Tide’s Jones, Moore honored at NFF awards dinner
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 5
University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore and Crimson Tide offensive lineman Barrett Jones were honored Tuesday night at the National Football Foundation’s annual awards dinner in New York. Moore received the foundation’s John L. Toner Award for “superior abilities in athletics administration.” Jones won the William V. Campbell Trophy, becoming the first winner of the nation’s premiere scholar-athlete award from UA. “Barrett is perhaps one of the greatest scholar-athletes to have ever played the game, and we are so proud to honor him tonight,” foundation presdient and CEO Steven J. Hatchell said. The Campbell Trophy criteria combine performance in football and academics, as well as community leadership. Jones, one of the nation’s top offensive linemen, carries a 4.0 grade-point average, already has his undergraduate degree and is among UA’s most active players in community service. “Charles Barkley famously said, ‘I’m not a role model.’ I think the fact is, with all the exposure college athletes get today, we are role models,” Jones said.
USA Today – Dec. 5
Dothan First – Dec. 5
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Dec. 4
WVUA (Tuscaloosa)– Dec. 4
UA social work interns to help inmates preparing to leave state prisons
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Dec. 5
Alabama releases more than 10,000 prisoners each year. One-third of them return within three years. The North Alabama Re-entry Council is working to reduce those numbers. They are offering support and services to ex-offenders who are re-entering society. They provide help with everything from finding jobs to housing and health care…One of the council’s latest efforts will provide social worker interns from the University of Alabama to help inmates preparing to leave state prisons.
York College students take part in U.N. climate talks
York Dispatch (Penn.) – Dec. 4
Two York College students are among the four student delegates at the United Nations climate talks in Qatar. Representatives from more than 190 nations gathered for the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 18th Conference of Parties that began Nov. 26 and ends Friday. Nicole Deluca, a York College junior from East Stroudsburg, and John Siller, a York College senior from Flemington, N.J., are representing the American Chemical Society as delegates with U.N. accreditation, along with Marla Bianca from Moravian College and Parker McCrary from the University of Alabama. The students interview scientists, policymakers and national leaders and discuss how the science of climate change could be incorporated into international policy, and then they report back to their peers in an effort to promote climate literacy and action.
New student recreation center to be built on north end of campus
Crimson White – Dec. 5
The University of Alabama has already begun foundational work on a new 114,000-square-foot recreational facility more easily accessible to students living in dorms on the north end of campus. “The nature of the facility within easy walking distance of over 5,500 students who will reside on the north end of campus makes this facility uniquely accessible and functional,” George Brown, executive director of university recreation, said. “Additionally, the larger, more convenient access to dining options that will be present within this facility affords students a true one-stop, healthy approach to wellness.” Brown said the new center, called the Student Center, will expand on many features currently offered at the University Recreation Center, including an enhanced climbing area and designated rink area for floor hockey and other sports. The center will also feature three recreation courts and additional space for group training and club sports…Dan Wolfe, the campus master planner, said the University worked closely with Brown and his staff at the Rec Center during the while planning what features should be offered in the student center.
UA graduate student pursues music for life
Crimson White – Dec. 5
When graduate student Jonathan Roberts began learning to play the piano at age 7, he had no idea he would make a career out of it…Now Roberts is a UA graduate student finishing up his requirements for a doctor of musical arts degree…Music professor Demondrae Thurman first met Roberts in 2009. He said the first time he heard Roberts play the piano, he was overwhelmingly impressed with Roberts’ musicianship. “He is a terrific musician,” Thurman said. “A lot of times, people can play the instrument very well but aren’t necessarily great musicians, and he is a perfect combination of both. I was struck by that when I heard him for the first time.” Roberts is very interested in teaching music, in addition to performing it. He currently holds private lessons out of his home…Roberts also teaches, in addition to everything else going on in his life. “He’s essentially living the life of a professor, but he’s still a student,” Thurman said. Roberts said his goal after graduating is to go out and perform as much as possible with his wife, Amanda, who is also currently pursuing her doctor of musical arts degree at The University of Alabama. The two met while getting their masters in 2006 and were married in 2009. In 2009, they also officially declared themselves The Stardust Duo, and they perform together often. They released their first CD, “The Stardust Duo: Debussy, Poulenc, and Franck Sonatas for Violin and Piano,” in 2009.
