Bonner named next president of UA
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 1
Judy Bonner was named permanent president of the University of Alabama at a specially held meeting of the UA Board of Trustees today at the Bryant Conference Center, making her the first woman to hold the post on a permanent basis. Bonner was named interim president in March after Robert Witt, who had been president of the Tuscaloosa campus since 2003, was named chancellor. She served in that role until the board hired Guy Bailey on July 11. Bonner has served in some capacity at UA since 1981, where she began as an associate professor and head of the department of human nutrition and hospitality management. Following that position, she served as special assistant to the president and assistant academic vice president. From 1989 to 2003, she was dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, followed by three years as provost and vice president for academic affairs. She has been provost and executive vice president since April 1, 2006. Bonner received her bachelor’s in dietetics from UA in 1969, a master’s in food and nutrition from UA in 1973 and a Ph.D. in human nutrition from Ohio State in 1976. Her professional career in Alabama began in January 1980 when she was named assistant professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Al.com – Nov. 1
Associated Press – Nov. 1
Crimson White – Nov. 1
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – Nov. 1
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Nov. 1
Guy Bailey stepping down as University of Alabama president
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 31
Guy Bailey is stepping down as president of the University of Alabama after less than two months on the job. Meanwhile, a source close to the UA board of trustees confirmed Wednesday night that Judy Bonner, UA’s provost and executive vice president, would be named his replacement today. Bonner had been UA’s interim president for six months before Bailey came to UA in September. The source would not say if Bonner would be named permanent president or if her appointment would be interim. She would be the first woman to hold the post on a permanent basis at UA. In resigning, Bailey cited his wife’s health problems. Bailey, who has two degrees from UA, turned in his resignation on Wednesday to Chancellor Robert E. Witt, who heads the three-campus UA System. “This is a decision my wife, Jan, and I made together after much discussion about how we can best address her health, which is the most important priority in our lives,” Bailey said in a statement. “We want to thank the faculty, staff, students, alumni and our many friends for your warm welcome. My family and I appreciate your understanding and your prayers.” Bailey’s wife was “critically ill this summer and the Baileys’ priority for the foreseeable future is focused on her continued recovery,” said Deborah M. Lane, assistant vice president for university relations.
Montgomery Advertiser – Oct. 31
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Amarillo Globe-News – Oct. 31
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Oct. 31
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Prizing the Tide, a local player fulfills a dream
New York Times – Oct. 31
Twenty miles to the northwest, in Gordo, Ala., long days awaited Ben Howell. He would help feed chickens — 135,000 of them — and tag calves on his father’s 250-acre farm. In the afternoon he would play football, and at night, baseball. But before getting out of bed each morning he would look at a photograph taped to his bedroom mirror. Bryant-Denny Stadium, where thousands of Alabama fans on football Saturdays cheer players in those famous crimson jerseys and white numbers. Below, it reads, “Imagine yourself here.” Someday, Howell would walk on and be a member of the Crimson Tide. Someday, he would win two national championships, backing up Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, a Heisman Trophy winner and a Heisman finalist. Someday, Howell would run down the stadium’s tunnel and behold that sight for himself. “I guess every kid has those dreams,” Howell said.
University of Alabama biologist Dr. Stephen Secor’s research on the digestive system of snakes highlighted in PBS Primetime story
PBS – Oct. 31
How can cooking change who we are? Understanding that, and how we get energy out of our food, is what Stephen Secor studies. “They have the potential for killing you simply from constriction around the neck,” he says. Secor, a biologist at the University of Alabama, works with a creepy, crawly, dangerous array of animals … He is trying to understand how all animals get the energy they need from what they eat. Check out how a python chows down … One of Secor’s favorite animals to study is the Burmese python … Understanding where the disappearing rat goes can help us understand how our food nourishes us, minus the bones and fur, of course. To make this point, Secor says it’s useful to compare the rat with a cupcake. After all, to a python, a rat is basically a triple layer German chocolate cake.
Students showcase talent at Fall Arts Stroll
Crimson White – Nov. 1
University of Alabama students showcased their artwork at Wednesday afternoon’s Fall Arts Stroll, displaying various forms of art along the Crimson Promenade. “The purpose of the event is to engage student artists with their peers and showcase the amazing talent that we cultivate here at the University,” said Chase Sanders, a senior majoring in music administration and intern for Creative Campus. “We are hoping that student artists will gain more exposure, and we also hope to spark creativity among the students at the Capstone.”…SGA, Creative Campus and Creative Co-op hosted the Fall Arts Stroll.
