News

News

SIS welcomes more summer 2006 programs

By Rebecca Kern | February 13

New summer programs introduced by the School of International Service offer students the opportunity to earn credit and expand their knowledge in a particular area by studying in Washington D.C. or a foreign country. The SIS Summer 2006 Institutes expanded their program to include destinations to New Mexico, Italy, South Africa and Northern Ireland, and also extended its Malaysia program SIS Dean Louis Goodman said there are many incentives for students majoring in SIS and non-SIS majors to participate in these summer study programs.

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News

AU gives Ladner $18K for furniture reimbursement

By Mary Specht | February 13

AU gave former President Benjamin Ladner $18,000 for items he left in the university-owned Glenbrook Road residence to save the school the cost of buying new furnishings, according to David Taylor, the president's chief of staff.

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Begala discusses future of Democratic party, Iraq war

By Josh Goodman | February 13

President Bush's rationale for the war in Iraq is "a criminal disservice to the soldiers and a criminal deception of the American people," said former Clinton advisor and CNN political commentator Paul Begala in the McDowell Hall Formal Lounge Thursday night.

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Housing and Dining forum explains future of off-campus apartments

By Cait Douglas | February 13

Changes to Park Bethesda management are not an attempt to remove students from the building, but are intended to make the building more financially stable, according to Julie Weber, director of Housing and Dining, at a forum Thursday night.

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News

The Eagle's Nest goes organic

By Kate Oczypok and Emily Opilo | February 9

Many AU students who frequently visit the Eagle's Nest have noticed the addition of more organic food, a change that "offers students alternatives," said Adalberto Silva, manager of the Eagle's Nest. Organic counterparts to popular products like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Lays potato chips now sit on the shelves next to one another.

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AU hosts campaign season's first D.C. mayoral debate

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 9

D.C. mayoral candidates introduced central issues of their campaign platforms in a debate last night at AU, and discussed improving public education, addressing the lack of affordable housing and securing voting rights for the District.

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Police blotter

By Kate Oczypok | February 9

Wednesday, Feb. 1 Staff members reported missing food items from their refrigerator. An unknown individual attempted to steal books from the campus store. Thursday, Feb. 2 An individual fainted in the lobby of the Kay Spiritual Center. No hospital transportation was needed.

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AU to share Park Bethesda management with outside firm

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 9

Park Bethesda residents will no longer be able to lease rooms for nine months and will be subject to other lease changes following the adoption of a new contract in which AU students will live together with public residents.

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AU ranks 12th among grads joining Peace Corps

By Laraine Weschler | February 9

AU ranked 12th among medium-sized U.S. universities whose graduates joined the Peace Corps last year when 39 AU alumni served. "[AU students'] education underscores the importance of relating to the world, and they volunteer for many activities. Peace Corps, then, is a natural avenue," said Robert Pastor, vice president of International Affairs at AU and a former Peace Corps volunteer.

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News

Prices force students to seek bookstore alternatives

By Olga Khazan | February 9

The spring semester is in its fourth week, but some students may still be waiting for their textbooks to come from amazon.com. Rising textbook prices have increasingly pushed students toward the library and online used-book sources, away from the campus bookstore.

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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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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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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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