UA Supply Store becomes authorized Apple retailer
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 31
…Earlier this week, the University of Alabama’s Supply Store announced it has been certified by the computer maker as an authorized retailer and will devote a department of its Ferguson Center location entirely to Apple products beginning Nov. 18…Students will now be able to use their education discount at the store and leave the store with a computer the same day…A number of other retailers around Tuscaloosa sell a limited number of Apple products, but the Supply Store will sell and service all of the company’s major products. “We’re going to have a computer support specialist whose Mac certified to do sales and service on the computers and who will be able to do warranty work in the store,” Johnson said…
UA photographer Chip Cooper reveals the face of Havana in new exhibit at Patina Gallery
Mobile Press-Register – Nov. 1
…Cooper captured dozens of such moments in digital color photographs that make up the exhibit “Havana,” which will open with a reception from 6 until 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Patina Gallery, 19 N. Church St., during Fairhope’s First Friday Artwalk…In addition to the gallery exhibit, Cooper will speak at 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at the University of South Alabama Baldwin County Performance Center, 111 St. James Ave., Fairhope. Cooper’s appearance is part of the USABC Distinguished Lecture Series and is free and open to the public; reservations are recommended. Patina will host a reception afterward. Cooper is artist in residence in the Honors College at the University of Alabama, a member of the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences and former director of photography…The “Havana” exhibit is the result of a collaboration between the University of Alabama and the University of Havana. The Alabama-Cuba Initiative was established more than eight years ago to promote change in the respective communities…
Beads of Hope program helps children cope with fears
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 1
…Sims contacted Leslie Dollar, an instructor with the University of Alabama and certified child life specialist, for help in getting Beads of Hope off the ground. The program has spread to the DCH Regional Medical Center’s pediatric unit as well. Dollar said she was familiar with the program at UAB called Bravery Beads since child life specialists usually carry out that program. “It’s thrilling to be involved with this program and I’m so thankful for Amy,” Dollar said. “I never thought that a program like this would ever come to our little town and hospital….Dollar said the program goes a long way in easing a child’s fears about treatment. “It gets the medical staff, specifically the nurses and assistants, involved in encouraging the patient,” she said. “It makes the negative aspects of the hospital more positive and child-friendly.”
Birmingham’s population dips
Birmingham News – Oct. 31
…Annette Watters, manager of the Alabama State Data Center at the University of Alabama, said ACS numbers are not as reliable as those from the Estimates Division. “The Census Bureau never ever intended for the ACS to be used as the source of exact population numbers, never,” Watters said. “They have always intended it to be the source of information about the characteristics of the population. The Estimates Division is the branch of the census whose estimates are the official numbers for any town or county.” While they differ on the amount and percentage, the ACS and summer estimates still show Birmingham’s population dropping. “The leadership and the people of Birmingham are not surprised by these numbers because Birmingham has been losing population for decades,” Watters said. “In the decade between 1990 and 2000, the city of Birmingham declined by 8.7 percent, and from 2000 to 2008, the decline is about 5.8 percent. So it is declining at a slower rate than in the previous decade. “Nevertheless, a decline is not growth,” she said. “It is something that affects the school system because children are not present in the same numbers or places that they used to be and it affects shopping habits and store locations… it affects housing starts and it affects churches, congregations.” A city’s population helps determine how much it gets from a variety of federal fund sources, Watters said…
Seniors in professional jobs find it easier to stay in work force
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 1
…Trevor Bain, 79, is professor emeritus at the University of Alabama business school. He no longer teaches classes but keeps an office at UA where he works with graduate students, does research, writes about his findings and does presentations. He also has a labor arbitration and mediation practice and runs the state chapter of a national association for labor and human resources. Bain, who spent his academic career studying labor and management issues, said if he was a plumber, for example, he probably would not be able to continue working at 79 because of the physical demands from such a job…
“I also am not standing on an assembly line. In manufacturing jobs and many blue-collar jobs, the body wears down quickly,” he said. “There is a lot of repetitive motion that wears you down.”…
Jefferson County commissioners face hurdle in moving out of shadow of corruption
Birmingham News – Nov. 2
…”The legacy of these problems over the last several years put an extra burden on the ability of ethical, thoughtful people to do good work for the public good because there is so much doubt and cynicism around the possibility of people doing the work honestly,” said Stephen Black, director of the University of Alabama Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility…Black said the culture of corruption leaves the public with two options: “One is never to vote again, never to care about it, never to concern themselves with the business of the County Commission — which I think is a betrayal of citizenship,” he said. “The other option is to take responsibility for electing people who have high ethical standards and who are there to do the people’s work, and hold them accountable, month by month by month by month.”…Robert Brooks, a professor of financial management at the University of Alabama, said he was optimistic. “Maybe some of the business leaders in the community will step up and support people that will put the interest of the county first,” he said. “There is a lot at stake. Every time you have inefficient financial transactions, all the taxpayers pay.”
Renowned artist who grew up in Tuscaloosa presents exhibit, lecture
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 2
William Christenberry graduated from the University of Alabama 50 years ago and moved to New York City and Washington D.C. to achieve fame as an artist, but he still gets home every year…the 50-year retrospective going on display at UA’s Sarah Moody Gallery of Art won’t have room for larger-scale pieces. Instead, the exhibit “Land/Memory” focuses more on some of the more intimate sculpture, along with drawings.
Culture Fest draws crowd to downtown Northport
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 2
Downtown Northport was transformed into a multi-cultural block party Sunday afternoon for the second annual Community Culture Fest…Brice Miller, the event’s organizer…“This is our second year, and it’s a community- and family-centric event,” said Miller, assistant director of the University of Alabama’s Crossroads Community Center. “Let’s remove the negatives and actually take a minute to get to know our neighbors.”…
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 1
Rock Quarry students learn rodeo’s history
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 31
…This year, the Rock Quarry Elementary PTA worked with Carol Donovan, a literacy education professor at the University of Alabama, and a group of her students to plan Rockfest. “We came and helped two years ago and this year we’re helping with the teaching,” Donovan said. “The students came up with the lesson plans and this is their first big whole group experience teaching.” One of Donovan’s students, Bo Hartley Davis, helped teach the children how to barrel race…
Blevins discusses future for energy
Crimson White – Nov. 2
…the keynote speaker, Linda Blevins, an adviser for the U.S. Department of Energy. Blevins, who graduated summa cum laude from the University with a degree in mechanical engineering, received a master’s degree from Virginia Tech and a doctoral degree from Purdue University…Blevins began the discussion by talking about Alabama’s current energy status, pointing to the state’s heavy production of coal, natural gas and methane. “Alabama is one of the largest hydroelectric power-producing states…
Students walk for diabetes research
Crimson White – Nov. 2
UA students and community members raised $15,000 for the American Diabetes Association at the first Tuscaloosa Diabetes Walk Saturday…
College News
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 2
Susan Herndon Caples, assistant director for transportation services at the University of Alabama, was elected to serve as the president-elect of the Mortar Board National Council, the 10-member board of directors for Mortar Board, a prominent national honor society for college seniors…