April 2005

CAMPUS NEWS

Blooming tulips abound across campus and the quad is packed with students trying to catch some rays between classes. At AU, that means it's time for another Artemas Ward Festival. Immortalized by the statue standing tall in Ward Circle and the Ward Circle Building on main campus, Artemas Ward was an American Major General in the Revolutionary War and a Congressman from Massachusetts. His statue was erected in 1927, when his alma mater, Harvard University, decided to recognize him in the nation's capitol as a hero.

Each year, students gather to organize events in honor of Ward, ranging from barbeques to guest speakers.

To kick off the 2005 week-long festival, the Kennedy Political Union chose John Edwards to speak on Sunday, April 10. Edwards, the 2004 democratic vice presidential nominee, spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 in Bender Arena Sunday night. Edwards spoke about the poverty crisis of America. Since his term in the U.S. Senate and subsequent bid for the vice presidency, Edwards has become the director for the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said his work there has compelled him to address both youth and adults across the country about the necessity of taking action to reform certain governmental programs, such as health care, minimum wage, and welfare that perpetuate the poverty cycle.

"Once we have [the] will to do it... a national commitment, we will find a way to pay for it," said Edwards.

Students continued to celebrate their beloved Artemas Ward with peppy signs inviting the campus community to “Come Party with Artie.” Events throughout the week, including Eagle Nights featuring a student singer/songwriter Wednesday night in the Tavern, and a 72-Hour Film Festival continued through Thursday night. On Friday, April 15, the Residence Hall Association sponsored “Grill on the Hill,” with free food, fun games, a moonwalk, and a live band.

Also on Friday, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life came to campus. Participating teams raised more than $40,000 for the overnight fight against cancer, sponsored by AU and George Washington University.

Saturday afternoon brought the Artemas Ward Carnival to the quad, with more games and sports including mechanical bull riding, rock climbing, and gladiator jousting. Later, the fun moved into the Tavern, where FLY (Facilitating Youth in Leadership) held their "Apollo Night," a benefit for underserved Southeast D.C. youth. The event included spoken word performances, dance, rap, and poetry. The event was cosponsored by the SPA Leadership Program, the Black Student Alliance, and the Student Confederation.

In addition to John Edwards, April also brought a number other noteworthy speakers to campus:

• Steve Forbes spoke to Washington Semester students on April 4 regarding President Bush's social security plan;
• Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson visited the School of International Service April 5 to discuss her role at the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights;
• Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, KSB/MBA '84, (D-CA) was keynote speaker at the at the Latino Youth Conference and Lifetime Achievement Award winner on April 9;
• Former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, cochaired the first hearing of the Commission on Federal Election Reform on April 18; and
• Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) discussed and signed copies of her new book, American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country, also on April 18.

-Ashley Ferrell, ‘07

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