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Lyle Anibal lost count of how many couches, coffee tables and televisions he collected this month from Â鶹ÊÓƵ seniors emptying their off-campus apartments as they prepared to graduate. The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Police Department lieutenant, however, is quick to note that town officers responded in May to fewer citizen complaints of “Dumpster diving” than in previous years – and that business is up for a local nonprofit shop where the sale of donated furniture funds housing for those in need.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ professors, students and alumni continue to make news this spring through their research and campus activities. Notable in April and May was regional media coverage Â鶹ÊÓƵ's 121st Commencement exercises, faculty expertise related to the death of Osama bin Laden, and mention of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Poll in the Los Angeles Times and the (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer.

Martin “Marty” Blevins was presented with the Richard H. Behrman Award on May 19 at a dinner to celebrate Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s 25th graduating MBA class.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ senior economics major Kaylyn Swankoski was awarded the 2011 Allen Starling Johnson Jr. Outstanding Symposium Presentation Prize for the April 29 presentation of her senior thesis at the Duke Economics Department 9th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

From the Burlington Times-News (5/25/11): The House Rules Committee on Wednesday eclipsed an effort to write open government into the N.C. Constitution.

Michelle Ferrier, an associate professor in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's School of Communications, is also the founder and publisher of LocallyGrownNews.com, an online news and information hub focused on local food issues. She was one of the panelists May 20 and 21 at BlogHer Food in Atlanta, a conference focused on those who blog about food.

When his hope of working for the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles wasn’t an option, even after an internship there that saw Harrison Seeler assist with the logistics of a pop superstar’s memorial service, the Â鶹ÊÓƵ alum heeded advice from the Office of Career Services – “be patient” – and he today works for one of the largest entertainment venues in the nation.