Dr. Witt presents new 10-year plan to Board of Trustees
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Nov. 6
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Nov. 6
WTVY (Dothan) – Nov. 6
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 6
A new 10-year plan for the University of Alabama includes expanding the school’s service and academic prestige. University President Robert Witt submitted the plan. It includes these four goals: boosting enrollment, attracting the best students and faculty, increasing community service and becoming what’s called a “Tier One” research institution.
Witt announces 35,000 enrollment goal
Crimson White – Nov. 8
UA President Robert Witt announced a new enrollment goal of 35,000 students by 2020 at Thursday’s board of trustees meeting, according to the Tuscaloosa News. Enrollment reached Witt’s initial goal of 28,000 in fall 2009. According to the Tuscaloosa News report, Witt said he feels the University can handle the growth with its current facilities.
Historical Southern collection to make debut at Gorgas Library
Crimson White – Nov. 8
A Theodore Roosevelt campaign button, a baby picture of Truman Capote and a diary of a Prattville Confederate soldier are just some of the more than 30,000 newly added items to the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library. The A. S. Williams III Americana Collection, which will be unveiled Tuesday, includes more than 20,000 new books and ore than 10,000 other items, such as photographs, relating to the history of the South.
My view: University of Alabama honors courageous students
Birmingham News – Nov. 7
As the new week begins, it’s a new day at the University of Alabama, which finally has a public space acknowledging efforts nearly 50 years ago to open the doors to what were known in 1963 as “Negro” students. . . . Last Wednesday, the University of Alabama held a day-long celebration to pay tribute to the late Vivian Malone Jones, Dr. James Hood and Autherine Lucy Foster, who preceded Malone and Hood by her initial, though short-lived, enrollment at the university in 1956. . . . George L. Daniels, Ph.D., is an associate professor of journalism at the University of Alabama.
State’s political sands shift: Politicians talk about the GOP’s Alabama sweep
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 7
Philip Bryan, communications director of the Alabama Republican Party, has an answer when asked how the GOP took over the Alabama Legislature for the first time in 136 years in the Nov. 2 general election, defeating the rival Democratic Party. “We basically took their campaign headquarters and blew it up.” . . . Steve Borrelli, an associate professor of political science at the University of Alabama, said it is now incumbent on Republicans, who have seen their initiatives stalled in the Legislature for years, “to outline a vision and set some priorities. “Basically, the only thing the Legislature has to do every year is pass the budgets,” he said. “But Republicans are already talking abut sweeping ethics reform, which I think would be very popular with the public and even with Democrats, who are in total disarray and looking for something positive to hold on to.”
Alabama delegation set to gain influence in Congress
Montgomery Advertiser – Nov. 8
With Republicans in charge of the House next year, several members of Alabama’s mostly GOP delega tion are poised to chair key committees and wield more influence. . . . “They will start at the bottom, but they have a little more clout,” said Bill Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama. “You might get a slightly bigger office. You still need to keep your mouth shut … (and) defer to your elders.”
Accused Somali pirates headed for US trial
Associated Press – Nov. 6
Five Somali men accused of firing assault rifles at a Navy ship off the coast of Africa are set to face the first U.S. piracy trial in more than 100 years. . . . Ken Randall, dean of the University of Alabama School of Law and a piracy law scholar, said the two judges have different views, but he thinks the government’s prosecution will ultimately prevail because U.S. vessels were involved. “From what I’ve seen, no, I don’t think the piracy count is particularly challenging as a matter of law,” Randall said. “Because the definition of piracy really has existed along similar lines for three, four centuries, and the alleged conduct seems to clearly fit that definition.”
Gulf spill’s estimated impact may be more than $1.7 billion
Montgomery Advertiser – Nov. 6
A University of Alabama economist has estimated the Gulf oil spill is likely to cost Alabama’s economy more than $1.7 billion and about 25,000 jobs this year alone. Sam Addy, director of the school’s Center for Business and Economic Research, presented four scenarios, but said the most likely outcome will have a 15 percent loss in tourism and a 50 percent loss in fishing revenue. Under those events, individuals would lose about $822 million overall, including almost $500 million in earnings. State and local governments would lose almost $76 million in tax revenues.
WDHN (Dothan) – Nov. 5
Fox6 (Birmingham) – Nov. 5
Miss Tuscaloosa takes home the crown
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 8
With Tuscaloosa hosting the Miss Alabama USA pageant for the first time, it was fitting that Miss Tuscaloosa, Madeline Mitchell, was crowned the winner Sunday night. . . . Mitchell, who is from Russellville, is a senior at the University of Alabama majoring in elementary education.
Crimson White – Nov. 8
Group spreads message: It’s never too late to learn to read
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 7
A University of Alabama advocacy group known as LITE, Literacy Is The Edge, wants West Alabama residents and university students to know it’s never too late to learn how to read. On Nov. 1, LITE kicked off its 2010 campaign with a program named after that very idea, “It’s Never Too Late.” “We want everyone in the community to know that it really is never too late to learn how to read,” said Morgan Hooper, LITE’s vice president for media relations. “It’s also never too late to volunteer. In teaching them how to read, we can make a difference in their lives.” The group is an on-going, year-round advocacy group that links volunteers to tutoring programs. According to a news release, the group has recruited nearly 1,000 UA students and 350 tutors since its creation in 2008.