UA hosts tornado research team
Crimson White – June 9
A research team featuring professors and scientists from all over America has been gathered in Tuscaloosa since late April to investigate and gather data about the damage to buildings and structures affected by the tornado that ripped through the city on April 27. John W. van de Lindt, a University of Alabama professor of civil engineering and member of the team, said the goal of their research in the city was twofold. Primarily, the team was looking for ways that better engineering and building could save lives and protect residents during dangerous storms and tornadoes. Secondarily, he said the team was researching ways in which they could minimize damage to property and essentially narrow the swath of major destruction a tornado causes…
UA names new biz school dean
Birmingham Business Journal – June 9
The University of Alabama‘s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration has named a new dean. J. Michael Hardin has been named the eighth dean of the college. He will replace J. Barry Mason, who has held the position since 1989 and plans to return to the classroom. Hardin will assume the dean’s responsibilities Aug. 16. Hardin, a professor of statistics, holds master’s degrees from Florida State University and UA, and a doctorate in applied statistics from UA. He joined the UA faculty in 2001 and has also served as associate dean for research since 2001. As senior associate dean for the past three years, Hardin has been responsible for the day-to-day operation of the college, including academic programs, enrollment management, and financial and administrative matters, and was involved in assisting faculty members in their career development.
ZBT teams with designers to help dress up Tuscaloosa
Crimson White – June 9
…MeetUP for Change, a non-profit organization, has partnered with the University’s College of Human Environmental Sciences, the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and apparel designer Alfred Dunner to sponsor an event called Dress Up! Tuscaloosa that will provide clothing to those impacted by the storm. “ZBT is mostly doing the grassroots of the event,” said Steven Allon, a senior and vice president of Zeta Beta Tau. “David Aresty was a ZBT here at Alabama, and he works for Alfred Dunner. He decided to make a huge donation to Tuscaloosa in clothing, and then he called us to help coordinate the event.” The fraternity has been actively helping out by spreading the awareness of the event through social networks, as well as by donating manpower…“This is a true give-away of clothing,” said Babs Davis, director of fashion retailing at the College of Human Environmental Sciences. Additionally, those come to the event will have the opportunity to be assigned “personal shoppers” – students of CHES – to assist them in creating outfits…
FOX6 (Birmingham) – June 8
UA law professor says decision to seal Amy Bishop’s court records seems to side-step the Constitution
WHNT (Huntsville) – June 8
University of Alabama professor Ronald Krotosynski specializes in constitutional law. He says a recent decision to seal Amy Bishop’s court records appears to side-step standards set by the constitution, as does a pending request to close all pre-trial hearings to the public.
Alabama economic growth lags nation in 2010
Mobile Press-Register – June 9
…The figures from year to year are measured in 2005 dollars to cancel out inflation. Alabama’s economy was worth $172.6 billion in 2010 without the adjustment. “That’ll take a while to get back to the pre-recession level,” said Ahmad Ijaz, an economic analyst with the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research. The center expects Alabama’s economy to grow between 2.5 percent and 3 percent this year, which would push it back above 2007 levels…
Summer Feeding Program packages food, fun, learning
Tuscaloosa News – June 9
Photo: Georgia Nolan, a volunteer who attends the University of Alabama, reads to Joshua Long, 4, at the McDonald Hughes Center on Wednesday…The Summer Fun Program is funded by donations. Those interested in donating should send donations to Compass Bank, Attn. Afram South, a nonprofit organization headed by Pamela Pain Foster, an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Rural Medicine at the University of Alabama.