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Campus calendar

January 15

Thursday, Jan. 15 GLBTA Spring Mixer 7-9 p.m. WHERE: Mary Graydon Center, rooms 203-205 INFO: AU's GLBTA club invites students to learn about the organization and meet new students. CONTACT: For more information, e-mail Jeremy Koss at jkoss@american.edu. Friday, Jan.

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News

International brief

January 15

Five Somali pirates died Saturday when the ship they hijacked overturned, the Associated Press reported. The ship capsized a day after the five pirates received their part of the $3 million ransom, according to the AP. In November, the pirates hijacked a Saudi Arabian oil supertanker, which held $100 million-worth of oil, along with a Ukrainian ship that carried military tanks, according to the AP.

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News

Prospective students interview via webcam

By Clint Rice | January 15

High school students who apply to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., have the opportunity to sit down in their own homes and try out what could become the new trend in college admissions - webcam interviews. The university began offering webcam interviews to early decision applicants last fall and opened it up to other applicants on Dec.

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Residents plan for extra guests

By Rachel Lynne Smith | January 15

With inauguration weekend coming up, some AU students planned to make extra money by renting out their dorm rooms to tourists staying in D.C. this week. Other students are having friends stay in their rooms for the weekend and are excited to share the inauguration experience with them.

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South side residents receive study incentives

By Anna Tuman | January 15

This week, Housing and Dining Programs started up Study Bucks, a new program that attempts to encourage South side residents to study more, according to Paul Brown, the program's coordinator and assistant director of Residence Life. "Study Bucks has two main goals," Brown said.

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News

National brief

January 15

The top bid for a college student's virginity has reached $3.7 million, according to CNN.com. Natalie Dylan, 22, is auctioning off her virginity to pay for graduate school, where she is currently studying for a career in marriage and family therapy, CNN reported.

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News

Site rewards students

By Marisa Kendall | January 15

AU students could use the As they earn in class for more than just obtaining a choice job after graduation with the introduction of a new Web site that pays users for getting good grades in school. After registering with GradeFund.com, students use the site to invite relatives and acquaintances to sponsor their academic achievements, according to Stephanie Stein, a GradeFund executive.

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Campus preps for Jan. 20

By Tamar Hallerman | January 15

While the prospect of massive crowds and bottlenecked public transportation looms over the heads of D.C.'s event coordinators in connection with the Inauguration, many of AU's departments have implemented new programs to maintain order on campus during the four-day weekend.

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Late last call raises AU admin concerns

By Alyssa Wolice | January 15

AU has increased efforts to ensure that students make safe decisions concerning alcohol consumption during the presidential inauguration festivities in response to the D.C. Council's decision to extend the hours of operation for more than 200 D.C. bars. Dean of Students Robert Hradsky sent a letter to the parents of AU students before the start of the semester that advised them to talk with their students about making responsible choices regarding alcohol use.

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News

Campus calendar

December 4

Thursday, Dec. 4 Opera - "Tell Me about That" Noon WHERE: Battelle-Tompkins Atrium INFO: Undergraduate and graduate students will perform a semi-staged aria as part of the AU Music Program's Atrium Series. CONTACT: For more information, visit www.american.

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News

Police blotter

December 4

Nov. 18 An officer noticed a stun gun and pepper spray in a student's handbag while conducting a bag check for a high profile event in the Ward Circle Building. The officer confiscated the items. Nov. 20 A student reported receiving numerous harassing text messages and e-mails from his former girlfriend.

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CBS reporter speaks about surviving bomb

By Katie Litvin | December 4

CBS correspondent Kimberly Dozier, who survived a car bomb attack on May 29, 2006, while she was on assignment in Iraq, spoke to AU students Nov. 24 about her ordeal and intensive recovery. "The hardest part of looking back at the footage is that it puts me back as the victim," Dozier said.

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News

International brief

December 4

Schools and offices in Mumbai (Bombay), India, reopened Monday following violent attacks on sites in the city between Nov. 26 and 29. Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades attacked specific locations, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, a Jewish center, a railway station and a hospital for women and children, National Public Radio reported.

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Kerwin's salary in middle of pay list

By Julia Ryan | December 4

Private and public university presidents' salaries have continued to climb in recent years despite a weakening economy and the rising cost of tuition, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education study. AU President Neil Kerwin's $573,206 in salary and benefits for the 2006-2007 academic year is near the median salary for private university presidents, according to USA Today.

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National brief

December 4

The U.S. economy entered a recession in December 2007 and this downturn is likely to worsen, the Business Cycle Dating Committee announced Monday. The BCDC consists of seven economists who officially determine when a recession starts and ends.

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Campus brief

December 4

AU President Neil Kerwin announced Monday that the Board of Trustees approved the university's strategic plan at their Nov. 21 meeting. The board made three changes to the strategic plan, all of which put an emphasis on the importance of ethics and service, Kerwin said in an e-mail to the AU community.

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News

Former SUB director explains resignation

By Tamar Hallerman | December 4

Last month, Tré Matthews, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, suddenly found himself in the middle of a firestorm within the organization that he led - the Student Union Board. Matthews resigned from his position as SUB director Nov. 14. A press release from AU Student Government President Seth Cutter's office said Matthews stepped down in order to focus on his music career, but some members of SUB said he was pressured to step down because he was not fulfilling his duties as director, such as answering phone calls and e-mails, The Eagle previously reported.

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