Campus Life - AWOL

Racism, sexism, and abolition: a modern Greek tragedy

Reports of racist incidents and sexual misconduct connected to fraternities and sororities on anonymous Instagram pages have led many students to disaffiliate from their organizations and some to call for abolishing Greek Life.

Katherine Long and Grace Vitaglione • August 4, 2020

Reports of racist incidents and sexual misconduct connected to fraternities and sororities on anonymous Instagram pages have led many students to disaffiliate from their organizations and some to call for abolishing Greek Life.

‘This is not a heartwarming story’

Ryann Ersoff didn’t ask to become an app developer. But in the era of coronavirus, she saw an opportunity to help people.

Benjamin S. Weiss, Fall 2019 Editor-in-Chief • July 28, 2020

Ryann Ersoff wants you to know that she is not a STEM major. “Developing an app is not something that I knew how to do,” she said. “I’m very ‘communications’ and ‘literature,’ and just...

Is American University Cybersecure?

The transition to online classes reveals new vulnerabilities

Caitlin Colucci • July 9, 2020

This story originally appeared in AWOL’s Spring 2020 magazine. See the full magazine here. An American University professor was hosting his “American 1990s” class on the video conferencing tool...

New housing landscape, hybrid classes as AU preps for semester during pandemic

AWOL and The Blackprint search for answers as AU reveals fall semester plan

Chloe K. Li and Braeden Waddell • June 18, 2020

American University unveiled its new plan Tuesday with the goal of transforming the fall semester into a socially-distanced, pandemic-proof experience while salvaging education with a mixture of in-person...

58 Resident assistants sign letter demanding AUPD reforms and an end to relationship with MPD

The letter comes after other student organizations have released similar demands to reduce police presence on campus.

Braeden Waddell, Grace Vitaglione, and Chloe K. Li • June 9, 2020

Resident assistants are demanding that Housing and Residence Life end their relationship with the Metropolitan Police Department, provide 24/7 access to community health professionals for residents and...

Black Lives Matter: How to amplify Black voices and support Black people

AWOL • June 3, 2020

AWOL’s editorial board has agreed that as a predominantly white newsroom based at a predominantly white institution, our goal right now should be to amplify black voices. Below, we have compiled a list...

AWOL Issue 27: The Quarantine Issue

AWOL • April 25, 2020

Dear reader, AWOL is pleased to bring you our 27th issue and the spring 2020 edition of our magazine. Given the global pandemic, we are publishing this semester's issue in digital format. All of our...

Accountability, Transparency and Diversity: A look into AUSG candidates’ spring campaign promises

Chloe K. Li, Editor • April 13, 2020

In preparation for this week’s election, American University Student Government candidates have been posting campaign promises and plans for their term the past few weeks. The most prominent agenda items...

AU WCL student bar association president resigns over “reprehensible, immoral and incredibly damaging” racist tweets

Nearly 40 social media posts from 2011-2015 sparked outrage in the law school community

Braeden Waddell and Benjamin S. Weiss • April 9, 2020

The president of American University law school’s Student Bar Association resigned last night following resurfaced racist tweets from 2011 to 2015 that showed her repeatedly using the n-word and fetishizing...

“Zoom bombers” interrupt AUSG debate with explicit messages and images

Katherine Long and Teddy Everett • April 9, 2020

WASHINGTON — An American University Student Government electoral debate held Wednesday on Zoom was interrupted by multiple “zoom bombers,” who shared sexually explicit content. The debate for...

AU extends pass/fail options in light of coronavirus: students and faculty weigh in

The decision came after online debates on social media and a student-led petition that gained 3,000 signatures.

Kaela Roeder, Grace Vitaglione, and Shannon Durazo • March 27, 2020

WASHINGTON — American University decided Thursday to give undergraduate and most graduate students the option to take their classes pass/fail for the Spring 2020 semester, in light of the Coronavirus...

Community profile: Berlin Thomas

Berlin brings the happy days to AU

Savanna Strott, Magazine Director • February 24, 2020

It’s a happy Friday at American University. Before our interview, Berlin Thomas smiles proudly behind the cash register as Shane Ryden, AWOL’s multimedia director, snaps her photo. A student walks...