Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard to present lecture on 2010 election at UA Tuesday
Al.com – Oct. 22
Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard discuss the 2010 state election at the University of Alabama on Tuesday. The address, titled “The Political Landscape Change in Alabama; How and Why the Historic 2010 Election Happened,” is part of the UA Honors College’s Anne Campbell Bloom Alabama Governmental Affairs Forum and will be held at 7 p.m. in Russell Hall Auditorium. Hubbard, R-Auburn, was the architect of the strategy that led to a GOP takeover of the Alabama Legislature following the 2010 election. Republicans swept all statewide offices and won majorities in both houses of the Legislature for the first time in 136 years… Hubbard offers an inside look at the campaign that led up to the 2010 election. Hubbard has made several appearances across the state and in Washington to promote the book.
UA students to use React-Lab to respond to debate
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Oct. 22
Students at the University of Alabama will join thousands more in piloting new technology used to gauge their debate response. They’ll instantly record their reaction to the debate using a new piece of technology called the React Lab on their smart phones. Students will have to first choose a candidate. Then they’ll buzz in to say whether they agree or disagree with the candidate.
Caffeine best in coffee, tea rather than sugary drinks
Crimson White – Oct. 23
College level exams and papers require hours of study, research and writing…Many students look to caffeine in the form of soda, coffee, tea and energy drinks to keep their brains on high alert. Sheena Quizon Gregg, dietitian and assistant director of health education and prevention at the Student Health Center, said moderate amounts of caffeine each day can improve short-term memory and speed up reaction times. “Caffeine is a naturally made substance that stimulates part of your body and brain,” Gregg said. “By increasing heart rate and blood pressure, it can provide moments of energy.” Gregg advises students to drink natural sources of caffeine such as coffee or tea rather than high-calorie energy drinks and soft drinks, or to eat dark chocolate as another alternative for a caffeinated burst of energy. “By drinking caffeine from sources such as coffee or tea, you can avoid the high-calorie bang that comes from energy drinks and soft drinks,” Gregg said. “However, if someone adds copious amounts of sugar and creamer to their coffee or tea, they are also consuming empty calories.” Aside from empty calories, energy drinks often contain undisclosed amounts of vitamins. “Energy drinks also oftentimes have a ‘B vitamin complex’ that is included with the caffeine,” Gregg said. “The amounts are not clearly disclosed and can have adverse health effects for those very sensitive to caffeine.”
Fashion show benefits rebuilding Tuscaloosa
Crimson White – Oct. 23
People from all over the city, state and nation have raised money to help Tuscaloosa recover from the devastation caused by the EF4 tornado that swept through the city in April 27, 2011, and Tuesday, a fashion show in the Ferguson Center Ballroom will aim to do the same. Runway for Relief, the fundraising fashion show, will take place at 7 p.m. and is hosted by Rebuild Tuscaloosa. It will feature designs by the House of Perna, a line by New York-based designer Amanda Perna, as well as student designs from The University of Alabama’s House of éprouver, Vault Denim Tuscaloosa, and Tracy Negoshian. All proceeds from the show will go to Rebuild Tuscaloosa to aid those affected by the tornado…Perna is a UA graduate and alum of “Project Runway” Season 9. She specializes in luxury, American-made women’s wear. The House of éprouver is a student-run organization made up of students from various majors, not strictly fashion. For the student designers of the House of éprouver, it’s a chance to showcase their designs alongside an established designer.
UA Trombone Studio plans performances on campus, at national level
Crimson White – Oct. 23
The UA Trombone Studio has big plans for the upcoming year, from performing on campus to competing for the first time at a national level…The UA Trombone Studio gives its students opportunities to apply their skills through three different ensembles. The Trombone Choir is the largest, made up of 30 people. The Quartet is smaller and requires an audition to join and the Crimson Slides is a jazz ensemble that is also an extension of the UA Jazz Program and includes five trombones and a rhythm section. Jonathan Whitaker, assistant professor of trombone, took over as head of the Trombone Studio four years ago, following Dan Drill, who lead the program for 41 years and still participates by playing in the Trombone Choir…This week, the Trombone Studio will host two guest performances from Josh Bynum, assistant professor of trombone at the University of Georgia, and Chris Branagan, conductor of the Washington Trombone Ensemble, who will be the guest conductor at the Trombone Choir concert Thursday, Oct. 25.
UA ROTC program holds pumpkin carve event
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 22
The University of Alabama’s ROTC program wants you to join them for some Halloween fun. You can get in the spirit of the season and help soldiers serving overseas…The pumpkin carve is Friday, Oct. 26 at the ROTC building on campus. The fun starts at noon. To find out more, call the SGA office at 205/348-6010.
SGA program promotes better campus, scholarship opportunity
Crimson White – Oct. 23
SGA’s new Ideas to Action initiative gives University of Alabama students the opportunity to submit ideas for a better campus with a scholarship incentive. Director of Ideas to Action Allison Montgomery said the goal of SGA is to make campus life better for the student body in wanting to hear what students have to say. Students, individually or through an organization, can submit ideas for an initiative or project they would like to see happen on campus through their website, sga.ua.edu. “We also plan to have a table in the Ferguson Center once a week where students can submit their ideas on site and swipe for Crimson Spirit points,” Montgomery said. The best and most creative idea receives a $250 scholarship from the SGA Scholarship Endowment Fund. The number of scholarships given each month will vary based on the number of great ideas, such as changing a facet of the UA iPhone app or implementing an entire program within the SGA.
JSU, Gadsden State cooperate to bridge skills gap
Anniston Star – Oct. 22
Earning an education for a high-skilled job recently became easier through a new credit transfer agreement between two area colleges…Gadsden State Community College and Jacksonville State University recently signed a class-credit-transfer agreement that will make moving between the two institutions easy for students seeking a bachelor of science degree…A 2011 State of the Workforce report from the Center of Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, highlights a skills gap across the state and Calhoun County. The report breaks up the state into nine regions. The report indicates that Calhoun County is part of the region with the lowest number of educated workers compared to the rest of the state.