UA music therapy class helps young, old alike
Tuscaloosa News – March 31
…Carol Prickett, a UA professor of music, founded the program in 1985, and it is still the only music therapy program in the state. The program at UA takes a little more than four years for students to complete. There are 30 students in the program seeking to obtain a degree in music therapy. “Music therapy has been deemed a formal profession for 60 years now, and I have been a part of the profession for 40 of those years,” Prickett said. Prickett is credited with bringing music therapy to UA and Georgia College. She also is well-known in the profession as the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Music Therapy Association in 2009. The scope of music therapy’s benefits can extend through all age groups. The therapy can begin in the nursery room, aiding premature babies, and help elderly Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, said Andrea Cevasco, an assistant professor at UA who also works in music therapy…
McNair president to speak at scholars’ convocation
Crimson White – March 31
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy, president of McNair Achievement Programs Carl McNair will be a guest speaker at the annual convocation and reception honoring the accomplishments of the University’s McNair Scholars. McNair is the brother of the program’s namesake, Ronald E. McNair, and also the founder of the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation. Ronald E. McNair died along with the other six members of his astronaut crew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on Jan. 28, 1986, according to the program’s website. Nancy Campbell, director of the University of Alabama’s McNair Scholars program, said McNair is a highly-sought-after speaker committed to educational programs that inspire and encourage students, especially those from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups, like McNair Scholars, and those interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “Ron McNair embodies the ideals of the McNair program and leaves a rich legacy in the areas of education, science, family life and community service,” Campbell said. The event will be held Thursday in the Grand Gallery in Smith Hall at 5:30 p.m. and will recognize the accomplishments of current McNair Scholars. All members of campus community are invited…
UA students sleep on the Quad
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 30
…The University of Alabama Community Service Center is holding its annual “Sleep Out on the Quad” tonight. At the sleep out, students can learn more about hunger and homelessness issues through various activities…
New frozen yogurt venue holds opening celebration
Crimson White – March 31
On Wednesday, the YogurtLab frozen yogurt store in the South End Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium held its grand opening…YogurtLab’s location is an advantage because they are able to open the South End Zone and use the seating for birthday parties and other events. “We can do birthday parties, philanthropic events, Greek events – anyone that wants to hold an event,” Fulkerson said. “We can also cater events. You don’t have to come to us. We can bring the yogurt to you and cater your event.” The grand opening is the culmination of a semester of work by a UA student public relations team. “We were given a $200 budget to put on a public relations campaign for YogurtLab,” Amy Castleberry, a senior majoring in public relations, said. “As a group, we had to utilize our skills to implement a PR campaign. Awareness was our really big issue.”…
RISE holds fundraiser
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 30
The University of Alabama’s RISE school helps children with disabilities. They’ve got a big fundraiser that’s coming up. And here to tell me more about it are Alex NcNair and Ally Martin from UA’s Student Alumni Association.
West Alabama Red Cross comes to Rec
Crimson White –March 31
The West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold an awareness event about the health and safety services the chapter offers today from 3-5 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. The event is called “Health in your Hands,” and according to West Alabama Chapter reports, the event will be free, although they will accept donations to help with the Red Cross efforts. For every dollar that is donated, 91 cents is put into programming, according to the Red Cross. At the event, students will be able to see demonstrations of CPR, an automated external defibrillator, babysitting techniques and pet first aid. The Red Cross hopes to have people come out to support this event and to raise awareness about safety situations. A group of graduating seniors in Susan Horsley’s public relations class decided to take on the West Alabama Chapter as their semester project and offer an assortment of events, according to Bev Leigh III, development director at the West Alabama Chapter of the Red Cross. Throughout the month of March, the graduate students have been offering events for people to get involved…
Community Service Center outlines end-of-year opportunities
Crimson White – March 31
…As a part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, volunteers built the Habitat shed Monday through Wednesday, but according to Wahnee Sherman, director of the Community Service Center, there will be many more service opportunities to come as the school year closes. “We usually have weekly opportunities to volunteer,” Sherman said Monday. “Until tomorrow, we’re building this Habitat for Humanity shed. Then Wednesday, we’re hosting the Sleep Out on the Quad… “We have over 150 partners in Tuscaloosa,” she said. “We work with after-school mentor programs, animal shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes and hospices. We work with a lot of major organizations like Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army and the Red Cross, too.”…
Mentoring helps students give back
Crimson White – March 31
…This year, the Honors College is overseeing projects in ten Tuscaloosa County schools, ranging from elementary to high school. READ Alabama, a literacy initiative, is one of the many outreach projects offered through the Honors College this year…Angela Nelson, librarian at Hillcrest Middle School, said the effects of READ Alabama are already far-reaching. “They have been reaching so many students,” Nelson said. “These are students who typically fall through the cracks when it comes to individual attention. The program has helped their grades and their confidence.”…Honors College is not the only facilitator for projects in county schools, however. There are a variety of mentoring programs offered through other student groups, such as Greek organizations, honors societies and the Student Government Association…University students participating in projects through the Honors College logged more than 9,400 community service hours during the fall 2010 semester, Merritt said…
Alabama and Auburn compete Saturday in ‘Iron Roll’ wheelchair basketball game
Mobile Press-Register – March 31
Auburn University men’s wheelchair basketball team will play the University of Alabama men’s wheelchair basketball team in the first “Iron Roll” Saturday in the Catherine Dixon Roland Arena at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. The game will be part of the Montgomery Center for Independent Living Wheelchair Basketball event hosted by the Huntingdon College Sport Science Department…Alabama’s women’s wheelchair basketball team was the best in the nation again this year, winning its third-straight national championship.
New assembly seeks to unite grad students
Crimson White – March 31
A new graduate student assembly looks to build an effective government for graduate students. Robert Harris III, the president of the Graduate Student Association, said the formal inauguration of the first Graduate Student Assembly is a major milestone for graduate student government at the University. “Before, the Graduate Student Association only consisted of an executive council, which allowed for limited input and perspectives regarding the graduate experience,” Harris said. “With the new Assembly, every graduate department on campus will be represented. This is a major step forward for graduate student government.” All of the new Assembly representatives took an oath of office at the inauguration ceremony, which was held Friday afternoon in Shelby Hall, according to a UA news release…The new Graduate Assembly will serve to aid the University in making decisions regarding policy, development and curriculum as it relates specifically to the experience of graduate students, Harris said…
UA students put on rhythm magic show
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 30
Music and magic combined tonight at the University of Alabama. Five students put on the Rhythm Magic Show using special effects like invisible drum sets and glow in the dark drumsticks…