University of Alabama students find ‘extraordinary’ stories of ordinary people
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 15
Many people in Tuscaloosa have interesting stories to tell — the key is finding them. “This city is full of characters. You just have to get out there, get to know the people where you live and find out what makes them them,” said 19-year-old Kelsey Ryan, a University of Alabama freshman from Hanceville. “You can learn so much by listening to what others have gone through and applying their lessons to your life.” Ryan was one of 35 students who had the opportunity to do just that last semester while taking a freshman honor’s English composition course taught by UA graduate student Greg Houser…The first part of the semester involved reading books and articles that highlighted Alabama issues and then discussing those issues, as well as looking into the storytelling traditions of the South. The second half of the semester focused on researching different podcasts, audio editing and how to find a good story. Students were then tasked with “finding an ordinary person with an extraordinary story.” “Everyone has a story, you just have to find it,” Houser said. From guidance counselors, grandmothers, piano teachers and environmentalists, students were asked to do 45-minute interviews and then edit them to two or three minutes. The edited audio interviews were uploaded to the Alabama Voices website, alvoices.org.
Automotive industry expansions catch college students’ eyes
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Jan. 14
As the automotive industry continue to grow in Alabama, the number of students enrolled in engineering programs is growing as well. Dr. Clark Midkiff with the University of Alabama’s Engineering Department says before Mercedes came to the state in 1993, there were very few students enrolled in their automotive program. Today, thanks to over 350 suppliers within the state lines, their program is flourishing. “They get great experience. They typically do three semesters of co-op,” says Dr. Midkiff. “Mercedes uses this as a job-screening mechanism. So, if they like a student employee, they’re going to make them an offer and make them a permanent employee.” Dr. Midkiff adds they’re working with the companies to try and get students opportunities in the research departments as well.
Tuscaloosa partnering with county, UA, others for recycling grant application
Al.com – Jan. 14
Tuscaloosa’s Environmental Services Department has developed a partnership in its $347,000 recycling grant request to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The city is working with the county, the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority, the University of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama to improve recycling efforts in the area, and will partner with other cities to promote recycling statewide, said environmental services director Shane Daugherty. The City Council’s Administration Committee approved the request for the mayor to authorize grant agreements after Daugherty presented plans for the request on Tuesday. New rules for the grants require that 60 percent of ADEM recycling grant money goes to applicants with 45,000 customers or more, which the city doesn’t meet by itself, Daugherty said. Now that the state is seeking to make recycling programs more regional, the ESD is teaming up to reach enough customers to meet that threshold. UA is asking for indoor recycling containers for the university and outdoor bins for the Park at Manderson Landing.
UA to hold parade for championship football team
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 14
The University of Alabama is preparing a big celebration in honor of Alabama’s 15th national championship. And WVUA, Alabama’s home team, will have complete coverage, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. WVUA will bring you the “home team championship show” with a look at the biggest moments of the season and live coverage from the Walk of Champions, then, the championship parade and the special starting at 1 p.m. this Saturday.
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – Jan. 14
Department in college of engineering names new head
Crimson White – Jan. 15
The University of Alabama’s department of chemical and biological engineering has found its new head in John Van Zee, who will begin his tenure in January 2013 after 28 years at the University of South Carolina. Van Zee was a professor of chemical engineering as well as the founding director of The Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, at USC. Having learned to perform research with industries, Van Zee said he comes to Alabama prepared for his new post. “I plan to work with the faculty, the industrial advisory board and the Dean of Engineering so that the missions, visions and objectives developed previously are fulfilled,” Van Zee said. “There is a strong tradition at UA with excellence of our students, faculty, and staff in the department. The education of our students has and will continue to be our top priority.” Van Zee hopes to continue contributing to Alabama’s drive for excellence by arranging for students in his department to be provided with opportunities such as co-ops, research and service based learning. He and the department hope that with these options, students will be able to develop life-long learning skills. In addition to opening different avenues for undergrads and continuing to be recognized for well-rounded graduates, Van Zee also has plans for the doctoral program to be enhanced, as well as the department itself to undergo improvements.
UA graduate student produces commercial for Super Bowl
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 14
A University of Alabama graduate student is asking for your help to get her commercial in this year’s Super Bowl. 2007 advertising and public relations graduate Ruth Brown produced this commercial, called “Goat for Sale.” This spot is one of five finalists in the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl director’s cut. Two of the commercials will air on Super Bowl Sunday next month. Brown says she will have no idea if hers will make the cut until kickoff, but she says if the production goes on air it will give everyone involved in the production major exposure.
Public Relations nominated for award
Crimson White – Jan. 15
The University of Alabama department of public relations is one of five finalists for PR Week Magazine’s Public Relations Education Program of the Year for the fifth year in a row. Professors attribute the consistent high ratings of the department to the in-depth and innovative use of technology within the department. “I had a visiting professor from a big university come down and speak, and they were really impressed with how we used our technology and the use we got out of our campaign books,” Michael Little, an advertising and public relations instructor, said. “They said their university doesn’t do anything like us and that how we approached the curriculum was special.” Students also agree the required in-depth use of technology within the department is what sets them apart from public relations students in other schools. Jahimar Jones, a senior majoring in public relations, interned this summer in Atlanta, Ga., with several students from different schools. He said he was able to grasp ideas much faster than the others interns and was able to go straight into using programs like InDesign and Photoshop. “University of Alabama PR students are very creative and innovative in PR agencies because we have been trained to do so,” Jones said.
