Children with autism have lower levels of HDL
Science Daily – Jan. 24
Mystery surrounds autism. Its theories of causes and treatments are as unique and diverse as the people who have it. The same holds true for its symptoms. Scientists and physicians are uncovering more about this disorder every day; many of those studies and findings concentrate on diet. Dr. Yasmin Neggers, a professor of human nutrition and hospitality management in The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences whose main research focus is nutrition during pregnancy, was inspired by a visiting colleague to learn more about this disorder that affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.
Alabama union rate leads in Southeast
Birmingham News – Feb. 5
Alabama’s union membership rate fell again last year, but it remains far above that of other states in the Southeast, raising old fears that high unionization levels could be a disadvantage in business recruitment contests. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show that 10 percent of Alabama workers belonged to unions in 2011, down from 10.1 percent in the previous year. Union membership in Alabama has remained fairly consistent over the past decade and has long been the highest in the region. . . . Trevor Bain, a management professor at the University of Alabama who tracks labor union trends, said he has seen no evidence that other states have been able to use Alabama’s higher union representation against it. “I’ve heard that argument since I came to the University of Alabama in 1974, but I’ve done research and could not find anything to support the believe that unionization would keep businesses from coming here,” he said…Bain, the UA management professor, said it is incorrect to assume unions hurt business growth, adding that businesses continued to lay off workers during the recession despite a big drop in union membership.”The strongest factor in hiring workers is demand for goods and services, not whether a company is unionized or not,” he said.
Obama tuition policy could ‘dilute’ quality of education
Crimson White – Feb. 6
In his State of the Union address two weeks ago, President Obama discussed issues on every college student’s mind: the rise of tuition costs and interest rates on student loans. “Student loan debt has now surpassed credit card debt for the first time ever,” Obama said while addressing an audience at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor three days after the State of the Union speech. “Since most [college students] were born, tuition and fees have more than doubled.” . . . . Students unfamiliar with debt might wonder: How will it all add up years down the road? Obama addressed this, too: a new initiative called “Know Before You Owe” may help students to grasp the long-term implications of their borrowing. “Accumulated interest can catch people off-guard,” said Gary Hoover, a professor of economics at the University. “‘Know Before You Owe’ will show students all of the numbers.”… Economists like Hoover understand the need for higher costs. “The federal government discourages the high rate of increasing tuition costs, but it also demands that schools practice more monitoring, use more technology and offer more accommodations,” Hoover said…
UA ad experts speak on Super Bowl commercials
Crimson White – Feb. 6
Each year, some of the biggest parts of the Super Bowl are the creative advertisements shown in between game plays. Various beer, snack and electronic companies, to name a few, spend millions of dollars for these ads, but what if the University of Alabama joined the list? Joseph Phelps, professor and chair of the department of advertising and public relations, said he imagines a UA Super Bowl ad showcasing championship. “The Super Bowl identifies a champion,” Phelps said. “The winner is the number one professional football team. I can envision a Super Bowl ad for the University of Alabama showing our academic programs and the students in these programs as champions.” The UA department of advertising and public relations has been among the top five programs in the U.S. in each of the last four years, Phelps said. “On March 1, during a ceremony in New York, [the Department of Advertising and Public Relations] will find out if it has been named the top program in the country for this year,” Phelps said. “That is a championship moment, and such championship moments can become defining moments when they are communicated well to the viewers.” Teri K. Henley, a UA ad team adviser, said the time process for creating an ad varies. A large amount of research goes into understanding the internal and external environment, and the process can take weeks or months, depending on the number of factors.
Commentary: Should the U.S. end restrictions on domestic oil drilling? Yes: We should, but won’t
McClatchy News Service – Feb. 4
Whenever gas prices start dipping — no matter how slightly — consumers start hoping it’s the start of a permanent downward spiral. That’s likely wishful thinking because of the combination of energy policies and shortages caused by problems in some of the major foreign oil producers. Crude oil prices determined 68 percent of gasoline prices in 2010 according to the federal Energy Information Administration. Federal and state taxes make up 14 percent, with the rest attributable to refining, distribution and marketing costs. Of these, only crude prices are likely to change significantly in 2012…Andrew Morriss is a professor of law and business at the University of Alabama.
Advertiser Editorial: Temper immigration law
Montgomery Advertiser – Feb 5
Despite the protestations of some of the original proponents of Alabama’s new anti-immigrant law, the Legislature should make one of its top priorities the tempering of that law to remove some of its more repugnant sections. . . . A study released recently by the respected Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama said the law would cause 70,000 to 140,000 illegal immigrants to lose jobs and would cost the state’s economy about $1.2 billion to $5.8 billion in the earnings of those immigrants, as well as $56 million to $264 million in lost state income taxes and sales taxes. (To see the study, go montgomeryadvertiser.com, click on Opinion, then on Read It for Yourself.)
