Delivering American University's news and views since 1925 | Thursday, February 25, 2021
Two American journalists, including an AU alumna, were released into U.S. custody last Thursday after being detained in a Syrian prison for crossing border from Lebanon aided by smugglers. Holli Chmela, 27, a 2003 AU graduate and former Eagle staffer, and Taylor Luck, 23, claimed they were "kidnapped" by a taxi driver in Lebanon.
AU created the Department of Environmental Science as a separate program from the Department of Biology this year and is working to increase the program's curriculum offerings. The move comes as other schools nationwide have started to strengthen their environmental programs because of increased interest in the green energy field.
No significant damage, flooding or electrical outages occurred AU's campus after Tropical Storm Hanna hit the D.C. area with heavy rain and wind this weekend, according to Public Safety Cpl. Logan Asay. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport received 3.
AU, the University of Maryland at College Park, and other colleges across the country have begun the new academic year by debuting the use of new technologies, including social networking sites like Facebook and text messaging alerts, to notify students of emergencies on campus.
The newly opened Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row, a pedestrian street in downtown Bethesda, features 44,000 square feet of shopping and dining space in 16 shops and restaurants for students to explore.
The Undergraduate Senate passed the Student Government's 2008-2009 budget during its meeting yesterday, which reduced the Student Union Board's funding by nearly $7,000 and increased Women's Initiative's budget by $3,000 from last year's allocations. The senate reduced SUB's budget allocation this year from $172,625 to $165,750, according to Barron Weyerhaeuser, chair of the senate's budget committee.
The Undergraduate Senate passed the Students' Bill of Rights and tabled revisions to the Student Government constitution until the fall semester. The senate passed the "Students' Bill of Rights" by a vote of 20-1-0. Students will vote on the bill through a referendum on April 28, the last day of classes, according to Georgette Spanjich, chair of the senate's Committee on Students' Rights.
A series of proposed amendments to the Student Government Constitution would make the SG comptroller and secretary appointed positions. The Undergraduate Senate held its first reading yesterday of the Commission on Reform's proposed amendments to the constitution, which the commission claims would improve the executive branch's efficiency and reduce the size of the senate.
"Washington, D.C., meet Jens Lekman," the Swedish indie-pop singer said as he began his energy packed show for a sold-out audience of mostly college-aged students and couples at the Black Cat on Wednesday night. "Jens Lekman, meet Washington, D.C." Marla Hansen, a Wisconsin native who has worked with artists like Sufjan Stevens and The New Pornographers, performed first with slow melodic songs accompanied by a violin.
Members of the Undergraduate Senate said they intend to override Student Government President Joe Vidulich's expected veto of the smoking bill at their next meeting. Vidulich told senators about his decision to veto the bill in an e-mail Tuesday night. The senate passed the bill during its meeting Sunday.
