AU in the News

Showcasing AU programs, professors, students and alumni in the news
Week of October 11 - 17

This week's top stories...

Working together during the crisis
Don Myers, chief financial officer, and Provost Scott Bass appeared in a CBS WUSA-TV news segment about how AU is helping students and their families during financial crisis. “We want them to meet with us individually, to talk about the situation and to see what we can do to help,” Bass said. Referencing Wachovia's recent limitations to access funds, Myers said that AU has worked with the bank to gain access to the needed funds and "it has not caused problems for American University at this time.”(10/11/08)

The race for the White House continued as the focus turned to the presidential debates. AU's politically active community was part of the national discussion:

The youth vote takes over
The School of Communication hosted An American Forum a panel discussion about the role of young voters in the 2008 election. "Youthquake 08': How Millennials are Shaking up the Media, Mavericks, and History-Makers This Election" moderated by professor Jane Hall, was broadcast LIVE on WAMU 88.5 and C-SPAN. The recorded program will be broadcast on XM radio's POTUS channel. (10/14/08)

A new transition
The Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies organized a discussion titled, Presidential Transitions: From Campaigning to Governing, that reviewed past administration transition periods, promises made by both 2008 presidential candidates, and improving working relations between the president and Congress. Professor James Thurber moderated the discussions, which was featured LIVE on C-SPAN. (10/15/08).

Political Satire: Boon or Bust
Lauren Feldman, an expert on the political implications of late-night comedy, was quoted in a United Press International story about a potential “Saturday Night Live” appearance by vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and the affect it would have on her campaign. "Appearances on late-night comedy shows are useful for candidates as a means to project their non-political personas, to make them seem more 'human' and in-touch with voters.,” she said. “Palin is not necessarily lacking in these areas. She would benefit more from a strong, substantive performance in a more serious setting." Feldman also spoke on the topic with NewsChannel 8/WJLA-TV, KCSN-FM radio with the University of California North Ridge, and KGO-AM news talk radio in San Francisco, the sixth largest media market in the nation. (10/13/08)

Polling accuracy
Dotty Lynch, a poll research expert, appeared in a CBS/WUSA-TV news segment about the accuracy in presidential polls. “Polls that were done a week ago would be accurate reflecting what was going on a week ago, but things change,” she said. “You have to look at the wording of the question, when the interviewing was done, who the sample was. Was it of all Americans or was it just people in a particular state.” (10/15/08)

Time to heal
James A. Thurber, a presidential historian, was quoted in a Washington Post story about President Bush’s request for Americans to give the financial markets time to recover from the federal government’s rescue plan. “In some of his presentations, including his address to the nation, he's caused more fear than anything else,” Thurber said. “He had a chance to turn that around and be presidential and bring a little more assurance in the public mind about where we're going with this thing. But he hasn't done that.” (10/11/08)

Early voting
Curtis Gans, a political expert at American University, was quoted in a Voice of America story on the surge in registered voters, and the controversy of removing names from voter lists. “Increasingly as we are a polarized country this has become more of a bi-annual event in which each side does things that they probably should not do for the integrity of the process but they do it for their partisan advantage,” he said. (10/13/08)

CampAignU continues...
This week in professor Leonard Steinhorn's presidential election class, Inside the War Room and the News Room, students discussed the political polls of the presidential campaign, and the heated turn it has taken. Steinhorn's class is Webcast live on WTTG-TV 's Web site, myfoxdc.com every Thursday from 9:55 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Online viewers can join in the discussion through the Web cast chat. Each Web cast will be previewed through interviews with Steinhorn and students during the 7 to 8 a.m. hour of the Fox 5 Morning News. Students from the class also chatted online during the live debate at myfoxdc.com.

As the financial crisis took additional twists and turns, our experts were on the money shedding light on the problem:

Students’ view on the economy
Faculty and students from American University’s Kogod School of Business were featured in a Washington Times story about how students are reacting to the financial crisis as many begin their job search for internships and permanent positions. “Until they ... say no to every application, I'm not going to give up," said senior Andy Echanove, who went on a trip with other classmates to Wall Street in New York City to assess the situation firsthand. “I'm trying every possible route to get to Wall Street.” (10/13/08)

Buying bank shares
Finance professor Robert Losey was featured in a Hearst-Argyle television news segment about the federal government’s purchase of bank shares. “There’s no question that it moves us in that direction [toward socialism],” he said. “But hopefully it’s for a good reason, hopefully we’ll turn that back around.” The interview was made available to all 26 of Hearst-Argyle's commercial broadcast television stations. (10/13/08)

And when we're not talking business or politics, we make news in other ways...

College 101
American University was one of six area colleges featured in the Washington Post weekend section for the wealth of arts, academic, and athletics opportunities they offer Washington, D.C. residents. "Four years ago, the campus of American University in Northwest Washington was officially designated an arboretum...That should tell you something about the groundskeeping, but note the word 'public'--they want you to come see it," writes Ellen McCarthy. Also highlighted in the article were AU's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the lectures, artwork, and performing arts offerings at the Katzen Arts Center, and the success of AU's men's basketball program. (10/17/08)

Project classroom
In her opinion piece for the Oregonian, communications professor Angie Chuang wrote about how reality television shows gave her the tools to navigate a classroom of college students with authority. “I'll be the first to admit that I was out of my element when, a little more than a year ago, I left a profession I was familiar with, journalism, to do something with which I had virtually no experience – teach,” she wrote. “I am in my second year of university-level teaching, and I look to reality-show stars as my teaching role models. Gunn, Tyra Banks on "America's Next Top Model" and Tom Colicchio on "Top Chef" give me the strength to be a tough disciplinarian when I need to be, as well as remind me that the best kind of encouragement is honest critique and high expectations.” (10/12/08)

Can the World Bank solve world hunger?
In her opinion piece for the Modesto Bee, American University professor Robin Broad wrote about why the World Bank should not handle the global food crisis. “For 30 years, we have observed the World Bank at work and have seen firsthand - in rural and urban poor communities from the Philippines to Mexico - why it's not the answer,” she wrote. “It is time for governments to say no to the World Bank's request for more money and more power. And wherever home is, here or in the Philippines, governments and local communities need to say yes to local farmers.” (10/13/08)

Jackpot of a lifetime
American University volleyball player Rubena Sukaj was featured in an ESPN story about her voyage to the United States from Albania, her success with the AU women’s volleyball team. Sukaj, who came to American University after her parents won the opportunity for permanent residence in the U.S. through a computerized Green Card Lottery system in 2004, has helped the team has win three consecutive Patriot League titles and entries into the NCAA tournament. “As far as her all-around game, she's definitely in the top three who have played at American,” said volleyball coach Barry Goldberg “Right now, we're just kind of riding the wave with Rubena.” (10/15/08)

2009
Mar	6	13	20	27
Feb	6	13	20	27
Jan	4	9	16	23	30
2008
Dec	5	12	19
Nov	7	14	21
Oct	3	10	17	24	31
Sept	5	12	19	26
Aug	1	8	15	29
July	4	11	18	25
June	6	13	20	27
May	2	9	16	23
Apr	4	11	18	25
Mar	7	21	28
Feb	1	8	15	22	29
Jan	4	11	18	25
2007
Dec	7	14	21
Nov	2	9	16		30
Oct	5	12	19	26
Sept	7	14	21	28
Aug	3	10	17	24	31
July	31
June	30
Feb	2	9
Jan	5	12	19	26