News

News

Speech receives mixed reactions

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 2

President George W. Bush said America must reduce its dependency on foreign oil and continue its presence in the Middle East in his State of the Union Address, which elicited mixed reactions from the AU community. "America is addicted to oil," Bush said on Tuesday.

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Police blotter

By Kate Oczypok | February 2

Tuesday, Jan. 17 Disorderly conduct was reported off campus and the Metropolitan Police Department was called to the scene. Wednesday, Jan. 18 Harassment by phone was reported at the Sports Center. An unknown suspect was making threatening phone calls. A student was stuck in an elevator in McDowell Hall.

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Survey: AU students' alcohol usage higher than national average

By Kelly Moynihan | February 2

670 freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors responded to AU's Core survey, which was distributed in February 2005. The purpose of the survey was to raise awareness about alcohol on AU's campus. On average, AU students' rates of usage are slightly higher than national averages.

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Tour educates AU of Wal-Mart labor violations

By Laraine Weschler | February 2

Kay Spiritual Center was filled with squirming members of the AU community Tuesday, all craning their necks and stretching their arms backwards as they tried to peek at their own shirt labels, checking to see where their clothing was assembled. The exercise was part of the "Wal-Mart Sweatshop Workers" speaking tour.

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Palestine elects Hamas as majority party

By Lauren Gardner | February 2

Many AU students and employees said the world must wait and see how Hamas handles its new political power before judging how their rule will affect relations with Israel. Rachel Victor, co-president of AU Students for Israel, said she noticed the U.S. was more surprised by the outcome of the elections than Israel was.

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Professor to be second educator ever in Senate, if elected

By Josh Goodman | February 2

Declaring "our world is in severe peril today," Dr. Allan Lichtman, an AU history professor and a candidate for the Democratic party's nomination for the U.S. Senate in Maryland, spoke to the AU community Wednesday night as part of the Kennedy Political Union's "Finest Faculty" series.

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First-year students most vulnerable to dangers of alcohol, study finds

By Kelly Moynihan | February 2

A recent study by the American Council of Education found that first-year college students are especially vulnerable to alcohol-related injuries or death, USA Today reported. The study included student deaths from Jan. 1, 2000 up to the present. Of the 620 deaths of students who attended four-year colleges and universities since that date, one-third of the students who died were in their freshmen year although on average, freshmen only made up 24 percent of undergraduate students at the institutions studied.

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Campus calendar

By Kate Oczypok | February 2

Thursday, Feb. 2 Burton D. Wechsler First Amendment Competition Through 4 Feb. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Washington College of Law. WCL's Moot Court Honor Society will host its 13th annual competition. Law students from across the country will gather to argue a specially formulated First Amendment problem and showcase their oral advocacy skills before local judges, prominent attorneys, and First Amendment scholars.

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Trustee, bishop seeks greater input from students

By Mary Specht and Kendra Garstka | January 30

John Schol, bishop of the Baltimore-Washington conference of the United Methodist Church spoke last night in the Kay Spiritual Center and said that as a member of the AU board of trustees, he plans to forge closer connections to students, faculty and administrators.

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AU will hold teleconference on Facebook privacy policy

By Tiffany Heimbuch-Maybee | January 30

American University will hold a teleconference with attorneys, professors and administration on Feb. 14 to determine a Facebook privacy policy. Some employers may begin using the Web site for background checks on potential employees, which could mean trouble for students who post information or pictures of themselves they want kept private from employers, The Eagle previously reported.

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Auto show reveals new trends

By Brian Kalish | January 30

The Washington, D.C. annual auto show, titled "The State of the Auto," featured hundreds of automobiles which were displayed at the Washington Convention Center from Jan. 24 until Jan. 29. The show, which is spread out over 750,000 square feet, features more than 40 domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers displaying over 800 new cars, trucks, mini-vans, hybrids and sport utility vehicles, according to a press release.

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Chipotle introduces online ordering service

By Dave Colon | January 30

Chipotle, a popular fast food chain among AU students, unveiled a new online order service available in the District that offers customers the chance to order their food online and pick it up at the restaurant. The "Don't Stand in Line" program works like many other online ordering services.

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RHA and Student Government pass fire alarm resolution

By Carolyn Phenicie | January 30

After two years of discussion with the administration, the Residence Hall Association has introduced several new methods to combat the problem of prank fire alarms, including a "neighborhood watch" program. Residents will receive magnets declaring "Warning: Neighborhood Watch.

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Study finds college literacy scores decline

By Kelly Kerr | January 30

A study released by the Department of Education found only a quarter of college-educated Americans scored high enough on a literacy test to be considered proficient, and while some AU professors say their students are generally intellectually sophisticated, other say students' skills need work.

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Former AU scholar faces deportation

By Elizabeth Royall | January 30

Deportation trials began Jan. 23 for former School of International Service scholar-in-residence Gao Zhan, who is serving a sentence for spying for the Chinese government. In 2003, she admitted to selling over $500,000 worth of military-grade microprocessors to a Chinese government agency.

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Metro calendar

By Lauren Gardner | January 30

Monday, Jan. 30 Forum on the Impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney 12 - 2 p.m. Busboys and Poets Bookstore, 2021 14th St., NW Are the president and vice president above the law? Should they be held accountable? How? Speakers include Cindy Sheehan and Ralph Nader.

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National briefs

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | January 30

Fund established for 9/11 workers Two New York House Of Representatives members called on the Bush administration to appoint someone to supervise testing and treatment of people affected by the destruction of the World Trade Center, USA Today reported Thursday.

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