UA ranks first in the number of National Merit Scholars among public universities
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Feb. 7
From our Tuscaloosa newsroom…the University of Alabama is not just not number one on the football field. The school also ranks first among the nation’s public universities in National Merit Scholarships. That’s for the 2012-2013 academic year…241 National Merit Scholars are in the school’s 2012 freshman class. More than 26,000 students applied to UA last year. Alabama ranked second for the number of Merit Scholars last year.
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Feb. 7
Members of Department of Veteran and Military Affairs to go to Washington, DC
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Feb. 7
Members of the University of Alabama department of veteran affairs are headed to Washington D.C. But first, they are looking for donations of Alabama gear. The UA representatives are participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetary. The ceremony will honor fallen Alabama veterans. Then they want to give out ‘Bama gear at the Wounded Warrior Facility. “Our hope and intent is to ensure that we are able to share with these soldiers that we really want them to come to Alabama and to come to school, and we want to support them as they come off of active duty. The university’s VMA is taking unbreakable ‘Bama merchandise donations through close of business on Friday.
Trustees approve $1.875M in Shelby Quad upgrades
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 7
Several campus projects, including a $1.875 million fountain and other improvements on Shelby Quad, gained approval today during a committee meeting of the University of Alabama board of trustees. Mike Lanier, UA’s program manager, recommended proceeding with Davis Architects of Birmingham to oversee the design and layout for the Shelby Fountain and upgrades to the quad, both of which are named for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa…The project calls for a $1.175 million fountain to be installed in front of Shelby Hall, a pedestrian walkway from the intersection of Hackberry and Shelby lanes to the north entrance of the Shelby Quad and $246,000 worth of lighting improvements to add energy efficiency while providing a consistent lighting level throughout the quad.
Birmingham Business Journal – Feb. 7
Remembering Autherine Lucy’s enrollment at UA
MSNBC (Morning Joe) – Feb. 7
In 1956, before he was America’s first African-American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall was fighting to help Autherine Lucy, an aspiring young student to break the color barrier at the University of Alabama … The woman became the first black admitted to the university.
UA adds Art Ride, exhibitions to Thursday’s Art Night
Al.com – Feb. 7
The University of Alabama will get involved in Art Night tonight with the 2013 Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, an opening reception for “Echo” by Astri Snodgrass and an art ride. From 5-7 p.m., the 2013 Juried Undergraduate Exhibition closing reception will be held in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery in 109 Woods Hall. During the reception, a $300 Best in Show award will be presented. At 5:45 p.m., you can hop on the Art Ride to visit four different galleries before 9 p.m. The Tuscaloosa Museum of Art, the Mildred Westervelt Transportation Museum, Harrison Galleries LLC and Paul R. Jones Gallery are all stops for the Art Ride. The Crimson Ride bus will leave from the front of Smith Hall at 5:45 p.m. and will arrive back on campus before 9 p.m.
‘Bloodlines’ art exhibit shows family ties
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 7
“Bloodlines,” an art exhibit on display until Feb. 22 at the Paul R. Jones Gallery, portrays relationships formed between members of families. Gallery director Katie Mcallister said the idea for the exhibit came after the title “Bloodlines” was conceived. While trying to find pieces for another exhibit, workers in the gallery came across items that would fit the name. “We thought ‘Bloodlines’ would be a cool title for a show, and immediately following that we thought of family and relationships between families and mothers and children,” Mcallister said. The exhibit features 18 pieces in various media. Each was pulled from the 1,700-piece permanent collection of mostly African American art that Paul R. Jones donated to the University of Alabama in 2008. Artists Freddie Styles, Amalia Amiki and photographer William J. Anderson are among those whose art is displayed in this exhibit.
Abortion foe overreaches in describing context of court ruling
Atlanta Journal Constitution – Feb. 8
Last month the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision…The Alabama ruling included acknowledgment of unborn children in the state’s chemical endangerment statute. Anti-abortion advocates immediately praised the decision as a victory for “personhood rights of preborn children.” … What happens next with the Alabama ruling is unknown, said Paul Horwitz, a constitutional law professor at the University of Alabama. “I just don’t think it’s a question of a court using the word ‘personhood.’ It’s a question of whether or not there is a right to an abortion and when,” he said. “I don’t see that larger constitutional issue as something that is automatically teed up in a useful way because of this court’s ruling.”
UA launches website as resource in off-campus housing searches
Al.com – Feb. 7
A new website launched by the University of Alabama’s Housing and Residential Communities office offers an off-campus housing database and other resources for students and community members. Users of the site at http://offcampushousing.ua.edu can narrow their housing search by rent cost, building type, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, location, amenities and availability, according to UA. Students can also use the website to find subleases, roommates and furniture. The Student Affairs Housing and Residential Communities office, which has provided off-campus housing resources to students for more than five years, has included links on the new site to information and tips for students on renting, safety and transportation.