“If you have the choice between being right and being kind, be kind,” said Kathy Harp as she looked toward the ceiling, carefully crafting a one-sentence summary of what she has learned over the course of her life. Every Tuesday evening, Harp does just that—she chooses to be kind. For the past five years, Harp has opened her home’s doors to the student body, welcoming the women of AU to join her in a weekly Bible study, better known as a “Life Group.” “We have done a life group every year … [Read more...]
Professor organizes writing challenge to encourage creativity
For the month of April, Professor Jack Lugar of the communication and design arts department has decided to organize a special edition of his annual AU Storytelling Month (StoMo). StoMo, an event that usually takes place in February, is a month-long, campus-wide writing challenge that asks participants to write 500 words a day. While Ravens are quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lugar has decided to create a new edition of this challenge, calling it “StoMo Stay@Home.” “The … [Read more...]
President Pistole answers students’ questions
As students adjust to AU’s mid-semester switch to online classes, they have found themselves with numerous unanswered questions. Although many questions still remain a puzzle for students and administration alike, President John Pistole offered some clarity on several points of confusion and concern. “I realize that this is a stressful and in some ways scary time for our students and families,” said Pistole. “So much is unknown at the moment.” One of those unknowns is the topic of room and … [Read more...]
AU suspends in-person classes, cancels commencement
All classes will be held online for the rest of the semester, according to President John Pistole. In an email sent to the student body on March 18, Pistole explained that the decision was made in hopes of preventing the spread of COVID-19. “Online classes will proceed as planned for next week, and then continue for the next six weeks, followed by finals week—May 4-8—again all online,” said Pistole. Pistole explained that in addition to in-person classes being suspended, … [Read more...]
Worries about potential software crashes arise amid COVID-19 pandemic
Amid the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, countless institutions are moving online—schools are shifting to E-Learning, universities are reconfiguring syllabi to accommodate “online-only” courses and workplaces are encouraging their employees to work from home. The quick and exponential growth of users relying on software such as Google and Canvas has led to widespread worry about the ability of these software to accommodate the increasing number of users. Executive Director of AU’s … [Read more...]
Athletic season suspended amidst national COVID-19 outbreak
“All athletic competition (conference and non-conference) at HCAC member institutions is indefinitely suspended, effective immediately,” read a statement released by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) on March 13. With this statement, the busy season of AU Athletics came to a halt. Among the affected sports are men’s and women’s lacrosse, tennis, baseball and softball. “Sadly our season has come to an end with the growing concern of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Head … [Read more...]
Professors prepare to go online
AU will be shifting all classes to an online format the week following spring break, university administration announced on March 11. While students are wondering how this switch will be possible for some of their hands-on-learning-oriented classes, professors are finding unique ways to ensure that students will still receive proper instruction. Although she has never taught a course entirely online, Professor Deborah Miller-Fox of the English department has begun the process of … [Read more...]
Classes to be held online amid coronavirus pandemic
All classes will be shifted to an online format the week following spring break, according to university administration. In an email announcement sent out to the student body on March 11, President Pistole explained the details of this decision. “Based on rapidly developing events, for the week following spring break, March 23-27, we will shift all classes to an online, e-learning system,” he said. “There will be no in-person classes that week.” Pistole explained that this decision came … [Read more...]
Tri-S trip postponed due to coronavirus outbreak
With her suitcase packed, her week off of work secured and her sight-seeing planned, junior Public Relations major Macy Jent was eagerly awaiting the Tri-S trip to London for which she would embark in four days. Just like the other students who signed up for the trip, Jent had planned and fully paid for the long-awaited spring break getaway. On March 9, an email was sent out to all students signed up for the March 13 London trip announcing that the trip would be postponed until May. The … [Read more...]
SGA election underway
Beginning on Thursday, March 5, students will have the opportunity to vote for AU’s next SGA president and vice president. Two duos have announced their candidacy: Bryson Sleppy and Elli Brooks, as well as Daniel Gaines and Maddie Rastetter. Sleppy, junior national security major, and Brooks, junior social work major, announced their candidacy in February. “We have a strong love for this place and this community,” said Sleppy. “We love this place, and we want to see it … [Read more...]