Music student’s composition makes national noise
Crimson White – Sept. 27
Watch doctoral composition student Amir Zaheri in the hallways of Moody for a few minutes, and it will become clear he has a personality that draws people toward him. Soft-spoken, yet direct, Zaheri has an intuitive nature that makes him a popular source for advice. This insightfulness influences his compositions, which in recent months have brought him major rewards. A Narramore Fellow and student of C. P. First, Zaheri was a featured composer on ComposersCircle.com this past summer. He has also celebrated new publications, new commissions and premiere performances in the last few months. “When Amir first arrived at the University, he was already an accomplished composer with an international reputation, but during his time here, he has really refined his language, narrative and compositional technique,” First, a composition professor, said. Zaheri’s “Soundtrack to Brad’s eHarmony Profile” was recently selected for performance at the 2012 Student Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference, which will be held at Capital University this fall. The digital piece was also selected for performance at the 2nd Annual Electroacoustic Barn Dance Festival at the University of Mary Washington…“We are extremely proud of Amir and his accomplishments,” Charles “Skip” Snead, director of the School of Music, said. “He exemplifies all of the characteristics that we hope to see in every graduate student. His success on the regional and national level reflects extremely well on our program.”
Thompson takes 3rd on S.A.R. orations contest
Dekalb Times-Journal – Sept. 26
Rachael Thompson, a Fort Payne High School graduate and University of Alabama freshman, recently captured third place in the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Orations contest at the Sons of the American Revolution national congress in Phoenix. Thompson represented the Little River Chapter in the competition…The third-place finish earned her a $1,000 prize. Thompson won the local contest, sponsored by the Little River Chapter, last January. In February, she won the Alabama S.A.R. contest, earning the opportunity to compete in Phoenix at the historic Arizona Biltmore Resort.
C&IS dean praises College’s accomplishments, awards
Crimson White – Sept. 27
Dean Loy Singleton of the College of Communication and Information Sciences praised the many accomplishments of the college over the past year in the annual State of the College Address Wednesday. The speech, which took place on the front steps of Reese Phifer Hall, celebrated the plethora of awards won by C&IS students, faculty and staff as part of the second annual C&IS CommUnity Gathering. “This past year has been truly special,” Singleton said. “The numbers, varieties and significance of awards is really unprecedented.” The student ad team won first place in district competition and finished second out of 141 teams in the Advertising Federation National Student Advertising Competition. Although they finished runner-up, their plans book scored number one in the nation. Other awards won by students include the Alabama Forensic Council, who won more than 350 regional and national individual awards, as well as first place team awards in 12 of the 14 tournaments, Singleton said. They also took home their 19th national championship in the Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha National Tournament. “It’s really inspiring hearing about all the great honors everyone has received here,” Amanda Perrucci, a freshman majoring in public relations, said. “It motivates me to do well in the College of Communication.”
SGA sponsors scavenger hunt
Crimson White – Sept. 26
Many students meet with their academic advisor only once per semester and rarely make use of their professors’ office hours. This October, the Student Government Association hopes to change that by launching an Academic Scavenger Hunt to promote helpful academic assets on campus that are free to students, as well as help students build relationships with their advisors. “We are encouraging students to become aware of the resources that their tuition already pays for, as well as use the advice of their academic advisors,” SGA executive press secretary Meagan Bryant said. The Academic Scavenger Hunt includes prizes such as a 16GB iPad, Ray-Ban sunglasses and $500 and $1,000 scholarships donated by the SGA. “The scavenger hunt seemed like a great idea because we could incorporate different parts of campus such as DegreeWorks, academic advising, teachers’ office hours and the writing center,” Denzel Evans-Bell, SGA vice president for Academic Affairs, said. To complete the passport supplied by the SGA for the Academic Scavenger Hunt, students need two signatures from their teachers after meeting with them during office hours, followed by an appointment with an advisor to receive the third signature. Students must then visit an academic resource center, such as the writing center, for their fourth signature. Lastly, students must complete their DegreeWorks before turning in their completed passport to qualify for a prize.
Absurdity in ‘Fools’ performance leaves audiences laughing
Crimson White – Sept. 27
The love interest in The University of Alabama’s new play is too stupid to sit down. I’m not exaggerating – she spends 30 seconds trying to remember how to sit down in a chair. The hero falls for her while she’s struggling to say her own name. That was the point in “Fools” when I began to realize what playwright Neil Simon, who wrote “The Odd Couple,” had in for us. If you’re looking for Simon’s quaintly human New Yorkers, you won’t find any in the Russian hamlet of Kulyenchikov, a town with an ancient curse of stupidity. And, like the townsfolk, the show will make you feel dumb. Not because you’re watching a stream of legitimately terrible jokes, but because you find yourself laughing at just about every one.
