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Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.

AWOL

Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.

AWOL

Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.

AWOL

Campus Life

A handwritten sign outside the bathrooms in the Battelle-Tompkins building.

Eyes on Battelle’s bathrooms: Sign changes, surveillance cause controversy

After two restrooms’ sign changes went without notice, American University began to surveil those who restored its all-gender status.
Will Sytsma, Staff Editor April 29, 2025

An American University history student had always considered the restrooms outside his office all-gender. The history student, who asked not to be named out of concern that speaking out could affect his...

Latinos En Acción lead walk out for migrants

Latinos En Acción lead walk out for migrants

Protesting students demanded American University create a sanctuary campus.
Conny Galvez and Ben Ackman April 25, 2025

On March 3, students walked out of classes to the quad in support of immigrants. Latinos En Acción, a club at American University that advocates for immigrant rights and promotes Latine community on campus,...

Shaun Schroth helps another student adjust settings on a film camera for a class assignment.

Professor Profile: Shaun Schroth

Fostering a community in American University’s photography labs.
Yuri Perelman, Staff Writer April 24, 2025

Shaun Schroth is American University’s assistant director of photography and manager of photographic services. Through his work, Schroth hopes to maintain an inclusive community for students. Shaun...

From grant to impact

From grant to impact

What is the Eagle Endowment’s role in community initiatives?
Tom Langford and Lucas Powers April 23, 2025

When Sensi Messner-Baker stepped into a classroom in northeast Washington, she said, it lacked the basic tools students needed to thrive. As a tutor with DC Reads, she saw firsthand how a shortage of supplies...

Movers remove furniture from First-Year Advising office building Clark Hall on March 31.

First-Year Advising’s final days

As their office closes down, first-year advisors are reassessing their places at AU.
Ben Ackman, Multimedia Producer April 23, 2025

In college, Roshan Abraham decided he could spend the rest of his life studying literature. “Back when I was an undergrad, people didn’t worry as much about the question of ‘What are you going...

Kalea Grant and Demitra Moutoudis

On your feed

American University students and faculty weigh in on the value and implications of unaffiliated campus sources.
Francisco Rodriguez, Staff Writer April 22, 2025

Senior Andy Gardner was meeting with a professor on Feb. 14 when a fellow student and friend of his came into the professor’s office and informed them that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer...

Federal government has revoked some AU international student visas

Federal government has revoked some AU international student visas

Administrators said they will not be making a statement or announcing further details.
Ben Ackman, Multimedia Producer April 22, 2025

Some international students at American University have had their visas revoked by the federal government, according to Acting Provost Vicky Wilkins. Wilkins first told community members that some student...

The New Dormitory next door

The New Dormitory next door

Plans for new student housing to be built behind Leonard Hall.
Grace Manson, Staff Writer April 21, 2025

The D.C. Zoning Commission approved Wesley Theological Seminary’s plans to construct a 215-unit apartment behind Leonard Hall and fund affordable housing throughout Ward 3 on Feb. 27. The housing...

Ripped from the Wall: A look into AU Abroad

Ripped from the Wall: A look into AU Abroad

What’s behind AU’s study abroad ranking?

This semester, the Ripped from the Wall team looked into American University’s study abroad program. The episode examines student experiences abroad, costs for different programs and a comparison between...

Behind the screen: social media fuels political divides for DC students

Behind the screen: social media fuels political divides for DC students

Students report fear and hate on campus due to politics online.
Sage Collis, Staff Writer March 12, 2025

Sophia Joseph, a senior at American University, published an open letter on Sept. 17, 2024, responding to an Instagram post by the American University College Republicans. The AUCR Instagram post said,...

Shayna Caruso, left, and Gabriela Rupp read written remarks to a crowd of 40 students in the Katzen rotunda. 20 more audience members watched on Zoom.

Education students feared loss of their school while massive gift was in the works

AU administrators secretly planned a large private donation to the School of Education for months, even as students and the public believed the school could be dissolved.
Ben Ackman and Ava Ramsdale March 3, 2025

On the evening of Nov. 12, 2024, 40 students stood in the Katzen Arts Center rotunda, listening to two juniors in the School of Education read an email the then-SOE Dean Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy sent that...

Finding the jungle in the urban jungle

Finding the jungle in the urban jungle

Despite obstacles to access, students explore outdoor life in the district
Stevie Rosenfeld, Staff Writer December 20, 2024

American University is in a city abundant with nature. Students can step off the metro and walk onto the green of the National Mall. The red line takes Washingtonians to both Fannie Mae, one of the district’s...

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