UA exhibits included in Thursday’s Art Night
Crimson White – Dec. 5
On the first Thursday of every month, Art Night takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. in downtown Tuscaloosa and Northport. This month, two University events, featuring both student works and works from earlier time periods, coincide with Art Night. “The 8,” featuring the artwork of eight current female students, will be shown in the Ferguson Gallery. Each of the eight students has their own variety of pieces in the showing, creating a blend of different artistic styles. For senior art and psychology major Mary-Coulliette Baxter, this will be her last Art Night as a student. While she said it is bittersweet, Baxter said she is excited about the work she has featured in “The 8.” Baxter blended her majors together to create her pieces. “My pieces are ‘l’existence précède l’essence,’ Gestalt, and the instinctual mark pieces,” Baxter said. “These pieces combine what I have learned in art and psychology at The University of Alabama.” Senior studio art major Elizabeth Alexander said she is also looking forward to participating in Art Night this month as one of “The 8.” “While I have been a part of a lot of art shows, I have never been able to participate in Art Night,” Alexander said. “I have two oil paintings on paper that are featured. It will be a great show.”
UA Symphonic band chosen to perform at Alabama Music Educators’ Association State Conference
Al.com – Dec. 4
The University of Alabama’s Symphonic band has been chosen to perform at the 2013 Alabama Music Educators’ Association State Conference in Montgomery. After their audition, the band, under the direction of Randall O. Coleman, was invited to perform a one-hour concert at the conference on Jan. 11, 2013. The show will feature a new clarinet piece by James M. David. This piece is commissioned by the UA Symphonic band as well as other similar bands from different parts of the United States. It will also have a UA Professor of Clarinet Osiris Molina performing the solo…The concert will take place Jan. 11, 2013 at 1 p.m. in the Montgomery Performing Arts Center and is the first appearance by invitation for the band.
Student-run anti-drinking campaign wins PRSSA award
Crimson White – Dec. 5
The University of Alabama Public Relations Student Society of America chapter was recently presented the PRSSA Dr. Fredrick H. Teahan Chapter Award for University Service in San Francisco, Calif. The award is given annually at the National Public Relations Student Association Conference held for public relations student chapters and professionals. Kyle Borland, a sophomore majoring in public relations, said the award specifically recognized the University’s LessThanUThink campaign, an effort that originated at the University to address the national problem of college age binge drinking. “LessThanUThink was honored to be acknowledged for the work we’ve done for The University of Alabama community,” Borland said. Borland and UA PRSSA’s Secretary Jacquie McMahon said they were ecstatic when LessThanUThink won the award. “Jacquie and I were so shocked to hear our campaign’s name announced,” Borland said. “We both just kind of sat there for a second and then went, ‘Oh, wait, that’s us!’” McMahon said even before the award ceremony, the conference itself was one of the greatest experiences in her life.
New SGA recycling initiative to launch in January
Crimson White – Dec. 5
Next semester, The University of Alabama will become a little greener. In January, the Student Government Association will launch a new campaign called RecycleBama in an effort to promote student recycling on and off campus. The idea for RecycleBama was conceived by College of Arts and Sciences Senator Sam Gerard, a sophomore majoring in history and political science, and College of Commerce and Business Administration Senator Andrew Gross, a sophomore majoring in business. Gerard said the purpose of the program is not only to increase resources for recycling across campus, but also to increase student use of these resources. “Our main drive was to educate students on how to recycle, what they can recycle, and educate them on the recycling that’s being done on campus already,” Gross said. “There’s already a significant amount, but no one knows about it.” Gerard and Gross plan to spread awareness through the implementation of a series of public awareness events, speaker seminars and other similar projects, which will begin with a tabling campaign at the beginning of next semester. This campaign will focus on spreading information about the recycling resources already available to students and general tips for recycling.
Last Xpress Night of semester partners with Bama Buddies
Crimson White – Dec. 5
Bama Buddies is partnering with Xpress Night this Thursday, Dec. 6 to promote campus unity through service during the holiday season. Bama Buddies has been working with student groups on campus for the last four years and is the official service project for the SOURCE. By hosting “stuffing events,” students can buy and personalize stuffed animals that will be donated to children during the holidays. David Phelps, a junior majoring in civil engineering and the director of organizational leadership for the SOURCE, said Xpress Night is a great opportunity to bring together a diverse mixture of students to participate in the service project. “Our collaborative event this Thursday will be a wonderfully exciting and truly unique opportunity for students to enjoy live music while brightening a child’s holiday season,” Phelps said. In addition to partnering with Xpress Night, Bama Buddies has teamed up with student organizations like the SGA Senate, Freshman Forum and Lambda Sigma Honor Society. The cost to buy and personalize a stuffed animal is $8. There are multiple animals students can choose from including a tabby cat, panda, penguin and frog. If a student cannot attend a partnered event, such as Xpress Night, organizations can sponsor independent builds for $10 per animal.
Former UA student has chance to win $100,000 scholarship
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Dec. 4
A former student at the University of Alabama is a finalist for a chance to win $100,000 dollars in tuition… Xavier Burgin graduated from Alabama last May. He is currently a grad student at USC’s cinematic arts program. He is in the running in a contest sponsored by Dr. Pepper that will send the five finalists with the most votes to the BCS National Championship to compete for tuition prizes. Details on how you can vote for Xavier can be found on our website, CBS42.com.