College News Roundup
Written by DCist Contributor Sarah Stonesifer
The Diamondback – University of Maryland:
>> Hartwick Towers, an off-campus apartment building, was the scene of a fire on Friday, Oct. 12. The fire has come under scrutiny by both students and city officials, as the building is not equipped with sprinklers and fire alarms did not function during the fire. Students were left on their own to find alternative housing until they were let back into their apartments even though officials promised aid.
>> The housing crunch in College Park has been an ongoing issue for the past few years, and in order to alleviate some of the stress for the University, admissions will be cutting back on transfer students and the number of freshman admitted over the next few years.
The Eagle – American University:
>> American University organizations are not sponsoring Islamo-Fascism Awareness week, unlike some of their counterparts at GW and Georgetown, saying that its right-leaning, left-bashing politics are too one-sided to spark true intellectual debate and understanding.
>> In accordance with a change in regulations to the Civil Rights Act and D.C. laws, AU is making an effort to make bathroom signs gender neutral to make situations easier for those in the transgender community. LGBTA organizations will also be identifying the dorms that already have gender-neutral bathrooms for transgender students.
The Hatchet – George Washington University:
>> A student was barred from campus for inappropriate conduct during his English class for allegedly harassing his teacher and writing threatening notes to presenters.
>> Clinton White House aide Beth Nolan was named University Vice President and counsel. She and her staff will handle all the University's legal issues, including the relationship with the D.C. and federal governments.
Photo by Alan_Cordova
The Hilltop - Howard University:
>> Students are avoiding the Howard Cafe and Punchout because of lack of healthy options and nutrition information. The Cafe has also been closed for a day for rodent infestation and sewage problems. Students say rodents have been a long neglected problem.
>> University marching band members have been the victims of theft during band practice. Some students are disappointed with the response of Campus Police to the string of crimes.
Broadside - George Mason:
>> Broadside reporters received threatening text messages from a source they were investigating for hosting a campaign event for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign that promoted drinking alcohol.
The Hoya - Georgetown:
>> Another hate crime occurred on the Georgetown campus early last Sunday morning. A male student walking home from a party was cornered by two males, one of them a GU student. They began yelling homophobic slurs and blew cigarette smoke into his face.
>> The university is considering distributing GOCards, GU's student ID cards, which contain SmarTrip chips for use on Metro and Metrobuses. Students would have to pay an initial one-time fee of $5 to WMATA for the new card.