Students writing, publishing works of fiction, poetry
Crimson White – Nov. 1
Most college freshmen are worrying about passing classes, adjusting to college life and learning how to live on their own, but two University of Alabama students added an extra activity to the mix: publishing a book. Anna Kathryn Davis, a freshman majoring in English, and Erika E. Wade, a senior majoring in English and African American studies, have both experienced the struggles and perks of publishing major works as college students. “I think the hardest part of it was when I was doing my hardcore editing; I was at Bama Bound,” Davis said. “I came to Bama Bound in the very beginning of July, and I got my first copy of my edits, and my final copy edit started the day I moved in. My first two weeks of classes I was also having to finish editing my book.” Davis is in the process of publishing a young adult fiction novel titled “The Gifted,” which is currently in the printing stage of publishing through Tate Publishing out of Mustang, Okla. Her novel is set to reach buyers within the next month. Wade published a book of poetry called “eyestodewhurld” during her freshman year at the University. “I was very active my freshman year in a lot of different organizations, and I just wanted to have fun while trying to write the book,” Wade said. “For the most part, I dedicated one or two days out of the week that were specifically for composing and revisions and the other days, I did what I wanted to do.”
In light of meteorite shower, only meteorite to hit a person is on display at UA museum
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 31
It’s a story that may sound like folklore, but it’s the true story of a famous meteorite that fell on Alabama in 1954. It hit a Sylacauga woman, and is the only modern recorded incident of a meteorite hitting a person. The chunk of space rock was about the size of a grapefruit. Ann Hodges was napping on her couch when it smashed through her roof, bounced off a large wooden console radio, and hit her. Hodges was badly bruised on one side of her body, but was able to walk. Randy Mecredy says: “The only two objects that remain from that incident are the meteorite and the radio and both of those are located here. Mrs. Hodges is deceased, her husband is deceased the house they lived in is no longer there … so this is the only remaining items from that entire case. The meteorite is on display at the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
UA business student opens Southern-style restaurant
Crimson White – Oct. 31
After endless meals from the campus dining halls, college students often find themselves looking for new places to eat in the absence of home-cooked meals. They can now look to Mama’s Southern Kitchen, a restaurant opened two weeks ago by Skyla Jones, a current student at The University of Alabama majoring in general business. Jones said the restaurant, which serves a variety of southern foods, is named after her own nickname. “Everybody has always called me Mama because I cook amazing food, and I just can’t stand when things are unorganized,” Jones said. Jones, originally from Birmingham, Ala., opened the restaurant while being a full-time mother and wife. “I opened the restaurant because everybody always told me how good my cooking was,” Jones said. “Cooking has always been a passion of mine, so I decided to follow my heart and start the business.” Jones said she wants to make her business degree count and become her own boss. “I don’t want to go to work and have it just be work,” Jones said. “I want to really do something that I love do to everyday.” Mama’s Southern Kitchen menu features classic southern foods such as fried chicken, catfish, cornbread, chicken salad sandwiches, pork chops, as well as an array of desserts including her homemade peach cobbler cupcakes.
Graduation success rate rises for Alabama athletics
Sand Mountain Reporter – Oct. 31
The University of Alabama’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score rose to an 85 this year, once again exceeding acceptable standards for completion of undergraduate studies nationally for the period covering student-athletes who attended the university during 2002-05, according to figures released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. “Our continued improvement when it comes to the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate speaks volumes about the commitment and dedication our student-athletes, coaches and staff have to the University of Alabama’s educational mission,” Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore said. “It is certainly a point of pride for this athletics department that we continue to produce teams that excel at the highest level both academically and athletically.” Of Alabama’s 16 intercollegiate athletics programs in existence at the time, six – women’s golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball as well as men’s swimming and diving – achieved perfect scores of 100. Overall, eight Alabama programs recorded a GSR score of at least 90 and 12 were over 80. The Alabama women’s rowing program is not included in this survey as it did not become a scholarship sport at UA until 2006.