Thousands of anime, other costumed creatures overrun UA’s Ferguson Center for Kami-Con 4 (photos)
AL.com – Feb. 4
Where could you go to find a Disney princess, Star Wars Jedi and Dragon Ball characters all in one place? Tuscaloosa’s fourth annual Kami-Con, an anime convention this weekend at the University of Alabama’s Ferguson Center, offered that and more. The SOS Brigade, a UA student organization, began hosting the convention to foster interaction among fans of the genre. The event attracts more than just anime fans, though, as seen when Ghostbusters, Stormtroopers and a host of other fictional characters mingled with the crowd Saturday.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 4
Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra to present Valentine’s pop concert
AL.com – Feb. 4
The Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra will present its Valentine’s pop concert “Let’s Fall in Love” on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Moody Hall on the University of Alabama campus. Paul Houghtaling and the UA Opera Theatre will join the symphony for a program including selections from “Kiss Me Kate,” “South Pacific,” “La boheme” and other favorites.
Tuscaloosa immortalized in new book of photos
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 6
Tuscaloosa will never look the same as it did even a year ago. But over the past centuries, more than storms have altered the West Alabama landscape time and again. Many of the landmarks in the new photo book “Tuscaloosa” — the homes, businesses and farms, the old Capitol building that is now just ruins — will be unfamiliar to anyone who wasn’t around as far back as the Depression. And because the book, part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, looks even further back, to the coming of white settlers in the 19th century, the creation of the University of Alabama and Bryce Hospital, and back to pre-European influx days, some will be known and visualized only by photos and renderings such as these. Amalia Amaki, professor of modern and contemporary art at the University of Alabama, was contacted by the South Carolina-based Arcadia. Amaki enlisted the help of Katherine N. Mauter, executive director of the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, to track down not only the images but also their background to tell the tale. “We wanted to create a history — condensed, if you will — of Tuscaloosa, highlighting what makes us what we are,” Mauter said.
College news
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 5
The Alabama Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi recently received a $2,000 donation to benefit First Book philanthropy after winning the Belk Sorority Challenge. Belk department store held its first challenge event on Oct. 20, in which sororities voted for their sorority. The sorority with the most votes received a donation to the charity of their choice. Seven sororities from the University of Alabama participated in the event, with Pi Beta Phi earning the most votes.
Program allows students to shadow nonprofit professionals
Crimson White – Feb. 6
If working in the nonprofit field piques your interest, then the Community Service Center’s Nonprofit Protégé Program might be a good fit for you. The eight-week program, which began last semester, pairs students interested in the nonprofit field with a nonprofit professional. Students and their mentors meet weekly and discuss topics like risk management and fundraising in the nonprofit field. Rachel Edington, assistant director of the program, got the idea from a similar program that was implemented at her graduate school in South Carolina.
UA percussion instructor performs around the world
Crimson White – Feb. 6
As a little girl, she didn’t want to just play violin, clarinet or piano as expected. She wanted to play everything; she wanted to be a percussionist. UA percussion instructor Beth Gottlieb’s career has taken her to Disney World in Orlando, orchestras across the country, military bases all over the world with the Lt. Dan Band, and finally, to her Tuscaloosa home and the University of Alabama. Gottlieb began seriously studying music during high school in Huntsville, Ala., earned a bachelor’s of music in percussion performance at UA and received her master’s in percussion performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music before becoming a percussionist at Walt Disney World. There, she’d perform in a plethora of Disney bands, record for hundreds of movies, commercials and soundtracks, including The Little Mermaid, and catch the eye of Gary Sinise of the Lt. Dan Band for the Common Good in 2004.
Park at Manderson Landing to get improvements
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 6
Tuscaloosa’s riverfront will get more improvements. The U.S. Department of the Interior is giving the University of Alabama nearly $200,000 to improve the park at Manderson Landing. The park is on the Black Warrior River on the north side of the UA campus. ADEM will partner with the university to build a floating boat dock with eight handicap-accessible boat slips, a pedestrian access ramp and other amenities.
UA holds conference on national bio-surveillance strategy
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Feb. 3
It’s frightening to think about: terrorist attacks using infectious diseases…the University of Alabama hosted speakers who are leading the effort to develop a national bio-surveillance strategy. Their goal is to alert health officials as early as possible to prevent mass causalities.
UA Recreation holds annual rock climbing competition
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Feb. 4
The University of Alabama Recreation Center held its annual rock climbing competition this afternoon