Sizing up small books: Exhibit at UA showcases collection of tiny books
Tuscaloosa News – March 2
Miniature books come in all shades of brown, red, blue and green; some are illustrated while others are not. Their covers might be plain or elaborately decorated and their subject matter mundane or extraordinary. In fact, the only real difference between a full-sized book and a miniature one is size. The Miniature Book Society’s national traveling exhibit is on display on the second floor of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library on the University of Alabama campus through April 15.
U. of Alabama grows fleet to keep pace with student population
Metro Magazine – March 1
Continuing its successful partnership, University of Alabama Transportation Department ordered clean-diesel, 40-foot LFS smart buses, featuring a new interior design, for its Crimson Ride transit service from Nova Bus. “Looking at our growth and projecting the need to add vehicles as well as increase our spare ratio, we contracted with Nova to buy two buses a year for the next five years,” explained Ralph Clayton, assistant director, transportation services. The Crimson Ride service launched in August 2007 with 17 full-size Nova buses as part of the university’s vision to grow the campus and make it more pedestrian friendly.
UA law professor discusses immigration laws
Morning Edition, NPR – March 1
The states stepped into what they perceive as a federal void when it comes to immigration enforcement, says Bryan Fair, a constitutional law professor at the University of Alabama.
Nation’s toughest immigration law stays put for now
NPR – March 2
Portions of Alabama’s strict immigration law will remain in force until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on its predecessor, the Arizona statue that ignited a national firestorm in the debate over illegal immigration. A panel of three judges from an Atlanta federal appeals court decided Thursday to put off action on lawsuits against measures in Alabama and Georgia. Oral arguments are set for April 25 before the Supreme Court over the constitutionality of Arizona’s enforcement policy. . . . A University of Alabama study of the law’s potential economic impact estimated that departures of as many as 80,000 illegal immigrants could cost the state and local governments nearly $11 billion a year in lost sales tax revenue.
The new allure of community college
Alternet – March 1
Community colleges are hot these days, and not just with photo-op seeking politicians. They’re an increasingly popular choice for 18-22 year-olds from the upper middle class, thanks to cheap tuition, a career focus, smoother transfer options and growing public respect for the sector’s academic chops. Nationwide, 22 percent of college students with annual family incomes over $100,000 attended community colleges last year, up from 16 percent four years ago, according to a study by Sallie Mae. “Community college gradually is gaining wider acceptance as the default option out of high school,” said Stephen G. Katsinas, director of the University of Alabama’s Education Policy Center.
UA political scientist says GOP race isn’t over yet
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 1
Mitt Romney is coming off wins in Arizona and Michigan. The former Massachusetts governor is the frontrunner in the field of GOP candidates, but with many southern states, like Alabama holding their primaries soon, the University of Alabama’s political science professor Richard Fording says this race isn’t over yet, “Alabama could be a speed bump on Romney’s road to the nomination.”
Review: Lightweight musical comedy moves forward like a shark
Tuscaloosa News – March 2
The University of Alabama’s “An Italian Straw Hat” is about as weighty and consequential as its title. Pretty and precious, but not so rare, perhaps; a featherweight musical comedy that moves forward like a shark, except a good bit funnier than most predatory beasts.
Former UA professor to share family’s Titanic survival tale on campus
AL.com – March 1
James Cameron’s Oscar-winning, box office behemoth “Titanic” might get a re-release in 3-D soon, but you can hear a University of Alabama graduate and former professor tell her aunt and uncle’s survival story of the sinking ship on March 7 first. As the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s historic sinking approaches, author Julie Hedgepath Williams will tell her family’s tale at 2 p.m. in Room 205 of Gorgas Library. The event, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the Tolbert Lecture Series, University Libraries and the Alabama Center for the Book.
ACT brings ‘The Color Purple’ to the Bama Theatre
Tuscaloosa News – March 2
Despite name recognition, the musical “The Color Purple” isn’t often seen around here. Alice Walker’s Pulitzer- and National Book Award-winning novel caught fire in the literary world, and reached household name status after the big-budget 1985 Steven Spielberg film that helped launch Oprah Winfrey’s career. . . . On the more experienced end are actors such as Erika Evans, who plays Sofia. She’s worked professionally with Red Mountain Theatre Company in Birmingham, and will play Matron Mama in the University of Alabama’s April production of “Chicago.” She’s a graduate of Stillman College and its famed choir, but although she works at UA and lives in Tuscaloosa, has been on-stage more in Birmingham.
Alabama beaches No. 1 natural destination in state; Mobile’s Mardi Gras year’s top event
Mobile Press Register – March 2
With 5 million visitors, the beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast were named the number one natural destination in the state last year, according to figures released today by the Alabama Tourism Department…Bryant-Denny Stadium was the number one sports destination with 712,747 fans attending University of Alabama home football games.
Elementary school students go to college
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – March 1
Some elementary-school students in Tuscaloosa went to college for the day. The fourth- and fifth-graders were on the University of Alabama campus. The trip was part of their career-awareness week. They toured dorms and classrooms, but the fun part was making and painting pottery. University students called Al’s Pals arranged the visit.