University of Alabama commencement set for Dec. 17
Birmingham News – Dec. 9
The University of Alabama will hold its winter commencement Dec. 17 in Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. Two University-wide commencement ceremonies will be held this year, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., to award degrees. At the 9 a.m. ceremony, the colleges of Commerce and Business Administration, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Nursing will award their degrees. At 2 p.m., degrees will be conferred in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, Human Environmental Sciences and the School of Social Work.
On Civil War’s 150th anniversary, historian reflects on religion’s role
Catholic News Agency – Dec. 9
Religion had a “pervasive” role in American life at the time of the United States’ Civil War, one historian says, explaining his “fascinating” discoveries about the roles Catholics played. “One of the things that surprised me was that there were certain dominant ideas, regardless of particular religious affiliation. Ideas about providence, ideas about sin, ideas about judgment. Those were common themes that crossed religious traditions,” George C. Rable, a history professor at the University of Alabama, told CNA on Dec. 7. “Religion was absolutely pervasive when Americans tried to explain the causes, and the course, and the consequences of the Civil War.”
Exhibit shows Vietnamese perspective of war with U.S.
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 9
…an exhibit at the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library tells the story of the war from the other side. “Visualizing War and Change: Untold stories of daily life from Vietnam through visual materials (1945-2011)” will be on exhibit through Dec. 16. The exhibit offers insight into how the war was seen from the eyes of the Vietnamese people and how a government can spin events through careful, often subtle, manipulation. Nhung Walsh, curator of the exhibit and a graduate student in history at UA, was born and grew up in Hanoi. Walsh left Vietnam in 2005 and attended college in Japan, where she received a master of arts degree in international studies with a major in peace and conflict studies, from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Disney honors UA football team with Spirit Award
ESPN – Dec. 8
It’s in that spirit of doing for others that Disney sports is proud to honor the University of Alabama football team with this year’s Disney spirit award. In the wake of April’s devastating tornado that ravaged Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama football players were among the first people who sprang into action and raced to help their community, the same community who loves and supports the team year after year. The compassion and generosity that these young men displayed were instrumental in the rebuilding efforts of a community in dire need of physical and emotional help. They showed that the players we see on the field are also our neighbors and at their core, they’re just like you and me.
UA baseball team celebrates the holiday with children at Sprayberry Learning Center
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 8
Instead of having a banquet-like party, UA players and coaches celebrated with the children of Sprayberry Learning Center. . . . Christmas cheer and laughter filled the halls of the Sprayberry Learning Center today as the University of Alabama baseball team enjoyed its third annual Christmas party with the children of Sprayberry.
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 9
UA surpasses 2011 United Way Campaign Goal
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 8
The United Way of West Alabama celebrated a big donation to its 2011 fund-raising campaign today in the Zone at Bryant Denny Stadium. A check was presented to the organization from the University of Alabama. The university set a fund-raising goal of $295,000, but the campaign went beyond that, bringing in $354,000.
UA Arboretum cares for trees before they are given away
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Dec. 8
Tuscaloosa is trying to replace the green landscapes uprooted by the April storm. The city is giving away more than 3,000 trees this weekend. The University of Alabama Arboretum has been helping care for the two-foot trees that were donated after the storm. The goal is to replace many of the maples, oaks and dogwoods that tumbled in the tornado.