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News

AU ranks 7th on Peace Corps listing

By Lauren Cater | February 4

AU jumped one spot in 2007 on the Peace Corps' list of the top 25 mid-size universities with the highest number of volunteers getting involved in the program. The rankings, released Jan. 1, show AU ranked seventh on the list. The university ranked eighth last year and 12th in 2006.

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Sallie Mae cuts student aid

By Kim Selman | February 4

Sallie Mae's decision to cut loans to students at colleges with low graduation rates will affect only a small number of AU students, according to Martha Holler, managing director of corporate communications for the company. "A small number of AU students with low credit scores and no cosigner may see a decline in their approval rates and may need to work with another lender to secure a private loan," Holler said in an e-mail.

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AUSG to sign students up to vote for 2008

By Lauren Cater | January 31

For 2008, AU's Student Government plans to increase student voter registration by starting a program similar to one already implemented by the George Washington University Student Association. GW Votes, a new nonpartisan initiative developed by the GW Student Association, aims to register all GW students who are eligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election.

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Police blotter

January 31

Wednesday, Jan. 16 A student reported that the tire on her vehicle had been slashed while it was parked in the Nebraska Parking Lot. A McDowell Hall resident reported her laptop stolen. She had shipped it to the residence hall but found it was not in the box when she received it.

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Students petition Housing and Dining to end long package lines

By Jen Calantone | January 31

Some residents of Anderson and Centennial halls who are frustrated by waiting in long lines to receive packages from the mailroom have tried to remedy the situation by submitting a petition. The petition was signed by 59 students and submitted to Housing and Dining Programs Jan.

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Former Bush economist Carroll joins SPA faculty

By Christopher Cottrell | January 31

Dr. Robert Carroll, former senior economist for the Bush administration, will be the new executive in residence in the School of Public Affairs' department of public administration and policy. Carroll was a member of the Council of Economic Advisers and former deputy assistant secretary for tax analysis at the U.

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Campus calendar

January 31

Thursday, Jan. 31 AU Abroad General Information Session 3:30-4 p.m. WHERE: MGC 247 INFO: At this information session, find out how to select a program. Learn about the costs and the application process for studying abroad before you meet with an AU Abroad adviser.

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Private records found in public area

By Jimm Phillips | January 31

A student's tip led an AU official to remove multiple boxes, including an open box containing forms with students' Social Security numbers on them, from a hallway on the second floor of the McKinley Building Friday. Huyen Nguyen, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he was walking in the inner hallway of the building Monday or Tuesday of last week when he first noticed the boxes, which were stacked against the wall.

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Springer mocks, comments on own show

By Bobby Allyn | January 31

Jerry Springer poked fun at his own show during a Kennedy Political Union-sponsored event last night at the University Club in Mary Graydon Center. "First, I'm sorry for the show," he said. "I can't explain it. I really can't justify the show." The event began with a performance by Mission: Improvable, AU's student-run improvisation group.

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Campus brief

January 31

Students struggling with alcoholism can turn to the new student-only Alcoholics Anonymous meetings starting in February. Though AA was on campus before, Wellness Center health educator Laura Kovach said they sought to create a place where students feel comfortable.

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Kennedy endorses Obama

By Bobby Allyn | January 31

Barack Obama has the inspirational power and capacity to change America, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said in front of thousands of supporters at a campaign rally for the Illinois senator held in Bender Arena Monday. "In Barack Obama, I see not just the audacity, but the possibility of hope for the America that is yet to be," he said.

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Students 'die-in' against Iraq

By Rachel Trainer | January 31

Student activists staged a "die-in" last night in Mary Graydon Center, during which they laid on the floor of the lobby to protest the Iraq war. Students from the Community Action and Social Justice Coalition wore all black clothing for the event, which was meant to draw attention to the lives lost in the Iraq war and raise student awareness about the situation, according to Jenna Robson, a freshman in the School of International Service.

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Metro brief

January 31

Georgetown University officials announced Tuesday that a hard drive stolen from the Student Affairs Office contained personal data on 38,000 students, faculty and staff, according to The Hoya, Georgetown's student newspaper. On Jan. 3, officials alerted Georgetown's public safety department, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service, which deals with potential misuse of private information, about the theft, The Hoya reported.

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Dulles Metrorail project in doubt over fed funding

By Christopher Cottrell | January 31

Supporters of the proposed Metrorail extension to Washington Dulles International Airport got a short reprieve this week when Transportation Secretary Mary Peters agreed to wait before issuing her decision about whether or not the project would receive federal funding.

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International brief

January 31

A Tokyo teacher was arrested Monday after stealing the underwear of six young schoolboys at knifepoint, according to Kyodo News. The 26-year-old teacher allegedly approached the group of eight boys and showed them the knife, after which two of the boys ran away, Kyodo News reported.

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National brief

January 31

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards ended their campaigns for their parties' presidential nominations yesterday. Neither managed to win a single state's primary since the primary process began earlier this month.

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WMATA considers Metrorail car redesign

By Ethan Klapper | January 28

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors is considering a new design for its next order of Metrorail cars. The proposed design for the new cars, referred to as the 7000 series, will be the first major exterior redesign since the system first opened in 1976.

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