It’s all about the game … or is it?
The Jammer (Youngstown State University student newspaper) – Jan. 14
On Jan. 7, the University of Alabama faced off against the University of Notre Dame in the BCS championship game. In what effectively amounted to a blowout, the Crimson Tide dominated the Irish, 42-14, and secured their second straight national championship. While that should have been what everybody talked about Monday night, the real story involved Katherine Webb, the girlfriend of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron…During the television broadcast, ESPN announcer Brent Musburger decided to bring an interesting storyline into the game. When the camera panned through the crowd and saw Webb sitting with McCarron’s family, Musburger called her “a lovely lady” and “beautiful.” … Others — like Jennifer Greer, an associate professor of journalism at the University of Alabama — disagree. Greer argued that football is a male-dominated sport and that the roles women do have are supportive secondary roles. Actions like Musburger’s only make it more difficult for female athletes to be taken seriously, as attractive women are typified as being “the quarterback’s girlfriend.”
UA grad program offers book art studies
Crimson White – Jan. 15
On a campus buried in books of all manners, sizes and contents, books of all kinds are often given little notice beyond the heft of their price tags and the importance of their highlighted text. The University of Alabama’s book arts graduate program argues much more can be found. The MFA in the UA Book Arts program offers graduate students an opportunity to delve into letterpress printing, papermaking and bookmaking with an artistic focus. Book arts encompasses works of art that use books as a medium of expression. The books can be published in small editions or as one-of-a-kind pieces and allow a variety of forms used to create the art in the books. Steve Miller, professor and coordinator of the book arts program, first interacted with the art as a young poet living in Wisconsin. “The moment that I took a proof of a poem that I had set in metal type on blue jean paper, from my jeans, that I had made in by hand,” Miller said. “In that moment it was like I had been struck by lightning. Every part of me was on fire.” After printing his first poem in 1975, Miller practiced the art of letterpress printing in Madison, Wis., for three years before moving his shop to NYC where he worked with a variety of artists and writers for nine years.
Students get master’s, bachelor’s in 4 years
Crimson White – Jan. 15
The University Scholars Program offers students a chance to make the most of their four undergraduate years at the Capstone by completing a master’s degree in addition to an undergraduate degree in just four years. The program, which started 10 years ago, is designed to give aspiring students a leg-up on the competition in the job market after leaving The University of Alabama. Many departments across many of the University’s colleges offer these programs, and many students are working hard to take advantage. “We have about 70 first year students and 70 second year students who say they are interested in the program,” Billy Helms, head of the economics, finance and legal studies department, said. “We have been promoting the program to entering students a lot more in the last few years and hope that students continue to take advantage of the fantastic opportunity.” Helms said USP students in the economics, finance and legal studies departments need a minimum of 138 hours to attain both degrees, including 30 hours of graduate courses. It is a significant course load to squeeze into four years, but Helms said USP students relish the challenge. “Students have the opportunity to take more challenging classes than the typical undergraduate student,” he said. “This leads to a much better understanding of finance and economics. For those students interested in jobs, it translates into a greater chance of landing a very good job and/or a better starting salary.”
Students raise money, awareness to end slavery
Crimson White – Jan. 15
University of Alabama students are working toward the eradication of modern day slavery through the End It Movement, a movement sparked at a conference at the beginning of January. “Many people today don’t realize that there are more slaves in the world today than at any other time in history – approximately 27 million slaves,” said Jeff Norris, campus director of Bama Cru, part of an organization formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ. “Many are in bondage in the sex trade industry, many others are in factories and sweat shops around the globe.” Norris said Bama Cru took more than 100 students to the Passion 2013 conference Jan. 1-4 in Atlanta, Ga. At the conference, Norris said students learned about the End It Movement, which Passion started…Norris said. “The End It Movement is partnered with seven major organizations that exist to end slavery in the world. All the money raised by the End It Movement will go directly to these organizations who have people on the ground throughout the world working to end slavery.”
Classical pianist to give free performance tonight
Crimson White – Jan. 15
Renowned pianist Lynn Rice-See will be performing a free concert at Moody’s Concert Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Originally from Huntsville Ala., Rice-See currently is a piano professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Known for her classical style and the professor will be performing various recital works from Haydn, Schumann and Strauss. This performance will be her first appearance on the UA campus. Kevin Chance, an instructor in the UA School of Music is a good friend of Rice-See and is looking forward to her performance. “The Schumann work she will play is Kreisleriana, which is among Schumann’s most famous works, and it is particularly fascinating as literature,” he said. “The piece has been described as psychological music-drama based on the character Johannes Kreisler in the novels of E.T.A. Hoffman, and it contains some of Schumann’s most beautiful and virtuosic moments.”