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Campus calendar

By Kate Oczypok | March 23

Thursday, March 23 An Evening with Dr. Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan 9:30-10:30 a.m., Ward 1. Dr. Abdullah, foreign minister of Afghanistan, will discuss Afghanistan's strategic objectives for the next five years as outlined in the Interim Afghanistan National Development.

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National briefs

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | March 23

Iraqi minister was paid CIA informant Former Iraqi Foreign minister Naji Sabri was a paid informant of the CIA in the run-up to the Iraq war, according to the New York Times. Sabri, whose contact was established through a French intelligence intermediary, gave the CIA critical information about Iraqi WMD programs.

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Metro Brief: District budget to increase

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | March 23

The District's new budget includes $62.2 million in new taxes according to The Washington Times. The increase comes from an increase in residential and recordation tax, from 1.1 to 1.5 percent. Mayor Anthony Williams proposed the new increase. Williams, who is not seeking re-election, previously proposed a .

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Expert promotes tae kwon do

By Tiffany Heimbuch-Maybee | March 23

The Korean Student Association presented 74-year old Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the "father of American tae kwon do" before Spring Break to speak to AU students. Jhoon Rhee, a 10-degree black belt, the highest rank in tae kwon do, is said to have brought tae kwon do to American culture.

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Demonstrators mark year three of war in Iraq

By Dave Colon | March 23

On the third anniversary of the United States' campaign in Iraq, marches and demonstrations took place around the world to protest the war. International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and Racism), an organization devoted to civil rights and social and economic justice, put together "Global Days of Action" from March 18 to 20 to protest the American presence in Iraq.

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Public Safety emphasizes discretion with Facebook

By ERICA LEMASTER and Samantha Tyrka | March 23

AU students must educate themselves about the risks that accompany membership on profile sites such as Facebook.com, according to Michael McNair, director of Public Safety at AU. McNair warned students that they must be wary of the type of information they post on their Facebook profiles.

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Fraternity hosts Miss Wheelchair '05

By Laraine Weschler | March 9

Miss Wheelchair America 2005 spoke to the AU community on Monday about overcoming her disabilities to become an advocate for others. Juliette Rizzo spoke as a part of Pi Kappa Phi Push America campaign to raise awareness and help people with disabilities.

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SIS Career Center holds advising meetings in Dav

By Kendra Garstka | March 9

In an effort to reach more students, the School of International Service Career Center is now holding weekly advising hours at the Davenport lounge. The program, which started Feb. 9, has become so successful that it is being extended from March 16 to a later undecided date, said Olya Vinnik, SIS career advisor.

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Professor promotes book on Sri Lankan conflict

By Rachelle Douillard-Proulx | March 9

Student and faculty gathered in the Battelle-Tompkins atrium to hear SIS Professor John Richardson speak about his book, "Paradise Poisoned," about Sri Lanka's civil war on Tuesday. The night included a panel, moderated by SIS Dean Louis Goodman, which discussed Richardson's book.

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National briefs

By Kate Oczypok | March 9

DeLay wins renomination in Texas Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) won the Republican nomination in his House reelection bid Tuesday, beating three challengers in his first election since he was indicted and forced to step aside as majority leader, according to The Washington Post.

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On-campus room draw begins this month

By Brian Kalish | March 9

Students can either live in their current room next year or move to a new hall of their choice, as the 2006 room draw process which began March 6 and will continue through March 31. The steps necessary for room draw are available online courtesy of Housing and Dining.

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Park B. changes affect hundreds

By Kate Oczypok and Brett Shear-Heyman | March 9

Many AU students are unhappy with the rising prices and changing lease terms of Park Bethesda, AU's off-campus apartment building that was recently handed over to a private management firm. Students will still be allowed to lease apartments through Housing and Dining Programs but terms will change.

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AU: No divestment policy for companies tied to Darfur

By Lauren Gardner | March 9

AU does not have a policy on divestment from companies with ties to the Darfur region of Sudan unlike some universities that have recently implemented such policies, according to David Taylor, chief of staff to Interim President Neil Kerwin. The finance and investment committee of the board of trustees oversees and works with the office of finance and the administration on the university's investment portfolio.

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Campus brief: New evaluation form approved

By Kate Oczypok | March 9

Faculty senators approved a streamlined and less ambiguous Student Evaluation of Teaching form at last week's Faculty Senate meeting. Scheduled to debut in fall 2006, the shorter form features a more consistent response scale, clearer separation between the course and faculty assessment sections, and more carefully worded questions, according to American Weekly.

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On v. off-campus housing debated among AU students

By Dan Jacobson and Malorie Sellers | March 9

The rising demand for on-campus housing along with rising costs may send more students looking cheaper alternatives off campus for the next year. According to Julie Weber, executive director of Housing and Dining, more than 2,700 students currently live on campus, and an anticipated 3,100 will apply for 2,850 on-campus spaces next fall.

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Guards report security lapses at Homeland Security headquarters

By Mary Specht and Brian Kalish | March 9

Security officers entrusted with guarding the Department of Homeland Security's headquarters on Nebraska Avenue across from campus have raised questions of safety at the base. Any attack that could happen at the base has a likely chance of affecting students due to proximity of the base to the school, former guards said.

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Metro brief: Md. electricity rates to rise

By Kate Oczypok | March 9

Electricity rates for Maryland residents will soar this summer, according to the Maryland Public Service Commission. The commission, which oversees state utilities, announced yesterday that customers served by Potomac Electric Power Co. (Pepco), Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.

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