popcorn for foster children

By Kate Oczypok | April 3

Professor Gemma Puglisi's Communication and Society class raised funds for Andrea Brenner's Sociology of the Family class Thursday afternoon. The sociology class is raising funds and collecting popcorn to go towards foster children who have aged out of the foster care system who are currently in college on scholarship.

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Florida law requires high school students to declare major

By Rebecca Kern | March 30

The Florida State House recently passed a law that will require incoming high school freshmen to declare a major, just like college students, according to CNN.com. The bill was proposed by Gov. Jeb Bush to prepare students for the real world and reduce their state high school dropout rates by making classes more interesting, according to CNN.

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Panel looks at women's role in Middle Eastern society

By April Astor | March 30

The image of a Middle Eastern woman covered by a burkha may conjure up strong feelings for Western feminists. During the Taliban regime however, there was more public outrage over the group's destruction of Buddhist statues than over their harsh treatment of women, said AU professor Catherine Warrick at a panel discussion Monday night.

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National/world briefs

By Kate Oczypok | March 30

Abramoff sentenced five years for fradulent purchases Jack A. Abramoff, the once-powerful Republican lobbyist at the center of a major corruption scandal, was sentenced Wednesday to five years and 10 months in prison for his role in the fraudulent purchase of a fleet of casino cruise ships, www.

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Metro crash in 2005 leads to improved safety

By Kate Oczypok | March 30

Metro officials are planning to install rollback protection on trains within the next year due to last year's collision in which a train rolled backward for 78 seconds and slammed into another train, according to Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith. The operator of the runaway train at the Woodley Park Station in November 2004 failed to break because he was probably asleep, federal safety officials said last week.

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Metro brief: Washington sniper deemed competent to stand trial

By Kate Oczypok | March 30

A Maryland judge ruled yesterday that sniper John Allen Muhammad is competent to stand trial and allowed him to fire his lawyers and represent himself during his first-degree murder trial, said The Washington Post. Montgomery County Circuit Judge James L.

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Lecture talks about rape

March 30

George Mason University professor Dr. Debra Bergoffen answers questions Wednesday afternoon following her lecture on rape. Bergoffen's speech, entitled "How Rape Became a Crime Against Humanity: History of an Error, Modernity and the Problem of Evil," was sponsored by the Women and Politics Institute.

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Campus calendar

By Kate Oczypok | March 30

Thursday, March 3 "Be True to You: Assertiveness in Relationships Workshop" 3:35-4:50 p.m., Hughes Formal Lounge. Learn how to express yourself genuinely and assertively as a way to develop your relationships. For more information, contact 885-3500. "Spirituality in Conflict Analysis: Phillip Hellmich" 6 p.

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