Stacey Abrams and Lia Epperson speak at the event on Feb. 22
Ben Johansen
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This is the latest edition of our newsletter covering our work from Feb. 19 to Feb 25. To read any of these stories and more, check out our main website or our coronavirus website, which covers news related to the pandemic.
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The Eagle Explains: Covering Student Government
By: Ben Johansen and Olivia Higgins, SG beat reporters
We are the Student Government beat reporters for The Eagle. As beat reporters, we stay on the lookout for any news related to SG at AU, and stay updated on any legislation that they may be proposing. Some of the work we have covered pertaining to SG recently has been the announcement of Stacey Abrams to the Founders Week schedule, and SG President Eric Brock’s call to establish an AUPD community advisory board.
Covering SG news means we attend weekly senate meetings, talk with SG members, and write articles on their policy recommendations. Our week typically begins on Sunday with the undergraduate senate meetings, where we listen for announcements regarding new SG initiatives and any related events. After the meetings, if there is any important news, we typically report on it. Throughout the week, we work on developing stories and speak with SG members about upcoming policy recommendations and SG-related events. Breaking news can happen at any point during the week, so we are always prepared to do a quick write-up.
Although we might focus on covering SG news, we are not tied down to strictly SG. We are also members of the news staff, so we can pick up other articles that interest us and need to be covered.
A bit about us:
Olivia: Before attending American University, I was a staff photographer for the newspaper at my undergraduate university. I joined that paper as a freshman and stuck with it for all four years. When I came to American for graduate school, I wanted to try something new and get involved on campus. I joined The Eagle because I have always wanted to write on a paper, and thought this would be a great opportunity. I am really enjoying my time writing for The Eagle, but it has been a bit of an adjustment switching from photographer to writer.
Ben: I joined The Eagle as a sophomore, hoping to shine light on the inner workings of various aspects of the University, especially within SG. For a campus organization as large as SG, the student body should be aware of how they are working, and what they are legislating. Since making sports podcasts with my friends in middle school, reporting on news has always been something I have been very passionate about and I have loved continuing to do that with The Eagle.
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On Feb. 22, 10 COVID-19 cases were reported by the University for the week of Feb. 15. There have been a total of 62 cases reported for the spring semester. Nine of the previous week’s cases were reported from students living off-campus, and one case was from faculty and staff. Zero cases were reported among students living on campus. The total number of positive cases reported so far this semester has surpassed last semester's total of 41 confirmed cases. There have been more than 5,700 tests completed so far this semester, and over 1,400 tests were done last week.
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AU announced that it will not raise tuition for the 2021-22 academic year. The move comes as a direct result of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the AU community. However, the University also announced that it will end its 10 percent tuition discount.
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AU announced the launch of a mobile COVID-19 testing lab in collaboration with The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, Marymount University and Baltimore City Public Schools.
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Students can now choose to take an additional class as pass/fail for spring 2021, Acting Provost Peter Starr wrote in an email to the AU community on Wednesday evening.
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During the first keynote speaker event of Founders Week, activist and politician Stacey Abrams spoke on Monday about voter suppression and her views on the future of the Democratic Party.
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Members of AU’s Delta Phi Epsilon disaffiliated from the professional Greek organization and have established a nonprofit called the Sisterhood for International Engagement. The new organization will focus on giving back to the community, as well as professional development.
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AU's Working Group on the Influence of Slavery has resumed its efforts two years after its initial report, according to the University. The group plans to expand its work into researching the Indigenous history of the area.
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Bill Gates spoke about climate change and his new book, "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster," at a virtual event last week, which was hosted by AU and other DC universities. Gates said that he remains optimistic about the future of the planet, and that he hopes that people realize that helping the climate is not a partisan issue.
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Life:
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The Muslim Student Association and the AUSG Women’s Initiative hosted a virtual discussion with activist and organizer Hoda Katebi about fast fashion and other issues in the fashion industry.
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AU’s body positivity club, REbeL, is offering special events to commemorate National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
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Silver Screen writer Olivia Kozlevcar calls Chloé Zhao's "Nomadland" genuine and reverent, with "all the makings of a modern American classic."
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Sports:
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Thoughtful. Quick. Activist. Those are only a handful of the words that describe women’s basketball’s Kayla Henning, a freshman point guard who is committed to making a difference both on and off the court.
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On the latest episode of Angle on the Eagles, staff writer Zeke Cohen talks to redshirt senior wrestler Elijah Murphy on his wrestling roots and his experiences founding and becoming the first president of the AU Black Athlete Coalition.
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Women’s basketball beat Navy 65-59 on Wednesday night, securing the top of the Patriot League’s South Division, as well as securing the number three seed in the Patriot League Tournament.
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Men’s basketball lost to Loyola 60-49, with their third straight loss since the team started to play again.
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Opinion:
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Opinion: "In order for real change to occur, there must be a comprehensive partnership between students, faculty, administrators and the Counseling Center."
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Opinion: "Burma’s fight for democracy and human rights is not alien to the AU community."
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Opinion: "The coronavirus pandemic is just as much an issue of racial justice as it is of public health, and it seems hypocritical of students and the administration to advocate for Black lives yet place them further at risk."
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Q&A: “What is the history of the University like? What founding are we celebrating? That led me down a deep rabbit hole of looking into who John Fletcher Hurst was."
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El Águila:
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Opinión: “Para poder generar un impacto significativo se necesita un entendimiento cultural y social de la comunidad en donde uno pretende ayudar, lo cual es algo que es increíblemente ignorado cuando se llevan a cabo los viajes misioneros o voluntariados.”
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