U.S. Wins Gold in Wheelchair Basketball in Paralympic Games; Team led by UA Athletes
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
…The University of Alabama’s Stephanie Wheeler, Alana Nichols, and Mary Allison Milford helped Team USA on its quest for Gold at the Games in Beijing.
Sen. Barack Obama Tops Poll in University of Alabama Study
EarthTimes.org – Sept. 16
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama emerged as the nation’s most effective communications leader in a study released today by the University of Alabama. The online poll of public relations professionals was conducted as part of a national leadership study by graduate students attending Alabama’s Advertising and PR program…”The findings suggest a vacuum of nationally recognized leadership in public relations,” said Dr. Bruce Berger, who chairs the Advertising and PR program at Alabama. “Why were politicians and celebrities named more often than PR specialists?…
Local offices quiet; experts say investors’ confidence shaken
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 16
…Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Alabama, said the latest blow to Wall Street probably has both the financial community and most consumers in a bit of shell-shock. ‘People get psychologically traumatized when they see all the gyrations in the market,’ Mason said. Which is not to say that the nation’s economic woes are merely figments of overworked imaginations, he said…Mason, meanwhile, cautioned against interpreting Alabama’s economy in light of the larger national turmoil. He said the institutions underpinning the state economy remain solid, while numerous construction projects and economic development efforts have kept many Alabamians employed. Objectively, Mason said, Alabama continues to outperform several national and regional economic trends. That’s small comfort for local consumers; however, whom Mason said will continue to cut back on spending until stability returns to the markets. ‘Consumers are no different than businesses and they’re going to be conservative,’ Mason said. ‘Until the consumer believes the worst of this is over, they’re just going to defer as many purchases as they can.’
Confidence freefall likely to continue
Montgomery Advertiser – Sept. 16
…Robert Brooks, a finance professor at the University of Alabama, said the real problem is it hurts everyone because of people losing faith in the entire financial system. “The financial markets need to regain the trust of the American people,” he said. That lack of trust, Brooks said, can threaten banks large and small…But Brooks said investors and those who rely on banks for working capital do have plenty of other reasons for concern…Tightening credit and higher interest rates will make it difficult for companies or consumers to borrow, Brooks said, and will put more drag on the economy. “Companies rely on the ability to get capital to expand the businesses,” he said…
Education briefs
Birmingham News
The University of Alabama Graduate School will hold its Preview Day on Thursday beginning at 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Center on campus. Representatives from various graduate programs will be available. Participants can register to take free practice tests for GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Registration: graduate.ua.edu/events/previewday.html.