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National briefs

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | February 13

Blackberry creates new software Research in Motion, makers of the Blackberry technology, announced Friday they have created new software that does not violate any patents, allowing the continuation of its existing wireless e-mail service, The Washington Post reported.

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Basketball recruitment fliers called 'sexist'

By Patrick Ambrosio | February 13

Organizations around campus were outraged last week after discovering a recruiting flier from the AU men's basketball team that referred to Washington, D.C., as "the number one place to find babes," and reminded prospective recruits that "AU has twice as many female students as male students.

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Management, leases change at Park Bethesda

By Kyra Smerkanich | February 13

Students will now live alongside public residents at Park Bethesda, AU's off-campus apartment building, after revenue losses led Housing and Dining to contract with an outside firm to share management of the facility, according to Julie Weber, executive director of Housing and Dining.

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Cartoons depicting Muslim prophet cause controversy

By Lauren Gardner | February 13

The editorial cartoons published in several newspapers worldwide depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad are inexcusable and not a correct exercise of freedom of the press, according to members of the AU community. Abdul Karim Bangura, a professor in the School of International Service affiliated with AU's Center for Global Peace, said he has traveled to Denmark and is familiar with the newspaper that first published the cartoon, Jyllands-Posten.

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Library promotes IM reference service this holiday

By Jeannette Kimmel | February 13

Bender Library is promoting its instant messaging reference service this Valentine's Day in the library with student appreciation, stickers and candy. The pilot project with instant messaging virtual reference began on Jan. 30 and will continue through May 1.

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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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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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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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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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