UA to hold graduation, memorial today
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 5
The University of Alabama will hold three graduation ceremonies Aug. 5 and 6, including students who were scheduled to participate in both May and August commencement exercises after May graduation was postponed due to the tornado. Also, a candlelight service will be held at 8:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium in remembrance of the six UA students who died in the tornado. Commencement exercises for students receiving graduate degrees will be at 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 5. Two ceremonies to award undergraduate degrees will be held Saturday, Aug. 6, with students in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Environmental Sciences, and the School of Social Work receiving their degrees at 9 a.m. and students in the colleges of Commerce and Business Administration, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Nursing receiving degrees at 2 p.m. All ceremonies will be in Coleman Coliseum. The six students who died in the April 27 tornado — Scott Atterton, Danielle Downs, Ashley Harrison, Melanie Nicole Mixon, Morgan Marlene Sigler and Marcus Smith — will receive posthumous degrees in the 9 a.m. ceremony
University of Alabama business grad school ranks 22nd on Forbes Best Business School list
Al.com – Aug. 4
The University of Alabama Manderson Graduate School of Business ranked No. 57 among all graduate schools and No. 22 among public institutions in the latest Forbes Best Business Schools list. The overall ranking is up from 66 last year, and the public institution ranking is up five spots, according to UA. In the Southeastern Conference, the school finished third behind Vanderbilt and Georgia. Associate dean Rob Morgan said that business school rankings are important, but other factors must be taken into consideration when choosing where to earn a business degree.
Small construction changes may have spared Alabama homeowners
HomeInsurance.com – Aug. 5
A new university study indicates minor structural improvements to property dwellings may have led to fewer people filing Alabama homeowners insurance claims earlier this year. According to researchers from the University of Alabama, things like better shingles on roofs, thicker siding and stronger anchors may have spared several residents living in Tuscaloosa significant levels of damage. Andy Graettinger, one of the study’s primary researchers, said the way in which most homes in the area are currently constructed means they are no match for severe tornadoes. “Light-frame wood structures will not be able to withstand the EF4 and EF5 forces in the direct center path of a storm,” said Graettinger. “But the areas on the edges of a storm could see dramatic improvements in safety and overall structure through better engineering design and construction practices.” Graettinger and his team of researchers arrived at their conclusions after inspecting approximately 150 homes that were destroyed by the twister that touched down in Tuscaloosa on April 27…
Nick’s Kids luncheon draws big crowd
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 5
About 500 people packed The Zone in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Thursday, but the focus was not on the approaching start of University of Alabama football. The fifth annual Nick’s Kids luncheon saw the distribution of close to $350,000 to 73 charitable organizations through Nick and Terry Saban’s foundation. “This is my favorite day of the year, to see the kids here and the impact that we have,” Saban said. “It’s a pretty good day if we can beat Auburn, it’s a pretty good day when we beat Tennessee, it’s a pretty good day if we beat LSU, but this is the best day.”…
Tide’s Fan Day set for Sunday
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 5
The University of Alabama football team’s annual Fan Day will be Sunday. The team will hold an open practice in Bryant-Denny Stadium from 2:30-4:30 p.m., and players and coaches will be available for autographs on the field after the practice…The UA campus will be congested with traffic and pedestrians, especially in areas east of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Parking is available at the perimeter campus lots (softball, tennis, rec center). Other locations may include the ten Hoor decks, ten Hoor surface lots, soccer lot and Moody Music lot. No special accommodations will be made for recreational vehicles….