UA researcher chosen for innovative Parkinson’s study
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 20
A University of Alabama researcher has been tapped to be part of new team of scientists hoping to find a way to stop Parkinson’s disease. “What’s most exciting about this grant is that it goes beyond the realm of halting the disease and actually is looking at trying to stop it,” said Guy Caldwell, a UA professor known in biological circles for his work using microscopic worms to study genes. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, one of the largest philanthropic organizations supporting medical research, awarded $40 million to eight teams of scientists to encourage collaboration among different fields in hopes of spurring new ways to examine old problems faster than if each worked independently…
Birmingham News – Nov. 20
My Football Ticket program wins award
Crimson White – Nov. 20
…With nearly 16,000 hits every football weekend, the My Football Tickets system was recently awarded the 2008 Collaboration and Partnership Award from the National Association of College Auxiliary Services. Gina Johnson, associate vice president for Auxiliary Services at the University, said the Capstone received it for not only having the revolutionary program, but also for how many people were involved in the process. “What it’s all about is partnership on campus and working together with other departments, and this award recognizes that a whole bunch of people had to work together to make [the] My Football Tickets [program] a reality,” Johnson said…
Iron Bowl will be broadcast live to troops on Armed Forces Network
Birmingham News – Nov. 20
U.S. troops deployed around the globe will be able to watch this year’s Iron Bowl live on the Armed Forces Network, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said Wednesday. Responding to requests from Alabama service members, including some with the Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing deployed in Kyrgyzstan, Sessions’ office asked the Pentagon to set up a live broadcast of this year’s game, and the request has been granted. “I’ve had the opportunity to visit with our troops in the Middle East on numerous occasions, and I frequently see an Alabama or Auburn flag flying below the Stars and Stripes,” said Sessions, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This is a huge game and it has huge national interest. I’m sure that all our military personnel who can will be glued to the television.”
After losses, pensions ask for a change
New York Times – Nov. 20
… “If they ask for something more than temporary, it’s not going to happen quickly,” said Norman Stein, a professor at the University of Alabama who specializes in pension issues…The issue would be a flashpoint, Professor Stein predicted. “This is completely inappropriate for frozen plans,” he said. “I can’t see any reason at all to give relief to frozen plans.”
Budget holiday shopping without being a “Scrooge”
ConsumerAffairs.com –Nov. 19
…Jan Brakefield, assistant professor of consumer sciences at the University of Alabama, says one of the most important rules is to make a spending plan and stick to it. She also says how you pay for gifts is important, too. “Pay cash. Credit card users typically spend twice as much money as others,” Brakefield said. “Use the ‘envelope method.’ Prepare one envelope per person, placing money in each envelope. When the envelope is empty, you are finished buying for that person.”…“Holiday spending will put a big dent in most people’s budgets because when they budget annually for such gifts, they usually don’t reserve enough for the December timeframe,” said Caroline Fulmer, who is also an assistant professor of consumer sciences at The University of Alabama. “For most of us, unless we set aside a special Christmas savings account, holiday spending causes us to tighten our belts on other expenses.”…
Economic crisis squeezing colleges, universities
McClatchy Newspapers Washington Bureau – Nov. 20
…”Unfortunately, the most expensive programs that correlate to the highest-wage jobs are the ones that are most at risk,” said Stephen Katsinas, the director of the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. In a recent survey of community college officials in 49 states, Katsinas found that nearly half expect their states to impose midyear cuts in higher education appropriations, which are typically the largest discretionary items in most state budgets…
Students learn of chocolate’s chemistry
Crimson White – Nov. 20
Students learned about the science behind the “food of the gods” Wednesday, as Joe A. Vinson, professor of chemistry at Scranton University in Pennsylvania, lectured on “Chocolate Chemistry: The Science Behind the World’s Guilty Pleasure.”…
Students raise awareness of genocide in Sudan
Crimson White – Nov. 20
More than 100 students packed into Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library Wednesday night to see a video full of images of dead children who had been burned, tortured and raped in Darfur, the western region in Sudan, where more than 400,000 people have already been killed because of the mass genocide occurring in the area…
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 19
Education briefs
Birmingham News – Nov. 20
The University of Alabama has received a $200,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation that will be used to help renovate and expand the Jones Archaeological Museum at Moundville Archaeological Park. To receive the grant, UA must raise $1.2 million by the conclusion of the “Our Students. Our Future” capital campaign in June 2009.