Alabama economy expected to improve slightly
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 17
Alabama’s economy should improve this year, but not by much, economists said at the annual Center for Business and Economic Research conference held Wednesday. The annual conference by the center, which is housed at the University of Alabama, also featured analysis by a vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Retirement Systems of Alabama Chief Executive Officer David Bronner. Sam Addy, the center’s associate dean for research and outreach director, said the state’s outlook for 2013 includes a 1.7 percent increase in gross domestic product and a 1.1 percent increase in employment…Tuscaloosa’s underemployment was 16.8 percent, representing 23,040 people. The University of Alabama, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and local automotive suppliers along with construction of the new state psychiatric hospital were bright spots in 2012. Each University of Alabama football game generated between $15 million and $18 million for the local economy, depending on the opponent.
Al.com – Jan. 16
Pell Grant effects not expected in Alabama
Crimson White – Jan. 17
Recent changes to Pell Grant requirements have caused a decrease in enrollment at Mississippi community colleges, but similar effects are not expected in the state of Alabama. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 changed requirements in such a way that families now have to earn 25 percent less in a year to be eligible for the grant, and it also decreased the number of semesters the grant could be renewed… The recent Education Policy Center study found that recent changes to Pell Grant eligibility led to drops in enrollment at 14 of the 15 community colleges in Mississippi. “The significance of our statewide study of community college students in Mississippi was to show how very sensitive to price changes low-income students are—as soon as Pell eligibility restrictions were enacted, 3,000 students dis-enrolled statewide,” Steven Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center, said…“As our leaders in Washington consider methods by which to reduce the federal deficit, it must be recognized that it won’t get done on the backs of poor college students,” Katsina said. Helen Allen, director of student financial aid, is not overly concerned about the consequences of the changed rules at The University of Alabama. “The effect of the new requirement will have both a positive and a negative impact. The positive effect is that it gives students incentive to complete their degrees as quickly as possible, which will also limit loan indebtedness upon graduation. The negative effect is that students who have, for whatever reason, not completed their degree requirements in 6 years of full-time attendance will no longer receive Federal Pell Grant funds,” Allen said.
UA student environmental group hopes to help grow number of green projects on campus
Al.com – Jan. 16
A student environmental group at the University of Alabama has launched a green energy campaign they hope will receive support from university administrators and will bring more investment in conservation projects on campus. The UA Environmental Council (UA Eco) is one of four groups at Alabama colleges starting campaigns intended to draw university support for sustainability and green energy projects on their campuses. The initiative includes two proposed programs, a “Student Green Fund” that would fund research projects from students, faculty and staff, and a “Green Revolving Fund” that would be used to invest in green infrastructure projects around campus, said UA Eco project director Caitlin McClusky.
ESPN anchor to make visit to University of Alabama
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Jan. 16
ESPN’s host and anchor and University of Alabama alum Rece Davis will speak on the UA campus on 11 a.m. Jan 31 at the Ferguson Student Center Theater. The SportsCenter anchor and host of “College Football Live” and “College GameDay” will offer a short lecture followed by taking questions from the audience. The event is free and students, faculty, and the outside public are all encouraged to attend.
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 17
World’s largest student film festival coming back to UA
Al.com – Jan. 16
Are you a University of Alabamastudent who has always wanted to make your own film but haven’t had the equipment? Campus Movie Fest, the world’s largest student film festival, is coming to UA on Jan. 22 and will give prospective filmmakers everything they need create their own five-minute short film. The festival gives student filmmakers each a laptop with editing software, a Panasonic HD camera, 24-hour support and training. The catch is you must shoot your film in one week. If your film has what it takes you can win $30,000 or a chance to have your film shown at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner, among other prizes.
Cutting-edge bassist, composer to perform tonight
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 17
The University of Alabama hosts cutting-edge bassist, improviser and composer George Cremaschi at the Paul R. Jones Gallery tonight as part of its 2013 Sonic Frontiers concert series. The Czech-based musician has performed with some of the leading lights of the contemporary music scene, including Nicolas Collins, Evan Parker, Franz Hautzinger, Gino Robair, Mats Gustafsson and Lê Quan Ninh. He’ll be playing solo compositions and improvisations followed by a collaboration with UA’s Tim Feeney on percussion and Andrew Raffo Dewar on tenor saxophone. A multi-faceted artist who enjoys working in disciplines from dance and multimedia exhibits to theatrical performances, Cremaschi was inspired early in his career by one-time Tuscaloosa residents Davey Williams and LaDonna Smith.
EDITORIAL: Parade to celebrate championship win
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 17
Nothing says “victory” quite like a parade. Many Alabama fans are happy one will celebrate the University of Alabama’s reign as the 2012 national champions of college football. Purists in the UA camp might harken back to a day when the players got a handshake and were told to report to spring practice in shape. Somebody would stick the latest Associated Press trophy into a closet somewhere in the football offices and everybody would get back to work. That might sound pretty good to Alabama head football coach Nick Saban. This parade business to celebrate the championship won with Alabama’s 42-14 dismantling of Notre Dame in Miami is well outside bounds of the intense coach’s 24-hour rule. However, the coach who extols “the process” is a believer in a holistic approach to the game. And he knows that fans are part of the whole that makes up Crimson Tide football. The celebrations inside Bryant-Denny Stadium the past few years have been good, but fans love a parade.
