News

News

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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Freshmen learn AU alcohol policies early to combat high drinking rate

By Kelly Moynihan | February 2

In order to counter the dangerous drinking habits of freshmen, AU begins letting students and parents know about its dry-campus policies before classes begin. Freshmen orientation programs are now the starting point for alcohol education and its consequences.

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ACLU files suit against D.C. for police behavior

By Olga Khazan | February 2

The American Civil Liberties Union filed three lawsuits against the District on Jan. 19 after allegations of false arrests and excessive use of pepper spray towards protesters during last year's inaugural parade. The lawsuits claim that D.C. police violated the rights of peaceful demonstrators by indiscriminately arresting large groups of bystanders and drenching protesters with pepper spray through a chain-link fence.

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Metro briefs

February 2

Bono to promote service at D.C. speech Bono, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and lead singer of the group U2 will speak at the Washington Hilton and Towers Friday night about living a more involved life. The speech is part of the 12th annual Nation's Capital Distinguished Speaker Series held by the American Society of Association Executives & the Center for Association Leadership.

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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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