AMERICAN AT WAR PAGE 5
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Students in Japan safe after disasters
Flag pole damaged by crane during green roof installation By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer
A crane damaged the flag pole on the Quad while installing a green roof on the Mary Graydon Center March 5. AU is currently working with insurance agencies to determine if the pole should be repaired or replaced, according to William Suter, director of Facilities Management. The owner of the crane has acknowledged the compa-
ny’s fault, Suter said. A crane’s cables snagged the pole, Suter said. He doesn’t know a timeframe for when the flag pole will be repaired or replaced. The American flag did not sustain any damage in the incident, according to Lt. Rima Sifri of the Department of Public Safety. The flag is in Public Safety’s possession until the pole is fixed or replaced sdazio@theeagleonline.com
By RACHEL KARAS Eagle Staff Writer
Courtesy of EMILY CURLEY
UP ON THE ROOF — DC Greenworks Executive Director Peter Ensign, right, and staff member Erik Vollmerhousen install pre-vegetated trays on the roof of the Mary Graydon Center.
MGC, Ward green roofs will ‘pay for themselves,’ AU says By RACHEL KARAS Eagle Staff Writer
ETHAN KLAPPER / THE EAGLE
FLAG-LESS — The Quad’s flag pole was damaged over spring break. AU officials are not sure if the pole will be replaced or repaired.
Green roofs are being installed on four roofs on the Mary Graydon Center and the entire upper roof of the Ward Circle Building, according to Chris O’Brien, director of Sustainability. Four other AU buildings have green roofs: the Media Production Center, the Katzen Arts Center, the School of International Service and the Kogod School of Business, according to O’Brien. Mary Graydon and Ward were also chosen to receive the latest green roofs because of their durability and
size, which reduces the cost of the projects per square foot, O’Brien said. “The existing roof structure is new enough that we can add this new layer of living material without worrying about replacing the roof any time soon,” he said. “If it was being replaced, we’d have to replace the vegetative material as well … it wouldn’t make any sense.” The installation began March 5 with a kick-off event hosted by the D.C. Green Building Council’s National Capital Region Chapter and DC Greenworks. The roofing will continue through Earth Week, April 17 to April 23. The AU com-
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munity will have the opportunity to help plant on and complete the roofs during Earth Week. Community Service Coalition Director Stephen Bronskill estimated 50 students and staff volunteered over the course of spring break to clear the roofs and plant vegetation. “It’s a unique and cool idea, especially in cities where there’s not a lot of green space,” said Freshman Tyler Sadonis who helped out with the effort. Living roofs, which include grass, flowers and plants, have a variety of benefits, according to O’Brien. Green ! see GREEN on page 8
No AU students abroad in Japan were harmed by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami there on March 11, nor are they in immediate danger from the damaged nuclear reactors, according to Associate Director of Media Relations Maralee Csellar. Four students are studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo and all are accounted for. Six students studying with the School of International Service’s Dual Undergraduate Degree Program at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto did not feel the earthquake, according to Ethan Merritt, AU Abroad senior adviser. “There are no plans to evacuate the students,” Merritt said. “We’re basically seeing how things develop and staying in touch.” AU officials have been in contact with officials at Waseda and Ritsumeikan and also contacted students via e-mail and Facebook to ensure their safety. AU Alumni Relations is working to identify and contact AU alumni in Japan, according to an e-mail sent out by President Neil Kerwin. !
see JAPAN on page 8