For the 2018-19 academic year, AU saw the largest freshman class it has seen in years. Thus, it came as a surprise and disappointment to many when the 2019-20 freshman enrollment numbers reflected a significant decline.  Perhaps none felt let down more than the numerous faculty and staff who were consequently terminated. Although the faculty affected by the layoffs had already signed onto 12-month contracts and will be paid through August of 2020, they will be out of jobs next … [Read more...]

Rap sensation Kanye West’s transition from “I Am God” to “Jesus Is King” shocked the nation. In 2013, West released his album, “Yeezus” and encouraged people to call him by that name. A definite change has occured. Since the beginning of 2019, he’s spent every Sunday leading pop-up church services called “Sunday Service.” The service included worship led by him and others, along with prayer.  It became a social media sensation, and the talk of the release of “Jesus Is King” came soon … [Read more...]

In the dark days of AU football, it was dreadful to watch the offense jog out onto the field and come away empty time after time. This year, there is a much different buzz in the air when Tyson Harley and his offense hit the field. Harley is a freshman quarterback working with a lot of other underclassmen on the offensive side of the ball, and the group is dynamic.  Having four wide recievers come out almost every play can be predictable after a while, but the Ravens manage to … [Read more...]

With today's continuing technological advances, you can find music anywhere. Whether it's Spotify, radio or the return of vinyls, we all have access to music in some form. It's easy to search a song on your phone, put your headphones in and block out everything around you, but imagine hearing that song live. You can literally feel the drum beats in your chest and hear a room full of fans singing that same song with you. It's an experience.  Because of streaming services like Apple … [Read more...]

Not all changes made on campus over the summer were as exciting as a beefed up Rodney Raven and fresh asphalt on College Drive. Many upperclassmen returned to AU this semester dismayed by the elimination of freshman parking locations. One school of throught on our unfortunate new parking situation is that there are more first-year students than there are upperclassmen, so more parking spaces are needed for freshmen than for sophomores, juniors and seniors. While this is true, because … [Read more...]

It’s the timeless slogan slapped on our wristbands, t-shirts and bumper stickers: What would Jesus do? We use it for marketing, advertising and everything else under the sun, but do we actually practice the very words we preach?  When the answer is clear and painless, we happily allow this question to flood our minds and direct our actions. But would we dare allow ourselves to ask this question about a topic many find controversial, a subject often viewed as completely … [Read more...]

Over the past few months, politicians have been announcing their candidacy for the presidency left and right. Ohio Governor John Kasich, former Massachusetts Governor William Weld and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan have announced that they will be running against President Donald Trump in the Republican primary election. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are just a few of … [Read more...]

The surprising arrest of Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian embassy on April 11 has stirred renewed debate over his work, status and mythos. Assange has lived in political asylum inside the London embassy for nearly seven years, fearing extradition to the United States over espionage charges. The Metropolitan Police have reportedly arrested Assange on such a warrant from the U.S. Justice Department, this time over a charge of conspiracy to hack the Pentagon government computer … [Read more...]

There has been one narrative that has dominated headlines across the mainstream media for over two years: #Russiagate. Starting with the infamous Steele dossier, the #Russiagate narrative has drawn the attention of Americans of all stripes. It alleged that President Donald Trump was an asset of Russian intelligence, whether directly or through kompromat, compromising material that can be used to blackmail. It was explosive, if true, alleging Russian contacts, deep state collusion and … [Read more...]