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AU in the News

Showcasing AU programs, professors, students and alumni in the news
Week of November 5 - 9

Botero exhibit comes to AU
The first complete showing in the U.S. of Paris-based Fernando Botero’s 79 paintings and drawings depicting the torture of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq opened at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6. In an interview with the Associated Press, Museum Director Jack Rasmussen says Botero's paintings bring some clarity at a time when leaders still can't agree on how to define torture. He says torture is harder to ignore when it's depicted in such a powerful way. More than 28 American and International news outlets, ranging from WRC NBC4 to Univision, attended a press preview the day before the exhibition opened. Following the press preview, Botero gave some insight into his work on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show. The coverage continued after the press preview, with features by El Tiempo and VOA Television, among others. DCist reviewed the exhibit as well as the other two shows that opened the same day.

Consumer privacy
MySpace and Facebook, two popular social Web sites, announced that they will be working with advertisers to reach users based on their profiles, despite the Federal Trade Commission and many privacy advocates’ concerns about privacy issues, The New York Times reports. “Despite all of the assurances that the industry gave to regulators and the public, it sounds as if their business plans sort of fly in the face of the promises to operate without exploiting young people,” said Kathryn Montgomery, a professor at American University and author of the book 'Generation Digital: Politics, Commerce, and Childhood in the Age of the Internet. “If you are hanging out with your friends and talking about who you are, what rock stars you like, and so on, you don't assume that someone is sitting there and taking down every word you're saying and putting it into some kind algorithm.”(11/05/07)

Helicopter Parents
While it may seem annoying for students to have constant contact with their parents while in college, studies show that having “helicopter parents,” parents who hover over their children, is actually a good thing, WUSA reports. “I think having involved parents is beneficial,” said Tiffany Sanchez, director of New Student Services at American University. However, she also warns about getting involved too quickly. “When things get problematic, that's when they can step in, but let your kids try to solve their problems on their own initially,” she said. American University students also offered their thoughts on the pros and cons of helicopter parents.(11/05/07)

Energy-laced soap?
While most Americans heading to work consume their caffeine through cups of coffee, creators of Shower Shock may have a product that allows consumers to bathe in it, WUSA reports. However, Anastasia Snelling, Professor of Health and Nutrition at American University, says the soap, which consists of 200 milligrams of caffeine, only sounds good in theory. “Very small amounts of caffeine can be absorbed through the skin,” she said, adding that research showed the caffeinated soap would have to be left on the skin for an hour or more to actually absorb enough of the stimulant to have any effect. (11/06/07)

Doing right from dead wrong
American University Associate Professor of Communication Richard Stack tackles one of the most heated topics of our time in his new book, Dead Wrong: Violence, Vengeance & The Victims of Capital Punishment. In a recent story in the Gazette, he gave some insight into his background and the morals his parents instilled him. “By their words and deeds, I learned right from dead wrong,” the Silver Spring author writes in the dedication to his new book. (11/07/07)

The World War II Academia Era
American higher education has evolved since World War II, but in the process most have lost insight and stories from the veterans of that era, Milton Greenberg, a professor emeritus of government at American University, wrote in his opinion piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education. “Before World War II, colleges in the United States were private, elitist, white, Protestant; oriented to the liberal arts; and located on campuses in rural areas,” he wrote. “The GI Bill, with its extraordinarily generous educational provisions, significantly altered that landscape. Its magic was that it changed education from a class privilege to a widespread expectation of American life.” (11/09/07)

Athletic Rejuvenation
Many athletes go through a period where their performance hits a low. For those struggling, hope lies within reports the Washington Times. In order to break a slump, athletes “need to see themselves having success,” said Matt Corkery, associate head coach for American University's women's basketball team. “A player having trouble with the free-throw line ... they have to see themselves making free throws, literally see the ball going in the basket.” Corkery said that the team has had sessions with a sports psychologist and have already received tips on stress management. (11/06/07)

AUS students receive scholarships
Nine engineering students from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) have been chosen as recipients for the Petrofac Scholarship, Gulf News reports. The scholarships, which will provide the students with up 50 percent of their tuition, were established as part of a $2 million donation received from Petrofac, a large engineering company in the Gulf serving the hydrocarbon industry. (11/03/07)

AU in the News Archives