CNN reporter Soledad O’Brien touts diversity at UA
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 10
True diversity is about capturing the stories of individuals, CNN investigative reporter Soledad O’Brien said Wednesday during a lecture at the University of Alabama. “Stories about diversity, if they’re well told, are about anyone,” O’Brien said. “And I believe the time is now to use your voice in any way you choose to make a difference.” O’Brien spoke about growing up as a biracial child in Long Island, N.Y., and her path leading to CNN during her lecture in the Ferguson Center Ballroom entitled “Diversity: On TV, Behind the Scenes and In Our Lives.”
Crimson White – Nov. 10
UA hopes Huntsville office expands research opportunities
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 10
The University of Alabama has opened a new research office in Huntsville that UA officials say will keep the system better informed of research opportunities best suited for the “unique expertise” of its Tuscaloosa and Huntsville campuses. The office opened Oct. 1 and Suzy Young was named its director of research advancement. In that role, Young is responsible for identifying and facilitating research opportunities for UA and UA-Huntsville faculty, staff and students with industry, the Department of Defense, NASA and other federal agencies, said UA’s Vice President of Research Joe Benson.
UA theater professor, students to travel to Cuba to perform
AL.com – Nov. 10
University of Alabama theater professor Seth Panitch will lead a group of graduate students to Havana, Cuba, later this month to stage a production of Christopher Durang’s “Beyond Therapy,” according to the school. The trip marks Panitch’s seventh time to visit Cuba as part of his continuing research on differing acting methods of American and Cuban actors.
Alabama students create projects to help in tornado recovery
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Nov. 10
The important facts: 81 students in groups of three or four wrote grant applications vying for up to $15,000 to help implement their project. Three groups were chosen as winners. The requirements for projects created within the University of Alabama’s Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility(CESR) included identifying a need, creating a plan of action to meet the need, and submitting a grant request to implement the need. The $15,000 awarded to the winning projects, use to be allocated for a different type of competition.
Benefit fashion show scheduled for tonight
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 10
A fashion show scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion will be one of several benefit fashion shows nationwide sponsored by Marie Claire magazine. Abigail Hardin, a senior in the University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences, was one of four college students nationwide selected to produce and style one of the four shows in Marie Claire’s Front Row Challenge, using clothes from Ann Taylor Loft.
Million Dollar Band marches to beat of its own drum
Crimson White – Nov. 10
Alabama caps off a drive with a ten-yard touchdown from Trent Richardson, and who is there to strike up “Yea Alabama” and get the entire stadium on its feet? The Million Dollar Band. They are an essential part of The University of Alabama gameday experience that makes it unlike any other in the nation. The name the “Million Dollar Band” came around in 1922, when Alabama’s band had to raise money to attend Georgia Tech for a game. Alabama alumnus W.C. “Champs” Pickens coined the term because of their successful fundraising efforts.
Jefferson County bankruptcy: Retirement Systems of Alabama chief David Bronner predicts higher borrowing costs
Birmingham News – Nov. 10
…Robert Brooks, a finance professor at the University of Alabama, said he thinks the bankruptcy filing will have “minimal effect, if any,” on interest rates on bonds sold by other counties or cities in Alabama. “This is not a complete surprise,” Brooks said. “Jefferson County has been in default on their obligations for a very long time now.” “The reason rates would change is because you have new information,” he said, “and there’s nothing materially new here.”
Associated Press – Nov. 10
UA financial planner Jan Brakefield says having an emergency fund is important
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 9
After April 27, having an emergency fund became a very important thing to have for homeowners. Certified financial planner Jan Brakefield shows you how to get started, saving up for that rainy day…If you look at how much is falling through the cracks, you might find a lot of extra money. Most households today find 23 percent goes unaccounted for. Certified financial planner Jan Brakefield is with the University of Alabama’s College of Human Environmental Sciences.
Opinion: Steven Chu deserves a booby prize for his naivete
Bellingham Herald – Nov. 10
The federal government’s rush to guarantee the loans despite numerous warning signs threatens to cost taxpayers more than $500 million. Career government employees repeatedly warned that this “investment” was flawed from the beginning. Not only was Solyndra betting on an unproven “thin film” technology, but it was trying to compete with a cost structure that was uneconomical even under optimistic assumptions. . . . Andrew Morriss is a professor of business at the University of Alabama.
Opinion: Iran’s Nuclear Program and the Legal Mandate of the IAEA
Jurist – Nov. 10
On November 8, Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, delivered a formal report [PDF] on Iran’s nuclear program to the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council. This report is most notable for its analysis and findings regarding possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program. In previous reports, the Director General had expressed concern about this as well. However, in this report, the Director General’s office provided its most thorough and comprehensive analysis of all information and evidence that it has acquired on Iran’s nuclear program, either directly through the work of IAEA inspectors, or by the provision of information to the IAEA by national governments. . . . Daniel Joyner is Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law. His research interests are focused in nuclear weapons nonproliferation law and civilian nuclear energy law.
Veterans groups, UA to hold Veterans Day events in Tuscaloosa
AL.com – Nov. 10
… The University of Alabama will host a Veterans Day observance ceremony on the front steps of the Gorgas Library on the UA campus at 10:30 a.m. Veterans and their families and current armed service members will be honored at the event. According to UA, the university currently has 922 students who are veterans, service members and dependents.
A different kind of spelling bee at Theatre Tuscaloosa
Crimson White – Nov. 10
Singing and dancing probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a spelling bee, but beginning Thursday, Nov. 10, Theatre Tuscaloosa will put on the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The play, featuring many student actors from the University, has been famous since its stint on Broadway from 2005-2008, but director Stacy Alley didn’t want actors coming in with preconceived notions for their characters. “I wanted them to create their own character, not base it on what they already saw,” said Alley, a professor of musical theatre and dance at Alabama.
Slash Pine to host reading and walking tour through town
Crimson White – Nov. 10 (Print only)
On Saturday, Nov. 12, the Slash Pine interns will host “Slash Stitch Burn,: a guided tour of historic landmarks in Tuscaloosa with a literary focus. As participants visit these places, they will listen to readings, opening their minds and their imaginations to the space around.
Rowling Tide: Quad Quidditch 101: Navigating the Pitch
Crimson White – Nov. 10 (eight-page special section; print only)
Quidditch ion the Quad is back for its second year in a row, and with nearly twice the number of teams signed up to play. Preliminary rounds begin tonight at 7 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center fields. Games continue on the Quad Sunday at noon. All proceeds benefit the Tuscaloosa County Reading Coaches to raise awareness about literacy.
Art Speaks returns for November
Crimson White – Nov. 10
Art Speaks is an art exhibit on campus that was created by students for other students to showcase their work. The November edition will be held on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at Nott Hall. Sponsored by the Honors College, Art Speaks is an informal assembly of artwork that will feature UA student artists Henry Busby, Lindsay Jones Lindsey and Trey Stafford.