UA to host community storm memorial
FOX 6 (Birmingham) – April 4
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 4
WAFF-NBC (Huntsville) – April 4
A remembrance of last April’s tornadoes is being organized. The city and the University of Alabama are teaming up for a special service at Coleman Coliseum.
Today is brought to you by the letters U and A
Crimson White – April 5
Santa has his elves, Sherlock Holmes has Dr. Watson and, as it turns out, even Big Bird sometimes needs a little help from his friends. Jamie Naidoo, a professor for UA’s School of Library and Information Studies, is ready and able to provide it. Naidoo was recently called to New York by the makers of the popular children’s television program Sesame Street as a consultant for his expertise in Latino heritage and Latino children’s literature…Naidoo said the show currently has one Hispanic character, the puppet Rosita. He was asked by instructors to review past episodes that included Rosita or other Latino elements to make sure they accurately portrayed the diversity and richness of the demographic. Naidoo also provided advice on how to expand Rosita’s character and incorporate more such roles, both human and puppet, in future episodes, books and product lines.
Graduate Student wins grand prize for case study
Crimson White – April 5
A UA graduate student added prestige to her resume and $5,000 to her bank account last week when she won the grand prize of the Arthur W. Page Society’s 2012 Corporate Communications Case Study competition. Jessica Carlton wrote a case study on ExxonMobil’s controversial method of extracting fuels, known as hydraulic fracturing. The competition, which had 50 entries this year, brings in students from all over the nation. “I was shocked,” Carlton said. “This case study competition draws over 50 fantastic entries from masters and doctoral students across the globe, including a wonderful entry from my fellow graduate student, Carleton Rafield. So, I was elated to win and humbled to be in such good company and judged by such good company.” Carlton is majoring in advertising and public relations and will be graduating in August. She has always been interested in how organizations handle controversy and found this issue to be a great opportunity to address a debatable topic.
Shaq’s got ‘Bama’s back
Crimson White – April 5
Former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal will be on campus tomorrow to help film a public service announcement about the dangers of binge drinking. The PSA is in conjunction with LessThanUThink, an anti-binge drinking public relations campaign organized by UA students. The 7-foot-1-inch former professional basketball player and media personality announced his visit on Twitter last November after a lengthy social media courtship by the LessThanUThink media campaign. Justin Posey, director of government relations for the LTUT campaign, said having O’Neal on campus will help the University on two different levels. “First, I think its going to bring attention to the LessThanUThink campaign,” Posey said, “and it will also bring attention to the national problem of college-age binge drinking. Additionally, I think it will bring attention to the University and to the outstanding communications school and public relations program that we have at Alabama.”
Patterson Hood to speak today
Crimson White – April 5
Patterson Hood isn’t known for his lectures. The frontman of Drive-By Truckers usually spends his stage time performing songs with his band, but tonight in Frank M. Moody Music Building’s recital hall, he will be on stage answering questions about his career and giving insight into his songwriting. “He’s really one of the greatest storytellers in music,” said Eric Weisbard, a University of Alabama professor and organizer of the event. Weisbard said he has wanted to do something like this for a while. He and his wife, Ann Powers, who has been a professional music critic for The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, have been friends with Hood since the early years of DBT. “We both wrote about them in 1999, me for The Village Voice and [Powers] for The New York Times, and ever since then, I have wanted to do some kind of public event with Patterson.”
UA alums promote literacy through poetry readings
Crimson White – April 5
Returning back to their creative roots, two Master of Fine Arts graduates from the University of Alabama, Jeanie Thompson and Abraham Smith, hosted a poetry reading on campus, bringing to light various statewide arts programs in honor of National Poetry Month. The Alabama Writers’ Forum, a group focused on the advancement of literature throughout the state, organized the event in association with the Alabama Center for the Book, which is headquartered in Gorgas Library of the UA campus. The Center for the Book is a national project to strengthen literacy within each state. “We hosted this event to try to let the public know about the Alabama Center for the Book and establish a presence here on campus,” said Donna Adcock, public relations director for the University libraries and the Alabama Center for the Book. “We are working together with the Alabama Writers’ Forum to promote reading and literacy, but ultimately, we are trying to promote these writers.” Thompson and Smith, who graduated from the university’s MFA program in 1977 and 2004, respectively, were both recently selected as the 2012 Alabama State Council on the Arts literature fellows.
Campus gets cash for trash
Crimson White – April 5
The University of Alabama Recycling Department recycles a variety of items that can turn into fast cash. A tractor-trailer of 44,000 pounds of compacted recycled paper leaves the dock at least once a week, and there is revenue generated in return. While this department is responsible for all recycling done on campus, the revenue it gets in return is small in comparison to the bigger picture of bettering the environment. “Our revenue that we generate just goes back in to help our operational budget to supply and help pay for the payroll and expenses,” executive director Tony Johnson said. Revenue goes into funding items such as the bins seen on campus and the recycling bags put into these bins…“We’re more focused on diverting as much as possible from the local landfill and trying to be good stewards of the environment,” Johnson said. “And, that’s why what money we do generate, we put it back into the department to continue to upgrade our containers so we can make it more noticeable to students to recycle.”…As of March 27, the department has saved more than 6,000 trees, 135,000 gallons of oil, nearly 1.5 million kilowatts of energy and almost 2.5 million gallons of water. The Recycling Department has won numerous national awards for its work, and the staff hopes progress will continue.
Easter lunch provides home for international students
Crimson White – April 5
Hundreds of international students study at the University of Alabama each semester, but many of them never experience being in an American household. In fact, more than 75 percent of international students never step foot in an American home during their time in the United States. Lisa Brady, a junior majoring in psychology, and several of her friends have organized an Easter lunch for international students Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Beta Theta Pi house located at 960 University Blvd. While discussing her Easter plans with friends a few weeks ago, they came up with the idea to have a lunch for international students. It will give them somewhere to go during the holiday and give them a chance to experience an American household type of environment, Brady said. “I studied abroad last year and felt very welcomed and thought that Easter would be a good opportunity to host international students because they can’t go home for the holiday,” said John Riggins, a junior majoring in international business. Both international and American students are invited to attend the lunch.
Rush at food bank prompts food drive
Crimson White – April 5
The University of Alabama’s Leadership UA organization is sponsoring an on-campus food drive in partnership with the West Alabama Food Bank from now until April 20. All nonperishable foods will be accepted and can be dropped off in designated containers at Bidgood Hall, ten Hoor Hall, Morgan Hall, Shelby Hall and the Office of Judicial Affairs in the Ferguson Center, said Cole Napoleon, Leadership UA philanthropy chairman. “The overall goal is to provide students with an easy way to help the underprivileged in our Tuscaloosa community,” Napoleon said. “Leadership UA has teamed up with the Judicial Affairs Office to collect as much food as possible, and sorority members are eligible to receive Panhellenic points for donating.” Nick Lambert, graduate assistant for the dean of students, said the food bank is overcrowded during the summer months because low-income families with children who qualify for free or reduced meals are out of school.
Sherman selected for UA Capstone Leadership Academy
Montgomery Advertiser – April 5
Montgomery Catholic sophomore James Sherman was selected to attend the University of Alabama’s Capstone Leadership Academy this spring. The Capstone Council, an alumni group comprised of former SGA presidents, Crimson Girls and Capstone Men, the office of the president, and Honors College host the annual Capstone Leadership Academy. A hundred outstanding high school sophomores who have shown an interest in leadership through service are selected to participate in this event, to be held on UA’s campus. James Sherman is the son of Craig and Diane Sherman of Montgomery.