News

News

College Republicans top College Dems in Party Feud debate

By Nabila Chami | October 27

The College Republicans came out on top of the College Democrats at the Kennedy Political Union's own version of "Family Feud," known as Party Feud, Wednesday in the Tavern. The game, a political spin on the game show, ended in an overwhelming victory for the College Republicans, 380-88.

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Campus brief

October 27

COMMUNITY CALLED TO GIVE INPUT ON STRATEGIC PLAN In an effort to gain the AU community's feedback on the strategic planning process, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will hold its final town hall forum Tuesday. This will be the final community-wide discussion of the Strategic Plan before the board of trustees reviews the plan in mid-November, according to the Strategic Plan Web site.

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Public Safety response scrutinized

By Marisa Kendall | October 27

AU Public Safety and some university students disagree about whether officers responded appropriately to a medical emergency in Mary Graydon Center Wednesday evening. A male student fell and began having a seizure in MGC's lobby around 5:05 p.m. Public Safety officers arrived roughly five to six minutes after the initial call, according to University Center Assistant Director of Operations Patrick Ledesma who witnessed the incident.

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AU students follow trend of living on campus

By Elena Isella | October 23

AU Housing and Dining Programs has seen an increase in the past three years of returning students who seek on-campus housing - numbers that are in line with a national trend of upperclassmen seeking on-campus housing at colleges across the country. James Baumann, director of communication and marketing for the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International, said his organization has seen an increase in the number of upperclassmen-oriented residence halls.

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Several schools increase financial aid packages

By Nicole Glass | October 23

As a result of the stock market downturn, three universities have announced hefty increases in their financial aid packages, however, AU is not among those to change procedure. Texas A&M University, Boston University and Vanderbilt University will increase the aid that most students receive.

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Suspicious briefcase in Bender successfully cleared

By Tony Romm | October 23

The Metropolitan Police Department's bomb squad safely disposed of a suspicious briefcase found in Bender Arena's parking garage on Saturday.

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National brief

October 23

The federal appeals court ruled Monday to halt the release of 17 Chinese Muslims detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. The court will wait to hear further argument before detainees can be released into the United States, the Washington Post reported. The Uighur men, who China considers to be terrorists, have been held for seven years at Guantanamo.

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Roaches raid the Berks

By Sarah Rudnick | October 23

AU students who live in the Berkshire Apartments may be paying for unwanted roommates - cockroaches. Some AU students who live in the Massachusetts Avenue building have reported bug infestations in their apartments. The cockroach influx has mainly occurred because of a lack of proper apartment sanitation.

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International brief

October 23

The Sri Lankan government jeopardized the nation's trade concessions and job opportunities Tuesday after it blocked the European Union from investigating international labor and human rights conventions, the Inter Press Service reported. International Trade Minister G.

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Police Blotter

October 23

Oct. 13 A desk receptionist in Congressional Hall reported a student felt very sick and was vomiting. D.C. Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the student to Sibley Hospital. Oct. 14 A resident assistant in Hughes Hall reported a student sick in her fifth-floor room.

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AU sees minority growth

By Meg Fowler | October 23

AU's enrollment of minority students increased between 1997 and 2007, as 51 more students of Asian or Pacific Islander backgrounds and 73 more Hispanic students were enrolled at the university in 2007 than in 1997, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment's yearly Academic Databook.

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Calendar

October 23

Thursday, Oct. 23 Green on the Screen: "Changing Nature: Population and Environment at a Crossroads" 12:30-1:30 p.m. WHERE: Media Classroom, Bender Library INFO: This film analyzes the impact of urbanization and population growth on the environment in countries like Ghana, the Ukraine and Mexico while promoting sustainable development.

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AU may need Pied Piper to rid campus of rats

By Nick Platt | October 23

AU's Tenley campus contains one of the worst rat infestations in D.C., according to the D.C. Department of Health. NBC4 reported May 22 that health officials have indicated the intersection of Wisconsin and Nebraska, where the Tenley campus is located, was a breeding ground for the local rodent population.

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Woodward's word on Bush

By Tamar Hallerman | October 23

Washington Semester students filled Kay Spiritual Life Center Wednesday afternoon as well-known author and investigative journalist Bob Woodward spoke about his relationship with President Bush, the War in Iraq and the current political climate. Being a reporter is the best job in the world, he said, "It's great because you get to make momentary entries into people's lives," Woodward said.

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Housing site launches AU version

By Ethan Klapper | October 23

Uloop.com, a California-based Web site that allows users to post apartment listings, used textbooks and various jobs and services, recently launched an AU version of the service. Once you've registered with Uloop, you can only see the postings of other AU users.

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The politics of pennies

By Tony Romm | October 23

Before this month, Jessica Altounian, 20, said she thought little about the candidates' economic rhetoric. To her, inflation meant "affording the things I want to do." The ambiguous phrase 'fiscal discipline' was a reminder to "keep an eye on my bank account and slap myself whenever I went overboard."

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McCardell calls for lower drinking age

By Rachel Delevie-Orey | October 23

Choose Responsibility President John McCardell said during a Kennedy Political Union event Tuesday that he was not fazed by AU President Neil Kerwin's decision to not sign on to the Amethyst Initiative. McCardell, a former Middlebury College president, drafted the Amethyst Initiative, an effort by college presidents to reconsider lowering the drinking age in each state from the current age limit of 21.

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