University Of The District Of Columbia

Talks broke down between student activists demanding sweeping improvements at the University of the District of Columbia and school and city officials trying to end a three-day student takeover of two university buildings. Attorneys representing the students said they were angered by remarks made by Mayor Marion Barry after emerging from talks with student leaders.

Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon plans to ask for the resignations of the trustees of the University of the District of Columbia, a top aide to the mayor said. And in a separate development, former Mayor Marion Barry, whose bid to teach criminal justice at UDC had been criticized by faculty leaders, said he is withdrawing his application. The board of trustees at UDC had taken no official position on the Barry appointment, but its leadership was the target of much criticism last year.

Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon plans to ask for the resignations of the trustees of the University of the District of Columbia, a top aide to the mayor said. And in a separate development, former Mayor Marion Barry, whose bid to teach criminal justice at UDC had been criticized by faculty leaders, said he is withdrawing his application. The board of trustees at UDC had taken no official position on the Barry appointment, but its leadership was the target of much criticism last year.

One morning last July in the nation's capital, artist Judy Chicago stood in her work-out leotards outside a YMCA and scanned the headlines of a sidewalk newsstand. "There, on the front page of the Washington Times, was a color picture of me and 'The Dinner Party,' " said Chicago, referring to her controversial mixed-media tribute to prominent women of history. "I looked at it and went, 'Huh?' I didn't have a quarter with me so I couldn't even buy a copy."

One morning last July in the nation's capital, artist Judy Chicago stood in her work-out leotards outside a YMCA and scanned the headlines of a sidewalk newsstand. "There, on the front page of the Washington Times, was a color picture of me and 'The Dinner Party,' " said Chicago, referring to her controversial mixed-media tribute to prominent women of history. "I looked at it and went, 'Huh?' I didn't have a quarter with me so I couldn't even buy a copy."

Chicago Controversy in D.C.: Artist Judy Chicago on Tuesday withdrew her donation of a controversial artwork to the University of the District of Columbia as students continued their protest over the piece. Chicago said the gift was being withdrawn "in support of the students' right to determine their own destiny." She also said the meaning of her work, "The Dinner Party," which depicts the history of women and contains images of female genitalia, has been misunderstood.

The FBI is conducting a preliminary investigation into allegations that officials at the University of the District of Columbia mishandled school funds, a bureau spokesman said Wednesday. University Trustee Joseph Webb has asked U.S. Atty. Joseph diGenova to probe several "areas of concern," including transfer of the school's $10-million land grant endowment to another bank and the propriety of thousands of dollars' worth of consulting contracts financed by the school.

The president of the University of the District of Columbia resigned from his $74,900-a-year position amid allegations that he spent thousands of dollars of the school's money for his personal use. Among the allegations against Robert Green is that he used almost $25,000 for catering, furniture and consulting jobs for friends from Michigan State University. He also allegedly spent nearly $2,500 for personal items in luxury department stores.

Talks broke down between student activists demanding sweeping improvements at the University of the District of Columbia and school and city officials trying to end a three-day student takeover of two university buildings. Attorneys representing the students said they were angered by remarks made by Mayor Marion Barry after emerging from talks with student leaders.

Mayor Marion Barry, bowing to a chief demand of students occupying two buildings at the University of the District of Columbia, said he will ask 10 of the school's 15 trustees to resign. However, the mayor added that he is powerless to force anyone on the trustee board to quit. "We had a good dialogue, a good session," the mayor said after emerging from a 4 1/2-hour meeting with students who have occupied the two buildings at the city-run university since Wednesday.