Wade honored as 1st black faculty member on campus
Crimson White – March 13
Four decades after becoming the first black faculty member at The University of Alabama, Archie Wade, a former professor of kinesiology, was honored Tuesday with a commemorative plaque as part of the University’s Through the Doors initative, a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Capstone’s integration. After receiving recognition from James E. McLean, dean emeritus in the College of Education, and invitations from Marcus Cotton, vice president of the Black Faculty and Staff Association and Aaron Fowler, vice president of 100 Black Men of West Alabama, to join their organizations, Wade addressed the audience with tears in his eyes. “I just wanna let you know that everything is okay,” Wade said. “Life has been ups and downs, there have been peaks and valleys: Today is a peak.” Years before coming to the University in 1970 Wade, like many black people in the 1940s and 50s, was chopping cotton in 90 degree weather from sunup until sundown, making at most $2 or $3 each day. After that, he rode to a segregated elementary school on a bus handed down from the white schools with no seats and wooden panels replacing the windows. In high school he developed an interest in sports and, when Jackie Robinson became the first black athlete to play in Major League Baseball in 1947, it marked a pivotal turning point in Wade’s life. “I guess that was the first time ever, in any kind of way, where I wanted to see or hear a baseball game, because he was playing,” Wade told Matt Curtner-Smith, professor and department head in the department of kinesiology. Wade was inspired by Robinson to break color barriers around him. After graduating from Stillman University, Wade went on to play minor league baseball. In 1964 Frank Rose, former UA president, selected Wade and two others to integrate football stands. Wade said fans threw ice and soda bottles at him and he left the game early … Despite his experience at the football game, Wade later accepted the offer to break another color barrier and join the UA faculty. “Somehow certain people are put in certain places,” Whisenton said. “His temperament, his character… this was meant for him.”
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 12
Tuscaloosa News – March 13 (Print edition only)
UA hosts Alabama Technology Student Association Conference
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – March 12
Hundreds of students from all over the state took part in a robot competition at the University of Alabama today. Start to finish, more than 500 high school and middle school students with the Alabama Technology Student Association competed in the 34th annual state conference. The robotic competition was held for both school groups. Robots and racecar competitions were two of 43 skills tested to teach these students technology. “At our school we have to do this as a club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 so we really put a lot of time in these robots.”…The winners of this competition will compete at the national TSA competition in Orlando, Florida in June.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – March 12
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 12
OPINION: Alabama Law’s Education Excellence (Cameron Smith)
Al.com – March 12
Frequently lost in the robust debate about the future of public education in Alabama are educational success stories right here at home. In the recent U.S. News & World Report review of the best law schools in the America, the University of Alabama School of Law ranked as the 21st best law school in the U.S. Incidentally, it also happens to be a better value than all of the schools ranked ahead of it. Full-time in-state tuition to Alabama Law is less than $20,000 a year. The second best “value” with a slightly higher ranking is the University of Texas-Austin at more than $32,000. Even more impressive is the pace at which Alabama has climbed the rankings. The law school has moved from 38th in 2010 to 21st for 2014. For a state that routinely finds itself on the wrong end of public education jokes, the University of Alabama School of Law is a shining example of educational accomplishment at a comparatively reasonable price. But ranking and value are only part of the equation for success. Top-tier law schools are expected to provide a quality legal education. What is impressive about Alabama is that Dean Ken Randall and the faculty at the law school have developed a robust academic environment dedicated to the free exchange of ideas while providing an outstanding legal education…Cameron Smith is policy director and general counsel for the Alabama Policy Institute…
Birmingham Music Club Guild announces scholarship competition winners
Al.com – March 13
Winners of the 2013 Scholarship Competition sponsored by the Guild of the Birmingham Music Club have been announced…Andrew Nalley, a student of Paul Houghtaling and a junior at the University of Alabama, took the top prize in the voice division. Two University of Alabama sophomores tied for first place in the instrumental division — cellist Johnny Mok, a student of Carlton McCreey, and flutist Alana Guarino, who studies with Diane Boyd-Schultz. Mok was also given the Best Performance award. Second place winners were pianist John Tootle, a UA freshman and student of Kevin Chance…First place winners receive a $1,500 scholarship award, and second place winners receive $1,000. The Best Performance award is an additional $1,000. The students who tied for first place will receive $1,250 apiec …
UA to hold viewing of comet Friday night
Tuscaloosa News – March 13
The public is invited to view the comet Pan-STARRS through the University of Alabama’s telescopes at a 7:30 p.m. Friday sky viewing at Moundville Archaeological Park. Friday’s viewing will be held on the deck by the conference center at the park. The viewing is contingent on clear skies. If skies are cloudy, the viewing will be canceled. For information, call William Keel, professor of astronomy, at 205-348-1641 or email wkeel@bama.ua.edu.
Mental health system changing
Tuscaloosa News – March 13
Over the past several years, Alabama has dramatically revamped its mental health system, closing most of its state-run mental health hospitals while emphasizing more community-based treatment facilities. It’s a move that has encountered much opposition, but it is one that is working, said Jim Reddoch, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Reddoch, who spoke Tuesday evening at a town hall on mental health, sponsored by the University of Alabama’s Honors College, said the future of treating people with mental illnesses will continue to be at the community level.
