UA hires Peter Hlebowitsh as next College of Education dean
Al.com – Sept. 12
Peter Hlebowitsh will succeed James McLean as the 10th dean of the University of Alabama College of Education, the school announced today. Hlebowitsh will assume the dean’s duties on Jan. 1, 2013 after McLean retires. Hlebowitsh is currently the department executive officer of the department of teaching and learning at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 2008. He has also held teaching posts at Iowa, the University of Houston and Long Island University. UA provost and executive vice president Judy Bonner says that Hlebowitsh has displayed “remarkable leadership at the University of Iowa,” and she looks forward to his service to the university, according to a UA release. “I’m honored to accept this position, and I do it with great enthusiasm knowing I’ll be working with a highly-touted group of faculty and administrators,” Hlebowitsh said. “I’m very excited about getting started, and I’m very honored that the faculty and other key involvement groups have given me this opportunity.” Hlebowitsh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, a Master of Arts in curriculum theory and development and a doctorate in education, all from Rutgers University.
E.O. Wilson speaks on human behavior, development
Crimson White – Sept. 12
E.O. Wilson, a prominent biologist, theorist and author, tackled questions of religion and philosophy Tuesday night as he spoke to University of Alabama students about life’s big questions. His lecture last night focused on the three main questions that religion and philosophy try to answer: “Where do we come from? What are we? And where are we going?” From the onset, Wilson did not shy away from controversy, saying that no two creation stories can be correct. “None are consistent with our growing knowledge of the universe and the planet,” Wilson said. “Religion will never provide all of the answers, no matter how much we might wish it to.” Wilson, a graduate of The University of Alabama who has been teaching at Harvard for 60 years, spoke about his recent book, “The Social Conquest of Earth.”…“Gossip is a dominant behavior from hunter-gatherer campsites to royal courts,” Wilson said. “We are intensely interested in each other – that is a very human trait.” Social closeness and working as a team was an essential step in evolutionary human development, according to Wilson. Other essential progressions included division of labor and travelling in tighter groups. This led to being able to recognize the intentions of others and understanding their wants and needs.
Coggins, former dean of UA’s community health program, dies at 87
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 11
Medicine wasn’t just a career for Dr. Will Coggins; it was a lifelong cause. Dr. Will Coggins stands in the living room of his home in North River in this August 27, 2004 file photo. The former dean of the College of Community Health Sciences and associate dean of the Tuscaloosa Program at the University of Alabama School of Medicine died Sunday. He was 87. Both he and his wife of 63 years, Dr. Deborah Coggins, went into medical fields for altruistic reasons, said their daughter, Pamela Minor. Ensuring that good medical care was available for all, regardless of ability to pay, was one cause Coggins carried on through his practice, an academic career, into retirement and through his dying days. Wilmer Jesse Coggins, Jr., 87, died Sunday at Hospice of West Alabama. “Daddy had a general practice in Madison, Fla. He made house calls with his black bag,” she said. “Folks would be coming up the walk for Sunday dinner…He was a real country doctor for years, before he went back to his residency.”
Alabama doctor has a promising pain relief theory
Montgomery Advertiser – Sept. 11
There may be treatment on the horizon for patients suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition. Clinical trials that may begin as early as February could prove Tuscaloosa-based surgeon Dr. William “Skip” Pridgen’s theory that fibromyalgia, other chronic pain conditions and many gastrointestinal disorders are all caused by the same virus. The trials will also test a pain-treatment therapy for fibromyalgia, the most severe of those. In addition, Dr. Carol Duffy, a University of Alabama assistant professor in the biological sciences department, will research lab results in the hopes that it will lead to a diagnostic tool for physicians. “Some of these patients’ stories are just heartbreaking. They are in a lot of pain, they can’t work anymore, are on disability,” Duffy said. “There’s a real need for this, and I really hope this is the answer. It will give a lot of people a much better quality of life.”.
Million Dollar Band celebrates 100th anniversary
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 11
And happy 100th anniversary to the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band. The band will kick off its centennial celebration with a September 21st concert that’ll feature directors from the past 100 years. That should be interesting. Over the century, more than 25,000 students have played in the band. It currently has over 400 members, making it the largest student organization on Alabama’s campus.
