News

Campus brief: Panelists debate U.S. drug policies

Panelists debated U.S. drug policy and its development Friday in the SIS lounge at a forum presented by the International Development Program Student Association. Panelists included Sanho Tree, director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies and Dr.

Fall break travel more expensive this year

The airline, train and automobile industries have been hit hard by rising costs in the aftermath of September's hurricanes, leaving AU students in search of alternative transportation for traveling over fall break, which begins later this week. Northwest and Delta are the most recent airline victims of the spiking cost of travel; both announced their bankruptcy last month.

National briefs

New Orleans police superintendent retires The police superintendent of New Orleans announced his retirement Tuesday in the aftermath of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. Eddie Compass chose to retire after several hundred of his officers deserted the force during the hurricane and two officers committed suicide.

'No faith' in Ladner, board tells students

Dozens of students rallying for President Benjamin Ladner's resignation surrounded both doors of the room where members of the board of trustees were meeting yesterday, about 20 were invited in to discuss Ladner's poor spending discretion and the board's lack of oversight and transparency.

Lichtman officially announces U.S. Senate run

American University history professor Allan Lichtman officially announced yesterday he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Paul Sarbannes (D-Md.) in 2006. Amid a crowd of middle school and college students, AU professors, and Bethesda residents at North Bethesda Middle School, Lichtman pledged to fight and be an advocate for ordinary Maryland residents and for the country at large if elected.

AU promotes student safety

Following the case of the missing Virginia Commonwealth University freshman, AU Public Safety warns that students should be aware of threats both on and off-campus to protect themselves. "Make sure someone, a roommate or another classmate, is aware of one's whereabouts at all times," said Capt.

Five AU schools vote no confidence in Ladner

The following are the statements released by the respective faculties from the Kogod School of Business, the School of Communication, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of International Service and the Washington College of Law.

President Ladner's 1997 contract

Metro brief: Student shot after high school sports game

Students at three Montgomery County high schools are struggling to piece their lives back together after last week's football game that left a 15-year-old girl dead. "It's terrible," said Evan Levine, 18, a senior at James Hubert Blake High School, where Kanisha Neal was stabbed Friday night.

Faculty Senate unanimously calls for Ladner's resignation

Posted Sept. 29 at 5:39 p.m. The Faculty Senate voted unanimously this afternoon to call for President Benjamin Ladner's resignation or removal, and to examine the university's governance structure. "Benjamin Ladner no longer has the moral authority to lead this university," said senator Philip Jacoby, a business professor who presented the motion to ask the president to step down.

Police blotter

Thursday, Sept. 23 A fire alarm was activated in Anderson Hall. After finding no signs of fire, Public Safety determined malicious intent to be the cause of the alarm. Students were observed with open alcohol containers in a car in the Centennial garage. The students were reprimanded, the alcohol was confiscated and a report was filed.

Hundreds rally to protest Ladner

A student-run rally calling for suspended AU President Benjamin Ladner's resignation yesterday ended with students storming a Board of Trustees meeting in Butler Pavilion. Students staged a sit-in blocking all exits to the meeting, which was being held in the Butler Board Room on the sixth floor of Mary Graydon Center.

Library of Congress interns work with pieces of history

Emily Hurst was puzzled when Library of Congress staff interviewing her for a summer internship in Washington, D.C. asked if she would mind wearing a mask and apron, or lifting 40 lbs boxes. "We're going to be in the basement somewhere?" she remembers asking.

Cuba added to AU Abroad list

A new AU Abroad program will provide students the chance to spend a semester in Cuba, a change to the eight-year-old summer program. Since 1997, AU has offered a summer session in Cuba, but because of a May 2004 change in U.S. regulation, universities are no longer allowed to run any program in Cuba shorter than a full semester.

Student debt skyrockets

Debt for U.S. college students of all economic backgrounds has hit record-breaking highs and is continuing to increase, according to this month's study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Upon graduation from private four-year institutions such as AU, students from the lowest-income families have on average $22,000 in loans, and students from the highest-income families have slightly less at $21,000.

AU community reacts to Rita

In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, AU students and professors have both praised and criticized both how the media covered the storm and how the government responded to aid the victims. Zach Silverman, a junior in the School of International Service, is originally from Houston.

Campus calendar

Thursday, Sept. 29 Table Talk Lunch Series 12:00 p.m., Kay Spiritual Life Center. "Hurricane Katrina: The Politics of the Disaster." Free to students; a donation of $5 from faculty and staff is requested. Reservations required. Contact x3320. Training Opportunity: Exploring Intercultural Communication 1-5 p.