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News

Campus-wide renovations aim to ease cramped schools, outdated facilities

By Brian Kalish | February 9

AU is set to begin as many as five major campus construction projects within the next two years, according to Jerry Gager, the university's director of facilities planning and development. These capital improvements will leave the campus with one new building, two renovated buildings, an expanded student union and possibly a new dorm.

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Pole-dancing class offered at Canadian university

By Kate Oczypok | February 9

The University of British Columbia became the first North American university to offer pole-dancing lessons, a move that caused discussion among members of the AU community. The class, "Pole Dancing 101," teaches students the art of spinning, dancing and hip swaying, according to The Tyee newspaper's web site, www.

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Metro briefs

February 9

UDC raises tuition to aid development, utilities The University of the District of Columbia is raising tuition and fees by $625 to improve teacher development and student counseling and to cover the cost of rising utility bills, The Washington Post reported.

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Half of Iraqi citizens support attacks on U.S. forces

By Kelly Kerr | February 9

Half of Iraqi citizens support attacks on U.S. forces, including nine out of 10 Sunnis, according to a poll recently released by the Program on International Policy Attitudes. The poll, conducted Jan. 2 through 4, asked 1,150 Iraqis of all religious and ethnic backgrounds about their support for attacks on U.

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Army has no plans to cut troops despite Congress complaints

By Drew Brown / KRT | February 9

WASHINGTON _ The Army has no plans to cut National Guard and Army Reserve troops, senior Army officials said Thursday, responding to complaints from governors and members of Congress that the Army's restructuring plan would weaken those forces. In the 2007 budget plan that President Bush will send to Congress next week, the Army proposes funding 333,000 troops for the National Guard and 189,000 for the Army Reserve, the current totals.

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News

Metro calendar

By Kate Oczypok | February 9

Thursday, Feb. 9 "The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: A Legal Framework in Crisis." 8:30 am.-5:15 p.m. Washington College of Law, Room 603 The 2006 Annual Conference of the International Law Review will be a timely assessment and discussion of the current legal framework for nuclear nonproliferation.

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News

Metro calendar

By Lauren Gardner | February 6

Monday, Feb. 6 Skyline 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The National Theatre Metro: Metro Center (Blue, Yellow, Red lines) Skyline creates original music and also performs popular covers. Each singer brings his or her unique influences to bear on the sound, producing music with a blend of rich vocal textures and soaring leads, accented with thumping bass and vocal percussion.

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News

Protesters demand presidential resignation

By Dave Colon | February 6

On a Saturday so foggy the top of the Washington Monument was barely visible even to those standing on the National Mall, World Can't Wait, an organization seeking to create a political situation that would drive President Bush from office, gathered protesters near the monument and marched to the White House to denounce the Bush administration and call on the president to step down.

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News

Athletes find balance

By Brian Kalish | February 6

A recent conference concluded that college athletes struggle with the stresses of performing on the field as well as in the classroom, but many AU students do not feel the same way. The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics was founded in October 1989 in response to more then a decade of highly visible scandals in college sports, according to its Web site.

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Stanford initiates maternity leave policy for grad students

By Katherine Stump | February 6

Stanford University instituted a policy that gives time off and paid leave from school responsibilities for female graduate students who give birth during their coursework, a policy that many at AU call progressive. Gail Mahood, associate dean for graduate policy at Stanford, told the Chronicle of Higher Education that the university has implemented the policy to deal with the fact that women's critical professional years often coincide with peak childbearing years, which has made it difficult to retain top female talent, especially in the science fields.

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NCOR conference attracts hundreds

By Tiffany Heimbuch-Maybee | February 6

Community members and students coming together for the National Conference on Organized Resistance were on campus over the weekend to convene on their mutual platform of activism. The conference has taken place on the AU campus every winter since 1998 when it was founded by AU students Nisha Anand, Amanda Moeckel, Leila Spears and Kadd Stephens.

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Harassment common at most schools

By Ebonie Branch | February 6

According to a study conducted by the American Association of University Women, 62 percent of college students have been sexually harassed, and 35 percent of female students and 29 percent of males reported they were physically harassed. Despite the national trend, members of AU's administration said it has not dealt with as many accusations of sexual harassment, and students say it is not a serious problem plaguing AU.

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Civil rights activist dies, leaves legacy of courage

By Kelly Kerr | February 6

Coretta Scott King, widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., died Tuesday at 78 of ovarian cancer, according to the Associated Press. King had a public viewing in the Georgia state Capitol rotunda Saturday and will have another viewing in the Baptist church where her husband was a minister today.

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Journalist tells students to seek truth

By Josh Goodman and Kyra Smerkanich | February 6

Investigative journalist Bob Woodward, best known for the story he broke about the 1973 Watergate break-in for The Washington Post, told AU students to "focus, rewrite, re-interview ... and always try to suck out the truth," at the Kay Spiritual Life Center Thursday.

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National briefs

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | February 6

Metro revamps 'Doors closing' The new voice of the Metro will soon serenade riders with an updated rendition of the familiar "doors closing" after a contest chose Randi Miller, a 44-year-old real estate manager, according to The Washington Post. Miller will record new voice messages for the Metro system, which are to be played 33,017 times per day across the rail network, according to The Post.

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Bono advocates increased public input

By Lauren Gardner | February 6

The American public can increase aid to Africa by telling politicians that they want their money spent for the cause, said lead singer of U2 and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Bono said Friday night at The Nation's Capital Distinguished Speaker Series. According to Bono, the American "no problem we can't fix" attitude is vital to changing the amount of aid donated to Africa.

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Students may pay higher interest rates

By Kendra Garstka | February 6

College students may face higher interest rates on their student loans due to the Budget Reconciliation Bill, which is now awaiting approval from President Bush. The bill passed the House on Feb. 2 with a vote of 216 to 214. In December, it passed the Senate 51 to 50 with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the final vote.

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