Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.

AWOL
Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.

AWOL
Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.

AWOL
Campus Life
AU's free speech policy changed three times in four years
AU’s free speech policy changed three times in four years
Protests, a legal complaint and a new president sparked the changes.
Joseph Albushies and Elias Garcia • May 4, 2026
James Biddle (left) has ebeen working to maintain the arboretum's legacy. Mike Mastrota (right) helped start the arboretum and was its first manager.
AU’s arboretum had the same manager since its start. That changed in February.
Caleb Ogilvie and Marisa Alvarez • May 1, 2026
Two eras of protest
Two eras of protest
Sela Quiniones, Staff Writer • April 27, 2026
Moving shelves hold hundreds of organized tomes.
Into the archives
Clair Sapilewski, Staff Editor • April 22, 2026
Isabella Laverty was in a Kerwin Hall classroom on Oct. 14, 2024, when the phone on the wall rang and her professor chose not to answer it.
What should you do if an active shooter’s on campus? Some professors say AU never taught them.
Yuri Perelman and Rachel Novick • April 17, 2026
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The District
The killers of 11 transgender people in Washington have yet to be convicted
The killers of 11 transgender people in Washington have yet to be convicted
Experts say trust in police could be the cause.
Sam Epner • May 7, 2026
A Metropolitan Police Department car sits on Massachusetts Avenue on Feb. 6.
Trump’s Takeover of Local Police Was New. D.C. Police Departments’ Rocky Relationship with Black Residents Wasn’t.
Will Sytsma and Stevie Rosenfeld • April 27, 2026
Lawyers can prosecute crimes as hate crimes at the D.C. Superior Court, but experts say they may not because of evidence complications and legal strategies.
Washington’s hate crimes law infrequently delivers justice
Sydnee Patak and Emma Pierce • April 21, 2026
Washington Wears
Natalie Monga, Marisa Alvarez, Stevie Rosenfeld, Clair Sapilewski, and Chase Gorman • December 29, 2025
Changing the Guard
Changing the Guard
Andrew Kummeth, Assistant Editor • December 9, 2025
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Culture
A band performs at Bossa Bistro + Lounge.
Latin dancers form community across Washington
Some leaders and participants of dance spaces say the locations provide fellowship through movement.
Sara De Almeida, Staff Writer, Multimedia Contributor and PR Staff Member • April 27, 2026
Queens of Go-Go
Celebrating Go-Go and Cumbia in the District
Miles Hazo, Multimedia Contributor and PR Staff Member • October 27, 2025
Grounded in community
Grounded in community
Will Sytsma, Managing Editor • April 24, 2025
"Homeless Lives Matter," by Rose Jaffe, located at 2nd and D St. NW.
Mapping DC’s murals
Natalie Monga, Multimedia Director • April 24, 2025
Eyes from above
Eyes from above
Vanessa Levins, Multimedia Director • April 22, 2025
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Politics
USAID's Bureau for Global Health lost 711 employees between Jan. 20, 2025, and Feb. 28, 2025, according to a USAID memo.
A year after confusing layoffs, some former federal workers are moving forward
Former federal workers look back on a period of confusion and heartbreak in their professional lives. They say they’re moving on.
Mary Clare Ingram and Ava Terry • May 6, 2026
A January of anti-ICE protests
A January of anti-ICE protests
Benjamin Austin, Staff Editor • April 22, 2026
A protestor lifts a corner of an American flag at Farragut Square.
“We are not Afghans:” Protestors of Afghanistan’s diaspora deny responsibility for National Guard shooting
Ben Ackman, Photography Producer • December 9, 2025
A mourner for Charlie Kirk holds an electric candle at the vigil for Charlie Kirk in the School of International Service Founders Room on Sept. 15.
Charlie Kirk’s legacy celebrated, debated at vigil
Ben Ackman, Photography Producer • November 20, 2025
Thousands gather for No Kings protest in Washington
Thousands gather for No Kings protest in Washington
Conny Galvez, Sophia Berumen, Ben Ackman, and Lilly Barnett • November 20, 2025
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Health
The door closes to the lobby of 3201 New Mexico Avenue, which houses American University's Office of Equity and Title IX.
Professor’s exit fits national pattern of Title IX falling short
Title IX offices routinely fall short of student concerns, prioritize universities, experts said.
Ava Ramsdale, Staff Editor • December 11, 2025
Waitlisted for well-being
Waitlisted for well-being
Mia Kimm and Ali Filali • December 8, 2025
Missing medications
Missing medications
Catherine Brennan, Staff Writer • April 17, 2024
On medical leave
On medical leave
Lily Tierney, Staff Writer • April 17, 2024
AU amid a pandemic
AU amid a pandemic
Tom Langford and Jack Lunder • January 29, 2024
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Commentary Archive
Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.
Critical. Subversive. Irrepressible.
Benjamin S. Weiss, Fall 2019 Editor-in-Chief • April 23, 2020
(1983 collage of members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Montgomery County, courtesy of the church)
“Plans to Prosper You”; Katzen Museum hosts exhibition on historically Black communities from Montgomery County, Maryland
Braeden Waddell • August 4, 2019
COMMENTARY || A Queer Conditioning: In Pursuit of Community
COMMENTARY || A Queer Conditioning: In Pursuit of Community
Shane Matheu Ryden, Podcast Producer • April 29, 2019
Opinion: I Want To Believe in American University Student Government
Opinion: I Want To Believe in American University Student Government
Mitchell Lenneville • March 26, 2019
American University Terrace Dining Room (TDR).
AWOL writer told to leave by university official at public meeting: Student media refuses to be silenced
Will Fowler and Katya Podkovyroff Lewis • February 7, 2019
COMMENTARY: AWOL on Recent Attempts to Silence Student Media
COMMENTARY: AWOL on Recent Attempts to Silence Student Media
Benjamin S. Weiss and Katya Podkovyroff Lewis • October 24, 2018
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