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AU in the News

Showcasing AU programs, professors, students and alumni in the news
Week of February 16 - 22

Fidel Castro Resigns
After Fidel Castro’s announcement of resignation, pundits began to question the future of U.S. relations with Cuba, the possibility of the U.S. lifting sanctions on Cuba and the future of the Cuban economy, reports the Chicago Tribune. “On balance, I do think they want the embargo lifted," said William LeoGrande, a Latin America expert and dean of American University's School of Public Affairs in Washington. "The economic benefit outweighs the potential costs." Immediately following the news of Castro's resignation, School of International Service professor Philip Brenner offered additional insight to USA Today. Brenner also offered commentary on WAMU. (2/20/08)

AU Phenom
Josh Glenn's list of accomplishments at American University are more than impressive. He became AU's first Division 1 NCAA champion last year, boasts a 102-12 record and was honored in his last home match earlier this month. But as he told the Express in a recent feature story, he's more interested in giving back than dwelling on his accomplishments. "I would love to coach," Glenn said. "I want to help this program build on my achievements and make them into a national contender."

Christenberry Exhibit at the Katzen
“Wandering through Christenberry's exhibit, I expected to feel some kind of rage. Instead, I felt indifference,” reporter Teresa Wiltz wrote in her feature for the Washington Post on artist William Christenberry's Klan Room Tableau. “Even with the "Slow Death Zone" sign in one drawing, it's hard not to feel like Christenberry's art is an exercise in abstraction.” The exhibit is showing at American University's Katzen Arts Center until May 11. (2/19/08)

Homeland Terrorism a Larger Threat
Although the U.S. tends to focus on foreign-based militant groups when it comes to terrorism, the biggest threat may come from its own soil. According to the Associated Press, domestic extremists are more likely to do damage to the country. “The typical 'terrorist' is an alienated guy, usually a young male,” said Brian Forst of American University in Washington told the AP. “They take comfort in like-minded souls and develop an idea they think will make a splash. They do not always carry it out, but sometimes they do. They are not lunatics.” This article appeared in more than 50 news outlets. (2/17/08)

Will Clinton’s Housing Plan Only Benefit the Rich?
According to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s real estate plan to place a 90-day moratorium on subprime foreclosures and an automatic five-year rate freeze on subprime mortgages will only hurt future mortgage seekers and reward the rich, the Washington Post reports. “People who would want mortgages would be fighting from a smaller pool of funds and the natural result is a higher rate,” said, Robert Losey, an associate professor of finance and real estate at American University. Losey added that the subprime five-year moratorium could mean higher rates for other borrowers if mortgage providers reduce their lending to avoid government intervention. (2/19/08)

Women in Politics
The number of women in Congress has increased greatly, yet the number of women in legislative bodies on the state level has diminished over the past decade, the Gannett News Service reports. Karen O'Connor, director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University, said the movement was a glacial one, with the national percentage of women in state legislatures spiking from 5 percent to 21 percent from the 1970s to early 1990s, then moving at a slight rate of only 24 percent in 2008. (2/16/08)

Mending Marriages
While some married couples are willing to work on mending a marriage following questionable behavior, more and more couples are working to prevent affairs from occurring, Florida Today reports. “Some premarital counselors encourage couples to talk openly about their temptations,” said Barry McCarthy, a psychologist and professor of American University in Washington, D.C. “Rather than say this could never happen to me, talk about what could make you vulnerable. What happens is the cover-up becomes worse than the event.” (2/18/08)

Time is of the Essence
Though supporters of ex-Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney did not see a strong resurrection for the candidate following the New York Times story alleging Sen. John McCain’s personal relationship with a female lobbyist, they question the timing of the publication, stating that an earlier release would have changed the Republican race, reports the Boston Herald. However, whether or not it will affect the McCain campaign will depend on hard evidence, said American University political scientist Lenny Steinhorn. “Right now, there’s no real evidence of a scandal. There seems to be smoke but there’s no indication that there’s fire,” Steinhorn said. (2/22/08)

AU in the News Archives