Notre Dame athletes volunteer for Tuscaloosa tornado relief
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 20
…for 24 student-athletes at the University of Notre Dame, fall break was a chance to come to Tuscaloosa to help with tornado relief and cleanup as part of their Fight for Tide service trip. Four administrators from Notre Dame also made the trip. The student-athletes are mainly working in Alberta this week, helping clear out residential areas so that homes and lives can start to be rebuilt. The Fight for Tide service trip is being done in collaboration with Project Team Up, a redevelopment initiative of Nick’s Kids and University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and his wife, Terry…
University honors four outstanding teachers
Crimson White – Oct. 20
Four UA professors recently received one of the highest honors available to instructors, the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. This award, presented by the University of Alabama National Alumni Association every year, distinguishes teachers who have gone above and beyond to show dedication to their students and departments. This year’s recipients are Lawrence F. Kohl, an associate professor in the history department; Patrick R. LeClair and Seth Panitch of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Jannis L. Brakefield of the College of Human Environmental Sciences…
5 questions: Ahmad Ijaz, University of Alabama economic researcher
Birmingham News – Oct. 20
Few people know Alabama’s economy better than Ahmad Ijaz. Ijaz is director of economic forecasting for the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research, which, among other things, conducts quarterly surveys of business leaders around the state to gauge their sentiments about matters such as hiring and sales…Ijaz said in an interview that the continued bickering in Washington between Democrats and Republicans has added to the uncertainty among both business executives and consumers. The falling optimism, he says, is rising because of “the lack of clear objectives and policy measures. That could have a negative impact on fourth-quarter hiring as the important holiday season approaches, said Ijaz, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. “The economy started to significantly weaken during the first half of 2011, and is still not showing any signs of turning around, plus the lack of consumer demand is further exerting downward pressure on hiring,” Ijaz said…
Report says Alabama paying millions for community college dropouts
Birmingham News – Oct. 20
Alabama spent an estimated $100 million to support community college students who dropped out over a five-year period, according to a national report that will be released today…In addition, looking at government funding doesn’t consider the whole picture, said Stephen Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. Katsinas declined to comment on the specifics of the AIR report because he hadn’t read it, but said such studies often don’t take into account the difficulties community colleges and their students face. “My concern about the critics of developmental education is that they attack community colleges for caring to serve populations that other institutions typically don’t try to serve,” Katsinas said. He also said retention studies may not consider that even a few community college courses can boost earning power as much as $9,000 a year, and that some technical programs can be completed within a year…
Number of HIV cases rises in college-aged individuals
Crimson White – Oct. 20
…Susan Gaskins, who is an AIDS Certified RN, a professor in the College of Nursing at UA and director-at-large on the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board, said despite an increased ability to identify HIV and additional precautions that can be taken to prevent contracting the disease, the number of reported cases continues to grow… “College-aged students know about HIV,” Gaskins said. “They know how to prevent it, but they don’t do it…
Retired general to speak on leadership
Crimson White – Oct. 20
The University of Alabama will welcome retired Lt. Gen. William Bud Forster, a three-star general and UA alumnus, back to campus on Oct. 21 to speak about his experiences with leadership and how lessons he learned as a young adult helped to prepare him for the life he has led. Forster will be in Room 205 of Gorgas Library at 11 a.m. Friday. The lecture will be open to the public, and students are encouraged to attend…
Honors College Assembly helps put on fall festival
Crimson White – Oct. 20
The Honors College Assembly partnered with Tuscaloosa’s One Place and the Volunteer Reception Center to sponsor the All For One fall festival and tornado cleanup this Sunday. The festival will be held in Jaycee Park in Alberta City, and cleanup will be in the surrounding area. “The Honors College Assembly wants to bring student volunteers from UA to help out these families that Tuscaloosa’s One Place has reached out to,” said Emily Broman, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering and psychology…Activities will include a costume contest supported by the Lambda Sigma Honor Society, Trick-or-Treat bag decorating by the Community Service Center, a cupcake walk by Human Environmental Science students, face painting by Somerville Hall resident advisors, a bean bag toss by Trinity United Methodist Church, a temporary tattoo station by Phi Mu sorority and pumpkin decorating by the Honors College Assembly…
Frederic Goossen to be honored with concert Sunday
Crimson White – Oct. 20
The School of Music will honor the passing of music professor Frederic Goossen with a free memorial concert featuring some of his most significant compositions Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Concert Hall of Moody Music Building. Goossen joined the music faculty of the University in 1958 and retired in 1996. During his tenure at Alabama, Goossen taught all aspects of musical composition and theory and served for 25 years as director of graduate studies in music. Goossen died this summer at 83 years old…
Department of Anthropology to show alternative medicine documentaries
Crimson White – Oct. 20
“East Meets West” and “9000 Needles,” both award-winning documentary films about alternative forms of medicine, will be screened Monday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. in Room 30 of ten Hoor Hall by the department of anthropology After the film screening, Dr. Sarita Elizabeth Cox, doctor of naturopathy, a UA graduate and licensed acupuncturist, will field questions…