PR firm educates students
Crimson White – Sept. 26
A public relations firm at The University of Alabama is giving students real-world experience in running communication campaigns. The Capstone Agency has amassed over 30 awards for their work and is looking to continue their progress and expansion this year. Capstone Agency Advisor Teri Henley started working with the firm in 2008. Over the years, Henley said she has been impressed with how the student leaders of the Capstone Agency have stepped up to run the organization as a real agency helping real clients. “The greatest reward is seeing the students grow in the knowledge and abilities as they interact with real clients with real budgets, real issues and real constraints,” she said. Firm director Jessica Colburn said the Capstone Agency has worked hard to build an impressive client list for the purpose of highlighting to future clients its strengths and abilities. “It truly highlights our abilities as an agency when we can now say we not only have over 32 local, regional and national awards for our work but are now considered ‘leading experts’ in our field,” Colburn said. Previously, the Capstone Agency focused on pro bono work for nonprofits and on-campus initiatives such as Alabama Reads and Student Health Center initiatives. “This year we are looking to strategically diversify our clientele and work with small, off-campus businesses in need of communication services for pay,” Colburn said.
Air Force ROTC students mix military lifestyle with classes
Crimson White – Sept. 27
Experiencing a unified blend of collegiate and military life, the average Air Force ROTC cadet is not easy to define. The objective of the national program is to produce leaders for the Air Force and commissions approximately 2,000 Second Lieutenants each year from the 144 campus-based Air Force ROTC detachments in the United States…The University of Alabama hosts detachment 010, averaging classes of 100 cadets…students must attend two sessions of physical training a week, a Leadership Lab – a course designed to teach leadership and management skills – and an academic Air Force ROTC offering…Recruiting Flight Commander for The University of Alabama Air Force ROTC, Captain John Ellis, said with an average of 100 students per class and a 50 percent retention rate from freshman to sophomore years and 75 percent of students who start their sophomore year finishing, the program has remained attractive to students…He cited the structure provided by the program as a natural progression into a more structured and successful college career. “I think that the program offers a great opportunity for students here to pursue a military career and learn lessons about leadership,” Ellis said. “And when you combine that with the strong academic basis the program requires, it’s a good foundation.”
Greensboro’s Bike Lab builds custom cycles from bamboo
Gadsden Times – Sept. 26
Shoot around town on a cool bamboo bike and prepare for panda-monium wherever you go. Will Hodge, associate professor of consumer science at the University of Alabama, says he can’t get far without drawing a crowd of admirers when he rides across campus on his Alabama-grown bamboo bike. The retro-cool, rarely sighted cycles are a hit with the hipster bike messenger crowd on the east and west coasts, but who knew a non-profit organization in Greensboro, Ala., is one of the boutique build companies making custom bikes from locally-grown bamboo?
University of Alabama junior Nicole Pietrangelo joins the ranks of TMU bloggers and tells you about her personal artistic journey
Theater Mania – Sept. 27
Hello! My name is Nicole Pietrangelo and I am thrilled to be starting my blog for TheaterMania U! I’m a junior at the University of Alabama (ROLL TIDE!) pursuing my Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance with a double minor in Theater and Business. You may say “Alabama? That school’s only known for its football.” Well, after casually pointing out that we just won our 14th national championship last year, I would like to say that both music and theater programs here at UA are some of the best in the South. It’s true, Alabama does deserve to be recognized for more than just football. I’ve learned more about myself and how to be a great performer in my two years at Alabama than I ever have. Here’s a little bit about my journey that got me where I am today. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until high school that I discovered my love for musical theater. Before then, I had always auditioned for the school musicals, but was conveniently placed in the ensemble, probably because I was so shy during those awkward middle school years. Well, my first year of high school wasn’t much different. I was still the same shy girl who was also obsessed with performing. Not a very good combination if you ask me … I’ve sung opera, written music, and played a huge variety of characters. And now I get to write about it! That’s what makes theater so exciting. We never know what exactly is in store.
Tuscaloosa’s Waysider, Egan’s shown some love in SEC tour blog
Al.com – Sept. 26
Some beloved Tuscaloosa joints got a little love from some Southeastern Conference newcomers in a new SBNation.com travel blog. Blogger and Missouri fan Bill Connelly drove through nine Southern states for an up-close look at his Tigers’ new football region, the cities of the SEC and other college football towns. That included Athens, Knoxville, Columbia, Starkville and, of course, Tuscaloosa, which Connelly wrote would probably be “most intimidating” of his stops on the trip … “It takes about three seconds to realize that this place is Alabama,” he writes. “There are photos and paintings everywhere, and if you get lucky, you can sit a table that features both a bust of Bear Bryant and a cutout of Nick Saban holding a Coca-Cola and judging you while you eat your ham and biscuits. It was lovely, but anybody who has ever been to Tuscaloosa has probably already told you that.” Connelly then writes about his tour of the University of Alabama campus, including the monstrous Bryant-Denny Stadium whose northern entrance “looks more like the Smithsonian Museum of Football than a college football stadium,” he writes. He strolled down the Walk of Champions, paid respects at the national title-winning coaches’ statues and stopped by the Bryant Museum.