COLUMN: A rebirth: Petitioning 2.0
Chicago Tribune – Jan. 17
(Professor Ronald J. Krotoszynski Jr. is director of faculty research at the University of Alabama School of Law and author of “Reclaiming the Petition Clause: Seditious Libel, ‘Offensive’ Protest, and the Right to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.”)
Today petitioning — a right that the First Amendment directly and expressly safeguards — seems on the verge of a comeback. The White House’s We the People website promises an official presidential response provided that at least 25,000 people electronically sign a petition … This new commitment to the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances could be an important development in our civic life. The White House has created a highly visible public forum that permits a relatively small number of people to effectively put a question on the national agenda (via the good offices of the national media). This process represents a de facto renewal of the classic form of petitioning practiced at the time the First Amendment was ratified in 1791.
Rec center manages increased visits
Crimson White – Jan. 17
Whether students have New Year’s resolutions or are getting their beach bodies ready for spring break, the beginning of spring semester is one of the busiest times of the year at the University Recreation Center. The first few days of this semester have already seen 20 to 25 percent more visitors than this time last year, Kristen Durham, associate director of recreational services, said. On Aug. 28, 2012 the Rec recorded 3,600 visits, while on Jan. 15 of this year, 4,400 were recorded…George Brown, executive director of university recreation, said he is thrilled about the traffic of the new semester, and staff at the Rec are doing everything they can to maintain the safety of the building with the increase in demand. “We look forward to this every year, and we’re very excited about it,” Brown said. In the last 10 days, the Rec has recorded its two busiest days in history, and, if the trend continues, Brown said they are looking at 36,000 visits within the first 10 days.
Course catalog updated
Crimson White – Jan. 17
Starting in August, freshmen can expect a revamped UA undergraduate catalog with changes to degree requirements and course offerings. The UA undergraduate catalog, which features course requirements for each department, is the collaborative effort of many offices around campus. Jacob Jones, the assistant University Registrar, said the new online catalog, which launched in 2012, featured many improvements from the print-only catalog. “UA’s undergraduate catalog can now be downloaded as a PDF, and sections can be printed as needed through the PDF function,” Jones said. “Search functionality has also been added to make navigation easier when using the catalog online. Additionally, because the catalog is maintained online, we are now able to produce a yearly catalog instead of a two-year catalog as the University did in the past.” Jones said each department determines the additions and edits on their catalog pages, according to the changes for addition of majors, course requirements and other necessary changes. Then the dean’s office of that department must approve. The catalog pages are then sent to University Relations, and they edit it for style and consistency.
Seniors participate in student-teaching program
Crimson White – Jan. 17
Senior education majors at The University of Alabama culminate their college career not with finals, but in a working classroom as they complete student teaching. These UA student teachers lead in a classroom that corresponds with their major. Director of Field Experiences Yolandia Eubanks outlined a student’s expectations while participating in the internship program. “Students participating in the program have had clinical placements throughout their years, and with the internship, they receive valuable on the job experience,” Eubanks said. “They have to meet state regulations, they have to create their own lesson plans, they have to complete a minimum of 20 full days of responsible teaching, and many even get involved with extracurricular activities as well.” Because of the time they must devote in the classroom, students usually focus solely on their internships and few courses, if any, are taken at the University during the semester. However, students are still enrolled full time and are typically registered for anywhere from nine to 12 credit hours.
UA alumni takes the stage
Crimson White – Jan. 17
A 2010 graduate of The University of Alabama has gone from performing at the Capstone to starring on Broadway in just a few years. Jake Boyd landed the role of Joey Primo in a Broadway production of “Rock of Ages” last month. Boyd has already been in numerous off-Broadway shows such as “Carrie the Musical” and even had a recurring role on the TBS show “Are We There Yet?” A large portion of Boyd’s success can be attributed to the theatre education he received while studying at the University…Seth Panith, associate professor of theatre and director of the MFA and BA acting programs, was impressed with Boyd when he was a student at the University. “Jake was an extraordinarily driven student — he was not obsessed with results but with his total understanding of the process,” Panitch said. “He was the type of student who understood this was his time, that no one was forcing him to be here, and he drained every class, every course of every sliver of information he could get.”
Tourism posters mark four consecutive college football titles in Alabama
WLTZ–NBC (Columbus, Ga.) – Jan. 16
Tourism officials are offering new posters to mark the state of Alabama’s run of four consecutive college football titles. Small posters that say “4narow” will be available starting Thursday at state welcome centers and tourism offices. The mini-posters resemble Alabama car tags and refer to the consecutive bowl championship series crowns won by the University of Alabama and Auburn University. The back of the poster promotes trips to the Paul Bryant Museum and the Auburn University Arena, where the schools’ four crystal trophies are on display. Auburn won the BCS championship in 2010, and Alabama won in 2009, 2011 and 2012. The tourism department says the posters are available at visitor bureau offices statewide.
CBS 8 (Montgomery) – Jan. 16
ABC 33/40 – Jan. 16
Fox 6 – Jan. 16