Student helps organize benefit concert
Crimson White – July 15
As a dockhand at the Gulf Shores Marina in Fort Morgan, I have seen the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill firsthand. I can’t even begin to describe the helplessness I have felt while watching the coastlines I love become tainted by tarballs and oil slicks…We decided to begin our grassroots efforts on Facebook…I decided to take a long shot and email Huka Entertainment, the company responsible for creating and promoting the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores in May, to ask for their help. One week later I received an email from one of Huka’s executives that changed everything: “Thank you for your interest in helping the Gulf Coast. Huka now has something in the works and is watching your Facebook page. I would like to have a coordinated campaign going across your page.” The email went on to detail the concert line-up, which included none other than Mr. Jimmy Buffett…
JDCC signs partnership with UA college of nursing
Brewton Standard – July 15
A partnership between the nursing school at the University of Alabama and Jefferson Davis Community College will benefit students as well as the community, officials from both schools said Wednesday as they signed an agreement. The partnership will allow local students to take classes for advanced degrees through UA’s Capstone College of Nursing without having to travel to Tuscaloosa. “We want people to have all the opportunities,” Capstone College of Nursing Dean Dr. Sara Barger said. “We know they are not limitless for some. … The real winners are your graduates and current students and your community. When you increase education, people make fewer mistakes and patients get better care.” JDCC President Dr. Susan McBride said the partnership can also benefit the local healthcare community. “When people have to leave the community for education, they don’t always come back,” she said. The program will begin this fall.
UA offers camps for K-12 students
Crimson White – July 15
This summer, middle and high school students from across the southeast are traveling to Tuscaloosa to participate in the University of Alabama’s K-12 Summer Programs. The University is offering over 12 academic summer camps and 16 varsity sports camps…Gregory Singleton, Director of Engineering Student Recruitment, aids with the Engineering program Student Introduction To Engineering that is held from July 11-17 and July 18-24. “SITE is a summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors. Students take three courses; English, computer science, and pre-calculus,” Singleton said. “Students also participate in an engineering design course where they build planes out of light-weight wood.”…One of the University’s most popular summer camps is the Capstone Summer Honors Program…students are given the opportunity to live in a UA residence hall, dine at any of the UA dining halls and use the UA’s Student Recreation Center. Kathryn Merrit, Director of External Affairs for the University Honors College, said, “The program gives rising high school juniors and seniors the chance to earn seven or eight hours of Honors College credit. Students are able to participate in a variety of Honors College student-developed experiences and attend an Honors College speakers series.” Other academic programs that are offered at the University this summer include: Creative Writing Camp, Community Music School, Rural Minority Health Scholars Program, Summer Enrichment Workshop, Multicultural Journalism Program, Alabama Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive and Capstone Business Leadership Academy.
Unknown Is a Nominee for Alabama Governor
New York Times – July 15
… “He was the outsider,” said Bill Stewart, a political science professor at the University of Alabama. “He didn’t represent the Tea Party, but he did represent the nonestablishment.”…
Tuscaloosa governor could bring opportunities, prestige
Tuscaloosa News – July 15
… “We know it’s been good to have a United States senator, but we don’t have a lot of experience with governors,” said William Stewart, retired chairman of the University of Alabama political science department. “Now all we need to get is a resident congressman.” Shelby has brought millions upon millions of federal dollars to Tuscaloosa and the university over the years, but the governor’s office isn’t set up for a politician to bring home the bacon, so to speak. Besides, there likely will not be a lot of money to throw around in the next few years, given strained state budgets, Stewart said. The main benefit Bentley could offer Tuscaloosa is an entree for local people, he said. “Obviously, you couldn’t quantify what benefit it would be to Tuscaloosa, but it’s only natural to help your own people to the extent you can,” Stewart said…
Bentley triumphs over Republican establishment
Tuscaloosa News – July 15
… He appealed to the ordinary Alabamian and had sensitivity to the ordinary citizen,” said William Stewart, former chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama. “He was able to relate to everyday people, and that’s what Alabamians want in their candidates,” Stewart said. “(Byrne) was perceived as aloof.” … Voters apparently liked Bentley’s message, Stewart said. “He said this was a time favorable for outsiders and he was bucking the establishment, and the establishment came out almost unanimously for Bradley Byrne,” he said… Stewart said he believes Byrne’s campaign against the AEA and a “personal fight” with its leader, Paul Hubbert, backfired. Hubbert encouraged voting against Byrne, the former two-year college system chancellor who carried out Riley’s fight to ban double-dipping — collecting two state salaries by AEA members in the college system who also were legislators. Byrne’s endorsements from the GOP hierarchy may have hurt him in this political season of outsiders. “I think it reflects a rejection of the status quo,” Stewart said…
Gadsden Times – July 15
Pundits: Crossover voting had little impact in GOP runoff
Anniston Star – July 15
…“I can’t say a precise amount, but based on diminished Democrat returns and higher Republican returns … I think there was crossover voting,” said William Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama. “But I would not attribute Bentley’s substantial win to crossover voting.” Instead, he attributes the amount of crossover voting to Democratic opposition to Byrne and not a show of support of Bentley. “I think a lot of the crossover voting reflects AEA (Alabama Education Association) opposition to Bradley Byrne,” Stewart said…
Nice guys finish first in race for governor’s office
Montgomery Advertiser (Associated Press) – July 15
… William Stewart, former chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama, said Byrne and Davis had excellent resumes to become governor…
Feds give OK for testing of BP’s oil leak cap
Associated Press – July 15
… Two University of Alabama professors with expertise in petroleum engineering — Peter Clark and Philip Johnson — praised Allen’s cautious approach. “You probably don’t have a lot of chances to do it right,” Clark said. “It’s better to go slow and make sure you don’t screw something up, instead of closing the valves and seeing what happens.”…
Mobile Press-Register
TA plans scholars program
Tuscaloosa News – July 15
…The TA Scholars program will be similar to the International Baccalaureate, a standardized advanced education program with a curriculum accepted around the world, but TA’s program will incorporate an independent research component…John Ratliff, a University of Alabama history professor and director of the Scholars program, said the course will challenge students’ perceptions and understanding of the world. “Students get to explore how they know what they know and the differences between opinions and facts,” he said. “It will give students some basis for their perceptions and encourage them to be open to new ideas.”…
Students perform social work abroad
Crimson White – July 15
A UA professor and students in the University’s School of Social Work recently completed an interim travel course in Mexico. Ellen Csikai took students to Cuernavaca, Buena Vista de Cuellar and Mexico City in her SW 457-557 class…
Moundville holds hunting, fishing program
Crimson White – July 15
…Saturday the site will be holding one of its “Saturday in the Park” programs. This week’s program focuses on ancient hunting and fishing techniques. According to the Moundville website, Bill Skinner and Chip Wente will be showing visitors tools that Native Americans used in catching animals as well as cooking traditional food in the same way that the Moundville inhabitants once would have. The program will be held on the banks of the Black Warrior River from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is included in the price of admission. Admission for students is $6 and the park is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m…
LEARN program holds open house in Montgomery
Montgomery Advertiser – July 15
The Launching Entrepreneurs Across Rural Networks program will have an open house in Montgomery next week…LEARN is a program of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the University of Alabama designed to encourage small-business development to combat rising unemployment…