Nursing students strive for flu-free campus
Crimson White – Sept. 12
In an effort to keep the University of Alabama campus flu-free this fall, the University Medical Center and Capstone College of Nursing are teaming up to give free flu-shots to students, faculty and staff throughout September and October. As a part of the UA No Flu Zone campaign, the University purchased 8,000 flu shots to be administered by upperclassmen in the nursing program and University Medical Center staff. Students in NUR 324 – Fundamentals of Nursing volunteered to administer the flu shots for hands-on experience in the midst of the flu season, Sara Kaylor, an instructor for the course, said.
UA Recycling promotes sustainability on Gamedays
Crimson White – Sept. 12
While recycling may not be at the top of most Bama fans’ lists on game days, it is for one University group. On home game days, UA Recycling promotes environmental sustainability by passing out blue bags to tailgaters on the Quad as well as containers inside the stadium, Tony Johnson, executive director of logistics and support services, said. “There are 40 gray [recycling] containers throughout the stadium,” Johnson said. “Ten on the Quad as well as a tent where we pass our blue recycling bags. For every three bags, people can exchange them for items [such as Nike shirts and fleece sweatshirts]. It’s a great incentive to get fans to recycle.” The prizes are given away on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one item per person per game day. For students living off campus and other members of the Tuscaloosa community, The University of Alabama Recycling Department provides drive-up bins for its Drive Up Recycling program, Johnson said. Community members can drop off aluminum cans, tin cans, paper, plastic, cardboard and newspaper at the Ancillary Services Building located at 1115 14th St.
Forza Financial seeks interns from all departments
Crimson White – Sept. 12
Forza Financial, a student-run domestic microlending firm, is expanding and looking to recruit additional student workers. Forza is founded on the principle of microfinance, a lending tactic in which small loans of $500 to $5,000 are given to entrepreneurs and small business owners with low interest rates of 10 to 20 percent. Because Forza is a nonprofit microfinance institution, the interest rates they collect are thereby used to generate more loans. Forza CEO David Bailey said this provides students an opportunity to use what they learn in the classroom in real-life settings. Because the concept of microfinance is so new to the state of Alabama, Forza’s founders came to realize that a microfinance model based on uncollateralized loans and competitive interest rates could be beneficial to the many impoverished residents of Alabama’s Black Belt region. “We basically want to help the small business community,” Bailey said. “Our goal is to extend to the entire Black Belt because that’s where we feel we’re most needed. We’re literally offering a service [to them] that is not offered by anyone else.” Interns are charged with a large number of responsibilities, ranging from financial operations to communications.
Being a transfer student is not always easy
Crimson White – Sept. 12
If starting fresh at a new school is no easy task, then transferring after everyone else has already adjusted can be even harder. “I feel like I am a freshman all over again,” Jasmine Mayes, a junior majoring in civil engineering, said. Mayes transferred from Mississippi State after her sophomore year and is now a first-year student at Alabama. At a school with over 30,000 students enrolled, it can be easy for transfer students to get lost or grouped with the incoming freshmen. But, according to student affairs, the University is making an effort to make the transition to a new school as easy as possible. University records show that in 2011, 1,030 students transferred to the University from within the state, 417 students transferred from out-of-state and 16 transferred from unknown institutions, equaling a grand total of 1,463 transfer students at the University last year. “We are always exploring and expanding the opportunities through our office and First Year Experience programs to best accommodate the needs and interests of our students,” Jennifer DeFrance, assistant director for First Year Experience and Parent Programs, said. The University offers several different ways for transfer students to get involved socially and academically, including FYE and Ignite UA.
Students given opportunity to learn about grad school
Crimson White – Sept. 12
The University of Alabama’s Graduate School Preview Day will be held on Thursday, Sept. 13 from 3 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ferguson Student Center. Blake Bedsole, director of graduate recruitment, said students can expect to gain general information about a graduate education, in addition to information on special programs provided at the University…Speakers will include faculty and staff from the graduate programs at the University, as well as current graduate students…Graduate programs at the University have over four thousand students, in addition to the law school on campus and the medical school at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. There are numerous programs leading to master’s degrees, as well as doctoral degrees. Last year alone, the UA Graduate School received 8,297 applications.
