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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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Obama addresses lobbying reform

By Lauren Gardner | January 30

Lawmakers must change the way they deal with lobbyists and work more to serve the public in order to regain Americans' trust in the government, said Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at a Lobbying Reform Summit Thursday cosponsored by AU's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies and the Committee for Economic Development.

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Students to join selected board committees as non-voters

By Mary Specht | January 30

The AU board of trustees announced last week that students could join some of its committees as non-voting members, but not the influential Trusteeship and Compensation committees, which decide who can join the board and how much money executives will make.

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Grand opening promotes fair trade

By Emily Opilo | January 26

AU celebrated the grand opening of the Pura Vida caf? yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony saluting the efforts of students, faculty and administration to make more fair trade products available to the campus. Pura Vida representatives, along with members of the AU community, shared their thoughts on the new vendor and were given free lattes at the Wednesday morning ceremony in Mary Graydon Center.

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Minimum meal plan to be required for on-campus sophomores

By Kendra Garstka | January 26

The Class of 2009 will be required to buy at least a 150-block meal plan next year and sophomores living on campus will be required to purchase at least a 75-block meal plan. In February 2005, Housing and Dining Programs decided to make meal plans mandatory for the Class of 2009's first two years at AU, however there was no minimum meal block requirement This year, only 82 sophomores live on campus and do not have a meal plan, said Julie Weber, executive director of housing and dining.

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Excessive iPod use damaging to ears

By Kelly Moynihan | January 26

AU students are not concerned about a recent study that showed excessive use of the Apple iPod's ear bud headphones might be related to the increase of hearing loss among the younger generation. "I'm not worried at all," said Jacqueline Christy, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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National briefs

January 26

U. Texas study shows exercise helps fight depression One 30-minute exercise session - which could be as simple as a walk on the treadmill - boosts mood and elevates well-being, according to a recent study conducted by a University of Texas professor and two UT graduate students.

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