College Clips

By Kyle Daly

Published Oct. 30, 2007

RIAA cracks down on illegal music downloading

For the third time in 2007, Northern Illinois University is a target of the Recording Industry Association of America.

The RIAA has sent 25 more pre-litigation letters to NIU students in another crackdown on illegal music downloading among colleges.

The letters are intended to give the students an opportunity to settle before the recording industry files a proper lawsuit.

Including this wave, 103 NIU students have been sent letters in the 2007 calendar year.

"We hope that university administrators recognize the beneficial role they will play here," RIAA president Cary Sherman said.

— The Northern Star

(Northern Illinois University)

Bomb scare notification leaves some University of Massachusetts students in dark

University of Massachusetts administrators used e-mail messages on Thursday morning to inform students, staff and faculty of a bomb scare — but most students found out through other means of communication.

Sophomore Heather Duquette said she received a phone call from her mother, who had heard about a bomb threat on the news. Sophomore Dave DiLorenzo said he heard about the incident on WMUA/91.1 FM.

Sophomore Caleb Koufman said he felt the e-mail was too vague.

"I did not feel safe going to my class in Herter today," he said. "The e-mail should have been more detailed. It should have said the incident was a hoax."

Some voiced the opinion that the campus should have been evacuated and that classes should have been canceled for the day.

Of 20 students interviewed, only two found out about the incident because they checked their e-mail.

— The Massachusetts Daily Collegian (University of Massachusetts)

George Clooney, other actors film movie at George Washington University

George Clooney and other celebrities were on George Washington University's campus this weekend filming scenes for an upcoming film titled "Burn After Reading."

The Coen Brothers are directing the film, which features Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton.

After shoots, Clooney, McDormand and Swinton returned to the main production and make-up trailers.

The actors and actresses will film in Foggy Bottom, Georgetown and on the National Mall until Tuesday, production assistant Sage Asteak said. The crew arrived in the Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

She added that the bulk of the film is being shot in New York.

The Internet Movie Database classifies "Burn After Reading" as a comedy and a drama, in which "a disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it."

— The GW Hatchet

(George Washington University)