STA Travel agency will not close in near future
AU's branch of STA Travel will remain open for the time being, despite branch closings in downtown D.C. and Maryland. Last semester, the travel agency, located in the Butler Tunnel, was believed to be closing
"As far as I know, there has been no information that we're closing," said Chad Rittenbaugh, branch director of STA Travel. "I received a budget until the end of the year 2004."
In early September, ATV News reported that the agency was going to close, which Rittenbaugh dismissed.
The agency has helped students with their travel needs for the past five years.
- KATE OCZYPOK
AU to offer new science master's starting next fall
AU will begin a science master's degree program next fall after being chosen by the Sloan Foundation and the Council of Graduate Schools.
"The council was looking for a university in the D.C. area that could provide a degree to continue world science," said Melinda Beard, coordinator of the Professional Science Master's Program.
The two-year, interdisciplinary program will center on three areas including applied computing, biotechnology and environmental science and assessment. The degree gives students alternatives to research degrees.
"A master's in science is not a sign of a failed Ph.D," Beard said. "The program will give science students a lively option instead of spending their lives in academia."
Beard also mentioned that people with doctorates aren't finding as much work in the field.
"A Ph.D is expensive and time-consuming, and many students graduate with a precise, narrow focus," she said. The program offers students a broad range of options such as industry and government work skills.
For more information on the program, contact Melinda Beard at mbeard@american.edu or x3626.
- K.O.
AU Democrats not making choice of candidates yet
Noah Black, president of the AU College Democrats, said that their organization will be backing each candidate equally during the upcoming Democratic caucuses and primaries.
The caucuses, which took place Monday, proved that it will be a tight race for Democratic candidates for president. The top three were John Kerry with 38 percent of the vote, John Edwards with 32 percent and Howard Dean with 18 percent.
"The Iowa caucuses are a great way for Democrats to get involved and to stand out and have your vote represented," Black said.
The New Hampshire primaries - the next step in the presidential primary race - early polls show Kerry and Dean leading the way.
"It's great to see that polls aren't always right, yet they make the presidential race competitive," Black said. "Edwards and Kerry should get a big boost from the poll results."
The College Democrats plan to celebrate the Iowa caucuses and other upcoming primaries at a yet-to-be-planned event late this month or early in February.
- K.O.
