News

News

Blackboard network plans to merge with WebCT company

By Steve Dorsey | October 24

AU's Internet-based course networking system, Blackboard, and another similar leading e-learning company, WebCT, began planning last week for their merger, a move that will join two of the largest higher education learning networks in the world. Blackboard operates AU's student and faculty communication system, allowing professors to post assignments and grades and students to virtually interact with teachers and classmates.

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Family weekend centers on life at AU

By Josh Goodman | October 24

This year's annual Family and Alumni Weekend chose to center on life as an AU student, according to Dr. Faith Leonard, dean of students at AU. The weekend began on Friday with open classes and an invitation for parents to eat in TDR for a discounted rate.

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AU health center ready for flu season

By Katherine Stump | October 24

AU's Health Center has prepared for this year's flu season by ordering more flu shots than ever before, as the companies who make the vaccine plan to avoid last year's shortage, said Kathy Haldeman, director of the Wellness Center. Last year, the Chiron Corporation, a British company, was expected to provide 50 million flu shots, about half the U.

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Board elects Abramson as new chair

By Kate Oczypok and Megan Slack | October 24

The AU board of trustees reached an agreement late in the week which would give former President Benjamin Ladner the choice to accept a severance package worth between $3 million and $4 million, or be fired "for cause" and jeopardize the severance offer, a source close to the board told The Washington Post.

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Hundreds attend Katzen official opening

By Katherine Stump | October 24

Amid tuxedos, live piano music, brilliant lights and displays of both the performing and visual arts, the Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Arts Center was officially opened on Thursday night at the President's Circle Dinner. An estimated 900 benefactors, alumni, artists and friends and family of the Katzens attended the center's first big gala.

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AU students attend Howard homecoming

By Noelle Harmon | October 24

Despite rainy weather, Howard University's homecoming on Saturday drew alumni, celebrities, fans and crowds of students, including a significant number of people from the AU community. The football game between Howard and North Carolina A&T and the post-game celebrations ended nine days of homecoming festivities held on the campus of the predominantly black 7,500-student university in Northwest D.

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News

National Coming Out Week educates

October 20

National Coming Out Week events scheduled this week plan to promote awareness and offer support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender community on campus. Queers and Allies and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Resource Center organized the annual week of programs.

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Board of trustees names Gary Abramson as new chair

By Kate Oczypok , John Riley and Josh Goodman | October 20

Gary Abramson, an AU alumnus, has been selected as the new board of trustees chair, in the wake of former chair Leslie Bains' resignation on Oct. 9. The board of trustees met for three hours Thursday afternoon to discuss naming a new board chair, as well as the issue of former President Benjamin Ladner's severance package, which could reportedly be as much as one million dollars or more.

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Campus calendar

By Kate Oczypok | October 20

Thursday, Oct. 20 Training Opportunity: Preventing Harassment, Promoting Respect 10 a.m.-noon, location TBD. Mandatory for all full-time staff members and must be completed within the first six months of employment. Registration required; contact Katie Boggs at boggs@american.

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Student organizations plan earthquake relief

By Steve Dorsey | October 20

Student clubs are among the many local and national organizations that have begun organizing relief efforts for the regions of Pakistan and Kashmir that were devastated by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake over a week ago. As national organizations like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and UNICEF are working to deliver aid to South Asia, the South Asian Student Association is working to raise money to send to the ravaged areas.

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National briefs

By Kate Oczypok | October 20

Plans to cut food stamps dropped by Senate Plans to cut the food stamp program have been dropped by Senate Republicans, according to www.washingtonpost.com. The plans were dropped just as the chamber's leaders hurried to assemble a $35 billion spending cut measure.

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Alcohol Awareness Week begins

By Kyra Smerkanich | October 20

The Office of Campus Life sponsored various events and activities this week to inform students about the dangers of alcohol in college as part of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. The week of hands-on activities was designed to help students learn about staying safe and healthy, and ranged from root beer pong in the LA Quad to a documentary about Scott Krueger, a student at MIT who died from alcohol poisoning.

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Ladner changed athletics

By Kevin Hilgers | October 20

Barry Goldberg has been around the AU athletics department about as long as anyone. His 17 years as volleyball coach began during a period of five university president transitions, and more recently, he has gone through four athletic director changes. In 1994, Goldberg welcomed a change and a sign of commitment when former President Benjamin Ladner was hired and promised he was here to stay.

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Undefeated field hockey sinks Virginia

By Jordan Beane | October 20

The AU field hockey team had 15 minutes of overtime to beat Virginia at Jacobs Athletic Complex Wednesday. It only needed one. Sophomore Maggie Hall scored the game winner soon after the opening overtime whistle to give the No. 5 Eagles (14-0, 2-0) a 2-1 victory over the No.

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NRA and Redskins to host controversial fundraiser

By Kendra Garstka | October 20

The Washington Redskins are pairing with the National Rifle Association to host the Sporting Clays Challenge on Oct. 25, inciting reactions from anti-gun groups. The Violence Policy Center, the Washington chapter of the Million Mom March and Alliance for Justice have written letters to the Redskins asking them to withdraw from the fundraiser.

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Police blotter

By Josh Goodman | October 20

Wednesday, Oct. 13 A staff member reported damage to her vehicle parked in the Sports Center Garage. Public safety removed an individual not affiliated with the university from the President's Office after the man ignored repeated requests from the staff to leave the premises.

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Metro brief: Poetry jams at Howard homecoming celebration

By Kate Oczypok | October 20

Poets from Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam performed Monday night at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium as part of the university's homecoming celebration this week. Leading up to the special guests were poets from the Howard community known as Messiah, Rasheem, Drew "Droopy" Anderson and Rhonda, according to Howard University's student newspaper The Hilltop.

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