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News

Student advocacy group launches loan debt site

By Lauren Gardner | December 1

A student advocacy group launched its Web site last Monday to raise public awareness about the number of students who are in debt because of college loans, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Student Debt Alert, a project of the Student Public Interest Research Groups, features a Student Debt Yearbook on its site that resembles facebook.

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Fire alarm dodgers risk steep fines

By Tiffany Heimbuch-Maybee | December 1

Many of the 800+ students living on the south side of campus are no longer leaving their dorm rooms during prank fire alarms that occur almost nightly, presenting a dangerous problem that AU Housing and Dining staff is beginning to address. Rick Treter, director of residence life sent out a memo explaining that the Office of Housing and Dining and the university plan to take serious steps to enforce the existing punishments for those who pull the alarms without reason as well as students who stay inside during alarms.

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'Be' week sparks campus unity

By Kyra Smerkanich | December 1

This week AU's Student Government is sponsoring "Be Week" in order to unite the campus. "The campaign has really taken off ... the ultimate goal of the campaign is to bring the campus closer," said Leah Kreimer, vice president of the Student Government who also planned most of the "Be Week" activities.

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Commercial written by SOC seniors to make theatrical debut

By Brian Kalish | December 1

What began four years ago as a contest entry for the Will Rogers Foundation, AU seniors Ben Connors and Chris Kosek will soon have a public service announcement they produced featured in movie theaters across the country. As a teaching assistant in Professor Sarah Menke-Fish's Understanding Mass Media Class, Connors learned about the contest offered by the Will Rogers Foundation to write a public service announcement to be shown before theatrical trailers.

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Finals, holiday season overwhelm already stressed students

By Kate Oczypok | December 1

As students returned to campus this week following the Thanksgiving holiday, many were welcomed back by thoughts of finals and the upcoming holiday season, which both have the potential to cause stress. "I feel like in the weeks between fall break and Thanksgiving, we're working really hard and just waiting for Thanksgiving break," said Melanie Mitzman, a senior in the School of Communication.

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Metro briefs

By Kate Oczypok | November 21

Cell phone bandit and boyfriend arrested Federal and state officials are wrangling over who will prosecute the woman accused of robbing four Northern Virginia banks while chatting on her phone and the boyfriend who allegedly helped her do it, according to www.

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SG passes bill for cage-free hen eggs

By Jess Reamy | November 21

The Undergraduate Senate passed a bill yesterday encouraging Bon Appetit, AU's on-campus food service, to stop using eggs from hens confined in battery-cages and completely switch to cage-free eggs by Feb. 1, 2006. The sponsor of the bill, Zo Tobi, along with representatives from AU Animal Rights Effort, told the Senate that battery-cages are inhumane.

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Catholic students raise $150 walking for homeless

By Kendra Garstka | November 21

The Catholic Student Association raised about $150 in the annual Help the Homeless 5K Walk Saturday morning on the National Mall. An estimated 1,500 people gathered on the National Mall Saturday morning for the walk sponsored by the Fannie May Foundation in 1988.

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National briefs

November 21

Tropical storm Gamma threatens Florida Tropical Storm Gamma could threaten South Florida this coming week, but is not expected to gain much strength, according to www.washingtonpost.com. The storm drifted north along the coasts of Belize and Honduras on Saturday, and was likely to turn onto a path that could threaten Florida, according to www.

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Concert benefits child abuse prevention

By Brian Kalish | November 21

The Catholic Student Association held its "Strike Back" concert Tuesday night in the Tavern to raise money for ChildHelp USA, a group that works on the treatment and prevention of child abuse. CSA President Danielle Giusto came up with the idea to raise money for the organization because her best friend from home was physically abused as a child by her parents.

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Hundreds attend RHA American Formal

By Kendra Garstka | November 21

Nearly 200 students attended the Residence Hall Association's American Formal at the National Press Club Friday night, a classier, revamped version of the annual Winter Ball. "We wanted to make the event more classy," said Will Mount, president of the RHA.

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President Kerwin speaks about life, future, Ladner

By Stever Dorsey | November 21

After nearly 40 years as an AU student, professor, dean and most recently provost, Neil Kerwin is now serving the university as acting president and is actively working to continue growth and development plans for the school, as well as repair damaged relationships following a period of scandal and turmoil surrounding former President Benjamin Ladner.

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Metro Calendar

By Lauren Gardner | November 21

Monday, Nov. 21 The First Noel: Annual Cathedral Cr?che Exhibit (on-going until Jan. 8) Washington National Cathedral, Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues, NW, Rare Book Library Exhibit Room Washington National Cathedral continues its tradition of exhibiting nativity scenes from its collections of cr?ches from around the world.

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Documentary on Iraq makes premier at AU

By Evan Ewers | November 21

Last Thursday, the AU Foreign Policy Association and the Capitol Conservatives hosted the D.C. premiere of "Confronting Iraq: Conflict and Hope," a new documentary that focused on showing justification for the present war. About 80 people attended the event, many of who were from the local and national media.

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Educators called to seek evaluation, national certification

By Ebonie Branch | November 21

Challenging educators to turn a critical lens on themselves, review their teaching style and strive for the highest accreditation in their field, members of the D.C. public school system, AU faculty members and local educators gathered at the Kay Spiritual Life Center Thursday to discuss the importance of receiving National Board certification, an honor bestowed upon exemplary educators by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

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NYU graduate assistants strike, disrupt 400 classes

By Kelly Kerr | November 21

Graduate assistants at New York University went on strike Nov. 9 after the university refused to renegotiate the GAs' union contract, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. In 2004 the National Labor Relations Board ruled that federal labor laws did not cover graduate assistants.

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Salazar memorial service packs Kay to capacity

By Kate Oczypok | November 21

The 280-seat Kay Spiritual Life Center was packed to standing room only capacity for a memorial service honoring the life of Class of 2005 President Chris Salazar Thursday evening. Salazar died last week after falling from a fourth-floor balcony at his apartment in NW D.

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