Minimesters allow students to pick up extra credit hours
Crimson White – Sept. 12
The Student Government Association is continuing their fall minimester initiative to allow students to take additional courses after fall registration deadlines have passed and has confirmed that a winter interim term is in the works for this December. Since the University of Alabama reached a record-high 31,000 students this fall, some students may have had difficulty registering for certain courses. Other students may have dropped a difficult course and need to pick up some extra hours, Denzel Evans-Bell, SGA vice president of Academic Affairs, said. “Fall 2 can be a lifeline for many students because it’s a rare opportunity to earn extra credits after the regular fall registration deadlines have passes,” Evans-Bell said.
Bruno Library workshop series helps students ‘Get Smart!’
Crimson White – Sept. 12
The Bruno Business Library is working to educate students on how to fully utilize the building and its systems. The new program, called Get Smart!, will host nine one-hour classes every Monday through Nove. 12 and aims to better acclimate students to the business database systems available at the library. Matt Siciliano, business reference librarian at Bruno, first came up with the idea for the series and will teach the classes.
New SGA initiative rewards students
Crimson White – Sept. 12
The Student Government Association is instituting a new reward system designed to increase student attendance at educational lectures, athletic games and other community events held on campus. Dubbed the “Spirit Points” program by co-creators Will Pylant, vice president for student affairs, and Matt Calderone, SGA president, students will be able to accumulate Spirit Points at various qualifying events throughout the semester and earn several attractive rewards.
Study finds little difference between organic, conventional
Crimson White – Sept. 12
When comparing organic food to conventional food, some would think organic is more nutritious and healthier of the two options; however, a recent study from Stanford University defends the contrary. The study found there is no significant different between the two types of food when comparing their effects on health and nutritional value…“Many consumers choose to buy organic products to reduce their exposure to chemical pesticides,” said Sheena Quizon Gregg, assistant director of the University of Alabama’s Health Education and Prevention. “Other factors that affect choosing organic versus conventionally processed food include factoring in any possible additives, such as food colorings, artificial sweeteners and monosodium glutamate.”
Get On Board Day held at night
Fox- 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 11
A first for the University of Alabama: tonight, thousands of students gather at the Ferguson Center for “Get on Board Day.” It’s where students can get information about clubs and organizations on campus. It’s the first year the event has been held at night. Student leaders hope the change will give students more of an opportunity to get involved. Get on Board Day started this evening at 5:00, and just wrapped up at 10.
UA student from New York City reflects on 9/11
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 11
As September 11th is remembered all across the United States, for one University of Alabama student, today hits a little closer to home. Erin Armstrong is from Long Island, New York and is attending the University of Alabama. Armstrong was in fourth grade when the towers fell. She says her mother worked in lower Manhattan at the time, just a couple of blocks away from where the towers once stood. But she wasn’t directly affected. Now at 20 years old and living in Alabama, Armstrong says reflecting on this day is a little bit different. “When you’re talking about 9/11 there, it’s more that it can like directly affect people so you’re aware that someone is probably almost directly affected there.”
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to hold energy symposium (live interview)
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Sept. 11
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Alabama is hosting a series of talks focused on energy.
Video: Members of Alabama church destroyed by tornado ‘pay it forward’ by helping Hurricane Isaac victims
Christian Chronicle – Sept. 12
The Central Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Ala. — victim of a devastating tornado that destroyed its building last year — decided to show appreciation for the help it received. A group from Central traveled to LaPlace, La., this past weekend to “pay it forward” by working with disaster relief volunteers — including Disaster Assistance CoC — who are serving in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. In the above video, Central member and University of Alabama broadcast news instructor Chandra Clark reports on the Alabama church’s experience in Louisiana. Look for the full story in an upcoming print edition of The Christian Chronicle.