CI&S hosts diversity seminar
Crimson White – March 13
Responding to the rapidly changing demographic landscape of the nation, the College of Communication and Information Sciences presents its annual “Discerning Diverse Voices: Symposium on Diversity” with special emphasis on the 50th anniversary of the integration of the University. The event kicks off Wednesday at 7 p.m. with a screening of “CRISIS: Behind a Presidential Decision,” a film by Robert Drew, which uses original footage from the White House and the governor’s office during the integration of the University. “You see the actual officials behind these decisions, working in smoke-filled rooms. The story is told by the camera. You get a chance to see who the players were – the actual people, not just actors. This sort of film could never be made today, in the age of managed messages and managed PR,” George Daniels, associate professor of journalism, said. The event continues Thursday morning with students’ poster presentations and research presentations throughout the day. Barnett Wright, Birmingham News reporter and author of “1963: How the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement Changed America and the World,” will conclude the symposium with the keynote address followed by a book signing.
University series celebrates 1st generation students
Crimson White – March 13
This week, The University of Alabama is making an effort to recognize students who are the first in their families to attend college. First Generation Scholar’s Week represents a series of events designed not only to celebrate the accomplishments of these students, but to also help make sure they are able to continue their education. On Monday, the documentary “First Generation,” which details the struggles of these students, was shown at the Ferguson Center Theater. The film also served to show current students the success of those who faced similar circumstances in the past. At Sewell-Thomas Stadium Tuesday night, Alabama’s baseball team offered free tickets and meals to first generation students and their families for their game against Memphis. Wednesday’s events will put an emphasis on helping current students balance their current lifestyles while working toward the future. Throughout the day, the Ferguson Center will host a resume rally as well as budgeting and financial aid workshops…While these events are focused on first generation students, anyone can attend, Kirk Walter, assistant director of the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, said.
Army to notify depot workers next week about furloughs
Anniston Star – March 12
Furloughs at the Anniston Army Depot could reduce total pay by $43 million for workers there this year, possibly stifling spending and hurting the local economy, experts say. The Department of Defense this week announced furloughs will likely start April 26 for its civilian employees due to the federal budget cuts that began March 1. Workers could be furloughed up to 22 days for the remainder of the fiscal year — the equivalent of a 20 percent pay cut that would slice around $43 million from the depot’s 2013 payroll. Such a cut would ripple through the local economy, resulting in less spending at area businesses and reduced sales tax revenue for municipalities, some economists say. Ahmad Ijaz, director of economic forecasting with the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, said such a cuts would have a direct effect on discretionary spending in the local economy. “It would mostly affect retailing and restaurants in the area … things like that which are not necessary like grocery spending,” Ijaz said. Ijaz said spending on new automobiles and houses could also decrease.
Colo. theater shooting suspect expected to enter plea Tues.
ABC 10 (Sacramento, Calif.) – March 12
Tuesday’s arraignment of James Holmes, accused of mass murder in Colorado, is a rarity among massacre suspects…although random shootings like those involving Holmes and Newtown, Conn., shooter Adam Lanza may be high-profile for the senseless nature of the killings and the random targeting of victims, there have been just 29 such massacres since 2006. “In the vast majority of these cases, these are people who never have killed before,” notes University of Alabama criminologist Adam Lankford, author of The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers. Random mass killings appear to provide instigators both compensation for failures in their lives and a way to act out, Lankford says. “These people feel they’re victims of conspiracies or persecution. In that moment (of a killing rampage), they have more power and status than they ever had before. People are literally bowing down to them, ducking the bullets,” he says.
CBS 9 (Washington, DC) – March 12
St. Cloud Times (Minn.) – March 12
County plans to improve local parks
Crimson White – March 13
Envision a Hurricane Creek with easy access, boat launches, rock climbing and classes to teach children about ecosystems, or a more aesthetically appealing Snow Hinton Park that allows runners and families to feel more detached from the traffic of McFarland Boulevard…These and other prospects were aired at a public meeting sponsored by PARA to discuss a survey some 600 citizens took online and to view a future park plan … Tom Land, a University of Alabama institutional records analyst, Tuscaloosa resident and advisor for the Alabama Kayak Club, supported the proposed plans for Hurricane Creek and felt this development would be great for the Tuscaloosa outdoor community. “It will help with the little bit of lawlessness that has been there in the past,” Land said. “My group as well as other groups have done clean ups in the past because it’s been trashed; I’ve seen vehicles trying to mud ride across the creek and just basically tear it up. So any work by PARA would be welcomed by most of the outdoor community.”
Laboratories on campus house menagerie of animals for research
Crimson White – March 13
An alligator, an entire colony of pythons and worms that have been genetically modified so that they glow, packed in labs smaller than some dorm rooms— it’s not science fiction, it’s day-to-day life on the University of Alabama campus. And according to one lab supervisor, it’s inevitable that the creepy crawlers will get out of their cages from time to time. “You know, there are just two guarantees when you’re working with snakes,” Stephen Secor, an associate professor of biology, said. “One is that you’ll eventually get bit, and two, they’re going to get out at some point. Neither is a big deal though, at all.”…These animals are part of Secor’s lab and are used in various research projects by the biologist and his students.
Student athletes must carefully plan meals
Crimson White – March 13
Maintaining the body of a Division I athlete is no simple task. Amy Bragg is the director of performance nutrition for University of Alabama athletics. She works with over 650 athletes across 18 sports to help them manage their diets to meet collegiate athletic expectations. Bragg pays attention to every detail of an athlete’s diet, from making recommended grocery lists for athletes to planning what they eat while traveling. “Playing a sport is so demanding that it often leaves athletes with less time to get access to food,” Bragg said. “I think it is harder for [athletes] to have a good diet.” Bragg said one of the biggest things she does is educate athletes. “We help them know the key parts of the day that they need to eat, and what they need to eat at these times,” she said…Bragg also works with Bama Dining to manage the training table meals that athletes eat on a daily basis, primarily in Bryant Dining Hall.