September 6, 2023

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Lillian Klein Abensohn's Song of Songs: Fruitful Relationships—playful still life paintings that offer a tongue-in-cheek take on complex human relationships—runs through October 15, while the four other exhibitions will be on display through December 10.

Dig deeper to explore the museum's newest offerings, including 34 works by former AU adjunct Steven Cushner, and mark your calendar for Saturday's opening reception. 

The Panama Canal—a vital conduit for global maritime trade—has been suffering a severe drought. And with the canal’s lock system drawing water from several seawater lakes, all of which hit historic lows in July, climate change has led to significant trade delays and restrictions, Kogod professor Ayman Omar said.

Why it matters: Much as they did during the pandemic, consumers will bear the brunt of the problem, paying higher prices and shipping rates.

AU is committed to keeping our community safe from possible threats and criminal activity. Do your part by reviewing safety resources to learn about Rave Guardian, AU Alerts, and more.

And mark your calendar for the AUPD Safety Fest: Thursday, September 7, from  11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on the quad. Learn about safety resources, check out a DC firetruck, enjoy a dunk tank and free treats from Captain Cookie and the Milk Man, and enter to win prizes. 

Interim dean Leena Jayaswal, CAS-SOC/BA '94, is a familiar face in the School of Communication, where she worked as a staffer and adjunct before joining the full-time faculty. "I love our school," she said. "We are storytellers, truth tellers, innovators, [and] changemakers."

WCL dean Roger Fairfax, who sits on the board of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, attended a White House gathering to mark the group's 60th anniversary. "We stand on the shoulders of giants who built the path forward," President Biden said during the August 28 reception.

🤝Staff are invited to apply by September 27 for HR's 2023–24 Mentoring Matters program, which matches individuals based on interests, professional ambitions, and skill-building objectives. 

🪑Learn how to adjust or reconfigure your office equipment to reduce repetitive motions and support a healthy posture during an ergonomics webinar hosted by AhealthyU at noon on Thursday, September 7. 

🙆‍♀️Combat burnout and fatigue by taking a 15-minute stretch break with AhealthyU. Sessions are held from 2–2:15 every Thursday through September 21.  

🥊AUPD is hosting two days of two-hour basic self-defense classes on October 21–22 for groups of 10–15 people. Classes are trans-inclusive, so groups may choose from a gender-neutral or gender-specific format. Registration is required by October 18.  

🐥The Child Development Center still has a few openings available for kids ages 2.5 to 6. Register now for the 2023–24 year. 

📣Congratulations to Betsy Fischer Martin, SPA/BA ’92, SOC/MA ’96, executive director of the Women and Politics Institute, who was named a 2023 visiting fellow with Harvard’s Institute of Politics.  

🦅ICYMI: Check out President Sylvia Burwell's interview with the Eagle, which highlighted her work on student mental health and her priorities for the coming year.

🚦CAS anthropologist Manissa Maharawal was featured in a WAMU 88.5 story about how activists in cities like San Francisco are using traffic cones to immobilize autonomous vehicles. 

💸WCL professor Brenda Smith was quoted in a New Yorker piece about Arthur Lee Cofield Jr., who stole at least $15 million—from behind bars. 

📚Meet SPA's five new faculty members, including professors in the departments of government and public administration and policy.

💧Looking for a place to fill up your reusable water bottle? The Office of Sustainability has compiled a list of hydration stations across campus. 

🥦AU’s farmers market is on the quad today. Enjoy fresh bread, produce and meat from Airlie Farm, Ethiopian dishes, and loose-leaf tea from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. every Wednesday this fall.

More News

Wednesday, September 6, 6–7:30 p.m., Mary Graydon Center, room 200

R.A. Sinn—the pseudonym for SOC professor Aram Sinnreich and his sister, Rachel Hope Cleves—will chat about their time-twisting story of family, redemption, and queer love. CAS literature professor David Keplinger will moderate.

Wednesday, September 6, 7 p.m., streaming

Klobuchar will discuss her new book, The Joy of Politics: Surviving Cancer, a Campaign, a Pandemic, an Insurrection, and Life's Other Unexpected Curveballs during this event sponsored by SPA's Women and Politics Institute. 

Monday, September 11, 2 p.m., Abramson Family Founders Room 

The Sine Institute of Policy and Politics presents the 2023 distinguished lecturer and president and CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton. Kogod dean David Marchick will moderate. 

Thursday, September 14, 1–3 p.m., East Campus Quad

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to celebrate AU’s cultures, communities, and commitments to inclusive excellence with free food, fun, and fellowship. Event is cosponsored by AU’s faculty and staff affinity groups, Inclusive Excellence, and the Office of the Provost. Registration is requested but not required.

Thursday, September 14, 6:45 to 8 p.m., McKinley Building, Forman Theater 

SOC professor Jane Hall will moderate a discussion with Raskin, WCL professor emeritus and lead manager in the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump. Current AU ID required. 

More Events

👩‍🎓District Scholars Featured on NBC4 Washington 

First-year students Yohanna Mbedgue and Joshua Lee, along with Quintenilla Merriweather, associate director for student equity, access, and retention at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion,  were featured in a story about AU's signature scholarship program. 

🇦🇫Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne: "Outlook is Dark and Gloomy for Afghanistan"

SIS's distinguished diplomat in residence penned a piece for the Wilson Center's special series marking the second anniversary of the US withdrawal and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. 

Have a story? Share it with editor Adrienne Frank.