New book praises UA cultural initiative
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 26
…A section of a new book co-written by New York Times reporter and columnist Thomas L. Friedman is devoted to a student-fueled University of Alabama arts and culture initiative…In a section called “Creative Crimson Tide,” Friedman and co-author Michael Mandelbaum, an American foreign studies professor at Johns Hopkins University, praise UA’s Creative Campus initiative for nurturing “creativity among students by getting them to think about how to promote the arts in their community, on and off campus.” The book cites Creative Campus as an example for other universities as a successful approach to learning that would infuse more Americans into the workforce equipped with the right tools to better compete in a global economy. Hank Lazer, associate provost for academic affairs at UA, is the executive director of Creative Campus. Lazer said Creative Campus, UA’s New College and the Blount Initiative distinguish UA from its peers…
Students take brunt of budget cuts
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 26
College students are taking the brunt of the burden as federal and state governments trim budgets in the sluggish economy, according to a new report by University of Alabama researchers. “Higher education remains the largest discretionary item in state government budgets. Sadly this means that if state revenues don’t recover, higher education will remain a likely first target for potential cuts,” said report co-author Stephen G. Katsinas, a UA professor of higher education and director of the Education Policy Center. And as long as states are cutting money for higher education, Katsinas said tuition will be the only tool institutions have to fight budget shortfalls. In fact, the report expects tuition to rise by twice the rate of inflation in the next year…The report, titled “Access and Funding in Public Higher Education,” is based on the results of an annual survey of the 51 members of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges (Georgia has two). In the past, the report focused more on community colleges. This year, however, Katsinas said that because community colleges are “the portal of entry into higher education” for millions of students, the data can offer a statewide view of access and finance issues for public flagship universities, public regional universities and community colleges…The findings mirror the sentiment of UA administrators and trustees who earlier this month approved a budget that for the third straight year expects more tuition-fueled revenues than state money. In fact, UA system Chancellor Malcolm Portera told The Tuscaloosa News in a March interview that UA’s new mantra is “Create our future.” And at the trustees meeting last week, UA Vice President of Financial Affairs Lynda Gilbert said UA has been taking a more privatized stance on budgeting since UA President Robert Witt arrived in 2003…
Birmingham Business Journal – Sept. 26
UA professors debate merits of Obama Jobs proposal
Crimson White – Sept. 26
…Carl Ferguson, former director of the Center for Business and Economics Research and an Emeritus Professor at Culverhouse School of Business, believes Zandi is right. “If fully funded, there is little doubt that the American Jobs Act will produce a significant increase in jobs across America,” Ferguson said. “Estimating the economic impact of government and private sector spending is an inexact science. However, I think the estimate of 1.9 million is a good estimate.” Not all support Obama’s plan, however. “An easy way to gain some insight into whether this is a good plan is to note that $447 billion divided by two million is $223,500,” said economics professor James Cover. “That is, if Mark Zandi is correct, the cost to tax payers of each job created is over $200,000. Do you think this is a reasonable price for taxpayers to pay for a new job?”…
Space between us: long distance relationships
Crimson White – Sept. 26
…Rosanna Guadagno, a professor of psychology at UA specializing in social media, said sites like these play both negative and positive roles in long distance. Sometimes the parts of a relationship that should be private become very public, she said. “The norms of self-disclosure are different in Facebook,” she said. “But you have to find a middle ground.”…Stan Brodsky, a UA psychology professor, agreed technology can only do so much for a relationship. “When the couple have met briefly or through an Internet dating site and then are apart, they may have a loving and wonderful relationship through Skype or texting or calls,” Brodsky said. “However, that is not the same as being together in person. Once together for extended periods, it is common for these L-D relationships that develop from a distance to fall apart.” Philip Gable, a professor of psychology, said distance could also cause intense emotions to lessen. Additionally, if the relationship is primarily built on physical intimacy, the distance may be even more stressful. “The number one predictor of human attachment is proximity,” he said. “Absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder.”…
Tornado construction bolsters an industry’s recovery
Anniston Star – Sept. 26
…Construction is also picking up in other tornado-damaged areas of the state. A report compiled by the Center for Business at the University of Alabama states that Alabamians will spend between $2.6 and $4.2 billion dollars on rebuilding. The rebuilding phase will pump an estimated $1 billion into the state in 2011, the report states. The remainder will be spent in 2012…
Author John Grisham awarded 2011 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction
Crimson White – Sept. 26
…Last Thursday, UA’s School of Law and the ABA Journal awarded best-selling author John Grisham the 2011 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, a new literary award, for his work in the novel “The Confession.”…Although the prize was announced to coincide with the UA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of the publication of “To Kill a Mockingbird” last year, it will be given annually “to a published work of fiction that best exemplifies the positive role of lawyers in society and their power to effect change,” according to a press release. Baldacci said the involvement of UA’s School of Law, where Lee attended during the 1940s, with the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction is critical and speaks highly of where they stand in the literary world…
National Weather Service to hold storm spotter training at UA
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 25
The National Weather Service is coming to town to help people in west Alabama learn how to spot and survive disasters similar to those experienced on April 27. The storm spotter class will be held on Tuesday, Sept.27 at the Bryant Conference Center on the University of Alabama campus…
Political activist to speak at University
Crimson White – Sept. 26
The College Republicans, Black Student Union and the University of Alabama NAACP have partnered together to host political activist K. Carl Smith to speak tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in Lloyd Hall Room 38…
Philosophy powerhouse McMahan to kick off Philosophy Today series
Crimson White – Sept. 26
The fifth year of the Philosophy Today lecture series kicks off tomorrow with Jeff McMahan of Rutgers University’s lecture, “What Rights May We Defend by Means of War?”…
German Consul General Visits UA
Crimson White – Sept. 26
The Eurozone will survive, according to Lutz Görgens, the German Consul General from the German Consulate in Atlanta. On Thursday, Dr. Görgens led a presentation, “Germany and the Future of Europe,” that comes on the heels of the Greek debt crisis, which has led to loud public protests and an S&P downgrade of Italy…
Siblings take to the field and the sideline as player-cheerleader duo
Crimson White – Sept 26
…Chris and Tiffany Underwood…the first ever siblings to play football and cheer for The University of Alabama…Chris plays tight end for the Alabama football team. He graduated in August, but had a year of eligibility left. He is now in graduate school studying business…Tiffany is an honor student who divides her time between studying, cheering and being involved in her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta…
Homecoming Week at UA to Be Held Beginning Sunday
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 24
The University of Alabama will welcome students, parents, alumni and visitors to campus for Homecoming week, which kicks off Sunday. This year’s theme is “the tradition rolls on.”
UA professor teaches teenagers about robots
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Sept. 23
The kids are aged from 12 to 14. They work in groups and try to come up with introductory designs. The class, led by University of Alabama professor Monica Anderson, works on the designs once a month. The assignment will last through the remainder of the school year…
UA students compete to become Miss Sorority Row
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 23
University of Alabama students want to be the next Miss Sorority Row…The girls competed in three categories: gameday wear, talent, and evening wear.
Fans pour into Tuscaloosa for Alabama vs. Arkansas game
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 23
…A lot of activity here at the Capstone as Bama gets ready for its SEC opener against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Fans are already starting to pour into Tuscaloosa in anticipation of the big game…