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MONDAY, MARCH 4 – SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2013

BEST BETS

UA NURSING STUDENTS SHARE CULTURE WITH JAPANESE SCHOLARS – A small group of young Japanese scholars will soon experience life as University of Alabama nursing students. In its 15^th year, the Transcultural Nursing Program, which runs from Feb. 25 through March 7, provides an opportunity for nursing students and instructors from Chiba University in Chiba, Japan, to visit the Capstone College of Nursing, participate in a classroom setting and get a feel for UA’s nursing program. A Media Availability Day will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 6, in the Capstone College of Nursing’s building on University Boulevard across from DCH Regional Medical Center. Video and photo opportunities will include students working on life-like computer-controlled simulators, and there will be interview opportunities with students and faculty from both schools. Contact: Kim Eaton at 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu in advance if you plan to attend. Broadcast media should contact Shane Dorrill at 205/348-8319 or sdorrill@ur.ua.edu or Bill McDaniel at 205/348-8327 or bmcdaniel@ur.ua.edu.  

UA ALUMNA CONTESTANT ON NBC’S ‘FASHION STAR’ – University of Alabama alumna and New York City-based fashion designer Hunter Bell will show the world what she’s made of when NBC premieres its new season of “Fashion Star” on Friday, March 8. Bell joins 12 other designer contestants for a chance to launch their original collections in three of the nation’s largest fashion retailers — Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Express stores, a multi-million dollar prize. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

3-D PRINTING ART – This semester, the UA College of Engineering opened a 3-D printing lab for faculty and students across campus, and some of the earliest users are students from an art class. Jamey Grimes, an instructor in the art and art history department, will display some of the printed art March 7 at Kentuck Art Night in downtown Northport. For more information or to get access to the 3-D Printing Lab, contact Adam Jones in engineering media relations, 205/348-6444, acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

CURRENT COMMENT

“THE SHOOTER” AND THE BIGGER PICTURE OF VETERANS’ SUPPORT – Dr. Jo Pryce, assistant professor of social work at UA and co-author of The Costs of Courage: Combat Stress, Warriors, and Family Survival, believes stories like that of the Osama bin Laden “shooter” – profiled in Esquire about his lack of health benefits when he left the military – could become more common as more troops return to the United States. Pryce says our medical and mental health networks could become strained, and our current economy could suffer with the country’s plans to downsize the number of active duty service men and women. Contact: David Miller, UA media relations, 205/348-0825, dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

EVENTS

TOWN HALL ON ALABAMA CONSTITUTION – UA’s Honors College will present a town hall on alternatives Alabama’s Constitution Revision Commission is considering for a home rule provision in Alabama’s new constitution. Students will give their advice and opinions to former Gov. Albert Brewer, chair of the commission; commission member Jim Pratt; and Bob McCurley, coordinator for drafting the new constitution. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in Farrah Hall Room 214. Similar town halls will occur on the campuses of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA media relations, 205/348-3782, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu.

SHORTHAND – Dr. Michael Mendle, professor of history at UA, will present a lecture titled “Absolutely the Most Important Thing You Know Nothing About: Shorthand and Civilization in 17th Century England.” The lecture will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in 205 Gorgas Library. The lecture is free; refreshments will be served. Contact: Dr. Michael Mendle, UA department of history, 205/348-1875, mmendle@bama.ua.edu

MUSICAL CATS – “Hermitage Cats Save the Day,” a musical rendering of the book “Anna and the Hermitage Cats,” will premiere at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in the concert hall of UA’s Moody Music Building. The music is by Chris Brubeck, and the book and lyrics are by Mary Ann Allin, who co-wrote the original children’s book. Admission for the 6 p.m. performance is $10 for adults, $5 for children younger than 12 and $3 for UA students.  Tickets are on sale at the Moody Concert Hall box office. Tickets can also be purchased online at uamusic.tix.com. The production is open to the entire community from elementary school-age children to senior citizens. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782

ANCIENT INDIAN TECHNIQUE SHOWCASED AT MOUNDVILLE PARK — Learn from some of the country’s finest stone craftsmen how to make arrowheads, spear points and hundreds of other stone tools as they meet to demonstrate and teach their skill and sell their wares at the Moundville Knap-In from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, at The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park. Other outdoor demonstrations and displays at the Knap-In include ancient hunting and fishing equipment, while Choctaw crafts, such as basket making and beadwork, will also be demonstrated. In addition there will be a children’s area running throughout the event where kids can get their faces painted, grind corn, make crafts and play Native American games. A raffle will be held on Saturday. Knap-in admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors 55 years and older and $6 for students. Children 5 years and younger are free. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325, kkeaton@ur.ua.edu, or Catherine Cooper, educational program assistant, 205/371-8732, crcooper@ua.edu

LOOKING AHEAD

COAST GUARD BAND – The U.S. Coast Guard Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at UA’s Moody Music Building concert hall. The program will feature a variety of music, from patriotic fare to contemporary concert band literature. The band is under the direction of Capt. Kenneth W. Megan. This performance is free and open to the public. Tickets are required and are available at uamusic.tix.com. For additional ticketing information, call 205/348-7111. For more information about the Coast Guard Band, visit www.uscg.mil/band. Contact: Tiffany Schwarz, 205/348.1477, tschwarz@music.ua.edu.

RETIRED, BUT STILL REVERED – Dr. Archie Wade, retired professor of kinesiology at UA, will return to campus March 12 to be honored for his role in diversifying the campus. Wade, who began teaching at UA in 1970, was one of the university’s first black faculty members. He’ll be honored during a ceremony at the Graves Hall auditorium at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 12. The ceremony is free and open to the public as part of the university’s “Through the Doors” event series, which celebrates the 50^th anniversary of integration at UA. University President Dr. Judy Bonner and retired UA Dean of the College of Education Dr. James McLean will speak at the event. Wade moved to Tuscaloosa as a child and holds degrees from Stillman College, West Virginia University and UA. He coached basketball at Stillman before playing four years of minor league baseball, including one season for hall of fame coach Sparky Anderson. Wade also spent two years as a recruiter for Paul “Bear” Bryant. Contact: David Miller, UA media relations, 205/ 348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu .

‘ROCKET BOYS’ AUTHOR TO SPEAK, RECEIVE AWARD – Homer Hickam, author of New York Times bestseller Rocket Boys and multiple other books, will headline the UA journalism department’s annual Journalism Day and receive the 2013 Clarence Cason Award in Nonfiction Writing. Journalism Day will be March 14 from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., with Cason’s address, titled “Rockets, coal mines, lighthouses and the dreams of boys,” at 6:30 in Reese Phifer Room 216. This event is free and open to the public. Cason will receive the Cason Award at a luncheon on March 15 at the Capstone Hotel. Tickets are $35 each and may be purchased by calling Sheila Davis at 205/348-4787 by March 4. Contact: Misty Mathews, media relations, 205/348-6416, mmathews@ua.edu.