Grad student gives away handmade books
Crimson White – March 23
Ally Nevarez is no ordinary graduate student. Not only is she pursuing two degrees – one in book arts and another in library science – but she is also giving away 75 books for free, all of which she made entirely by hand. Nearing the end of her three years as an MFA student in the book arts program, Nevarez has put together a one-night-only interactive exhibit at the Alabama Art Kitchen on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. It is at this exhibit that she will be giving away her books, which are based on the art journals Nevarez has been keeping since she was a child…Nevarez, who considers herself to be primarily a papermaker, used 10 different kinds of paper in her books. “A lot of what I do involves repurposing, which involves reusing T-shirts and other things as material for making paper,” she said. “For artwork, I might reuse a linoleum block by manipulating an image, changing a color or layering, but the idea is to have it be used more than once.”
Exchange students impacted by earthquake
Crimson White – March 23
University exchange students in Japan are seeing and feeling the effects of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit almost two weeks ago and are trying to cope with the changes. Adrian Morris, a senior majoring in journalism who attends Neiji school in Tokyo as a part of the exchange program with Capstone International, said he thought this earthquake felt different compared to others. “I was in my dorm in Tokyo, and the earthquake lasted for about five minutes,” Morris said. “We usually have a minor earthquake once a month, and you can always feel the ground shaking and it progressively got worse. You didn’t know where you were standing, and the buildings were waving back and forth.” Morris said Capstone International asked if everyone was safe and tried to get a headcount of all the exchange students…For some UA students, the news from Japan had more personal ramifications. Yuria Igarashi, a sophomore exchange student from Tokyo, said although she is from a region that was not directly affected by the earthquake in Japan, she has spoken with friends who lived in the northern region. “Even days later, my friend’s friend is still missing,” Igarashi said…Igarashi, a member of the UA Japan Club, coordinated the idea with club members to help organize a relief effort at the University to help the situation over in Japan. “We will be tabling for a week and possibly longer in the Ferguson Center starting on Wednesday from 10-4 p.m. to obtain donations for Japan,” she said. Connor McCarty, director of public relations for the UA Japan Club said that people can donate cash, check or through Bama Cash. The donations will benefit the Japan Red Cross Society…
Honors College Assembly screens education documentary
Crimson White – March 23
The Honors College Assembly will show “Waiting for Superman” today at 7 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Theater as part of their documentary film series “What if.” After the showing, experts on education reform will discuss the subjects talked about in the movie and will take questions from students. “’Waiting for Superman’ presents one side only, and one solution, which are charter schools,” said James McLean, dean of the College of the College of Education…The documentary film series “What if” was put together by William Nolan, a professor of English rhetoric and film analysis, along with the officials of the Honors College Assembly. This is the first semester the Honors College Assembly has done a documentary film series on the importance of education. Speakers at the discussion will be Ben Guest, coordinator of the Mississippi Teacher Corps; James McLean, dean of the University’s College of Education; Kelly Horwitz, a member of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education; and Mary Boehm, from A+ College Ready in Birmingham…
Nationwide adventurer visits the Capstone
Crimson White – March 23
…Students gathered in the Student Activity Center at the Student Recreation Center on Monday night to hear conservationist and adventurer John Davis, 47, speak on his 10-month-long, 5,000-plus-miles trek from Florida to Quebec…
Local women’s history celebrated [UPDATED]
Demopolis Times – March 23
Southern women and their heritage will be on full display in Demopolis this week… Experts in costume design from the University of Alabama and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival demonstrate the art of creating stage fashions for these Southern women…
Redrawing political map
Tuscaloosa News – March 23 (Adam Jones’ blog, online only)
…Below is a list of the current population of all Congressional and legislative districts based on the 2010 Census provided by Annette Watters at the University of Alabama Center of Business and Economic Research…