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Campus briefs

By Kyra Smerkanich | January 18

AU named No. 8 for Peace Corps alumni AU made No. 8 on the list of the top 25 medium-sized schools that have alumni serving in the Peace Corps, according to a press release from the Peace Corps Press Office. With 41 alumni currently serving, AU moved up three spots in the rankings from last year, according to the press release.

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Students look for other textbook sources

By Brittany Schell | January 18

Many American University students found alternative means of buying their books this semester instead of purchasing them from the campus bookstore. They said they found better prices for books at various Web sites. Curtis Harris, a sophomore in the School of International Service, said he bought all of his books on Amazon.

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MacArthur Fellow joins SOC

By Ali Goldstein | January 18

After being selected a MacArthur Fellow - a fellowship given out by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for exceptional creative work in any field, according to the Foundation's Web site - Charles Lewis joined the School of Communication faculty this year as Distinguished Journalist in Residence.

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Derailment leads to metro investigation

By Jimm Phillips | January 18

The derailment of a Metrorail train earlier this month caused officials at the National Transportation Safety Board to question the system's safety. On Jan. 7, a Green Line train derailed in a tunnel near the Mount Vernon Square Metro station, causing 18 injuries.

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International brief: Winter storm death toll hits 51

By Jimm Phillips | January 18

The death toll from a winter storm that affected residents from Texas to New England rose to 51 Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. The storm, which had nearly exited off the East Coast by Tuesday, brought high winds, snow, ice and flooding to areas of the country from Oklahoma to Maine.

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Students divided over Iraq proposal

By Rebecca Kern | January 18

AU professors and students have mixed reactions to President Bush's recent proposal to deploy 21,000 more troops to Iraq and allocate billions of dollars for Iraqi reconstruction projects. Bush announced in his Jan. 10 address to the nation that he plans to double the number of troops in Baghdad by sending 16,000 more troops to the capital.

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AU prof clarifies copyright laws with pamphlet

By Ali Goldstein | January 18

Pat Aufderheide, director of American University's Center for Social Media, has long written about documentary films, but she said they are an especially vital means of communication now more than ever. "Between the poles of homogenized corporate media and the blogosphere, documentarians are critically important," Aufderheide said.

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Prof attendance policy undefined

By Stephen Tringali | December 7

John Renga, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said two of his chemistry classes were canceled this semester simply because his professor didn't think chapter 13 in the course textbook was worth studying. "Don't show up for the next two classes," Renga said his professor announced one day.

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Mental health services lacking

By Rebecca Kern | December 7

Mike Evans has served in the U.S. Army, run for a seat in the House of Representatives and has been nominated to the Democratic National Committee's Veterans and Military Families Council by Howard Dean - all while coping with depression. But Evans, a senior in the Kogod School of Business, said it hasn't been easy, and universities - including AU - could do more to support students dealing with mental illness.

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Shuttle pilot program hits snags but continues

By Ali Goldstein | December 7

As the continuous shuttle pilot program draws to a close Dec. 18, the Student Government now waits for a report from the transportation department on the success of the program so they can begin addressing its challenges. Officially, signs advertising the continuous shuttle program are still up and the program is still running, according to Transportation Director Tony Newman.

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International brief: Iran blocks access to YouTube.com, other English language sites

By Jimm Phillips | December 7

Iran's government recently blocked access to video-sharing Web site YouTube.com along with several other Web sites, according to the Associated Press. The group Reporters Without Borders claimed the Iranian government blocked the site since around the beginning of December.

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SG passes legislation to improve Health Center

By Elyse Franko | December 7

The AU Student Government passed legislation Sunday that aims to promote student awareness of Student Health Center patient rights, according to SG Senator Julie Mills, a co-sponsor of the legislation. The bill would allow students to request specific doctors when they make appointments, speak with the Health Center Director and make suggestions about Health Center practices, according to Mill.

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Metro brief: Former Johns Hopkins University provost chosen as next president of George Washington U

By Jimm Phillips | December 7

The George Washington University board of trustees chose Steven Knapp, the provost at Johns Hopkins University, as the institution's new president, according to The Washington Post. Knapp, 55, will replace outgoing President Stephen Trachtenberg, 68, on Aug.

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Bond encourages student activism

By Bill Debaun | December 7

Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, encouraged students to become involved in their worlds in a lecture on Monday co-sponsored by the Kennedy Political Union and the Eagle Endowment. "Engage yourself in the world around you, whether it's in your backyard, in your city, in your neighborhood, in your county, in your state, in your country or in the larger world because the world is crying out for people like you to lend a hand," Bond said while addressing students in the McDowell Formal Lounge.

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Fraternity fires prompt safety measures

By Amanda Glensky | December 7

Recent fraternity house fires at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Nebraska Wesleyan University emphasize the importance of fire safety on and around college campuses, and members of three AU fraternities said they realize the need for more fire awareness in their off-campus housing.

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Campus briefs

By Brian Kalish | December 7

Swartz named new chief tech officer David G. Swartz was recently named the new chief information technology officer at AU, according to an AU press release. Swartz, who will fill this previously vacant position, will begin work Jan. 3. He previously worked at George Washington University, where he was vice president and chief information officer.

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National brief: Senate overwhelmingly approves Gates' nomination for defense secretary

By Jimm Phillips | December 7

The U.S. Senate approved former CIA Director Robert Gates' nomination to be defense secretary yesterday by a 95-2 vote, according to the Associated Press. The vote came one day after the Armed Services Committee voted unanimously to send Gates' nomination to the Senate floor.

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