UA public relations students help stop bullying in Tuscaloosa Schools
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 26
Public relations students from the University of Alabama rolled out the “I Can” program for students at Eastwood Middle School. The students showed their support by signing an anti-bullying pledge. Since August, Tuscaloosa City Schools has also been using an anti-bullying program called “HALT” which stands for “Harassment Awareness Learn Together.” Organizers hope the “I Can” campaign reinforces what kids are already learning about respecting others.
CCHS hosts conference on rural health, food
Crimson White – Feb. 27
The state of Alabama has held the title of No. 1 in college football for the last four years, but it also holds a top spot in another, not so celebrated category – obesity. “I think the citizens of Alabama run into issues of an imbalanced lifestyle because we are a culture that doesn’t support daily necessary physical activity,” Sheena Gregg, assistant director of health promotion and wellness, said at the 14th annual Rural Health Conference. “And the food that is cost-effective for most families is often not the most nutrient dense.” The Feb. 20 conference, hosted by the College of Community Health Sciences and The Institute of Rural Health Research, focused on the topic of obesity in Alabama, and how it leads to other chronic health problems, such as diabetes. Gregg shared in a lecture at the conference that Alabama’s obesity rate of 33 percent was higher than the national average of 27.6 percent, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010.
Public relations student awarded national honor
Crimson White – Feb. 27
Jessica Colburn missed the first call from the prestigious Daniel J. Edelman/Public Relations Student Society of America. When they reached out to her a second time, she learned she was the 2013 winner of their Award for Outstanding Public Relations Student. “I was freaking out, because I didn’t even know what they were trying to tell me,” Colburn, a senior majoring in public relations, said. The second call, which included the big announcement, left her speechless but excited. “I was in shock, and the rest of the day was just a haze,” Colburn said. “Everybody was so happy for me and supportive, and I was still so shocked that I didn’t even get to really think about it until the next day.” The national award is offered annually to PRSSA members who display leadership, have public relations-related achievement and activities, a digital presence and recommendations from public relations faculty and/or industry professionals.
Mock trial team 2nd in region
Crimson White – Feb. 27
After four rounds of competition Thursday, Friday and Saturday the UA Mock Trial Association’s A Team won seven of eight ballots and took home a second-place trophy in regional competition in Jackson, Miss. The team will progress to the Opening Round Championship in Memphis, Tenn. Mock Trial is an organization in which students have a chance to act out court trials by playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses, Hannah Brewer, a junior majoring in psychology and Mock Trial co-captain, said. “We receive a case packet that includes witness statements, evidence, rules of evidence we have to follow and relevant case law,” Brewer said…The University sent two Mock Trial teams to compete in regional competition, an A team and a B team. Collin Metcalf, a junior majoring in communication studies, economics and finance and a member of the A team, received a “Best Attorney” award for his performance at regionals.
The impact of algae parasite on algae biofuel output
Bio Fuel Daily – Feb. 26
As part of an ongoing effort to improve commercial scale algae biofuel production, a group of scientists, led by crude oil producer Sapphire Energy, Inc., have announced the completion of a collaborative study which identified the morphology, ultrastructure, and life history of A. protococcarum, one of the most difficult to manage algae parasites. Their findings are detailed in “Characterization of Amoeboaphelidium protococcarum: An Algal Parasite New to the Cryptomycota Isolated from an Outdoor Algal Pond Used for the Production of Biofuel,” published in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE…This article was prepared in collaboration by Robert C. McBride, Ph.D., Salvador Lopez, MSc, Craig Behnke, Ph.D., and Philip A. Lee, Ph.D., of Sapphire Energy; Peter M. Letcher, Ph.D., and Martha J. Powell, Ph.D., of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama; and Robert Schmieder, Ph.D., of the Department of Computer Science and Computational Science Research Center at San Diego State University.
National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Championship set for Lakeshore Foundation on March 7-9
Al.com – Feb. 26
The University of Alabama will host the 2013 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 7, through Saturday, March 9, at Lakeshore Foundation. Eight men’s teams and four women’s teams will compete for the national championship in wheelchair basketball. The Southeastern Conference is well represented with men’s and women’s teams from the University of Alabama, and men’s teams from Auburn and Missouri. Both Alabama teams are seeded No. 2 in the tournament.
‘Immortal Life Across Cultures’ documentary series finishes tonight at UA
Al.com – Feb. 26
The University of Alabama has been busy this month, celebrating African-American History Month and their three-week documentary series concludes tonight with one last film. The “Immortal Life Across Cultures” documentary series showcases films that examine women’s agency as well as civil rights. It concludes tonight with the screening of “Pink Saris” tonight in the Gorgas Library, room 205, at 7 p.m. “Pink Saris” is a 2010 documentary directed by Kim Longinotto that centers around Sampat Pal Devi…Devi, in the film, seeks women’s rights, respect and the end of violence against women in Uttar Pradesh, India. To achieve these goals, she created the “Pink Gang” and the documentary follows the struggles Devi faced.
