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News

Public Safety responds more quickly to Blue Light tests

By Mary Specht | December 13

Public Safety responded faster to the Women's Initiative's Blue Light tests this fall than it did last spring, Women's Initiative Director Sarah Mashburn announced to the General Assembly Sunday. All of Public Safety's response times were under two minutes in tests conducted Nov. 19 and Nov. 30. In tests last spring, Public Safety took up to eight minutes to appear on the scene. "I think after both the [Blue Light testing] walks, it's clear that Public Safety is making a commitment to make our campus safer, and they evaluated the results from last year so they could respond better," Mashburn said. Response time was longest at two minutes at the red phone in Mary Graydon Center. The shortest response time was 55 seconds at the Blue Light in the Woods-Brown Amphitheatre.

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Police Blotter

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | December 13

A summary of Public Safety activity on and around campus from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10.

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News

Campus Brief: Several GA members resign due to commitments

By Mary Specht | December 13

Several members resigned at the General Assembly meeting Sunday due to study abroad commitments and strenuous course loads next semester. Speaker Richard Bradbury said that there is "nothing unusual" about this type of turnover between semesters. He said this is an opportunity for people to become involved in the GA by filling the 13 vacancies.

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'Tis the season for student giving

By Claire Maude | December 13

December means finals, stress and last-minute parties before it's time to travel home. However, for students involved in many of AU's clubs and organizations, the holiday season also means charity. Alexandra Perrotta, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, spent Friday afternoon selling student-made holiday cards in Mary Graydon Center. Profits benefited AU's chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

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School of Education to receive $6.4 million

By Stokely Baksh | December 13

AU's School of Education will receive a $6.4 million grant to be awarded over the next five years from the Department of Education's Teacher Quality Enhancement Program, AU announced Dec. 7. The funds will go toward programs to improve teacher education and increase the academic achievement of students in D.C. public and public charter schools.

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Campus Brief: Library offers 'Final Perk' study break

By Jeannette Kimmel | December 13

Students will have a chance on Wednesday to take a break from their books and try some other food for thought at the library, like at last spring's "Final Perk." Bender Library will host its second annual "Final Perk," giving free coffee and cookies to attendees.

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New master's degrees prep students for jobs

By Lauren Gardner | December 13

AU is working to add more professional master's degree programs in science and sociology this year. Professional master's degree programs aim to prepare graduate students for the working world through more practical experience, rather than the theoretical focus of traditional master's degree programs. This fall, AU joined the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's group of universities that are developing professional science master's degrees.

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Students introduced to Kwanzaa

By Rochelle Chounet | December 13

AU's chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority hosted an event in the McDowell Formal Lounge Thursday night to explain Kwanzaa, an Africa-based holiday that is celebrated the day after Christmas. This has been an annual event for the sorority for the past four years, said Samantha Thomas, a Zeta Phi Beta sister who graduated in May.

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Groups get in the spirit with events

By Lauren Gardner | December 13

Some on-campus religious groups are planning holiday activities for finals week with parties and special religious services, while others are emphasizing good deeds to get into the holiday spirit. The Jewish Student Association, Hillel, Catholic Student Association, and many more campus groups are celebrating the season.

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Students play irreverent 'Reindeer'

By Terissa Schor | December 13

AU students put on the play "Eight Reindeer Monologues" Friday and Saturday. The irreverent performance featured the reindeer discussing an accusation that Santa Claus raped Vixen.

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A swinging good time

By Terissa Schor | December 13

The AU Jazz Ensemble performed 'A Swingin' Affair' on Friday and Saturday nights for the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Night at the Greenberg Theatre on Wisconsin Avenue.

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Campus Calendar

December 13

Upcoming events on campus for the week of Dec. 13.

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Baseball's return to city in jeopardy

By Emily Carone | December 9

The D.C. Council passed preliminary plans to build a new baseball stadium in Anacostia last Tuesday, but the future of the newly named Washington Nationals is still in jeopardy. Six council members approved the stadium plans, four voted against it and three abstained.

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Students hope Bhangra beat will catch

By Stokely Baksh | December 9

Amola Trivedi and Arti Shah want to start a Bhangra dance competition on campus, but first they need dancers. "We've known that we wanted to start this for a year or two," said Shah, a junior in the School of Public Affairs. "There weren't many people to join before because of time commitments."

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Hillel celebrates Hanukkah

By Anthony Bodin | December 9

Hillel, the center of Jewish life at AU, has numerous programs planned to celebrate Hanukkah, said Amy Levine, AU Hillel director. Hanukkah, which is celebrated for eight days and nights, honors the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The word Hanukkah means "dedication.

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Police Blotter

By Ryan Grannan-Doll | December 9

A log of events to which Public Safety and local police departments responded from Dec. 4-8.

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National Brief: Buddhists also celebrate holiday season

By Rochelle Chounet | December 9

In the winter, Christmas and Hanukkah are not the only religious holidays celebrated. Buddhism, a religion with more than 1 million American followers, will celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day on Dec. 7, which celebrates the founder of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism.

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