Delivering American University's news and views since 1925
It's been a busy summer at AU. We've learned a lot and have been welcomed warmly by administrators as we've started moving on our initiatives. Here are some updates on what's going on. For as long as I can remember, students have been frustrated with the shuttle service.
I am so awkward at frat parties. I occasionally go to them with friends who, unlike me, are in greek life, but I always feel hopelessly out of place. Truth be told, I feel more at home having a buffet breakfast at the Brookings Institution, which I sometimes do on free mornings before hearing a talk at the think tank.
After last week's much-ballyhooed speech to the Muslim world, it should now be blindingly apparent that President Barack Obama is utterly hostile to the cause of Israel. The ahistorical leftist narrative of Israeli history he subscribes to is one only shared by those who take issue with the existence of the Jewish state.
I'm not sure if everyone is on the same boat as I am, but I am blown away by the fact that we've reached mid-June already. It's hard to believe that we're at that halfway point between spring semester's finals and the beginning of the fall semester. This is my first summer in D.
A few weeks ago, Public Safety woke Yazan Khalaf, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, in the middle of the night. They had come to his dorm room to tell him his scooter had been stolen. It was removed from where it was parked, in the hallway outside Khalaf's door, thrown down a flight of stairs and broken.
I first appeared on this page three years ago, analyzing the implications of Ned Lamont's Democratic primary upset of Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. Anti-war progressives were on the cusp of a political breakthrough, I speculated. Forty-five columns later, progressive Democrats are wielding power in every elected branch.
What the hell is AUpedia? Is it like UrbanDictionary but AU style? I'm afraid I don't have the ability to fall madly in love anymore. How does it make any sense that everyone is up in arms about Barney Frank, yet the CEO of Goldman Sachs, Gary Cohn, speaking at the Kogod commencement bothers no one? Dear person who responded to my tricycle comment, Don't worry I've never been awkwarded out and you wouldn't offend me.
By now, most AU students are aware of the controversy surrounding the selection of Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., as the commencement speaker for the School of Public Affairs. The campus has become quite divided over his invitation, with the esteemed Sarah DeStefano receiving national attention due to her leading a student group in favor of inviting a less divisive speaker.
In "Frank will speak at SPA graduation," The Eagle incorrectly reported that each commencement speaker receives an honorary degree. In fact, a speaker may refuse an honorary degree if receiving the degree could be perceived as a conflict of interest. The Eagle regrets the error.
Dear readers, While it has been a full year since I officially took over as The Eagle's editor in chief, it seems like it's barely been a month or two. However, as with all things, my tenure must come to an end. After this issue, I pass the torch on to my successor for the 2009-2010 academic year - Jen Calantone.
For the past year, you've allowed me to editorialize on all things AU - from shuttles to surveys to strategic plans. I've done my best to unravel different sides of AU for you. I wrote with one goal: to give students, faculty and staff another reason to pick up The Eagle.
For every rant below this one, I will donate 10 cents. I kind of got wasted this weekend and accidentally went home with some random dude. Let's just say, I had to call the cops. Great story, but FML. Don't you love when you're struggling through a paper and then all of a sudden.
Seth Cutter President Student Government President Seth Cutter was no Joe Vidulich - and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cutter was much less visible than Vidulich, choosing instead to focus on internal changes. He took a serious approach to doing his job and was less interested cheering with the Blue Crew than he was in pursuing his agenda.
Everyone hold on to your chairs, tables or bus seats, because Ben and Brittany - the environment-loving, peace-for-all, liberal beings that we are - are about to agree with former President George W. Bush. Well, sort of. In his last months as president, Bush proposed a bill expanding the rights of health care workers to allow them to refuse providing services or advice to patients seeking abortions, contraception or even blood transfusions when the workers morally oppose those treatments.
The Student Government was busy, busy, busy Sunday as they unanimously passed a bill about AUTO oversight in response to allegations of misuse by AUTO Commissioner Zack Schwartz. Not that we know exactly what happened, because the Undergraduate Senate decided to hold most of the session behind closed doors, barring anyone - including SG President Seth Cutter and any Eagle reporter - from listening in.
For two years I have had the privilege to write as an editorial columnist for The Eagle. As a blue dog Democrat, I have continuously strived to present my sincere, but also balanced, views on political issues. To some, my columns may have been too nuanced and lacking zeal for the Democratic Party line.
The nation's economy has little chance of a recovery. That is, according to a recent FOX News article published last week. Citing numerous statistics, FOX News paints a dire picture for the United States, concluding that "the worst is yet to come." This information is enough to make even a seasoned economist frantically retract into the fetal position.
In "Private prayer no problem for AU," The Eagle editorial board was conscientious enough to realize that any formal prayer at commencement will always exclude those of different religions and those of no religion. The board was also correct that private institutions are not bound by the same rules as public universities.
We all appreciate the Community Action and Social Justice Coalition's attempt to get tuition remission for Aramark employees. Aramark employees at AU work very hard and clean up enough puke that free college for them could be a wonderful perk. With that said, Aramark employees are not AU employees and therefore get no benefits or paychecks through the university.
Solutions by The State News