Body Appreciation Week at Alabama includes fashion show, film screening
Al.com – Feb. 26
The University of Alabama is taking steps to promote positive body images to their students. They’ve declared this week Body Appreciation Week and there are a number of events around campus including a film screening of “America the Beautiful 2: The Thin Commandments” and a fashion show. “Eating disorders are the deadliest of all psychiatric disorders, so we want to help prevent eating disorders, educate the community about the warning signs, and let people know how to get someone help who may be suffering,” said UA staff psychologist Kerry R. Luke. “College is a particularly vulnerable time for people to re-experience or develop eating disorders.” Tonight, in the Ferguson Center Theatre there will be a live screening of “America the Beautiful 2: The Thin Commandments,” a documentary about the fight to be “thin,” at 6:15 p.m. Following the film there will be a diverse panel discussion led by Crossroads Community Center. Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will also be informational tables at the Ferguson Center.
Dodgeball games to benefit St. Jude’s
Crimson White – Feb. 27
University Programs and campus organization Up ‘til Dawn will host a glow-in-the-dark dodgeball tournament at Presidential Park Thursday at 8 p.m. The tournament will help raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital by taking donations up to $20 at the event. The fundraising goal has been set to $1000. UA senior Brittain McCoy, a former St. Jude’s patient and public relations chair of Up ‘til Dawn, said they use events like the dodgeball tournament to raise money for the hospital. The organization also raises awareness to help children with pediatric cancer by writing letters to family and friends.
Evolution scholars to explain research findings
Crimson White – Feb. 27
Visiting scholars Paul Bingham and Joanne Souza from Stony Brook University will give a lecture regarding “What Human Evolution Can Teach Us about Our Anatomy, Sexuality, Behavior, History, and Politics” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Biology Building as part of the ALLELE lecture series. “We will describe selected results from our decade-long investigation of the evolutionary origins of humans – results that give us surprising new insights into our properties; our social, sexual, economic and political behaviors; our history and future,” Souza said. Christopher Lynn, assistant professor of anthropology, said the speakers were selected because their coercion theory crosses several disciplines, and they recently collaborated with UA archaeologist John Blitz, who recommended they be invited.
Creative Campus sparks interest at other schools
Crimson White – Feb. 27
The Creative Campus model began eight years ago as a simple idea but is now being used by other schools, such as the University of Nebraska Omaha, to create their own idea machines. Alan Kolok, a UNO biology professor, was on vacation with his family in 2011 when he read about Creative Campus in Thomas Friedman’s book “That Used To Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back.” “I turned to my wife and said, ‘I need to go there and visit,’ so I did this last October,” Kolok said. Kolok created and currently directs the Nebraska Watershed Network. The organization’s mission is to fuse science with community outreach in Omaha, much like Creative Campus works with fine arts in the Tuscaloosa area. The Nebraska Watershed Network’s first project was based on Kolok’s area of specialty – water toxicology. Citizens tested the river water in Omaha looking for traces of a pesticide commonly used to kill weeds in crops. “When we did [the testing], we found there was a ground swell of enthusiasm from the community; I mean we wound up with hundreds of volunteers to do this work,” Kolok said. “We’ve found the community has been really enthusiastic about working with our students.”
International students feel culture shock
Crimson White – Feb. 27
There are 1,377 active international students hailing from 71 countries and regions of the world studying at The University of Alabama, representing a little more than 4 percent of the 33,602 students enrolled at the Capstone in fall 2012. The University offers opportunities for students from outside the U.S. to come and study dozens of subjects, effectively serving as an international university. “As of fall 2012, [Capstone International Services] served 1,484 international students, of whom 409 were new students,” CIS director Charter Morris said. “Of the 1,484 total international students served by CIS, 1,377 are active, enrolled students, and 107 are recent graduates who remain on The University of Alabama’s visa sponsorship while working on Optional Practical Training.”
Sheffield student to attend leadership academy
Shoals Insider – Feb. 27
Asher Roddy, a sophomore at Sheffield High School, has been selected to attend the University of Alabama’s sixth annual Capstone Leadership Academy on March 14-15, 2013, in Tuscaloosa. The Academy is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Honors College and the Capstone Council. Roddy was chosen among 350 applicants from high schools in the state of Alabama and selection is indeed an honor. During the Academy, students will be involved in leadership presentations, group discussions and activities, in addition to hearing from various speakers. Asher holds leadership positions in Key Club and Interact Club, is Class Treasurer, Varsity Tennis Captain and volunteers with SHOCKWAVES helping senior citizens at Park Place utilize technology